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 Unveils New Plan to Eliminate America’s Dependence on Overseas Oil
Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released an ambitious plan to eliminate America’s dependence on overseas oil by 2030 (online here). In a speech before the Center for American Progress, Merkley laid out the national security, economic and health reasons that such a plan is needed to
Seniors Begin to See Benefits of Health Reform as First Step to Closing Medicare “Donut Hole” Takes Effect
Washington, D.C. – Seniors across the country who struggle with the high cost of prescription drugs will begin to see relief this week as a result of the landmark health reform law. Rebate checks worth $250 will be mailed to seniors who are forced to pay full price for their
Merkley Calls for Stronger Food Safety Laws and Urges Senate to Quickly Pass Food Safety Bill
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today met with state public health officials and families of children who have been sickened by food-borne illnesses to talk about the need for stronger food safety laws and increased measures to track contaminated food. A food safety bill is currently pending in
Merkley Stresses College Affordability with UO Students and Calls for More Educational Opportunities
Eugene, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley met with University of Oregon students and faculty on campus today to stress the importance of education and college affordability and highlight the recent changes to student lending programs and the federal Pell Grant program. Merkley called for support of college affordability programs
Senate Supplemental Spending Bill Includes $10 Million for Klamath Drought Relief
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden successfully amended a Senate emergency spending bill to include $10 million in drought relief for farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin. In an unusual move, Representative Greg Walden came over to the Senate side of the Capitol to
Merkley Introduces Nationwide Bill to Encourage Electric Vehicle Deployment
Washington, DC— Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced today the “Electric Vehicle Deployment Act of 2010,” a bill that promotes the rapid, near-term deployment of plug-in electric drive motor vehicles. The bill would create “deployment communities” across the country, where targeted incentive programs for