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 Introduces Bill to Protect Forest Jobs
Washington – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced The American Jobs in American Forests Act to tighten restrictions on a visa program that was used to hire foreign workers at the expense of Oregon forest workers. In 2011, the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor released an audit
Merkley: GOP Boycott of McCarthy Vote Pathetic Dereliction of Duty
Washington – Oregon’s Senator Merkley released the following statement after Republican members of the EPW Committee boycotted a vote on the confirmation of Gina McCarthy to be EPA Administrator. “Gina McCarthy is eminently qualified to head the Environmental Protection Agency. She has impeccable credentials and has earned the praise of business
Merkley: Oregon Retailers Should Not Be Forced to Collect Inefficient, Regressive Sales Tax
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the passage of a bill to force internet retailers to collect sales taxes for states and municipalities that have local sales taxes. “I voted no on the internet sales tax because the citizens of Oregon have said nine
Merkley Applauds Forest Service Action on “Next Generation” Airtankers
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service announced it would award operating contracts for “Next Generation” airtankers to be used in wildfire suppression: “I am pleased that the Forest Service is moving forward to get these planes into service. Last
Merkley Meets with Portland Veterans, Calls for Action to Address Backlog of Veterans Claims
Portland, OR— Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel today visited Portland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4248 and met with area veterans to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) growing backlog of unanswered veteran’s benefit claims. The average wait time for Oregon veterans to receive
Merkley Announces Bills to Prepare Students for 21st Century Jobs
Eugene, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley visited Churchill High School in Eugene today to discuss his science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education legislation that he introduced last week. Merkley also unveiled legislation that he is preparing to introduce that would provide grants for career technical education (CTE) to