Press Releases

Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $1.1 Million for Oregon Fish and Wildlife Conservation Efforts 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $1,059,961 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to support state fish and wildlife agencies. This funding comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) State Wildlife Grant program, which supports state agencies’ conservation efforts.   “Our state’s lands and waters are integral to

Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Bynum, Salinas Announce Over $7.5 Million to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities Facing Wildfire Threats 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), announced $7,538,176 is coming to four projects in Oregon to help make communities more resilient to severe wildfires. These investments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support disaster relief efforts and mitigate wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Oregon.  For

Kiggans and Merkley Continue to Support our Nursing Workforce in Light of the Recent Department of Education RISE Committee Final Rule 

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed concern following the Department of Education’s release of its final rule defining which healthcare professions qualify as “professional degrees.” The rule, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, excludes post-baccalaureate nursing programs from this designation. As

Merkley: We Need A Minimum Wage People Can Live On

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after a minority of Senators voted to filibuster a bill to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and index it to inflation. Merkley is one of two Senators leading the minimum wage bill. “In America, we need a

Merkley Announces Legislation to Give Seniors a Raise

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today met with seniors at the Hollywood Senior Center and announced that he will be introducing legislation in the Senate that will increase Social Security benefits for seniors by changing the cost of living adjustment (COLA) formula to keep up with inflation.  Since

On Equal Pay Day, Merkley Calls for Renewed Action

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement to mark Equal Pay Day – the day each year when women’s earnings catch up to men’s earnings in the previous year. “It is simply outrageous that in the year 2014, every American does not receive equal pay for

Senate Passes Merkley-Backed Extension of Emergency Unemployment Insurance

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today passed legislation cosponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of Senators to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits. The bipartisan legislation covers workers who have been looking for work for more than six months and includes retroactive payments to those who were

Merkley-Backed Bipartisan Unemployment Deal Moves Toward Final Passage in Senate

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the bipartisan legislation to extend emergency unemployment benefits overcame its final filibuster in the U.S. Senate with 61 votes, allowing a majority-rules vote on final passage on Monday: “In Oregon and across the nation, families looking for work need

Merkley Announces Fourteen Oregonians Accepted to U.S. Military Academies

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that fourteen of the approximately 35 nominations that he put forward to the four military academies have been accepted as students for the next year. America’s military academies are among the most selective and difficult to earn admission to among higher

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