Press Releases

Oregon Airports to Receive $14.5 Million in Federal Investments

Airports receiving federal funds include those in Ashland, Eugene, Hermiston, La Grande, Pendleton, Portland, Prineville, Salem, and Scappoose Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04) Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that nine Oregon airports will receive

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, Wyden, Colleagues Fight Back Against Trump’s Executive Order Restricting Vote by Mail, Press USPS on Unconstitutional Executive Order 

Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined over 30 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act). The bill would defend the right to vote by mail, uphold the integrity of our elections, and block President Trump’s illegal, unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots. “Oregonians know that vote by mail has been a cornerstone in holding secure, accessible, high-integrity elections for

Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Forest Service Reorganization

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, led over 30 of his colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden—in raising strong concerns about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  “We write with

Merkley: Republican Budget Resolution Ignores the Needs of Working Families

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Resolution that will enable a reconciliation bill to provide up to $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and

Merkley Remarks at FY27 Interior Department Budget Hearing with Secretary Burgum

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—delivered the following remarks as prepared for delivery at the hearing reviewing the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget request for the U.S. Department of the Interior with Secretary Doug Burgum: Senator Merkley’s remarks, as

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