Merkley, Kaine, Warren, Whitehouse, Colleagues Demand Secretary McMahon Provide Flexibility to Student Loan Borrowers Who Are Being Forced to Exit the SAVE Plan
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Rhode Island’s U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse led a group of their Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Education on its recent announcement to move more than 7
Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Merkley Releases Statement on Republicans’ Push to Pass a Second Unpopular Reconciliation Bill
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the below statement following the Senate Republicans’ release of a fiscal year 2026 budget resolution to tee up the passage of a second reconciliation bill that would throw up to $140 billion at
Strickland, Merkley Introduce Bill Addressing Toxic Chemical Killing Pacific Northwest Salmon
Washington, D.C. – Today, during Puget Sound Day on the Hill, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Co-Chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, introduced her 6PPD Task Force Act. The bill creates a Task Force to bridge together federal, state, tribal, and industry voices to coordinate further 6PPD-quinone (6PPD) research and identify a safe alternative. U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA-06), and Puget Sound Recovery Caucus
Merkley, Wyden Announce over $2.2 Million in Federal Funds Headed to Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) a $2,225,000 grant to update its existing veterans’ shelter. This award comes after the announcement of MWVCAA’s acquisition of a new property
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1 Million to Lane County for Protecting Water Supply during 2020 Holiday Farm Fire
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Lane County Emergency Management will receive $1.02 million in federal reimbursement for measures taken to protect the McKenzie River, the sole source of drinking water for the Eugene metro area, during the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. “Lane
Merkley Celebrates 500th Town Hall
Portland, OR – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today celebrated his 500th town hall in Oregon since joining the U.S. Senate. He reached the milestone today while hosting a virtual town hall in Lincoln County. “I hold a town hall in every Oregon county, every year because they enable me to
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on Department of Education, DOJ to Follow Through on Pledge to Improve Handling of Student Debt Bankruptcy Claims
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined colleagues in asking the federal Departments of Education and Justice for an update on efforts to improve how the agencies handle undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings. “The undue hardship exception (11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8)) currently
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Extend Student Loan Payment Pause and Cancel Student Debt
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosigned a letter to President Joseph R. Biden urging the administration to act now to extend the pause on federally-held student loan payments until at least the end of the year and to provide meaningful student debt cancellation. “Given
Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Bill to Extend Summer Meal Flexibilities to Feed Children
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would extend federal school meal flexibilities for children in Oregon and nationwide from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023. These flexibilities have been crucial to feeding children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.