Press Releases

Merkley, Oregon Delegation Decry Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks

Peters, Schumer, Murray & Merkley Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding OMB Rescind Rule Giving President Sweeping Power to Politicize Federal Grants

WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader; Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in demanding

Federal Economic Recovery Money will Help Boardman Create New Jobs and Opportunity

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded today’s announcement that ZeaChem, Inc. in Boardman will receive a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. ZeaChem will use the funds to build a biorefinery which will use purpose-grown hybrid poplar trees to produce fuel-grade cellulosic ethanol using hybrid

Merkley Supports Bill to Level the Playing Field for American Workers

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he has co-sponsored legislation to reform existing trade policy that has put American workers at a disadvantage in the global marketplace.  The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Employment (TRADE) Act sets standards for labor, environmental, and other basic protections in

Merkley Statement on President Obama’s Address on Afghanistan

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s announcement of more troops for Afghanistan: “I appreciate that President Obama has taken the time to fully examine this issue and consider the available options.  However, I’m not convinced the case has been made

Merkley: Senate Takes Historic Step Towards Reforming Health Care

Washington, DC – The United States Senate today voted to begin to debate legislation to finally reform our broken health care system.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley voted to proceed to the debate and issued the following statement: “This debate is far from over, but we have now come further than any

Merkley Announces Donation of Senate Computers to Oregon Schools

Washington D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that five Oregon schools and school districts will receive surplus computers from the United States Senate. Three schools and two school districts from the Willamette Valley to Umatilla County will each receive five computers from the U.S. Senate’s Computers for Schools

Senate Passes Package to Strengthen Health Care for Veterans

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate passed an omnibus bill Thursday that bolsters health care for veterans on several fronts.  The legislation includes four bills co-sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley that will provide benefits to caregivers of severely injured veterans, improve care for female veterans, assist homeless veterans, and

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