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,
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Food and Nutrition Service Reorganization
Oregon senators warn that reorganizations would “further weaken the ability of the agency to administer federal nutrition assistance programs.” Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S.
Merkley, Salinas, Pacific Northwest Democrats to Secretary Rollins: Act Quickly to Hire Agricultural Research Staff Across the Region
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led a group of their Pacific Northwest colleagues in pressing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins over her commitment to promptly fill critical staff positions that remain vacant at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill Includes Nearly $8 Million for Oregon Infrastructure Projects
Washington D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that nearly $8 million for infrastructure and job creation throughout Oregon will be included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Senate Appropriations bill. Projects in the spending bill will create construction and other jobs that come with
Merkley, Wyden Announce Up to $3 Million for Solar Energy Partnership in Bend
WASHINGTON D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that a partnership involving PV Powered, a manufacturer of photovoltaic solar inverters in Bend, Oregon, will receive up to $3 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop solar energy grid integration systems (SEGIS). A portion
Merkley Amendment to Bolster Local Energy Efficiency Programs Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today offered an amendment to the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations bill to support efficiency programs to help homeowners and business owners renovate buildings to save energy and cut their bills. The amendment was adopted unanimously. “This amendment will enable homeowners and local
Merkley, Wyden Announce $5 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Create and Retain Law Enforcement Jobs
WASHINGTON D.C. – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that over $5 million in Recovery Act funding will go to pay law enforcement salaries in Oregon communities. The funding will employ 21 full-time police officers for three years. Oregon communities receiving funding include Astoria, Grants Pass, Gresham,
Merkley Seeks Improvements to Mortgage Modification Program
WASHINGTON, DC – As top Obama Administration officials prepare for a meeting with the nation’s mortgage servicing companies, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today urged the Administration to take a number of steps to make it easier for homeowners at risk of foreclosure to modify the terms of their mortgages. “With
Merkley Applauds Fed for Steering Payment Ban
WASHINGTON, DC – Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Ben Bernanke, announced today that the Federal Reserve is recommending new rules to benefit consumers, including a ban on yield spread premiums, also known as steering payments. The new rules also require lenders to provide borrowers with a straightforward explanation of