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Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help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
Merkley: Oregon Grown Clean Energy Proposal Will Create Jobs and Save Energy
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer, announced a plan today that will reduce energy consumption, create jobs and allow every American to participate in the fight to arrest global warming. The legislation is modeled on the bi-partisan State House Bill 2626, authored by
Merkley: Disaster Designation Will Help Provide Help to Oregon Fishermen and Coastal Economies
Washington, DC – Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke officially declared the 2009 salmon season a fishery failure in Oregon and California. This step will make the states eligible for $53 million in unspent disaster funds from 2008. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the declaration: “For
Merkley to Chair Hearing on Predatory Lending Practices
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley will continue his push to restore fairness to American homeowners by chairing an upcoming hearing in the Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee. Today, Merkley offered an amendment to the Senate housing bill that would ban steering payments and prepayment penalties that drive
Senator Merkley Addresses First Potential H1N1 Flu Virus Case in Oregon
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following statement regarding the Oregon Public Health Department’s identification of a potential H1N1 flu case in Oregon: “Today, state officials announced the first potential case of the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, in Oregon. I have been closely monitoring
Merkley: $75 Million for Streetcar is Victory for Oregon, Workers and the Environment
Washington, DC – Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that $75 million in federal funding is heading to Portland to help fund the expansion of the streetcar to the Eastside. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, who joined LaHood on a conference call with other members of the Oregon delegation,
Merkley Joins Kennedy in Supporting Hate Crime Prevention Bill
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D – Mass.) to co-sponsor the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. The bill will enable the Justice Department to assist local authorities in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes by authorizing