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,
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Food and Nutrition Service Reorganization
Oregon senators warn that reorganizations would “further weaken the ability of the agency to administer federal nutrition assistance programs.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S.
Merkley, Salinas, Pacific Northwest Democrats to Secretary Rollins: Act Quickly to Hire Agricultural Research Staff Across the Region
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led a group of their Pacific Northwest colleagues in pressing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins over her commitment to promptly fill critical staff positions that remain vacant at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
BLM Contract Extension Passes U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate today passed the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, which incorporated the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act by amendment. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act in November 2009 to help timber companies remain competitive and sustain economic growth. The Forest
Merkley Introduces Bill to Create Jobs and Lower Energy Costs for Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation today to create jobs and lower energy bills for families and small businesses in rural communities by promoting energy-saving home renovations. The Rural Energy Savings Program would assist rural electric co-ops in offering “on-bill” financing to their customers, allowing families and
Merkley and Levin Introduce Legislation to Restrict Banks and the Largest Financial Institutions from Making High-Risk Bets
WASHINGTON, D.C. – United States Senators Jeff Merkley (OR), Carl Levin (MI), Ted Kaufman (DE), Sherrod Brown (OH), and Jeanne Shaheen (NH) put forward a new proposal today to help prevent taxpayer bailouts of financial firms by limiting high-risk speculation, also known as proprietary trading. “There is a place for
Merkley, Wyden Urge Obama Administration to Provide Drought Assistance for Klamath Basin
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden requested immediate and expansive drought assistance for Klamath Basin in anticipation of emergency drought conditions this year. In a letter sent today, the senators urged Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Department of Commerce
Merkley Statement on Passing of Ben Westlund
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passing of Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund: I first met Ben in 1997 before I was elected to serve in the Oregon legislature. I was enormously impressed by his earnestnes and command of the issues. That first impression never wavered
Merkley, Pryor Announce Energy-efficiency Renovations Program for Commercial Buildings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) introduced legislation Thursday to create jobs by promoting the installation of energy-efficient renovations in commercial and multi-family residential buildings. Merkley and Pryor were joined by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Ben Cardin