Appropriations Hub on Merkley’s website will update as Oregon projects are selected and move through the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding process
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced he secured essential investments for Oregon families and rural and underserved communities in the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) government funding bills that recently passed the committee—a key first step on the road to becoming law.
Congress holds the power of the purse, and the Appropriations process is a check on the Trump Administration’s efforts to drastically cut the federal funding needed for agencies to continue providing every day, essential services for Oregonians and Americans.
“Oregonians turned out in record numbers during my town halls to deliver a clear message—we need to do everything we can to fight against harmful federal funding cuts and to instead double down on investing in the foundations working families need to thrive: housing, health care, education, and good-paying jobs,” dijo Merkley. “These Appropriations bills go a long way toward delivering on essential programs and services for families, while providing strong support for critical community-initiated projects that will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come.”
Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the powerful Appropriations Committee. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.
The first steps in the annual Senate Appropriations process are to write and pass 12 bills out of the committee that provide the federal funding needed for numerous government agencies, departments, and organizations on an annual basis. It’s these investments that drive federal support for efforts to protect public lands and mitigate wildfires and invest in transportation, health care, education, and many more essential services. The bills also include funding for community-initiated projects—projects identified as key priorities by the communities themselves, and Senators Merkley and Ron Wyden teamed up to secure as many as possible in every corner of Oregon.
Several FY2026 draft Appropriations bills have passed the full committee so far. Below are the bills that include community-initiated projects that the Senators teamed up to champion across the state:
- 4 projects for Oregon in the draft Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill.
- 1 project for Oregon in the draft Senate Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill.
As the bills clear the Senate Appropriations Committee, they next head to the Senate floor for a vote. The above three draft bills are part of the 12 annual government funding bills that must pass both chambers of Congress before they can be signed into law. Fiscal Year 2026 in Congress started on October 1, 2025, and ends September 30, 2026.
For Oregon media and constituents tracking the progress of community-initiated projects and other federal funding wins for Oregon, Merkley’s Appropriations webpage will be continually updated as FY26 spending bills clear the Appropriations Committee and move through the government funding process.
Merkley’s Appropriations webpage can be found AQUÍ.
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