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 Statement on PILT Funding Announcement

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the Department of Interior’s announcement of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding being sent to local governments today: “Oregon taxpayers don’t have the luxury of waiting to pay their property taxes, and the federal government shouldn’t either. 

Merkley Statement on Passing of Senator Robert Byrd

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passing of West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd: “Thirty years ago, I first entered the Capital as an intern for Senator Mark Hatfield.  Even then, Senator Byrd was already a mainstay of the Senate.  In the years since,

Merkley, Wyden and Schrader Announce $10 Million Award for City of Stayton

Washington D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Congressman Kurt Schrader (D- Ore.)announced today that the Rural Development office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an award to the City of Stayton for over $10 million. The award includes a loan of

Merkley, Levin: Ban on High Risk Trades Victory for Workers and Businesses

WASHINGTON, DC – Early this morning, a House-Senate conference committee completed work on legislation to reform the practices of Wall Street.  The conference report contains provisions similar to those laid out earlier this year by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Michigan Senator Carl Levin.  Senators Merkley and Levin issued the

Merkley, Chu Commemorate 40th Anniversary of Title X Family Planning Services

Washington, D.C. – Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), today introduced a Congressional Resolution celebrating the 40th anniversary of Title X of the Public Health Service Act.  The legislation was the first Federal program to provide low-income Americans with family planning services that they otherwise could not

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