The Beaver State was built by Americans who relied on the land for their livelihood. Natural resource industries like farming, forestry, and salmon fishing remain integral to Oregon’s economy today. Our state has also long been a destination for Americans looking to experience the great outdoors. Oregon’s protected public lands provide valuable habitats, supply clean water, and generate jobs through sustainable harvests, recreation, and tourism. Preserving our natural resources and making smart decisions about economic development will help spur rural growth and ensure that future generations can enjoy Oregon’s wild places and public lands while putting people to work.
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Forest Service Reorganization
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, led over 30 of his colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden—in raising strong concerns about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We write with
Merkley Remarks at FY27 Interior Department Budget Hearing with Secretary Burgum
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the hearing reviewing the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior with Secretary Doug Burgum: Senator Merkley’s remarks, as
Strickland, Merkley Introduce Bill Addressing Toxic Chemical Killing Pacific Northwest Salmon
Washington, D.C. – Today, during Puget Sound Day on the Hill, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Co-Chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, introduced her 6PPD Task Force Act. The bill creates a Task Force to bridge together federal, state, tribal, and industry voices to coordinate further 6PPD-quinone (6PPD) research and identify a safe alternative. U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA-06), and Puget Sound Recovery Caucus
Merkley, Van Hollen, Gillibrand Press Interior Secretary Burgum on Failure to Comply with Federal Law on Status of Renewable Projects
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the top Democrat on the subcommittee that oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Interior—led U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in demanding an urgent update from the Interior Department on the status of renewable energy projects that
Merkley Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Red Tape and Invest in Watershed Projects Due to Extreme Drought
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the former Ranking Member on the Appropriations subcommittee that writes our nation’s agriculture funding bill—partnered with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) to reintroduce the Healthy Watersheds, Healthy Communities Act. This bipartisan bill would increase the resiliency of American agriculture and communities
Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Merkley: Cuts in Trump’s Budget Request to Leave Lasting Scars on Public Lands, Tribes, 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 following statement after the release of President Trump’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2027: “This budget request from President Trump and his Administration once again fails to meet the