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
Merkley, Kaine Launch Effort to Protect and Strengthen Federal Student Loan Repayment Options
Washington, D.C. – With affordable student loan repayment options at risk under the Trump Administration, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today led their colleagues to launch a new effort to protect and expand federal student loan repayment programs. The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR)
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
Merkley, Wyden: $13 Million for Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration Around Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a total of $13 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior will benefit five Oregon projects intended to protect and conserve aquatic ecosystems and habitats around the state. These projects will use the critical funding made
Rep. Hoyle’s Bill to Restore Fairness for Siletz Tribe Passes U.S. House and Senate, Will Become Law
Washington, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle’s (OR-04) bill to restore fairness for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (Siletz) passed in the U.S. Senate with Senator Jeff Merkley as the Senate lead. H.R. 2839 will now be presented to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law.
Salinas Bill to Amend Grand Ronde Reservation Act Passes Senate, Will Become Law
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced her legislation with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which restores the right to pursue land claims and compensation for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, has cleared both chambers of Congress. The legislation now heads to President Biden to be signed
Merkley, Baldwin, Booker Push to Keep Anti-LGBTQ+ and Anti-Abortion Provisions Out of Critical Government Funding Bills
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—along with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—led 45 Senators in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) urging them to reject any new poison pill policy riders in the
Oregon Officials’ Statements on $600 Million Federal Award for Interstate Bridge Replacement Project
Wyden, Merkley, Kotek, Blumenauer, Bonamici and ODOT Director assess impact of funding for I-5 replacement bridge Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici as well as the Oregon Department of Transportation issued the following statements about today’s $600
Merkley, Daines, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Protect Communities from Dangers of Wildfire Smoke, Preserve Practice of Prescribed Fire
Washington D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines led 15 of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Biden administration officials urging the continued use of prescribed fires to protect communities from the negative impacts of catastrophic wildfires. “For decades, western states have faced smoke filled