Tag: Natural Resources and Rural Development

Merkley: Shell Made Right Decision, Arctic Drilling Too Risky and Dangerous

 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Royal Dutch Shell announced they will not drill in the Arctic Ocean in 2014.  “An oil spill in the Arctic would be disastrous, and I am glad Shell is cancelling plans to drill in this sensitive area this

Merkley Secures Support for Threatened Control Towers in Omnibus Bill

 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the omnibus spending bill that passed the Senate today will fully fund Oregon’s smaller airport control towers, ensuring that the air traffic control towers and airports in these communities will continue to operate. Because

Merkley’s Appropriations Seat Pays Dividends for Oregonians

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured investments in a wide range of Oregon priorities in the federal spending bill passed by the Senate today.  The provisions championed by Merkley will help put Oregonians to work in the woods reducing the threat

Merkley Ensures Coastal Priorities Addressed in Spending Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the omnibus spending bill that just passed the Senate includes several provisions directly benefiting the Oregon coast. The bill was the first since Merkley joined the committee, which shapes the federal government’s annual spending priorities. 

Merkley Proposal Leads to New Energy Loan Program for Rural Communities

Washington — Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of a new $250 million loan fund based on the Rural Energy Savings Program proposed by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley. The new program will allow rural electric co-ops to offer their customers low-interest loans from USDA to

Merkley Introduces Legislation to Provide Benefits to Families of Fallen Firefighters

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Fallen Wildland Firefighters Fair Compensation Act that would allow aerial and ground contracted firefighters to be covered for death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act (PSOB). Currently, these benefits are granted to state and local police, firefighters,

Merkley Introduces Legislation to Protect Homeowners From Flood Insurance Rate Spike

WASHINGTON, DC – On the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan coalition of Senators introduced the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act which will protect thousands of Oregon homeowners from facing huge flood insurance premium rate hikes and require FEMA to complete an affordability

Merkley Applauds Senate Extension of County Payments

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate passed a one-year extension of county payments for Oregon’s timber counties:  “This extension is badly needed in Oregon, and I am very pleased that the Senate has acted today. Timber counties are already cut to the bone

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