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

Senate Passes Bill to Keep Postal Service Running

Washington, DC– Today, the United States Senate passed the bipartisan 21st Century Postal Service Act, which reforms the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and puts it on a path toward solvency. The bill includes an amendment offered by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) that prohibits the closure

Senate Passes Merkley Amendment to Save Oregon’s Rural Post Offices

Washington, DC- Today, the U.S. Senate approved Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s amendment to prohibit the closure of rural post offices where such closure would have a substantial impact on small businesses, seniors’ access to medication, and the economic strength of the community. Moreover, it bars the closing of any post

Merkley, Wyden: Local Concerns Must Be Addressed in Travel Management Plan

Washington, DC- Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden urged the Forest Service to fully re-engage the public and address concerns after the Forest Service decided to “stop the clock” and withdraw the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest Travel Management Plan.  In a letter to Tom Tidwell, Chief of the United

Merkley Statement on Republican Filibuster of the Buffett Rule

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Republicans obstructed the Buffett Rule legislation from coming to the floor for debate.  “This evening, my Republican colleagues blocked debate of the Buffett Rule. That is outrageous. It is wrong that millionaires and billionaires are paying a lower tax

Merkley Statement on Administration’s Inaction on Barring Employment Discrimination

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the lead sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, issued the following statement after reports that the Obama Administration won’t take action to bar federal contractors from discriminating against LGBT workers.  “I am deeply disappointed that the Administration will allow companies that accept federal contracts

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