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 Introduces Bill to Create Jobs and Lower Energy Costs for Rural Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation today to create jobs and lower energy bills for families and small businesses in rural communities by promoting energy-saving home renovations.  The Rural Energy Savings Program would assist rural electric co-ops in offering “on-bill” financing to their customers, allowing families and

Merkley, Wyden Urge Obama Administration to Provide Drought Assistance for Klamath Basin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden requested immediate and expansive drought assistance for Klamath Basin in anticipation of emergency drought conditions this year.  In a letter sent today, the senators urged Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Department of Commerce

Merkley Statement on Passing of Ben Westlund

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passing of Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund: I first met Ben in 1997 before I was elected to serve in the Oregon legislature.  I was enormously impressed by his earnestnes and command of the issues.  That first impression never wavered

Merkley, Pryor Announce Energy-efficiency Renovations Program for Commercial Buildings

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) introduced legislation Thursday to create jobs by promoting the installation of energy-efficient renovations in commercial and multi-family residential buildings.  Merkley and Pryor were joined by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ben Cardin

Merkley Joins Effort to Restore Forest Health and Create Jobs in Rural Oregon

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he is co-sponsoring Senator Wyden’s Oregon Forest Restoration and Old Growth Protection Act of 2009.  The legislation, forged by Senator Wyden, representatives from Oregon’s timber industry and conservation groups, will promote sustainable forest thinning practices in Central and Eastern Oregon

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