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: Federal Budget Lays Groundwork for Job Growth

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement reacting to President Obama’s proposed FY2011 budget: “I’m impressed by the focus on job creation and economic growth for working families that is apparent in President Obama’s proposed budget.  When he was sworn in, President Obama was faced with

Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader Statement on NOAA Review of Newport Siting

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), issued the following statement on NOAA’s response to the GAO decision sustaining the protest against NOAA’s decision to move their Pacific fleet to Newport, Oregon: “After reviewing NOAA’s letter and speaking with Secretary Locke this

Merkley, Boxer Laud President’s Commitment to Small Business Lending

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised President Obama’s commitment to help small businesses by taking $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid the Troubled Asset Relief Program and using it to help community banks give small businesses much-needed loans.

Merkley Statement on Confirmation of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the first Democrat to publicly oppose Bernanke’s nomination, voted against confirmation.  Merkley issued the following statement after the vote: “I opposed Ben Bernanke’s

Wyden, Merkley Land Swap Bill Will Preserve More Than 16,000 Acres as Wilderness

Washington, D.C. – Building on last year’s successful efforts to preserve more than 200,000 acres of Oregon lands as wilderness, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have introduced legislation to preserve another 16,000 acres near Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven by swapping land with private landholders, including

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