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,

Merkley: We Need to Focus on Jobs

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement regarding press reports that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction would be unable to come up with a deficit-reduction agreement, triggering $1.2 trillion in automatic defense and domestic spending cuts:  “The supercommittee failed to reach an agreement for

Bipartisan Amendment Calls for Accelerated Handover in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC – Ten years after the start of the war in Afghanistan, more than one hundred thousand American troops remain in that nation, providing military and security assistance to the Afghanistan government.  A bipartisan group of senators today offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to urge the

Merkley Introduces Bill to Help Small Businesses in Hard-Hit Communities Add Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a bill to reduce the wait time for counties to benefit from a federal program that aids small businesses in hard-hit areas. There is currently a two-year lag time after the census is completed before metro areas can be designated HUBZones.   “Small

Merkley Statement on Veterans Day

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day. “Tomorrow we will honor the men and women who have served our nation in the armed forces.  With courage and grace, our servicemen and women fought for and defended our country and the unique rights

SEN. MERKLEY, REP. MIKE THOMPSON INTRODUCE KLAMATH BASIN ECONOMIC RESTORATION ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) and Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) today jointly introduced the Klamath Basin Economic Restoration Act in the Senate and House. The legislation would implement a comprehensive plan, developed through a multi-year collaborative effort among farmers, ranchers, fishermen, Tribal leaders, and conservationists, to settle one of

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