Press Releases

Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $1.1 Million for Oregon Fish and Wildlife Conservation Efforts 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $1,059,961 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to support state fish and wildlife agencies. This funding comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) State Wildlife Grant program, which supports state agencies’ conservation efforts.   “Our state’s lands and waters are integral to

Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Bynum, Salinas Announce Over $7.5 Million to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities Facing Wildfire Threats 

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), announced $7,538,176 is coming to four projects in Oregon to help make communities more resilient to severe wildfires. These investments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support disaster relief efforts and mitigate wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Oregon.  For

Kiggans and Merkley Continue to Support our Nursing Workforce in Light of the Recent Department of Education RISE Committee Final Rule 

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expressed concern following the Department of Education’s release of its final rule defining which healthcare professions qualify as “professional degrees.” The rule, set to take effect on July 1, 2026, excludes post-baccalaureate nursing programs from this designation. As

Merkley Supports Efforts to Assist Homeless Veterans

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley signed on Tuesday as a co-sponsor of three bills to provide shelter and assistance to homeless veterans.  The bills will authorize funding to expand housing and health services for low-income veterans. “Our veterans put their lives on the line for our nation.  It

Honoring America’s Veterans

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in honor of veterans of the United States armed forces: “Since World War I, when a temporary cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the

Merkley Statement on the National Unemployment Rate

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today on the announcement by the Department of Labor that the national unemployment rate jumped to 10.2 percent, the highest rate since 1983: “The unemployment rate isn’t just a statistic we use to measure the state of the economy. 

Merkley Joins Victims of Employment Discrimination to Support Legislation Providing Protection for LGBT Employees

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined several victims of employment discrimination today in support of bipartisan legislation to provide basic protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.  The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), introduced by Senator Merkley and Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), would

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