Press Releases

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

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

Transportation Bill Passes Out of Committee

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today joined his colleagues in the Environment and Public Works Committee in unanimously approving bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the nation’s transportation programs for two years.  “Finally, a major jobs bill with bipartisan support is making forward progress in the U.S. Senate,” Merkley said. “This

MERKLEY INTRODUCES “EV CAR ACT”

Washington, DC– Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Electric Vehicle Charge and Ride Act (EV CAR), which would allow states to build electric vehicle charging stations in new or existing “park-and-ride” facilities. The bill will help boost deployment of electric vehicles and facilitate carpooling, while reducing our dependence on

Senators Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Clean Up Campaign Finance System

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Michael Bennet today introduced a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the authority to regulate the campaign finance system.  Among other important reforms, the amendment would allow Congress to correct the controversial Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance that has the effect of

Merkley, Brown Introduce Bill to Protect Seniors from Scams

Washington, DC – Today, on Halloween, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio’s Senator Sherrod Brown introduced the Deceptive Loan Checks Elimination Act, which would prohibit companies from sending “live” loan checks to consumers.  In these schemes, financial institutions send unsuspecting customers a check made out to them for some amount. 

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