Tag: Bipartisan Actions

Following Institute of Medicine Study Confirming Agent Orange Exposure, Bipartisan Group of Senators Calls on VA Secretary to Ensure Post Vietnam Air Force Veterans Receive Proper Benefits and Compensation

February 4, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of senators led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) today called on VA Secretary Robert McDonald to ensure that veterans long denied care for exposure to Agent Orange receive timely and proper benefits and compensation. The letter follows a

Merkley, Walden Deliver Crooked River Victory for Central Oregon

December 12, 2014

WASHINGTON – This holiday season, Central Oregon will have one more reason to celebrate: In the final moments of the 113th Congress, major legislation implementing improved water management in Central Oregon has been passed unanimously by both the Senate and the House, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Greg Walden

Bennet, Merkley Press SEC to Finalize Crowdfunding Rules

December 12, 2014

Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to finalize its crowdfunding rules that will allow small businesses and start-ups to raise capital online and through social media. Bennet and Merkley were lead sponsors along with former Republican

Merkley, Walden Deliver Crooked River Agreement as Legislation Passes Senate

December 11, 2014

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Greg Walden announced they have reached an agreement on legislation to implement a collaborative vision for water management along the Crooked River, and that the bill passed the Senate unanimously this afternoon. These developments set the stage for the bill to

Bipartisan, Bicoastal Group of Lawmakers Calls on Coast Guard to Keep Facilities Open

November 18, 2014

Washington, D.C. – In a continued effort to ensure the safety of residents living and working in coastal areas, members of Congress from South Carolina today joined Oregon lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to keep facilities in Oregon and South Carolina from closing next month. Senators Ron

Klamath Water Bill Passes Senate Committee

November 13, 2014

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation implementing water agreements in the Klamath Basin, moving the legislation one step closer to becoming law. Giving the legislation further momentum, the bill – the Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act – was passed,

Military spouses gain new education benefits as VA implements Merkley legislation

October 21, 2014

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley commended today’s announcement by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that the Fry Scholarship will be available starting on November 3, 2014 to spouses of servicemembers who died on active duty. This expanded scholarship comes as a result of legislation authored by Senator

Merkley Pledges to Continue Fighting for Critical Dredging Funds for Small Ports

August 22, 2014

FLORENCE – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke at the Oregon Coast Economic Summit on Wednesday, highlighting his work for Oregon’s coastal communities and promising to keep pushing to maximize funds for small port dredging, a major driver of local coastal economies and an important source of jobs. Merkley also received

Merkley, Feinstein Lead Senators in Calling for Greater Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Efforts

August 18, 2014

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing the dangers to U.S. national security posed by terrorists and rogue states seeking nuclear weapons, a bipartisan group of 26 senators sent a letter last week to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Shaun Donovan, calling on the President to support increased

Congress Passes Merkley Bill in Veterans Compromise

July 31, 2014

WASHINGTON – Today the Senate passed compromise legislation to reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and improve veterans’ benefits, which includes a provision authored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to expand educational benefits to spouses of service members who die in the line of the duty. The bill, which was passed