Press Releases

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: March Jobless Numbers Underscore Urgent Need to Invest in Our Workers

Washington, DC – New jobs numbers released today show that Oregon’s unemployment rate rose from 10.7% in February to 12.1% in March.  In just nine months, Oregon’s unemployment rate has doubled, leaving tens of thousands of Oregonians out of work. “While anyone living in Oregon knows times are tough, Oregon’s

Merkley: Reducing Nuclear Stockpiles for Global Stability and Security

Washington, DC – Today, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev launched negotiations for a new nuclear arms treaty.  The current treaty governing nuclear arms – known as the START Treaty – expires in December of 2009. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, who worked on nuclear arms issues as a

Merkley: “Making Work Pay” Tax Credit to Benefit 1.4 Million Families

Washington, DC –Today, the Making Work Pay tax credit will go into effect, giving a tax cut to over 110 million American families, including 1.4 million families in Oregon who will save a combined $700 million in federal taxes. The tax credit is part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery

Merkley Joins Bipartisan Effort to Assist Farmers

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to introduce bipartisan legislation that will help reduce unnecessary regulations for farmers and ranchers in Oregon and across the nation. Specifically, the legislation would provide exemptions so that interstate trucking regulations would not apply to

Merkley Statement on President Obama Signing Public Lands Bill Into Law

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on President Obama signing the public lands bill into law: “I’m proud that President Obama and Congress have taken action and ensured the preservation of wilderness areas in Oregon and across the country,” said Merkley.  “After years of this

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