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

POSTPONED: Merkley Announces First In-Person Town Halls of 2024

Due to a series of unexpected votes, Senator Merkley must remain in Washington, D.C. and postpone his town halls that were scheduled for Linn and Benton counties on Tuesday, February 13 and Washington and Columbia counties on Wednesday, February 14. Senator Merkley looks forward to rescheduling the events soon to hear from community members in

Update: Oregon Delegation Announces Over $7 Million for Federal Fishery Disaster Declaration  

 The federal funding will help ocean commercial fishermen in Oregon recover from significant economic losses in 2018, 2019, and 2020 from declining salmon populations.  Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer

Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Announce Over $319,000 for West Tuality Habitat for Humanity to Build Affordable Homes in Rural Washington County

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), announced today West Tuality Habitat for Humanity is receiving a $319,200 federal grant award to help build eight homes in rural western Washington County.  “Everyone should have a safe, affordable place to call home. This

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