Tag: Natural Resources and Rural Development

Wyden, Merkley Push for Oregon Counties to Receive Federal Timber Payments

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to make much-needed federal timber sales payments as quickly as possible to Oregon counties in need of funding for schools, roads and law enforcement. In letters (attached) to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack,

Columbia River Cleanup Bill Passes Congress

Cleaning up and monitoring toxics in the Columbia River Basin could now be a little easier. Congress recently passed a bill that would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to start a voluntary grant program for environmental cleanup in the Columbia River system. The Columbia River Basin, which was named as a

Columbia River Restoration Act Passes in House and Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-4) announced that the Columbia River Restoration Act has passed in the House and the Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation

Merkley Decries Lack of Secure Rural Schools Extension in Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding his ‘no’ vote on the continuing resolution tonight: “With tonight’s congressional action—or lack thereof—a critical lifeline for rural Oregon will disappear. Since 2000, the Secure Rural Schools program has provided essential resources for rural Oregon counties to maintain

Wyden, Merkley Urge Senate to Extend Critical Lifeline for Rural Communities

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley urged the Senate to keep the government’s promise to rural communities in Oregon, 40 other states and Puerto Rico by passing legislation that would provide vital funding for schools, law enforcement and essential road repairs. Since payments through the

Senate Democrats gear up to fight Trump’s ‘dangerous’ EPA nominee

Moments after news broke that President-elect Donald Trump would be appointing Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt?—?a close friend of the fossil fuel industry and noted climate denier?—?as EPA administrator, Democratic legislators in Congress began voicing their ardent disapproval. “At a time when climate change is the great environmental threat to the

Wyden, Merkley urge Obama to permanently ban offshore oil drilling

Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, wrote to President Obama, urging him to exercise his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently withdraw the West Coast from

Merkley Joins with Central Oregon Irrigators to Discuss Water Conservation Progress

BEND, OR – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined with Central Oregon irrigators and fish and wildlife advocates in Bend to highlight progress that is being made on water conservation in the upper Deschutes Basin. The gathering discussed how federal funding that Merkley is fighting for can further support efforts to

Merkley to Host Public Meeting on Proposal to Expand the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

ASHLAND, OR – On Friday, October 14th at 2:00 P.M. PT, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley will hold a public meeting at Southern Oregon University in Ashland to discuss the Senator’s proposal to expand the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Deputy Secretary of the Interior Michael Connor will attend the public meeting along with Mayor John Stromberg of Ashand

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