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: Weakening Clean Air Act Would Jeopardize Health of Our Communities

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in response to the series of votes today aimed at weakening the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency: “The Clean Air Act has prevented thousands of cases of respiratory illness and made our communities healthier for our

Merkley and Snowe Introduce Bipartisan Energy Security Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Obama discussed strategies to reduce American dependence on foreign oil Wednesday, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation that sets a goal of ending America’s dependence on overseas oil by 2030.  The Energy Security Act of 2011 would establish a National

Merkley Amendment Would Reduce Wait Time for HUBZone Designation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley put forward an amendment Wednesday to reduce the wait time for small businesses 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

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