Merkley, Mannion Champion Legislation to Make Mental Health Care Accessible for Every Student in America
Washington, D.C. – During Mental Health Awareness Month, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman John Mannion (NY-22) announced the reintroduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would significantly boost the availability of mental health providers in America’s public schools. Mental illness affects nearly 20 percent of American youth. This bicameral legislation would put additional mental health providers in elementary and
Forty-One Senators Push to Keep Harmful Environmental Riders Out of Appropriations Bills
Senators warn that inclusion of poison pills harming the environment would undermine Senate’s ability to pass bipartisan spending bills Washington, D.C. – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior,
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Food and Nutrition Service Reorganization
Oregon senators warn that reorganizations would “further weaken the ability of the agency to administer federal nutrition assistance programs.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S.
Merkley Introduces New Legislation to Connect Transportation Systems to Jobs and Economic Opportunities
PORTLAND, OR – Today, at the Hollywood transit center in Portland, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he has introduced the Transportation, Access and Opportunity Act, new legislation to encourage and support local governments to better connect their transportation systems to jobs and economic opportunities in the region. Increasingly, low-income
Senator Jeff Merkley Announces New Public–Private Partnership to Improve School Readiness
SPRINGFIELD, ORE. – Today, Senator Jeff Merkley announced a $2 million public-private partnership that will support youth development and school readiness for Lane County children entering kindergarten. United Way of Lane County (UWLC) has been awarded a five-year Social Innovation Fund (SIF) grant from the Corporation for National and Community
Merkley Introduces New Legislation to Guarantee Affordable Options for Repaying Student Loans
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Access to Fair Financial Options for Repaying Debt (AFFORD) Act, new legislation that would guarantee all students are able to affordably pay off their student loans by making an income-based repayment option available to all student borrowers. Additionally, he introduced
Merkley Calls for Fairness and Equality at NAACP Journey for Justice March in Selma, Alabama this weekend
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley participated in the NAACP’s America’s Journey for Justice march this past weekend that started in Selma, Alabama and ends in Washington, D.C. Over the weekend, Senator Merkley joined the participants to march for 38 miles to call for economic fairness, education reform, criminal
Merkley Statement on Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate on Monday night defeated an effort to defund Planned Parenthood: “Millions of women across America – including more than 60,000 each year in Oregon – rely on Planned Parenthood as an essential health care provider.
Merkley Applauds Strengthening of Clean Power Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced they would finalize and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution: “Climate change is an urgent threat that requires urgent action. Already we are seeing the cost of climate