The carbon pollution in our atmosphere from burning fossil fuels like oil and coal is waging a direct and unchecked assault on our farming, fishing and forests – the cornerstones of Oregon’s rural economy.
When Jeff was young, his dad worked as a millwright. He spent his childhood in Southern Oregon timber communities, where timber jobs were what put food on the table and kept roofs over folks’ head. Fires and insect infestations are already killing trees at alarming rates across the Northwest, and climate change will only make these threats to our forests worse. Other iconic Oregon industries like our coastal oyster hatcheries are threatened by ocean acidification, and fishing and farming alike are facing threats from declining snowpacks and increased drought.
Congress needs to wake up. Climate change is real, and it’s bad for our economy and jobs, especially in rural Oregon and the places that most depend on our abundant natural resources.
Merkley, Wyden Join Effort to Restore the Chevron Doctrine Following MAGA Supreme Court Ruling
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined the recently introduced Stop Corporate Capture Act after the Supreme Court—stacked with Trump-appointed justices—overturned the 40-year-old Chevron doctrine. The bill codifies Chevron deference and strengthens the rulemaking process to block corporations from hijacking our government. “This MAGA Supreme
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $2 Million for Portland State University to Curb Marine Microplastics in Coastal Tourism
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Portland State University (PSU) is receiving $1,976,806 from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Competition. The federal funding will support PSU’s efforts
Merkley Announces Key Committee Action to Boost Oregon’s Wildfire Resiliency, Water Infrastructure, and Climate Investments Under his Chairmanship
As chair of a key Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Merkley wrote the fiscal year 2025 Interior-Environment spending bill to fund top Oregon priorities, including essential community-initiated projects across the state. Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—as Chair of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—announced he secured critical investments to strengthen forest health and
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle Announce $2 Million to Oregon for Soil Health Management
The federal funds will be directed to the University of Oregon Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas and Val Hoyle today announced $2 million in federal funds for soil health programs on Oregon farms made available through the Inflation
Oregon, Washington’s U.S. Senators Urge BPA to Carefully Consider Day-Ahead Electricity Market Decision
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Washington’s U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell today sent a letter urging the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to make a careful, deliberate decision about which power market to join. Currently, the BPA is considering joining one of
Merkley: No President in My Lifetime Has Done More Than Biden
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement after President Joe Biden announced he will not seek a second term: “No president in my lifetime has done more than Joe Biden. He’s achieved historic successes in investments in American manufacturing, renewable energy, and infrastructure, strengthened
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