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

Merkley Recognizes National Nurses Week

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released a statement Tuesday honoring nurses across America in recognition of National Nurses Week, which runs annually from May 6-12.  Merkley is co-chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus: “Nurses are the hands, feet, and heart of our health care system – expertly administering

Merkley, Alexander Introduce Bill to Jump-Start Electric Vehicles

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) today introduced the “Promoting Electric Vehicles Act” to provide temporary encouragement for the development and use of plug-in electric motor vehicles nationwide. The bill would create limited, short-term “deployment communities” across the country in order to help jump-start the market

Merkley, Boxer Urge U.S. Treasury to Start Credit Flowing to Small Businesses

Washington, D.C. – Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Monday, encouraging him to implement the Small Business Lending Fund as soon as possible to provide community banks with $30 billion in capital that will help them leverage up to $300

Merkley: Bin Laden Death Provides Justice for America

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after news that U.S. Special Forces have killed Osama bin Laden: “I salute President Obama and his exceptional team on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice.  The President’s resolute determination and the hard work, perseverance, and bravery of so

Merkley Statement on Soaring Profits for Big Oil

Washington, D.C. – Two of the world’s biggest oil companies announced billions in profits today and the rest of the industry is expected to post similarly high numbers later this week.  BP recorded a first-quarter profit of $7.1 billion and ConocoPhillips recorded a $3.03 billion profit – and yet gas

NEW STUDY: MERKLEY OIL PLAN RANKS HIGH IN SAVINGS

Washington, D.C. – A new study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) finds that Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s oil independence plan would produce the largest savings by the year 2030 of nine proposals issued since 2006.  Senator Merkley released his “America Over a Barrel” plan last year

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