Tag: Natural Resources and Rural Development

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today denounced the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to move forward with a recently adopted rule that would limit the federal resources available to expand broadband in rural areas. The rule would make areas that have received state-run broadband

WASHINGTON, DC — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced two letters pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for solutions to a number of administrative hurdles and eligibility problems within the ReConnect Program that have put critical broadband infrastructure assistance out of reach for Oregonians and communities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Tillamook People’s Utility has received a 30-year loan of over $42.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program for critical line expansion and improvement. “This loan will help

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today announced that a two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is included in the end-of-year funding package that will be considered by Congress this week. This significant win for

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that for the third year in a row, his rural development subcommittee has put more than a half-billion dollars to bringing high-speed internet to rural America.  The 2020 Agriculture and Rural Development spending bill includes $555 million—bringing the three-year total

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards totaling more than $7.4 million for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy infrastructure that will help lower their monthly energy costs. The awards, which are

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced nearly $3 million in federal grants, and over $4.5 million in federal loans, for critical wastewater treatment and municipal water system upgrades. The rural development funds will go to the cities of Cascade Locks and Amity. “When I

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would ensure counties receiving Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds cannot spend those federal resources on any activity related to lobbying. Wyden and Merkley said their bill is to ensure SRS funds remain dedicated to their intended

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to provide Malheur County several economic development opportunities by maintaining and improving rangeland to support local ranchers and protecting the Owyhee