NEW: Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), and U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).
Merkley, Krishnamoorthi Fight Back Against Predatory For-Profit Colleges Scamming Students with Worthless College Degrees
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) reintroduced legislation to protect students from predatory higher-education programs—which are often run by for-profit colleges—that target financially vulnerable students, leave borrowers buried in debt, and force taxpayers to foot the bill for federal aid that
Merkley: Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill Advances in the U.S. Senate, Includes Key Priorities for Oregon
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee—announced today the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 cleared a key hurdle by passing out of the EPW Committee. WRDA is critical, bipartisan legislation that authorizes U.S. Army Corps of
Merkley, Bond, Bayh Introduce Bill to Rebuild Local Economies Hit Hardest by Recession
Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Kit Bond (R-Mo.), and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) today introduced legislation to help local businesses stay afloat during times of recession and high unemployment. The Rebuilding Local Business Act creates a temporary three-year HUBZone “Rebuilding Status” for counties that have an unemployment rate
Senate Committee Clears Merkley Columbia River Restoration Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed a bill authored by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and Montana Senator Max Baucus, to support the clean-up and restoration of the Columbia River Basin. The bill will authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to provide
Merkley, Wyden Announce $4.8 Million for Health Care Job Training Through Portland Community College
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Portland Community College will receive $4.8 million to train over 800 Oregonians for jobs in high-demand health care fields. The Healthcare Oregon Pathways to Employment (HOPE) program focuses on training for unemployed, dislocated, and incumbent workers and
Merkley Statement on PILT Funding Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the Department of Interior’s announcement of Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding being sent to local governments today: “Oregon taxpayers don’t have the luxury of waiting to pay their property taxes, and the federal government shouldn’t either.
Merkley Statement on Passing of Senator Robert Byrd
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passing of West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd: “Thirty years ago, I first entered the Capital as an intern for Senator Mark Hatfield. Even then, Senator Byrd was already a mainstay of the Senate. In the years since,
Merkley, Wyden and Schrader Announce $10 Million Award for City of Stayton
Washington D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Congressman Kurt Schrader (D- Ore.)announced today that the Rural Development office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved an award to the City of Stayton for over $10 million. The award includes a loan of