Press Releases

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,

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Effort to Make Medical Devices Safer

Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, with Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), introduced the bipartisan Ensuring Safe Medical Devices for Patients Act. The bill would give the Food and Drug Administration the tools it needs to improve oversight of medical devices.  Defective

Merkley: Transportation Bill Great News for Oregon

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on passage of the Transportation Reauthorization in the U.S. Senate.  “The passage of the transportation bill is great news for Oregon. Oregon’s businesses will soon be able to get their products to market more quickly. Unemployed Oregonians will be put

Merkley Applauds Decision to Grant Variance to Portland Water Bureau

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the announcement by the Oregon Health Authority that they have granted a formal, first in the country, variance for Portland’s municipal drinking water system: “This is great news for the City of Portland and its ratepayers. I’ve been

CROWDFUND Act to Encourage Safe, Accessible Investing Through the Internet

Washington, DC- Today, a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to provide online funding for startup companies while instituting strong protections for investors.  The Capital Raising Online While Deterring Fraud and Unethical Non-Disclosure Act of 2011 (CROWDFUND Act) would legalize and regulate the raising of start-up capital for small businesses

Merkley Amendment Huge Win for Farmers and Ranchers

Washington, DC – Today, the United States Senate passed by voice vote a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley that would make it easier for farmers and ranchers to transport their products to market if they operate near state lines. The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Roy Blunt

MERKLEY ANNOUNCES LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON PAYDAY LENDERS

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced his intent to introduce federal payday legislation to establish strong rules for payday lenders and close loopholes on online and offshore payday lending sites. Today, Merkley also sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Richard Cordray to call

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