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 Statement on County Payments Deal

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after reports that the amendment to extend county payments he and Senator Wyden shepherded through the Senate will be included in the conference agreement on the transportation bill:  “This news is a huge relief for Oregon’s struggling timber counties. These

Merkley Statement on Reports of Student Loan Deal

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today after recent reports on a deal to keep student loan rates from doubling:  “If we want a successful economy and successful middle class in the future, we need to make sure today that the next generation has the

Merkley: Supreme Court Doubles Down on Citizens United

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in response to the summary reversal of the Montana corporate political donation limits by the Supreme Court.  “Today, the Supreme Court doubled down on its disastrous decision in Citizens United. One hundred years ago, Montanans saw their political system

Merkley, Snowe Amendment to Help Organic Farmers Approved by Senate

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Senate adopted the organic crop insurance amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine. The amendment, which will improve crop insurance for organic farmers, will be incorporated into the farm bill as it heads for a final vote in

Merkley Statement on Dimon Hearing

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing on JPMorgan’s trading losses. “While it wasn’t his intention, Jamie Dimon today made the case for a strong Volcker Rule. I was pleased to hear him say that he doesn’t want to be in

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