When President Obama signs the VA Reform Bill this Thursday, a Beaverton Navy veteran can turn to his next mission. Part of the package of the legislation that Congress passed before leaving Washington, D.C., for the August recess is a provision that allows surviving spouses to take advantage of educational
A bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley would bring some of Oregon’s innovations in care for older people to the rest of the nation.Among the proposals in his bill is a pilot project for a community care initiative, similar to Oregon’s coordinated-care organizations for low-income recipients of state-supported health
The bill called “Protecting America’s Families from Toxic Chemicals Act” would phase out chemicals that don’t break down in the environment. Examples of such chemicals are mercury, lead and flame retardants. “It’s especially harmful to families. They often end up in our food. These chemicals are in our clothing, a
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted to review and debate the Bring Jobs Home Act, a proposal that would provide incentives for manufacturers to create jobs in the U.S. Wednesday.The Act was originally co-sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).“It closes tax loopholes that subsidize the cost to corporations of shipping jobs
WASHINGTON — As wildfires continue to burn across Oregon, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden wrote to Senate leaders Tuesday, urging them to give a vote to the Obama administration’s supplementary budget request, which includes $615 million in emergency wildfire suppression funds. The Oregon Democrats were joined by 10 other
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., fought back against last week’s Supreme Court decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby by announcing Wednesday that he is cosponsoring legislation that would restore employees’ access to birth control coverage. “It’s unacceptable that the Supreme Court has put contraceptive coverage in jeopardy for
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley asked Clatsop Community College’s Class of 2014 Friday to stand up if they were first-generation college students. Promptly, more than half of those graduating were out of their seats. Merkley, a first-generation university student and now a senator facing re-election in five months, promised to fight
(Bloomberg) — Senator Jeff Merkley called on the Federal Reserve to prohibit U.S. bank-holding companies from engaging in physical commodities. Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, sent a letter to the Federal Reserve urging the regulator to prohibit banks from owning physical commodities. In cases where the Fed permits banks to engage
The White House has been getting an earful in the past year from members of the Senate Banking Committee, who haven’t been shy about suggesting criteria for nominees at the Federal Reserve. On Wednesday, Sens. Jeff Merkley (D., Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) continued with such unsolicited advice, sending
WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from Oregon and California introduced legislation in the Senate on Wednesday that formalizes the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement struck last month. Under the deal, users above Upper Klamath Lake agree to reduce their water consumption, allowing an extra 30,000 acre-feet to flow into the lake. In
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