NEW: Trump’s War in Iran Cost DoD Nearly $40 Billion and Drove Nearly Half of Inflation, According to CBO Report
Text of Report (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to an inquiry led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, along with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new data on the cost of President
Merkley, Williams, Booker Lead Push to Close Constitutional Loophole Allowing for Slavery
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Nikema Williams (GA-05) today teamed up with New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker to reintroduce the End the Exception Amendment. The bicameral resolution would strike the ‘Slavery Clause’ of the 13th Amendment, a constitutional loophole that allows slavery “as a punishment
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon
Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year’s record-low snowpack. “Water scarcity
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
Wyden, Merkley Announce $1 million For PSU to Expand Research in Energy Efficient Building Practices
Washington, D.C. – Continuing efforts to improve energy efficiency and promote green industries of the future, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that Portland State University will receive a $1 million grant to fund a public-private research partnership into green building practices, materials and training.