Merkley Remarks at Senate Appropriations Committee Markup of Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) delivered the following remarks as the Senate Appropriations Committee met for a full committee markup of the fiscal year 2026 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Senator Merkley’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below: “Thank you,
Merkley and Hoyle Introduce Columbia River Clean-Up Act to Reauthorize Columbia River Basin Restoration Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the Columbia River Clean-Up Act to reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Sen. Merkley created the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program in 2016 to focus federal attention on reducing toxics and pollution through
Merkley, Boyle, Durbin, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Prevent Future Debt Ceiling Hostage Taking
For Years, Republicans Have Held the Debt Ceiling Hostage, Continually Putting the United States’ Credit at Risk WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and U.S. Representative Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-2), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, introduced legislation that
Merkley, Boxer Introduce Legislation to Provide Education Benefits to Spouses of Fallen Military Members
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today introduced the Spouses of Heroes Education Act, which would amend the Post-9/11 GI Bill to include spousal eligibility for the Fry Scholarship. This expands the program to provide the same full undergraduate education benefits to spouses that are currently
Transportation Bill Passes Out of Committee
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today joined his colleagues in the Environment and Public Works Committee in unanimously approving bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the nation’s transportation programs for two years. “Finally, a major jobs bill with bipartisan support is making forward progress in the U.S. Senate,” Merkley said. “This
MERKLEY INTRODUCES “EV CAR ACT”
Washington, DC– Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Electric Vehicle Charge and Ride Act (EV CAR), which would allow states to build electric vehicle charging stations in new or existing “park-and-ride” facilities. The bill will help boost deployment of electric vehicles and facilitate carpooling, while reducing our dependence on
Merkley Releases County-by-County Report on Loss of Construction Jobs and the State of Oregon Bridges
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released a report showing that 456 bridges in Oregon are structurally deficient, and said investments in rebuilding those bridges would put thousands of Oregonians back to work—especially those in the field of construction, which has experienced far higher unemployment that most other
Senators Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Clean Up Campaign Finance System
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Michael Bennet today introduced a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the authority to regulate the campaign finance system. Among other important reforms, the amendment would allow Congress to correct the controversial Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance that has the effect of
Merkley, Brown Introduce Bill to Protect Seniors from Scams
Washington, DC – Today, on Halloween, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio’s Senator Sherrod Brown introduced the Deceptive Loan Checks Elimination Act, which would prohibit companies from sending “live” loan checks to consumers. In these schemes, financial institutions send unsuspecting customers a check made out to them for some amount.