The omnibus spending bill includes $48 million for small ports, a 13 percent increase over the 2015 level. “Dredging and maintenance at our small ports is critical to safety and economic prosperity in Oregon’s coastal communities,” said Merkley. “This announcement is a big win and will help create jobs and keep
NEWPORT, Ore – Oregon congressional leaders have passed legislation to keep the U.S. Coast Guard’s Newport air facility open for another two years. On Friday, Oregon senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the helicopter will stay through at least 2017. “The Newport helicopter is a literal life-saver that I’m
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a major toxic chemical reform law backed by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., positioning Congress to potentially complete the most significant overhaul of chemical safety laws in the U.S. in 40 years. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act is
As Donald Trump refused to back down from his call to ban Muslims from entering the United States, condemnation rained down on the candidate from Atlantic to Pacific, including here in the Mid-Valley. The outrage was fueled by a simple question: Is fear-mongering a policy worthy of a great and
Two prominent Oregonians were in France Friday for the United Nations conference on climate change. Portland Mayor Charlie Hales spoke at a panel entitled “Financing City Action.” Hales said action on climate change happens slowly on the national level, but can be much faster locally. He gave the example of Portland’s recent fossil
PARIS — It is going to be O.K. That was the message from 10 Democratic members of the United States Senate who attended the Paris climate talks to reassure other countries that Washington would do its part. Of the 195 countries taking part in the talks, the United States seems
The Federal Reserve is weighing new measures to tighten the restraints it imposes on bank examiners who leave the central bank for jobs with financial institutions, following questions of a revolving door between the regulator and Wall Street. The move would enhance a series of existing curbs the Fed places
The Roseburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and others across the nation, could have an easier time filling vacancies under a new bill introduced in the U.S. Senate Tuesday. And that could mean shorter waits for veterans seeking care. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act was introduced by Oregon Democratic
As I wrote last week in a post on supply-side climate policy … there isn’t much of it so far. Plenty of governments have been willing to pass legislation that would reduce demand for fossil fuels (by boosting renewables or imposing energy efficiency standards, for example). But few have been willing to
WASHINGTON — Two Senators are floating ambitious legislation to stop the government from issuing new leases on public land for fossil fuel extraction. The venture, pushed by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), is a gamble that would be met with fierce opposition from Republicans. Merkley said the
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