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

Livable Communities Act Heads to Full Senate

Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today passed the Livable Communities Act, sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is an original co-sponsor of the bill and authored an amendment in committee to support community projects that make biking

Merkley Announces FEMA Money for Tillamook County

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that over $5 billion in disaster relief funding has been approved by the U.S. Senate for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This disaster relief funding will allow the Port of Tillamook Bay to apply for $44 million in FEMA funds

Wyden, Merkley Announce Funding For Oregon in Financial Services Appropriations Bill

Washington, D.C. – Continuing efforts to improve the economic environment for Oregon’s businesses and provide training to local workers for good-paying jobs, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have announced several Oregon projects included in the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill just approved by

Merkley: Political Games Sink Small Business Jobs Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, Republican Senators unanimously blocked a floor vote on the Small Business Jobs Act, halting a bill that would have helped small businesses and put Americans back to work. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the vote: “Today’s vote on the Senate floor represents

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