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 Pushes for Canadian Compliance on Fair Softwood Timber Pricing

Portland, OR – In a one-on-one phone call with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk Thursday, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley urged the Ambassador to request formal consultations to address Canada’s violation of the 2006 Softwood Lumber Agreement.  By providing government-owned timber to Canadian lumber companies at a rate significantly below market

Merkley Announces Bipartisan Effort to Ban Trafficking of Animal Torture Videos

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that he will soon be introducing bipartisan legislation to ban the trafficking of animal cruelty films commonly referred to as “crush videos.”  The Oregon Humane Society joined Senator Merkley today in calling on Congress to immediately take action and prevent these

Merkley: Wave Energy Grants Demonstrate Oregon’s Renewable Energy Leadership

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today praised Oregon as a pioneer in the development of wave energy and highlighted almost $2.5 million in federal funding moving through the Senate for two Oregon wave energy projects. The funding will support a project that measures wave energy along the Oregon

Merkley: New OIT Geothermal Plant One Step Closer

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today touted the energy production and research potential of the proposed one-megawatt geothermal plant on the campus of the Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT).  OIT is slated to receive $400,000 in federal funding requested by Merkley and Senator Ron Wyden in legislation that

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