Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $52 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 $52,016,022 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2026. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with
During Pride Month, Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Apologizing for Government Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Civil Servants, Servicemembers
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a resolution led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to acknowledge and apologize for the mistreatment of and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals who have served in the uniformed services, as civil servants, or in
Rosen, Curtis, Merkley, Banks Introduce Resolution Condemning Chinese Suppression of Ethnic Minorities
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Curtis (R-UT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced a bipartisan resolution that condemns a law passed by the Chinese Communist Party and set to go into effect on July 1 that targets ethnic minorities and expresses support for Tibetans,
Merkley and Wyden Announce $4.7 Million To Help Homeless Veterans Across Oregon
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded over $4.7 million in grant funding for homeless veterans in Oregon. The funding comes from the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program and will be distributed to organizations across
Merkley Applauds News that Majority Leader Won’t Bring Up TPP in Lame Duck
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after news that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will not bring up the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement for congressional approval in the post-election lame duck session: “It’s rare for me to agree with Senator McConnell, but in this case
Members of Congress File Brief Urging Court to Recognize Employment Protections for LGBT Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of leading Members of Congress has filed an amicus brief in the case of Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College, urging the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to recognize existing non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. U.S. Senators
Merkley and Wyden Announce Earthquake Early Warning System Grant for University of Oregon
Washington DC – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has awarded approximately $3.7 million to six universities, including the University of Oregon, to help advance an earthquake early warning system along the West Coast. The funding announced today will help improve
Social Security Administration Changes Policy to Better Accommodate Seniors after Merkley’s Urging
Portland, OR – After Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley wrote a letter to Social Security Commissioner Carolyn Colvin last week to address his concerns over a new system that would block online access to benefits for seniors without a text-enabled cell phone, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced today that they
Merkley Statement on DEA’s Decision Not to Reschedule Marijuana
Portland, OR. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the announcement from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that the U.S. will affirm its prohibition on medical marijuana. “Today’s announcement from the DEA is a huge disappointment to people in the 27 jurisdictions across the country that have