Risch, Merkley Introduce Bill to Remove Roadblocks for Youth Corps Public Lands Projects
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to reduce federal cost-sharing requirements for public lands projects performed by qualified youth or conservation corps from 25% to 10%. “Current cost-sharing requirements prevent youth conservation corps from carrying out important public lands projects,” said Risch. “My bill reduces this
Merkley, Kaine Launch Effort to Protect and Strengthen Federal Student Loan Repayment Options
Washington, D.C. – With affordable student loan repayment options at risk under the Trump Administration, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today led their colleagues to launch a new effort to protect and expand federal student loan repayment programs. The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR)
Bynum and Merkley Introduce Legislation to Protect the Deschutes River
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy’s (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality improvement initiatives and conservation efforts. Since its founding in 1996, the DRC and
Merkley: No Excuse for GOP Obstruction of Vets Jobs Bill
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after 42 Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the Veterans Job Corps Act. “The men and women who have stood up for us, serving us valiantly overseas, shouldn’t come home to unemployment lines. That seems like a proposition 100
Senators Merkley and Wyden Testify on Crooked River Legislation Before Senate Committee
WASHINGTON, DC— Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today both testified before the Water and Power Subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in favor of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act, which they are the lead sponsors. Today’s action was the first since being introduced to
Wyden, Merkley announce Malheur Lumber to postpone closure
Washington, D.C. – U. S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced on Tuesday that Malheur Lumber has agreed to remain open past its planned November closure, thanks to a commitment by the US Forest Service (USFS) to make more timber volume available on the Malheur national forest.
Congressional Leaders Heed Merkley’s Call for More Forest Firefighting Funds
WASHINGTON, DC – With fires still burning and the U.S. Forest Service’s fire suppression fund exhausted, Congress is heeding Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s call and moving forward with emergency funds to fill the gap. This August, Merkley sent a letter calling on Congressional leaders to provide emergency assistance to cover
Merkley, Wyden and Begich Introduce Proposal to Hire Veterans to Assist with Marine Debris Cleanup
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and Mark Begich (D-AK) today introduced an amendment to employ veterans as coordinators of community clean ups of marine debris from the Japanese tsunami of last year. They offered the amendment to the Veterans Job Corps Act of 2012, which is being considered in
Merkley, Wyden Announce Loan for Lakeview Hospital/Schools Geothermal Project
LAKEVIEW, OR – Proving that geothermal energy has the potential to provide real world applications that can lower energy bills and help break the grip of foreign oil, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced that the Town of Lakeview will receive a low-cost loan to pursue
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