Press Releases

Interior Cuts in Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribal Nations, and Human Health

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the release of President Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “This budget is exactly what we expected from this administration: abandoning critical programs, slashing essential government services,

Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday, May 10.  Merkley will be joined by U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum for the Deschutes County town hall in Sisters.  The three rescheduled events in Central

Sens. Wicker, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, introduced the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. This legislation would ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps do not need to pay income tax on their student loan repayments and scholarships. “Nurses are essential to

Merkley Calls on House to Pass Middle Class Tax Cut

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after news that the House Republicans have left Washington for Christmas break.  “As we approach the edge of the fiscal cliff, the time for political gamesmanship is over.  This isn’t about politics, it’s about people’s lives.  The families who live

MERKLEY RELEASES WHITE BOARD VIDEO EXPLAINING “TALKING FILIBUSTER” PROPOSAL

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today unveiled his latest white board video. It features an explanation of why the Senate is broken and rules reform is needed, how the “talking filibuster” proposal would work and additional measures that would make the Senate a more functional governing body. Senator

Merkley Statement on Social Security Cuts

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after reports that a new index for Social Security called “chained CPI” could be included in a fiscal cliff deal.  “We had an election, and the voters sent a message to Congress to focus on jobs and fairness — not

Merkley Statement on Death of Senator Daniel Inouye

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on news of the death of Senator Daniel Inouye. “Senator Daniel Inouye was an American hero and his death is a huge loss for the Senate.  I’ve admired him since I came here as an intern in 1976 to work

Merkley Blasts “Too Big to Jail” Policy for Lawbreaking Banks

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley today blasted the U.S. Department of Justice for its policy of offering “deferred prosecution” for large financial institutions that break federal criminal laws, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and sanctions violations, calling the policy “too big to jail” and demanding explanations.   In a

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