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 Joins Senate Hispanic Task Force

Washington, D.C. – Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley came together with forty-three other Senate Democrats in joining the Hispanic Task Force (HTF), giving it the largest membership in group’s 20 year history. “I’m proud to join a group of Senators who recognize the priorities of the Hispanic community and are

Merkley Statement on Confirmation of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary

Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues in supporting the confirmation of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary.  Merkley issued the following statement on the vote:   “It is abundantly clear that our economy is in serious trouble and things will likely get

Merkley Urges Significant Investment in Green Energy

Washington, DC – As the Appropriations and Finance Committees begin consideration of economic recovery proposals, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is pushing substantial investment in a range of projects to boost development and production of green energy and an upgrade to the nation’s electricity grid. “The best thing we can do

Merkley Statement on Announced Closure of Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility

In response to President Barack Obama signing a series of executive orders today to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility within one year, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement: “This is absolutely the right thing for the President to do and the first step in restoring America’s reputation

Merkley Adds Banking and Budget to Roster of Committees

Washington, DC – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley added two new committee assignments to his roster of appointments.  He will now serve on the Banking and Budget Committees in addition to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and Environment and Public Works Committee. “The Banking Committee will play a key

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