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Dexter, Merkley Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters’ Health

September 17, 2026

Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes first-of-its-kind respiratory protections, strengthens health monitoring and improves care for federal wildland firefighters. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (D-OR), Reps. Huffman (D-CA) and Gallagher (R-CA), and Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA), Curtis (R-UT), Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety

Curtis, Merkley Wildfire Emissions Prevention Bill Unanimously Passes Committee

September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s unanimous passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA), bipartisan legislation to streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier,

Merkley Joins Effort to Help State, Local, Tribal Agencies Monitor Air Pollution from Wildfires

August 24, 2026

Washington, D.C.– Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined his Senate colleagues to introduce new legislation that would help state, local, and Tribal government agencies monitor worsening air pollution caused by wildfires and make more informed public health decisions. “When the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over

Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Proposed Forest Research and Development Facility Closures, Demand Transparency

August 14, 2026

Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their Senate colleagues in urging U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz to provide Congress with a full breakdown of the Service’s decision to potentially close up to 57 U.S. Forest Service Research and Development (R&D) Facilities, including the Portland-based Pacific

Merkley, Padilla, Shaheen, Schiff, Rosen, Cortez Masto, Heinrich, Wyden, Klobuchar: CFTC Must Rein in Wildfire Bets on Prediction Markets

August 3, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to press the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on its plans to

As Wildfires Burn 1+ Million Acres Across Oregon, Merkley, Wyden Press FEMA on Denial of Emergency Federal Assistance

July 28, 2026

Salem, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden demanded urgent answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the agency’s denial of Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) for two wildfires in Oregon: the East Evans Creek Fire and Rowe Creek Fire Complex. Both fires

Merkley, Wyden Announce $30 Million Federal Support to Expand Clatskanie Scion Sawmill

July 24, 2026

SALEM, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will finance $30 million for Clatskanie Scion LLC to expand a new sawmill. Clatskanie Scion LLC will use the funding to expand operations for Myers Woodline to manufacture industrial lumber products

Merkley, Curtis Lead Bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act

July 23, 2026

Bipartisan legislation removes regulatory burden on proactive forest management efforts to mitigate wildfires Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led their EPW colleagues—including Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Alex

New Merkley Bill Tackles Dual Crises of Wildfire Risk and Insurance Affordability

July 23, 2026

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today unveiled the Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act, new legislation that would help homeowners reduce wildfire risk, give insurers confidence in lowering home insurance rates in communities at risk of fires, and keep insurers in the market. “The threat of wildfires is sending

Merkley, Hyde-Smith, Bentz, Thompson Launch New Bipartisan Effort to Promote Renewable Fuels, Boost Wildfire Resiliency

July 22, 2026

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) partnered with U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02) to introduce the Wildfire Reduction Market Expansion Act. This new bipartisan, bicameral legislation proposes to modernize the definition for renewable biomass under the Renewable Fuel Standard, establishing