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
Wyden, Merkley Announce $40 Million To Boost Geothermal Energy in Oregon
Washington, D.C. – Continuing efforts to advance alternative energy resources and break our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced nearly $40 million in Recovery Act funding for the exploration and development of geothermal energy technologies in Oregon. “This funding
Merkley: GDP Growth a Good Sign for Economy But We Have to Focus on Job Creation
Washington, D.C. – Today the Commerce Department announced that the economy grew for the first time in a year. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the last three months, after falling 0.7 percent in the second quarter and 6.5 percent in the first
Merkley, Wyden Announce $29.4 Million for Oregon Smart Grid Technology and Job Creation
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Department of Energy has awarded over $29.4 million in Recovery Act funds for Oregon Smart Grid technology. The funds will be used to make Oregon’s electric system more energy efficient, enable consumers to reduce their energy
Merkley Applauds Inclusion of Public Option in Merged Senate Legislation
Washington, DC – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced today that health care reform legislation to be considered by the full Senate will include a public option. Under this version, states would be able to opt-out of the program. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Health, Education,
Merkley: Passage of Hate Crimes Bill Marks Huge Stride Towards Equality and Justice for All
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as part of the conference report for the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley was a co-sponsor of the hate crimes amendment. The bill will now head to the President’s
Banking on Our Small Businesses
Washington, DC – To get lending going again, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced legislation Wednesday that will assist community banks in extending credit to small businesses and consumers, urging economic growth and assisting in job creation. By allocating existing TARP funds under a new Community Credit