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 Statement on EPA Rule Change for Boilers
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after today’s release of the Environmental Protection Agency proposed change to the March 2011 Clean Air Act emissions standards for large and small boilers and incinerators that burn solid waste. “I appreciate that the EPA is listening to the
Merkley Applauds Energy Efficiency Announcement
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following statement after the White House announced that it will direct agencies to establish financing arrangements and public-private partnerships to spur billions of dollars in energy efficiency renovations on federal buildings at no cost to taxpayers: “I applaud the White House’s
Merkley Demands Changes to Help Oregon Timber Workers Get Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Though Oregon’s timber counties have among the highest unemployment rates in the Northwest, a recent report from the Department of Labor’s Inspector General revealed that millions of dollars in stimulus funds were used by contractors employing foreign workers to perform forest thinning work. Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff
Senate Passes Christmas Tree Resolution
Washington, DC- Today, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley designating the first full week of December in 2011 as “National Christmas Tree Week”. “This resolution honors the joy that Christmas trees bring to families every December, and also the Oregon farms and
Senate Sends Message To President: Bring U.S. Forces In Afghanistan Home Faster
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment introduced by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley requiring President Obama to develop a plan to expedite the reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan and to make periodic reports to Congress on the progress of that plan. “Our American forces have successfully
Merkley: Help Working Families Like the Fed Helped Big Banks
Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today wrote a letter to President Obama after news broke that the Federal Reserve secretly loaned or guaranteed $7.7 trillion to major financial institutions such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and J.P. Morgan. It is reported by Bloomberg Markets Magazine that the Wall