When Jeff first took on the challenge of running for the Oregon State Legislature, one of the reasons was because he wanted to build a better education system for his young children. And as the first in his family to go to college, Jeff knows that affordable access to higher education is critical to the success of the middle class.
Education is a major factor in determining whether our children and our nation succeed in today’s increasingly competitive global economy. As a country, we need to do a better job of supporting teachers, giving them the resources they need to provide the best possible environment for teaching our children, and ensuring that no capable student has to give up his or her dreams of higher education because of a lack of affordability.
Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Urge President Biden to Deliver Much-Needed Relief by Extending Pause on Federal Student Loan Payments, Interest
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), this week urged President Biden to provide student loan borrowers with urgently needed relief by extending the current pause on payments and interest for federally held student loans. “The suspension of payments and
Oregon Delegation: 31 Counties in State Receive More Than $39 Million in Secure Rural School Funding
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader said today that 31 Oregon counties will receive about $39.3 million in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) payments for schools, roads, law enforcement and other essential services. These
Merkley Votes to Pass the American Rescue Plan to Send Stimulus Checks to Struggling Americans, Support Frontline Workers and Main Street Businesses, Open Schools Safely, and Establish National Vaccine Distribution Strategy
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after a marathon of votes that culminated in the Senate passage of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan: “Good news, America: Relief is finally on the way. The American Rescue Plan is going to put money in people’s pockets, vaccines in
Merkley Votes to Advance Plan to Deliver Stimulus Checks to Struggling Americans, Support Frontline Workers and Main Street Businesses, Re-open Schools, and Speed Vaccinations
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today following his vote to advance the process for the latest coronavirus relief proposal, which would provide badly-needed aid to help Americans make it through the pandemic: “I am deeply grateful to the public health workers and researchers who are working tirelessly around
Wyden, Merkley: President Biden Can and Should Cancel up to $50,000 in Federal Student Loan Debt Immediately
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues in reintroducing a resolution outlining a bold plan for President Biden to tackle the student loan debt crisis by using his authority to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for Federal student loan borrowers.
Merkley, Colleagues Seek $130 Billion Funding Boost for Local School Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has joined a group of his colleagues to introduce the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act—legislation that would invest $130 billion in modernizing classrooms across the country and would help schools complete critical physical and digital infrastructure upgrades. Crumbling, outdated school infrastructure makes it tougher for students,