Tag: Jobs and the Economy

Merkley Demands Changes to Help Oregon Timber Workers Get Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Though Oregon’s timber counties have among the highest unemployment rates in the Northwest, a recent report from the Department of Labor’s Inspector General revealed that millions of dollars in stimulus funds were used by contractors employing foreign workers to perform forest thinning work. Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff

Merkley: We Need to Focus on Jobs

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement regarding press reports that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction would be unable to come up with a deficit-reduction agreement, triggering $1.2 trillion in automatic defense and domestic spending cuts:  “The supercommittee failed to reach an agreement for

Merkley Introduces Bill to Help Small Businesses in Hard-Hit Communities Add Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a bill to reduce the wait time for counties to benefit from a federal program that aids small businesses in hard-hit areas. There is currently a two-year lag time after the census is completed before metro areas can be designated HUBZones.   “Small

Transportation Bill Passes Out of Committee

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today joined his colleagues in the Environment and Public Works Committee in unanimously approving bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the nation’s transportation programs for two years.  “Finally, a major jobs bill with bipartisan support is making forward progress in the U.S. Senate,” Merkley said. “This

Merkley Urges Rehab-to-Rent Strategy to Help Stabilize Housing

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined 33 of his colleagues in asking the Obama Administration and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to swiftly develop an efficient and effective real estate owned (REO) management strategy. This strategy will convert foreclosed homes into affordable rentals to help address the foreclosure

Merkley Offers Amendment to Expand ‘Buy America’ Program to Freight Rail

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today put forward a measure makes sure that federal freight rail projects paid for with taxpayer dollars use components made by American workers. The Department of Transportation operates under Buy America rules for its grant programs administered by the Federal Transit Administration and

Merkley Highlights Unfair Chinese Subsidies and the Effect on American Jobs

Oregon City, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today met with former employees of the Blue Heron Paper Mill and highlighted the unfair subsidies and trade policies of China and the effect that those subsidies have on closing down factories in America and shipping jobs overseas. Merkley was joined at

Merkley Statement on Korea, Panama, and Colombia Trade Agreements

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement prior to votes today on the Korea, Panama, and Colombia Free Trade Agreements.  “I have one standard when it comes to trade agreements:  will these agreements increase prosperity for working families?  Looking at the trade deals before us, I

Merkley Statement on China Currency Vote

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the passage of the China currency bill. “The Chinese manipulation of their currency makes American exports more expensive and Chinese imports cheaper, greatly distorting international trade, and destroying American manufacturing jobs. This is unacceptable and cannot be ignored.

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