Press Releases

Interior Cuts in Trump Administration’s “Skinny” Budget to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribal Nations, and Human Health

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the below statement following the release of President Trump’s ‘skinny’ budget for Fiscal Year 2026. “This budget is exactly what we expected from this administration: abandoning critical programs, slashing essential government services,

Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold three town halls for Oregonians in Jefferson, Crook, and Deschutes counties on Saturday, May 10.  Merkley will be joined by U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum for the Deschutes County town hall in Sisters.  The three rescheduled events in Central

Sens. Wicker, Merkley Introduce Bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, introduced the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act. This legislation would ensure that nurses in the federal Nurse Corps do not need to pay income tax on their student loan repayments and scholarships. “Nurses are essential to

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $1.7 Million to Enhance Production of Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Oregon Department of Agriculture will receive $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enhance the production and sale of specialty crops.   Oregon ranks fifth in the nation in production of specialty crops, which

Merkley: Small Business Bill is Great News for Job Creation

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate passed the Small Business Jobs Act Thursday by a vote of 61 to 38.  The legislation includes two programs modeled on legislation introduced by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley: The Small Business Lending Fund and the Small Business Jump Start Act. “Small businesses in Oregon

Merkley: $10 Million for Klamath Basin is on its way

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Interior announced today that $10 million in drought relief funding for Klamath Basin farmers, ranchers, and tribes is on its way to the region. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, who fought for the funding in the Senate, released the following statement:  “I’m excited that

Merkley: Warren is the Right Choice to Lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the news of Elizabeth Warren’s pending appointment to head the effort to get the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau established: “There isn’t a candidate more fit to get the new Consumer Financial Protection Agency up and running than Elizabeth

Merkley: $117 Million to Prevent Teacher Layoffs on the Way to Oregon

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that $117 million to help prevent mass teacher layoffs will be arriving in Oregon within a matter of days.  The emergency funding will save the jobs of approximately 1,600 Oregon teachers and help improve education for children throughout the

Merkley: Senate Republicans Holding Tax Cuts Hostage

Washington, D.C. – Nationwide tax cuts passed by Congress during the presidency of George W. Bush are set to expire at the end of 2010. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in support of extending tax cuts for all American taxpayers:  “To provide relief to small business owners

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