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: Clean Energy Bill Will Promote Energy Independence and Job Creation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-MA) and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to introduce the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.  The bill will strengthen America’s position as a leader in the creation

Merkley Joins Effort to Protect Civil Liberties

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley co-sponsored legislation today to repeal the retroactive immunity provision in the FISA Amendments Act.  The Retroactive Immunity Repeal Act, introduced by Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT), would repeal a provision that shields telecommunications companies from legal repercussions if they violate the law.

Merkley: U.S. Economic Stability Demands Strong, Consistent Global Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration’s efforts at this week’s G-20 summit to promote an international agreement that addresses continuing risks to the international financial system: “At the current G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, President Obama is calling for an agreement

Merkley Pushes Obama Administration to Streamline Foreclosure Assistance, Provide Report on TARP Funds used for Mortgage Modification

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley urged Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan Wednesday to implement several improvements to the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) to make mortgage modifications simpler and speedier for borrowers and counselors.    “We’ve done a lot to help Wall

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