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: Rejection of DISCLOSE Act is an Assault on Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Republicans voted to block Senate debate of the DISCLOSE Act, allowing unlimited secret funding of campaign advertisements by corporations.  Senator Merkley, an original co-sponsor of the DISCLOSE Act, released the following statement after the vote: “Today’s rejection of the DISCLOSE Act is a dagger aimed

Merkley: Drought Relief Headed to Southern Oregon

Washington, D.C. – This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an emergency supplemental spending bill that includes $10 million in drought relief for farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin.  The bill passed the Senate earlier and will now go to the President for his signature.  Senator Merkley released

Merkley Statement on 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this week: “Twenty years ago, our nation took a stand for opportunity and inclusion by passing the Americans with Disabilities Act.  Before that time, millions of Americans living

Merkley Statement on Senate Plan for Energy Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid outlined the energy bill he intends to bring to the Senate floor next week.  Senator Merkley released the following statement: “This proposed energy and oil spill legislation laid out this afternoon is an enormous disappointment and a huge missed opportunity.  Our

Merkley Statement on Hexavalent Chromium Registry for Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that they will be establishing the Hexavalent Chromium Registry to track the special health concerns of veterans who may have been exposed to hexavalent chromium during their military service. Senator Merkley released the following statement: “The establishment of this

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