Bynum and Merkley Introduce Legislation to Protect the Deschutes River
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy’s (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality improvement initiatives and conservation efforts. Since its founding in 1996, the DRC and
UPDATE: Merkley Announces Early April Town Halls
UPDATE: Because of a change in the U.S. Senate voting schedule, all three town halls in Central Oregon on Saturday, April 5 have been postponed. The town halls in Grant and Wheeler counties on Sunday, April 6 currently remain as scheduled. An updated event schedule and invitations will be shared in
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Elimination of Scientific Research Arm Threatens Clean Air and Water for All
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sounded the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide.
Merkley Presses Trump EPA Nominee on Oregon Grants Being Cancelled
Senator Jeff Merkley pressed Sean Donohue, Trump’s nominee to be General Counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on why the agency is cancelling grants that support public health and rural communities in Oregon.
Oregon Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Reinstate Fired Agricultural Researchers in Oregon
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her Oregon colleagues – including U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Reckless Gutting of Environmental Justice Programs Harms Communities
Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (ME-01) denounced plans by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to eliminate all of the agency’s offices and positions related to environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion.