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: Republican Budget Resolution Ignores the Needs of Working Families
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Resolution that will enable a reconciliation bill to provide up to $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and
After Reports of 3 Political Candidates Trading on their Elections, Merkley Renews Call to Ban Election Gambling
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—who has long sounded the alarm on election betting—released the following statement after prediction market firm Kalshi reported three instances of political candidates betting on their own elections: “Election betting is a bad bet for democracy—plain and simple. Since 2023, I have been concerned
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $31 Million in PILT Payments to Support Vital Services in Oregon
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive a combined total of $31,027,890 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2025. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with
Merkley, Murray, Heinrich, Klobuchar Demand Immediate Halt to Forest Service Reorganization, Funding Cuts
Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Huffman, Cohen, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Families and Pets from Dangerous Devices
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Steve Cohen (TN-09), along with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), re-introduced legislation that would ban hazardous cyanide bombs from public lands. Their bill, Canyon’s Law, would protect families, pets, and wildlife from dangerous M-44 ejectors – spring-loaded devices made up of sodium
Senate Republicans Block Merkley’s Bill to Protect and Strengthen Federal Student Loan Repayment Options
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of his Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act: “As the first in my family to go to college, I know the barriers that so many students face in accessing higher education. We should
Byrd Rule Violations Continue to Mount on the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Parliamentarian again advised that several provisions in the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Finance Committee’s jurisdiction. “Democrats are continuing to make the case against every
Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” Includes Additional Provisions That Violate the Byrd Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Parliamentarian again advised that several provisions in the Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” would be subject to a 60-vote threshold if they remain in the bill. The below provisions are in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee’s jurisdiction. “The Byrd Rule must be
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