{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"OR\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senate-unanimously-passes-merkley-curtis-bipartisan-wildfire-emissions-prevention-act/", "Senate Unanimously Passes Merkley-Curtis Bipartisan Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bipartisan legislation would remove regulatory burden on proactive forest management, lower net emissions\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA).\n\nMerkley and Curtis\u2019 bipartisan legislation would streamline states\u2019 use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels longer, hotter, and more dangerous wildfire seasons, our communities need to have all the necessary resources to mitigate wildfire threats. Prescribed fire and cultural burning on the landscape are one such tool by reducing hazardous fuels,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would streamline the use of prescribed burns and includes my provisions to establish the Smoke Ready Communities Program. With our Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act passing the Senate, we are on the way to supporting more prescribed fire on the landscape\u2014an essential forest management activity\u2014while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events, protecting public health and saving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cUtah has faced a devastating fire season, and we know that preventing catastrophic wildfires starts with giving land managers the tools to reduce hazardous fuels before they burn,\u201d said Curtis. \u201cPrescribed fire works, and states should not be penalized for responsibly using it to protect communities, forests, and air quality. I\u2019m grateful the Senate unanimously passed this commonsense, bipartisan bill, and I urge the House to act quickly so we can get it to the President\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nThe Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:\n\nMake it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;\n\nProtect ecosystems and wildlife habitats;\n\nProvide certainty that states won\u2019t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;\n\nPromote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and\n\nMake our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.\n\nThe bill passed the EPW Committee with a vote of 19-0 on September 16, 2026.\n\nA one-page summary of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act is available by clicking here, and the full bill text of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act is available by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-hoyle-dexter-bynum-oppose-trumps-undermining-of-due-process-and-politicizing-immigration-courts/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump\u2019s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Oregon lawmakers demand an end to expedited \u201cmega master\u201d hearings in Portland, Tacoma, and other immigration centers.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bynum-announce-100000-for-central-oregon-wildfire-recovery/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Announce $100,000 for Central Oregon Wildfire Recovery", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum, today announced $100,000 in federal awards to support displaced Oregonians and wildfire recovery efforts for Central Oregon communities that lost homes in the 2026 wildfires.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires in central Oregon and statewide set new records every year in size and intensity, the rural communities on the front lines of these fights are the most in need of resources for recovery efforts,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI applaud this federal award that will support Central Oregon communities including Warm Springs residents who were forced to flee from their homes, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support wildfire prevention and recovery across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen disaster strikes, Oregon\u2019s communities show up to help each other. These federal funds will help NeighborImpact provide critical support to Warm Springs families recovering from the devastating July wildfires, including emergency shelter, relocation assistance, and essential household supplies,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal resources home to Oregon so our communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo where to sleep. Only the clothes on your back. Food to go is the only option. All in the matter of one day,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cI\u2019ve heard that story too many times from my constituents. People need help after an emergency, and the faster that help comes, the better shot they have of rebuilding what was lost. And by help I mean money to get the basics. That\u2019s the difference this funding can and will make.\u201d\n\nThe $100,000 in federal awards from the NeighborWorks Disaster Grants program will be distributed to NeighborImpact, a central Oregon nonprofit that serves economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Thousands of Warm Springs residents were forced to evacuate and several homes were lost in the July 2026 fires. The grant will support the Wildfire Recovery Fund that is used to provide emergency shelter, relocation assistance, provide/replace personal items such as baby supplies, hygiene products, houseware items, laundry and cleaning supplies.\n\n\u201cWarm Springs deserves to be included in the regional response to wildfire and other needs on an equal basis with counties. Too often, tribal communities are a place to drive through, not a place to drive to. NeighborImpact values all our neighbors, including tribal neighbors, and the fires that burned at Warm Springs this summer, while devastating, were respond to and will continue to be responded to vigorously and thoroughly with resources, support for displaced people and empathy from our organization and, I hope, neighboring communities. The congressional appropriation funded through NeighborWorks America is a much-appreciated and critical tool enabling us to help in a time of need,\u201d said Scott Cooper, Executive Director of NeighborImpact.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-republicans-block-wyden-bill-to-ban-data-centers-on-public-lands", "Senate Republicans Block Wyden Bill to Ban Data Centers on Public Lands", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced and sought to pass legislation that would ban the sale or transfer of federally-owned public lands for the purpose of developing new data centers and associated infrastructure in Oregon and nationwide.\n\nIntroduction of the bill follows recent reports that the Trump administration is considering the transfer of more than 17,000 acres of public land across Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah to build 12 new data centers. Further reporting confirms that the administration is eyeing a parcel of federal land in Eastern Oregon near Hermiston, Ore., for development.\n\nWyden worked to pass his legislation on the floor earlier today through a fast-track legislative process, citing the urgent need for Congress to act before the administration sets this dangerous precedent.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and his allies have taken every opportunity to chip away at what belongs to the American people. All in an effort to boost profits for corporations and secure bigger campaign support for themselves,\u201d Wyden said on the Senate floor. \u201cCongress must not let the Trump administration establish a dangerous precedent that our public lands are a fire-sale inventory for development by the highest bidder.\u201d\n\nText of the legislation is here.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-introduces-bill-to-ban-data-centers-on-public-lands", "Wyden Introduces Bill to Ban Data Centers on Public Lands", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Wyden bill follows public reporting that Trump administration is trying to transfer over 17,000 acres of public land in the West for data center development\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would ban the development, sale or transfer of federally-owned public lands for the purpose of constructing new data centers and associated infrastructure in Oregon and nationwide.\n\nIntroduction of the bill follows recent reports that the Trump administration is considering the transfer of more than 17,000 acres of public land across Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah to build 12 new data centers. Further reporting confirms that the administration is eyeing a parcel of federal land in Eastern Oregon near Hermiston, Ore., for development.\n\n\u201cPublic lands belong to the taxpayers, not corporations, and especially not Donald Trump,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIf there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve learned during my time in public service, it\u2019s that when you come for Oregonians\u2019 public lands, you\u2019ll have hell to pay. My legislation is the ironclad path to ensuring that Trump \u2013 or any future administration \u2013 cannot hijack our treasured public lands to build data centers that use up water resources and jack up energy costs.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year, Wyden unveiled a comprehensive proposal to ensure data centers start paying for the disruptions caused to communities like higher energy costs and water usage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-hoyle-dexter-bynum-oppose-trumps-undermining-of-due-process-and-politicizing-immigration-courts", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump\u2019s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon lawmakers demand an end to expedited \u201cmega master\u201d hearings in Portland, Tacoma, and other immigration centers.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of \u201cmega master\u201d immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants\u2019 cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process.\n\n\u201cThis unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious constitutional concerns and is unworthy of the oaths you swore to uphold,\u201d the Oregon lawmakers wrote to Attorney General Todd Blanche, Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review and David Venturella, Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\n\u201cOver the past year, your agencies have increased the number of immigrants who must appear on little-to-no notice for so-called \u2018mega master\u2019 hearings on overcrowded dockets in front of Trump\u2019s handpicked judges at courts across the country, all while stripping immigrants of their legal status, ramping up arrests and detention, and limiting their access to legal counsel for representation in court and fast-tracked asylum interviews,\u201d they wrote.\n\n\u201cThese policy changes confuse and terrify law-abiding immigrants in our communities and prevent them from having a fair day in court.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote that the Portland Immigration Court in Oregon is now holding about two \u201cmega master\u201d hearings every week, in addition to maintaining its previously-scheduled docket hearings and individual merit hearings. That has forced immigrants anticipating court dates in 2027 or 2028 to suddenly show up on extremely short notice and scrambling both to figure out how to get to the court on time, and to find an attorney to represent them.\n\n\u201cAs if the changes at the Portland Immigration Court weren\u2019t bad enough, the neighboring Tacoma Immigration Court has now had judges deciding in mid-August to stop allowing immigration attorneys across Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska from appearing remotely on behalf of their clients detained at the regional detention center,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cPreviously, the Tacoma Immigration Court allowed out-of-state attorneys to represent their clients by making court appearances through video conferencing technology. Now attorneys\u2014and when applicable, expert witnesses\u2014 have to attend these hearings in person.\u201d\n\nThe new requirement for immigration attorneys to represent their clients in person comes as immigration judges allow Department of Homeland Security prosecutors to participate in hearings remotely. In other cases even the presiding judge is attending remotely as well, with attorneys sharing that remote appearances by judges happen in about half the cases that they must attend in-person at the Tacoma Immigration Court.\n\nThese new in-person requirements also come as attorneys share that the court is sending \u201cnotices to appear\u201d and setting hearings for that same morning giving the attorneys little time to prepare or make travel arrangements from out of state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has also been routinely denying immigration attorneys access to their clients at detention centers, and transferring clients thousands of miles away to detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cImmigration court proceedings must uphold fairness and rule of law and not be politicized to satisfy Donald Trump\u2019s arbitrary detention quotas. We call on the Trump administration to discontinue policies and tactics that undermine constitutional due process. Our legal system relies on accountability; therefore, we demand that you establish fair and meaningful hearings that provide a genuine day in court and uphold the integrity of our nation\u2019s immigration system,\u201d the lawmakers concluded.\n\nThe lawmakers ended their letter demanding a written response by October 15th, 2026 detailing the steps that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will take to achieve the following:\n\nTerminate \u201cmega master\u201d hearings.\n\nProvide immigrants with sufficient notice of their proceedings.\n\nReduce hardships on immigration attorneys.\n\nEnsure that immigration judges hear cases individually, free from political influence.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bynum-announce-100000-for-central-oregon-wildfire-recovery", "Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Announce $100,000 for Central Oregon Wildfire Recovery", "2026-09-30", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum, today announced $100,000 in federal awards to support displaced Oregonians and wildfire recovery efforts for Central Oregon communities that lost homes in the 2026 wildfires.\n\n\u201cAs wildfires in central Oregon and statewide set new records every year in size and intensity, the rural communities on the front lines of these fights are the most in need of resources for recovery efforts,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI applaud this federal award that will support Central Oregon communities including Warm Springs residents who were forced to flee from their homes, and I will continue to fight for more resources to support wildfire prevention and recovery across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen disaster strikes, Oregon\u2019s communities show up to help each other. These federal funds will help NeighborImpact provide critical support to Warm Springs families recovering from the devastating July wildfires, including emergency shelter, relocation assistance, and essential household supplies,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll keep fighting to bring federal resources home to Oregon so our communities have the support they need to recover and rebuild.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo where to sleep. Only the clothes on your back. Food to go is the only option. All in the matter of one day,\u201d said Rep. Bynum. \u201cI\u2019ve heard that story too many times from my constituents. People need help after an emergency, and the faster that help comes, the better shot they have of rebuilding what was lost. And by help I mean money to get the basics. That\u2019s the difference this funding can and will make.\u201d\n\nThe $100,000 in federal awards from the NeighborWorks Disaster Grants program will be distributed to NeighborImpact, a central Oregon nonprofit that serves economically disadvantaged residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Thousands of Warm Springs residents were forced to evacuate and several homes were lost in the July 2026 fires. The grant will support the Wildfire Recovery Fund that is used to provide emergency shelter, relocation assistance, provide/replace personal items such as baby supplies, hygiene products, houseware items, laundry and cleaning supplies.", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-applauds-gao-for-reaffirming-that-trumps-pocket-rescissions-are-illegal/", "Merkley Applauds GAO for Reaffirming that Trump\u2019s Pocket Rescissions Are Illegal", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reaffirmed that the Impoundment Control Act does now allow for the President to issue a pocket rescission on expiring funding. On Friday, President Trump issued more illegal pocket rescissions, this time clawing back nearly $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funding.\n\n\u201cToday, GAO reaffirmed what we have long known\u2013the President does not have the power to withhold congressionally appropriated funding\u2014only Congress has that authority. What the President signaled late Friday night was essentially an illegal line-item veto that would cancel funding for several programs that Congress passed, and the President signed into law. The President does not\u2014nor will he ever\u2014have the unilateral authority to cancel this funding.\n\n\u201cIt is past time that my Republican colleagues speak up and tell the President that we will not stand for this basic disregard of Congress and the separation of powers. The law is not a suggestion, the Constitution is not optional, and the President is not a king,\u201d said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-pingree-lead-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-demolition-of-the-kennedy-center/", "Merkley, Pingree Lead Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Demolition of the Kennedy Center", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "The bicameral, bipartisan effort comes amid recent threats from President Trump that the living memorial to JFK could be \u2018ripped down\u2019 unless his name is added to the building\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, Ranking Members of the Senate and House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittees, today unveiled legislation to protect presidential monuments like the Kennedy Center from demolition. The bicameral, bipartisan Protecting Presidential Memorials Act would prohibit any Congressionally designated memorial honoring a U.S. President\u2014including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial\u2014from being demolished unless authorized by an act of Congress.\n\nLast night, Merkley attempted to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act\u2014which he co-led with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)\u2014by unanimous consent in the Senate, but that effort was blocked by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT).\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s threats to tear down the Kennedy Center\u2014all because the law says he can\u2019t put his name on the building\u2014are straight out of the authoritarian playbook and should infuriate every American who values our history and the rule of law,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThe Kennedy Center is one of our nation\u2019s great contributions to the human spirit, honoring our slain president who championed the arts. This one-page bill is a straightforward solution to protect this treasure and other presidential memorials.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Kennedy Center is our nation\u2019s living memorial to President John F. Kennedy\u2014someone who truly cherished the arts. For Donald Trump to attempt to usurp this great memorial by putting his own name above JFK\u2019s\u2014and then threaten to demolish the building if he doesn\u2019t get his way\u2014is beyond the pale,\u201d said Pingree. \u201cWhen Congress designates a place to memorialize a president, no administration should be able to tear it down on a whim. This bill establishes a simple safeguard: if Congress created the designation, only an act of Congress can authorize its demolition.\u201d\n\nThe National Cultural Center was established by Congress in 1958, renamed in honor of John F. Kennedy shortly after his death, and opened to the public in 1971. For more than 50 years, it has celebrated artistic excellence, fostered creativity, and reflected Kennedy\u2019s steadfast belief that equitable access to the arts is essential to democracy.\n\nThe Protecting Presidential Memorials Act is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI).\n\nFull text of the bipartisan bill can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-renews-push-to-crack-down-on-state-and-local-corruption/", "Merkley Renews Push to Crack Down on State and Local Corruption", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley pushed to strengthen federal anti-corruption laws after the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for state and local officials to accept gratuities for official actions. Merkley reintroduced the Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act, which would restore public trust in state and local government officials by clearly banning corrupt payments, veiled gifts, or the exchange of any valuables intended to influence decision-makers.\n\n\u201cGratuities that change hands after the completion of an official action are bribes, plain and simple,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis practice threatens the integrity of our democratic institutions and undermines the public\u2019s trust in government. We need clear rules that put the public interest ahead of corrupt pay-to-play schemes. My Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act provides a straightforward fix to strengthen our federal anti-corruption laws.\u201d\n\nThe legislation responds to the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s 2024 decision Snyder v. United States, which stemmed from the corrupt actions of the former mayor of Portage, Indiana, who awarded a $1.1 million contract to purchase garbage trucks and then accepted a $13,000 gratuity from the same truck company afterward. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that state officials may accept gratuities from people who wish to reward them for their official actions, weakening federal anti-corruption statutes.\n\nThe Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act is included in Merkley\u2019s recently introduced For Our Republic Act, a 10-part legislative action plan to stand up to Trump\u2019s authoritarian playbook.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nMerkley\u2019s Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act is also supported by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) and Public Citizen.\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court has systematically chipped away at anti-corruption laws over the past several decades, opening the door to bribery and extortion of public officials,\u201d said Debra Perlin, Vice President of Policy, CREW. \u201cCongress has the power to reverse this trend and undo the Court\u2019s disastrous anti-corruption jurisprudence. CREW is proud to endorse the Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act and encourages Congress to restore trust in government by passing this commonsense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Supreme Court struck a blow to state and local anti-corruption laws by ruling that a large, financial gratuity given to a lawmaker in appreciation for an official act after the fact does not constitute a bribe. That is nonsense. A bribe in exchange for an official act or a government contract is a bribe, regardless of whether it is given before or after the fact. Sen. Merkley\u2019s Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act would restore the commonsense anti-corruption measure by clarifying that any gratuity as a reward for an official act or government contract is indeed a bribe, whether given before or after the official action,\u201d said Craig Holman, Ph.D., Public Citizen.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/two-federal-courts-rule-trump-administrations-elimination-of-solar-for-all-program-unlawful-advancing-the-effort-of-congresswoman-lizzie-fletcher-congressman-emanuel-cleaver-senator-sheldon-white/", "Two Federal Courts Rule Trump Administration\u2019s Elimination of Solar For All Program Unlawful, Advancing the Effort of Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Senator Jeff Merkley To Save the Program", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Congress created the $7 billion renewable energy program to deliver solar projects to 900,000 households in disadvantaged communities, saving families $350 million every year on energy costs\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Two federal courts have ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlawfully eliminated the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s Solar for All Program. On September 22, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted summary judgement to Harris County. Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) supported Harris County\u2019s case in an amicus brief they filed earlier this year, joined by 81 Members of Congress. The court vacated EPA\u2019s decision to eliminate the program and warned that it will consider further relief if EPA fails to comply.\n\nOn September 18, the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island also ruled against EPA in a separate case brought by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO.\n\nSolar for All was designed to lower electricity bills for low-income families, create thousands of well-paying jobs, boost American manufacturing, and make the grid more reliable.\n\n\u201cSolar for All is one of the most important affordable energy programs in our country\u2019s history,\u201d said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. \u201cCongress created it. Congress appropriated the funds for it. No president or political appointee can unilaterally eliminate a program Congress has created, and two federal courts have now said so. I have been glad to support Harris County in this case and this effort to hold the Trump administration accountable and deliver for Harris County residents. EPA should comply with these rulings now and reinstate the grants it terminated. I will keep working to make sure Harris County families benefit from this investment in our community and to hold the administration accountable to the Congress and to the people we represent.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am pleased that multiple courts have affirmed our belief that the power of the purse belongs to people\u2019s representatives, and that no administration has the unilateral power to defund programs authorized by Congress, including the Solar for All program enacted in 2022,\u201d said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. \u201cWhile these decisions are a major victory for our communities, who will benefit from a $7 billion investment in renewable energy at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing, we must remain vigilant against an administration that continues to show contempt for the constitution and the separation of powers that our founders designed to protect against a would-be tyrant.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s EPA cancelled the wildly popular Solar for All program as part of its corrupt war on clean, affordable energy,\u201d said Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. \u201cRhode Island\u2019s federal District Court and the D.C. District Court agreed: EPA had no authority to cancel the program, so low-cost solar energy will soon be back on its way to the American people. I want to give a special thanks to Rhode Island AFL-CIO for their leadership in securing this victory,\u201d\n\n\u201cSolar for All is critical to connecting families in Oregon and across the nation with the affordable, renewable energy of the future,\u201d said Senator Jeff Merkley. \u201cThe Trump Administration is pushing to rip away this funding from our communities, which has already been approved by Congress and signed into law, but two federal courts have rejected the Administration\u2019s senseless effort. Now, the EPA must swiftly follow suit and reinstate these federal funds.\u201d\n\nThe Solar for All program is a $7 billion investment to help working families lower their electricity bills, strengthen local economies, and build a more resilient future. Harris County won one of the program\u2019s largest awards: $250 million to deliver solar and battery storage to more than 28,000 low-income and working-class households throughout the community. Families were set to save an average of $468 per year in energy costs before the program\u2019s termination in August 2025.\n\nLast year, Congresswoman Fletcher and Congressman Cleaver led their Democratic colleagues in an effort urging the Trump administration to reinstate the Solar for All program. In February, Congresswoman Fletcher, Congressman Cleaver, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley led their colleagues in filing an amicus brief in support of Harris County\u2019s separate lawsuit to restore Solar for All. In March, Congresswoman Fletcher, Congressman Cleaver, Senator Whitehouse, Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley continued this effort by leading 46 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in support of 23 states\u2019 separate lawsuit against the Trump administration for terminating the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s (IRA) Solar for All program (Arizona et al v. EPA), which remains pending on appeal.\n\n###", 1, "2026-10-01T11:23:28Z", "2026-10-01T11:25:15Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-bonamici-wyden-oregon-leaders-unlock-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-oregon-coast-project/", "Merkley, Bonamici, Wyden, Oregon Leaders Unlock $14 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Coast Project", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi announced that, thanks to their efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $14,567,624 in federal funds for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, featuring a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people.\n\nCMH had received an award for the expansion under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program\u2014which provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities\u2014but faced roadblocks to accessing the funding after the Trump Administration suspended the BRIC program in 2025. Following legal challenges and advocacy by Oregon lawmakers, CMH\u2019s BRIC funding has finally been released.\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t wait for a disaster to happen to start preparing, and this funding finally moving forward will be transformative for disaster resiliency along the North Coast. Thanks to the partnership of state and local leaders, we held the Trump Administration accountable to deliver on the promise of this common-sense project to help Oregonians prepare for disasters and save lives,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll keep pushing to get this project over the finish line and to deliver critical funding for disaster resiliency efforts in Oregon and communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant funding is long overdue for Columbia Memorial Hospital and everyone who lives on or visits the Oregon Coast,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici. \u201cThe BRIC grant for this lifesaving vertical evacuation structure should never have been jeopardized, and we\u2019ve fought long and hard for it to be released. I look forward to celebrating the completion of this important project with the community in Astoria.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring that Oregon\u2019s coastal communities have access to health care in the wake of natural disasters is absolutely essential,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI am thankful we were able to get critical funding released for the Columbia Memorial Hospital after it was illegally withheld under the Trump administration\u2019s draconian funding cuts that are putting Oregon families at risk. I\u2019ll continue to pull out all the stops to ensure our state has the resources it needs to keep families safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis award is a critical investment in the North Coast\u2019s ability to be resilient in the face of disasters,\u201d said Governor Kotek. \u201cThis project can now move forward with confidence in its completion, and the families on the North Coast will benefit from reliable health care access when they need it most. Thank you to our Congressional delegation and community leaders for your persistence to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cDisaster relief should have never been held up over partisan politics,\u201d said Attorney General Rayfield. \u201cOregonians\u2019 safety is too important to play games with. That\u2019s why we took immediate action to fight back and make sure this critically needed project will continue moving forward, providing peace of mind to the entire North Coast community.\u201d\n\n\u201cNatural disasters don\u2019t care if you\u2019re in a red state or a blue state \u2013 FEMA shouldn\u2019t either. So when the Trump Administration went back on its word, I promised we\u2019d keep fighting until Columbia Memorial got what it was owed. Today that fight paid off. This funding will help our community be ready when the ground shakes or the water rises,\u201d said Representative Javadi.\n\n\u201cWe could not be more thrilled with the news that our BRIC grant funding has been restored! This $14 million grant completes our project budget and ensures that our community will receive a fully resilient, modern healthcare facility. The BRIC funds will help offset the cost of constructing a deep-pile foundation and a tsunami vertical evacuation structure capable of accommodating 1,900 people. The project will also locate critical infrastructure, generators, and the helipad on the roof of the new hospital\u2014important features that will help ensure the facility can remain operational when our community needs it most. Our sincerest appreciation goes to Congresswoman Bonamici, Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Oregon Attorney General Rayfield, and all our state delegates for their unwavering support and tireless efforts to secure these funds. We are incredibly grateful,\u201d said Erik Thorsen, Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Memorial Hospital.\n\n\u201cThanks to the tireless advocacy of Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Representative Bonamici, and Representative Bentz, this critical funding is returning to Clatsop County. This victory was made possible by a shared commitment from Governor Kotek, Attorney General Rayfield, Senator Weber, Representative Javadi, and the Oregon legislature\u2019s Joint Ways and Means Committee. Above all, it is a direct result of our community keeping this project front and center. I want to thank my fellow Commissioners, County Manager Don Bohn, Sheriff Matt Phillips, and Emergency Management Director Justin Gibbs, and of course the leadership of CMH and CEO Erik Thorsen. This truly was a team effort that showcased the undeniable power of local, state, and federal collaboration,\u201d said Mark Kujala, Chair of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-mcbath-brown-champion-legislation-to-improve-educational-outcomes-and-experiences/", "Merkley, McBath, Brown Champion Legislation to Improve Educational Outcomes and Experiences", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) and Shontel Brown (D-OH-11) teamed up to reintroduce the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, bold legislation that would make investments to address overcrowded classrooms and set students up for success.\n\nResearch shows students achieve better academic results with more individualized attention from instructors, especially in kindergarten through third grade. However, the continued strain on our public education system from staff shortages and tighter budgets has meant class sizes have continued to grow.\n\nMerkley, McBath, and Brown are making a bicameral push for better student outcomes with their legislation to boost funding for schools to reduce class sizes and increase individualized attention from instructors\u2014improving the overall school experience for both students and educators.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves the chance to learn, participate, and get the individual attention they need to thrive,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cGrowing up as an Oregon public school student, I remember having around 20 children in my first-grade class. When I dropped my son off for his first day of school, his class had 34 children, and I wondered how his teacher could organize and teach such a large group. It\u2019s time to make sure our schools have the resources they need to support educators and help every child receive a quality learning experience.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmaller class sizes help personalize education in ways that can fuel a child\u2019s love of learning. When teachers have more opportunities for one-on-one time with their students, they can provide tailored instruction, individualized feedback, and the support each child needs to thrive,\u201d said McBath. \u201cI am deeply appreciative of Senator Merkley for his continued leadership on this important legislation and his advocacy for students and educators. Investments like these, which strengthen learning environments and support teacher well-being, are essential to improving educational outcomes and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmaller class sizes can help ensure that every child gets the time and attention they need to succeed. I am proud to join Congresswoman McBath and Senator Merkley in reintroducing the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act so that students get the support they need and educators are able to instruct every student. Importantly, this legislation provides school districts with an opportunity for federal funding to make smaller class sizes a reality,\u201d said Brown.\n\nThe Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act would establish a $2 billion competitive grant program to help school districts reduce K\u20133 class sizes in low-income public elementary schools to not more than 18 students per class. The grants could be used to recruit, hire, and support qualified teachers; obtain additional space or renovate school buildings; or provide professional development for teachers, among other purposes.\n\nThe Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).\n\nThe bill is also supported by the American Federation of Teachers, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Education Association, and National Parent Teacher Association.\n\n\u201cParents, students and educators all agree that overcrowded classrooms do not make a successful learning environment. Class size matters because it is directly linked to higher rates of student success: Students are more engaged and teachers can provide the individualized instruction students need and deserve. The Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Reps. Lucy McBath and Shontel Brown, helps all of America\u2019s school districts reduce class size and is a vote of confidence in the future success of our nation\u2019s public schools,\u201d said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-slams-senate-republicans-for-rubberstamping-trump-arch/", "Merkley Slams Senate Republicans for Rubberstamping Trump Arch", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked his bill to prevent the Trump Administration from using any federal funds for the planning and construction of the Trump Arch:\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s Arch is a monument to his own ego\u2014a waste of our taxpayer dollars.\n\n\u201cThis vanity project distorts our history while destroying historic views, disregards the Constitution\u2019s separation of powers, disrupts the safety of planes in the sky and cars on the road in our nation\u2019s capital, and disrespects the sacrifices of our veterans and their families.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Arch is a monumentally bad idea, and it is abundantly clear there is no authorization from Congress for this massive arch. I\u2019ll keep fighting back against Trump\u2019s efforts to use our tax dollars to fund his arch and to instead invest in the four foundations that families need to thrive\u2014health care, housing, education, and good-paying jobs.\u201d\n\nAs the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the Interior Department and National Park Service, the agencies that manage many of our public lands in Washington, D.C., Merkley took to the Senate Floor in an attempt to pass the No Funds for Trump\u2019s Illegal Arch Act, which would have blocked the Trump Arch.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found by clicking here.\n\nIn addition to Merkley, the No Funds for Trump\u2019s Illegal Arch Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\nThroughout Trump\u2019s second term, Merkley has led the charge to hold the Administration accountable for its vanity projects and corruption\u2014including putting Trump\u2019s face on gold coins, park passes, a $250 bill, and the U.S. passport.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senate-blocks-merkley-murkowski-bill-to-prevent-trump-tearing-down-presidential-memorials/", "Senate Blocks Merkley, Murkowski Bill to Prevent Trump Tearing Down Presidential Memorials", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) blocked Merkley\u2019s bipartisan bill with Alaska\u2019s U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to prohibit the demolition of any national memorial to honor a U.S. president\u2014like the Kennedy Center\u2014without an act of Congress:\n\n\u201cOur congressionally authorized memorials to former presidents are a tribute to their accomplishments and service to our nation. Perhaps the greatest living memorial for a president is the Kennedy Center, in honor of our slain president who championed the arts. But now President Trump\u2014without authorization from Congress\u2014is trying to tear it down. First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself. All because the law says Trump can\u2019t put his name on the building.\n\n\u201cSo today, I asked for unanimous consent on a one-page bipartisan bill with Senator Murkowski to defend this extraordinary institution, the Kennedy Center, saying no memorial to any president can be torn down without explicit authorization from Congress. Unfortunately, a colleague objected to this common-sense bill.\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s threats are straight out of the authoritarian playbook and should infuriate every American who values our nation\u2019s history and the rule of law. Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars putting Trump\u2019s name on memorials and monuments as if he is a king, we should be focused on putting money back into the pockets of working families and honoring America\u2019s greatest cultural institutions, not destroying them.\u201d\n\nMerkley and Murkowski serve as the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, respectively, which oversees funding for the Kennedy Center. Merkley took to the Senate Floor in an attempt to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, a one-page bill which would have blocked the demolition of any national memorial honoring a U.S. president\u2014including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial\u2014without an act of Congress.\n\nFull text of the bipartisan bill can be found by clicking here.\n\nIn addition to Merkley and Murkowski, the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-impose-sanctions-of-israeli-settlement-construction/", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Sanctions would target settlement construction within the E1 area of the West Bank\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank.\n\n\u201cBenjamin Netanyahu\u2019s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe United States must stand up against Netanyahu\u2019s campaign of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians and sanction individuals and companies that are complicit in this unlawful action.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinians. The Netanyahu government, meanwhile, continues to rubberstamp this dangerous agenda, and these settlements in the West Bank are designed to destroy the possibility of a future Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the state of Israel,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is unacceptable, and our bill holds the Netanyahu government accountable for its illegal, reckless, and inhumane actions in the West Bank.\u201d\n\nLast year, Israel approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced proposals to let companies bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials have publicly acknowledged the impact E1 settlement expansion could have on a two-state solution. Speaking at a ceremony shortly after his approval of the E1 plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated, \u201cWe said a Palestinian state will not be established \u2013 and indeed, a Palestinian state will not be established.\u201d Following the initial announcement of the E1 settlements in August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly stated: \u201cThe Palestinian state is being erased from the table not by slogans but by deeds. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.\u201d\n\nThe bill would impose sanctions on any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to have been responsible for or complicit in the construction of any Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements.\n\nIn addition to Wyden, the legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Merkley, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jack Reed, D-R.I, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Peter Welch, D-Vt..\n\nThe full text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-bonamici-wyden-oregon-leaders-unlock-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-oregon-coast-project", "Merkley, Bonamici, Wyden, Oregon Leaders Unlock $14 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Coast Project", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi announced that, thanks to their efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $14,567,624 in federal funds for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, featuring a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people.\n\nCMH had received an award for the expansion under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program\u2014which provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities\u2014but faced roadblocks to accessing the funding after the Trump Administration suspended the BRIC program in 2025. Following legal challenges and advocacy by Oregon lawmakers, CMH\u2019s BRIC funding has finally been released.\n\n\u201cYou can\u2019t wait for a disaster to happen to start preparing, and this funding finally moving forward will be transformative for disaster resiliency along the North Coast. Thanks to the partnership of state and local leaders, we held the Trump Administration accountable to deliver on the promise of this common-sense project to help Oregonians prepare for disasters and save lives,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll keep pushing to get this project over the finish line and to deliver critical funding for disaster resiliency efforts in Oregon and communities across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant funding is long overdue for Columbia Memorial Hospital and everyone who lives on or visits the Oregon Coast,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici. \u201cThe BRIC grant for this lifesaving vertical evacuation structure should never have been jeopardized, and we\u2019ve fought long and hard for it to be released. I look forward to celebrating the completion of this important project with the community in Astoria.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnsuring that Oregon\u2019s coastal communities have access to health care in the wake of natural disasters is absolutely essential,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI am thankful we were able to get critical funding released for the Columbia Memorial Hospital after it was illegally withheld under the Trump administration\u2019s draconian funding cuts that are putting Oregon families at risk. I\u2019ll continue to pull out all the stops to ensure our state has the resources it needs to keep families safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis award is a critical investment in the North Coast\u2019s ability to be resilient in the face of disasters,\u201d said Governor Kotek. \u201cThis project can now move forward with confidence in its completion, and the families on the North Coast will benefit from reliable health care access when they need it most. Thank you to our Congressional delegation and community leaders for your persistence to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cDisaster relief should have never been held up over partisan politics,\u201d said Attorney General Rayfield. \u201cOregonians\u2019 safety is too important to play games with. That\u2019s why we took immediate action to fight back and make sure this critically needed project will continue moving forward, providing peace of mind to the entire North Coast community.\u201d\n\n\u201cNatural disasters don\u2019t care if you\u2019re in a red state or a blue state - FEMA shouldn\u2019t either. So when the Trump Administration went back on its word, I promised we\u2019d keep fighting until Columbia Memorial got what it was owed. Today that fight paid off. This funding will help our community be ready when the ground shakes or the water rises,\u201d said Representative Javadi.\n\n\u201cWe could not be more thrilled with the news that our BRIC grant funding has been restored! This $14 million grant completes our project budget and ensures that our community will receive a fully resilient, modern healthcare facility. The BRIC funds will help offset the cost of constructing a deep-pile foundation and a tsunami vertical evacuation structure capable of accommodating 1,900 people. The project will also locate critical infrastructure, generators, and the helipad on the roof of the new hospital\u2014important features that will help ensure the facility can remain operational when our community needs it most. Our sincerest appreciation goes to Congresswoman Bonamici, Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Oregon Attorney General Rayfield, and all our state delegates for their unwavering support and tireless efforts to secure these funds. We are incredibly grateful,\u201d said Erik Thorsen, Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Memorial Hospital.\n\n\"Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Representative Bonamici, and Representative Bentz, this critical funding is returning to Clatsop County. This victory was made possible by a shared commitment from Governor Kotek, Attorney General Rayfield, Senator Weber, Representative Javadi, and the Oregon legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee. Above all, it is a direct result of our community keeping this project front and center. I want to thank my fellow Commissioners, County Manager Don Bohn, Sheriff Matt Phillips, and Emergency Management Director Justin Gibbs, and of course the leadership of CMH and CEO Erik Thorsen. This truly was a team effort that showcased the undeniable power of local, state, and federal collaboration,\u201d said Mark Kujala, Chair of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-impose-sanctions-of-israeli-settlement-construction", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Sanctions would target settlement construction within the E1 area of the West Bank\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank.\n\n\u201cBenjamin Netanyahu\u2019s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe United States must stand up against Netanyahu\u2019s campaign of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians and sanction individuals and companies that are complicit in this unlawful action.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn my visits to the West Bank, I\u2019ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinians. The Netanyahu government, meanwhile, continues to rubberstamp this dangerous agenda, and these settlements in the West Bank are designed to destroy the possibility of a future Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the state of Israel,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is unacceptable, and our bill holds the Netanyahu government accountable for its illegal, reckless, and inhumane actions in the West Bank.\u201d\n\nLast year, Israel approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced proposals to let companies bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials have publicly acknowledged the impact E1 settlement expansion could have on a two-state solution. Speaking at a ceremony shortly after his approval of the E1 plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated, \u201cWe said a Palestinian state will not be established \u2013 and indeed, a Palestinian state will not be established.\u201d Following the initial announcement of the E1 settlements in August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly stated: \u201cThe Palestinian state is being erased from the table not by slogans but by deeds. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.\u201d\n\nThe bill would impose sanctions on any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to have been responsible for or complicit in the construction of any Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements.\n\nIn addition to Wyden, the legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Merkley, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jack Reed, D-R.I, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Peter Welch, D-Vt..", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-condemns-more-pocket-rescissions-by-trump-administration/", "Merkley Condemns More Pocket Rescissions by Trump Administration", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the below statement after President Donald Trump and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought issued more illegal pocket rescissions, this time clawing back nearly $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funding.\n\n\u201cOnce again, President Trump and Russ Vought have violated the law by sending Congress more illegal pocket rescissions in the dark of night.\n\n\u201cWe have seen this show before. Trump and Vought have a habit of ignoring Congress. That is why I have put forth several amendments that would have prevented the Trump Administration from undermining bipartisan agreements.\n\n\u201cIt is time for my Republican colleagues to finally stand up to the Administration and reaffirm that what Congress passes\u2014and the President signs\u2014is the law of the land, and the funds cannot be clawed back without Congress\u2019 approval. Enough of these Executive Branch power grabs. The law is not a suggestion, and the President is not a king,\u201d said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-hoyle-announce-1-million-for-lane-county-emergency-communications-infrastructure/", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce $1 Million for Lane County Emergency Communications Infrastructure", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Eugene, OR \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), announced $1 million in federal funding for Lane County\u2019s Emergency Communications Resiliency and Interoperability Project. The funding will support a key portion of the project to replace aging radio communications infrastructure at Bear Mountain.\n\n\u201cWhen an emergency strikes, first responders need to know they can reach each other and coordinate a response,\u201d said Merkley, who helped secure funding for this project as a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \u201cCommunity-initiated projects like this one are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon quite like the folks who are a part of them, and that\u2019s why I fight so hard to deliver them back to Oregon. These federal dollars will help Lane County replace aging infrastructure and build a more resilient communications network, strengthening the ability of firefighters and other emergency personnel to keep Oregonians safe when they need help most.\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst responders being able to reliably communicate can be the difference between life and death when emergencies hit rural communities,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis federal investment will replace outdated radio equipment and deploy modern network technology so rural Oregon fire agencies can maintain uninterrupted contact during crises. I\u2019ll keep fighting to deliver the federal resources that Oregon\u2019s local emergency crews need to stay safe and protect our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cSupporting our rural communities means investing in resilient infrastructure and modernization projects so no one gets left behind,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cThis $1M grant will invest in new radio systems to strengthen regional connectivity, limit service interruptions and advance emergency response capabilities across Lane County.\u201d\n\nThe project was developed by Lane County and supported by Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle as part of the FY24 agriculture funding bill. The $1 million federal investment will help advance upgrades at the Bear Mountain communications site, which is an important component of the county\u2019s emergency communications infrastructure. Lane County has identified resilient communications as critical to coordinated emergency response and public safety.\n\n\u201cThese funds will help make sure our first responders can communicate as they patrol and respond to emergencies in South Lane County,\u201d said County Commissioner Heather Buch, whose district includes Bear Mountain. \u201cThe continued advocacy of our federal delegation is helping us make our communities safer and healthier for everyone.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senators-markey-and-merkley-lead-colleagues-to-demand-trump-administration-abandon-reckless-saudi-nuclear-deal/", "Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Abandon Reckless Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Trump deal caves to Saudi demands, fails \u201cGold Standard\u201d test\n\nLetter Text (PDF)\n\nWashington (September 25, 2026) \u2013 Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that the Trump administration abandon its reckless nuclear deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which fails the Gold Standard nonproliferation test by surrendering two key conditions: the strictest inspection standards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)\u2019s Additional Protocol and denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials through uranium enrichment and/or plutonium reprocessing. The letter was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\nAs a U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio was among the most consistent voices warning about the dangers of giving Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have repeatedly threatened to pursue nuclear weapons, access to sensitive nuclear technology without proper safeguards.\n\nIn the letter, the senators wrote, \u201cWith this deal, the Trump Administration is departing from precedent, adopting looser restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands by agreeing to a process that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons. If the Administration is serious about preventing that outcome, it should require Riyadh to meet the Gold Standard. And likewise, if Saudi Arabia genuinely has no intention of pursuing a nuclear weapon, it should have little objection to accepting the same commitments that the UAE and other states have made: implementing an Additional Protocol and banning enrichment and reprocessing.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cAlthough not included in the agreement, media reports have suggested that the Saudi government would not have access to a U.S.-supplied and operated enrichment plant on Saudi soil. While there is no evidence that Saudi officials have agreed to such a \u2018black box\u2019 arrangement, if implemented, it would just raise additional concerns. It would be difficult to prevent the Kingdom from spying on a facility built on its soil and thus from gleaning sensitive information. A hypothetical black box arrangement could also commit the United States to far more than a commercial transaction. Sensitive American enrichment technology and the American personnel operating it would sit on Saudi soil, in a region at war and with the possibility of instability within the Kingdom itself. Given that an attack on the black box would be an attack on U.S. equities, we would be obliged to defend the facility. This would constitute a security guarantee by another name; an open-ended commitment to the defense of Saudi Arabia that Congress has not debated.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cPresident Trump launched an unconstitutional war against Iran claiming it was necessary to stop Tehran from enriching uranium. Yet, his Administration is now seeking to give Saudi Arabia access to the very technologies it says Iran must never possess. That hypocrisy undermines any chance of reaching a durable agreement with Iran. If Saudi Arabia can enrich uranium without the strongest inspections, Tehran will demand the same treatment. President Trump is weakening his own negotiating position while increasing the odds of regional nuclear proliferation.\u201d\n\nOn September 16, Senators Markey and Merkley led a bipartisan group of Senators to press the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nAs a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has long been the Congressional leader on ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons.\n\nOn August 26, Senator Markey urged Congress to reject the Trump-Saudi nuclear deal after the Trump administration sent to Congress a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that would open the door to providing the Kingdom with the means to produce nuclear weapons materials but would not require the most stringent safeguards against the development of those weapons.\n\nOn July 31, Senators Markey and Merkley, along with Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, published an opinion piece slamming Trump\u2019s Saudi nuclear deal, citing then-Senator Marco Rubio\u2019s understanding that handing nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia would be disastrous.\n\nOn March 25, Senators Markey and Merkley reintroduced the No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act, legislation that would mandate that any nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia can go into effect only if it receives the affirmative vote of Congress.\n\nOn March 18, Senator Markey led his colleagues in writing to Secretary Rubio demanding the Trump administration must meet the \u201cgold standard\u201d of nuclear non-proliferation protections by denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, materials that could be used in a nuclear bomb.\n\nIn November 2025, Senator Markey and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the Trump administration to include the strongest possible \u201cgold standard\u201d nonproliferation measures in any nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to foreclose any pathway to a nuclear weapon.\n\nIn November 2024, Senator Markey wrote to the Biden administration seeking answers about any agreement that would normalize relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel in exchange for civil nuclear energy cooperation and a U.S. defense commitment to the Kingdom.\n\nAs far back as 2017, Senator Markey pressed the first Trump administration on the status of all current and ongoing discussions between the United States and other countries, including Saudi Arabia, on 123 agreements after it was reported that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was peddling a plan to build nuclear reactors throughout the Middle East.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/sens-markey-merkley-and-reps-jayapal-tlaib-pressley-reintroduce-legislation-to-halt-government-use-of-facial-recognition-and-other-biometric-technology/", "Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bill Text (PDF)\n\nWashington (September 25, 2026) \u2013 Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), announced the reintroduction of the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, legislation to prohibit the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies.\n\nThe legislation responds to the federal government\u2019s growing use of biometric recognition technology, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection\u2019s (CBP) mobile facial recognition app, which has been used to target immigrants and intimidate communities across the country. Research shows that nearly half of U.S. adults\u2019 faces are already stored in facial recognition databases, and that Black, Brown, and Asian individuals are up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified by a facial recognition algorithm than white men.\n\n\u201cFacial recognition and other biometric technologies in the hands of government agencies have become tools of authoritarianism. Agencies such as ICE and CBP are using this technology to track, target, intimidate and surveil communities across the country,\u201d said Senator Markey. \u201cBlack and Brown communities \u2014 already subject to the most aggressive policing and immigration enforcement \u2014 are disproportionately affected and more likely to be wrongly flagged, detained, or targeted by a faulty facial recognition match. We must stop the Trump administration\u2019s growing web of surveillance technology, and that starts with a moratorium on dangerous, discriminatory biometric recognition.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery American who values their right to privacy, stands against discrimination, and believes people are innocent until proven guilty should be concerned about facial recognition technology fueling a national surveillance state,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cEnacting a federal moratorium on this technology is critical to ensuring we can rein in inappropriate surveillance and protect our communities\u2019 fundamental right to privacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have to stop the constant, nonconsensual state of surveillance that we live in, and that starts with placing a moratorium on our government\u2019s use of facial recognition technology,\u201d said Congresswoman Jayapal. \u201cBlack and Brown people are more likely to be misidentified and wrongfully put in jail because of this unregulated technology, and our government has used it to unjustly target protestors and immigrants. Putting the brakes on this technology is necessary to protect civil rights and ensure public safety.\u201d\n\n\u201cFacial recognition technology is racist, misidentifying Black, Brown, and Asian residents and pinning them as suspects in crimes they did not commit,\u201d said Representative Tlaib. \u201cWhen such flawed and biased technology is used to invade our privacy, we are all less safe. I\u2019m proud to reintroduce this bill that will ban facial recognition technology and protect all our civil liberties.\u201d\n\nThe Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act would:\n\nPlace a prohibition on the use of facial recognition technology by federal entities, which can only be lifted with an act of Congress;\n\nPlace a prohibition on the use of other biometric technologies, including voice recognition, gate recognition, and recognition of other immutable physical characteristics, by federal entities, which can only be lifted with an act of Congress;\n\nCondition federal grant funding to state and local entities, including law enforcement, on those entities enacting their own moratoria on the use of facial recognition and biometric technology;\n\nProhibit the use of federal dollars for biometric surveillance systems;\n\nProhibit the use of information collected via biometric technology in violation of the Act in any judicial proceedings;\n\nProvide a private right of action for individuals whose biometric data is used in violation of the Act and allow for enforcement by state Attorneys General; and\n\nAllow states and localities to enact their own laws regarding the use of facial recognition and biometric technologies.\n\n\u201cFace surveillance is one of the most intrusive surveillance technologies. It\u2019s past time for the federal government to end its use. Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology, even under strict regulations or if the technology was 100% accurate. We thank the authors of this bill for their leadership in ending the federal government\u2019s use of this dangerous and invasive technology,\u201d said India McKinney, Director of Federal Affairs at Electronic Frontier Foundation.\n\n\u201cWe can no longer afford to ignore the very real harms of AI surveillance technologies, including facial recognition. We have seen how ICE and other federal agencies utilize facial recognition to abuse immigrants, Black and Brown communities, and people participating in protests and other First Amendment protected actions. There is no more excuse for inaction or justification for allowing the continued use of this surveillance technology \u2013 the time to pass this legislation is now,\u201d said Caitlin Seeley George (she/her), Campaigns and Managing Director at Fight for the Future.\n\n\u201cFacial recognition poses a significant threat to our privacy and our democracy. The technology has been shown to be biased, inaccurate, and disproportionally harmful to people of color. Even 100% accurate facial recognition poses considerable threats to our privacy and civil liberties. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act takes the right approach on this urgent issue, effectively banning its current use and ensuring Congress will give careful consideration to if and how the technology can be used in the future. EPIC is proud to support it,\u201d said Jeramie D. Scott, Director of Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)\u2019s Surveillance Oversight Program.\n\n\u201cThe rapid adoption of powerful surveillance tech by our federal government benefits companies that amass billions in profits through contracts with law enforcement agencies, at the expense of our civil rights. This bill by Senator Markey couldn\u2019t be more timely. Not only does this bill disrupt the money flow for surveillance profiteers; it prevents the use of one of the most invasive forms of surveillance and grants users a private right of action, urgently needed as we still lack federal data privacy protections and a prohibition on law enforcement purchases of sensitive data. We\u2019ve seen how dangerous these tools can be and how easily bad actors can weaponize them against any person or community. Without proper guardrails or consideration for how our privacy will be protected, surveillance tech becomes a tool of oppression, not safety. We are proud to endorse this bill and appreciate Senator Markey\u2019s continued leadership in this area,\u201d said Amanda Beckham, Government Relations Director at Free Press.\n\n\u201cRight now, just walking down the street could allow you to be detected by AI-powered cameras and put into a database. Sen. Markey\u2019s Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act is a critically needed safeguard against a surveillance apocalypse where the government and unaccountable corporations can collect and store your face and voice,\u201d said Hajar Hammado, Senior Policy Advisor at Demand Progress.\u201c Facial recognition technology threatens the privacy and security of all Americans. Every member of Congress who cares about invasive surveillance must support this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe should all be free to move freely in our communities \u2014 drive to work, walk our neighborhoods, travel to see family \u2014 without constant monitoring. ICE officers and other federal agents are out in our neighborhoods targeting Black and Brown people because of the color of our skin and scanning our faces without consent to fuel a cruel mass deportation machine. They\u2019re using the very same facial recognition technologies that regularly misidentify people of color, leading to unjust arrests and detainment. Senator Markey\u2019s Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act would put a stop to this racist invasion of privacy,\u201d said Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, Vice President of The Leadership Conference\u2019s Center for Civil Rights and Technology.\n\nThe Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09).\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Fight for the Future, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Color of Change, Access Now, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Free Press, Demand Progress, and UnidosUS.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-warns-an-all-republican-fcc-could-violate-federal-law-and-cause-partisan-fcc-actions-to-be-overturned-in-court", "Wyden Warns an All-Republican FCC Could Violate Federal Law and Cause Partisan FCC Actions to be Overturned in Court", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Wyden Seeks Legal Opinion From Commissioner Gomez on Whether the Communications Act Permits the Federal Communications Commission to Operate With Only Republican Commissioners\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. asked Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez to issue a legal opinion addressing whether the Communications Act permits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to legally operate with members from a single political party. Wyden warned that federal law prohibits an all-Republican RCC and that any action taken by a partisan FCC could be overturned in court, based on the statutory history of the Communications Act.\n\nPresident Trump recently nominated Danielle Thumann Severs to serve as FCC Commissioner. If confirmed, she would become the Commission's third Republican. Given that the Communications Act sets a quorum at three members, there is concern that Trump will fire Commissioner Gomez, the remaining Democrat on the FCC, after Severs is confirmed, leaving the agency with an all-Republican panel.\n\nIn anticipation of Trump\u2019s actions, Wyden\u2019s letter to Gomez highlighted amendments enacted in 1982 that require the FCC to have political balance at any operational size: if there are three commissioners on the FCC, only two can be from the same political party.\n\nBefore 1982, the Communications Act stated that \u201cnot more than four\u201d commissioners of a then-seven member FCC could be from the same political party. Similar language has consistently been used with other bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the International Trade Commission.\n\nBut in 1982, when resizing the FCC, Congress considered and rejected this numeric limit for the FCC. It instead enacted a novel mathematical formula for political balance: \u201cThe maximum number of commissioners who may be members of the same political party shall be a number equal to the least number of commissioners which constitutes a majority of the full membership of the Commission.\u201d Congress did so in the same bill that it maintained a numeric limit for a different commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission. Under longstanding legal principles, when Congress amends language in a statute or uses different language in related provisions, courts presume that Congress enacted a distinct legal meaning. Wyden\u2019s letter argues that these changes mean that Congress required the FCC to have political balance at any operational size.\n\nDespite this statutory structure, if Trump were to try to operate an all-Republican commission, the practical and economic consequences could be dramatic.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. communications sector represents hundreds of billions of dollars in economic valuation, and relies on the legal validity of these FCC actions,\u201d said Wyden in his letter to Commissioner Gomez. \u201cUnder an all-Republican commission, every single license renewal, equipment certification, spectrum transfer, or other delegated action would be legally defective, casting a cloud of crippling legal uncertainty over the entire communications industry.\u201d\n\nEnsuring bipartisan representation on the commission is increasingly important, as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has abused FCC authorities in unprecedented ways to silence critics of Donald Trump and reward Trump\u2019s allies with speedy approvals of controversial corporate mergers.\n\nA copy of the full letter sent to Commissioner Gomez is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-baldwin-leads-25-colleagues-in-rejecting-the-trump-admins-latest-move-to-politicize-and-undermine-education-funding/", "Merkley, Baldwin Leads 25 Colleagues in Rejecting the Trump Admin\u2019s Latest Move to Politicize and Undermine Education Funding", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "New effort would allow Trump appointees to cut off funding to states, colleges, and schools, even after grants have been awarded, with no justification\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, led 25 of their Senate colleagues in slamming the Department of Education\u2019s (ED) latest move to further undermine the Department and jeopardize billions of dollars in funding for schools. Specifically, the Senators outlined their concerns with ED\u2019s proposed changes to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) that would allow the President\u2019s political appointees to cancel grants to local schools for any reason \u2013 putting everything from school-based mental health programs to teacher training programs under constant threat of being defunded at any point. The Senators also raise concerns that, if implemented, the rule would lead to weaker evidence-based standards for programs that serve students, hinder student achievement, and defy Congressional intent. This rule comes on top of a tumultuous funding process under the Trump Administration, which has continued to try to entirely shut down the Department of Education.\n\n\u201cThis proposed rule is unnecessarily broad and vague, would undermine the stability of educational programs, and does nothing to improve educational outcomes for students,\u201d wrote the Senators in a letter to Secretary McMahon. \u201cAs the Trump Administration continues its illegal attempt to dismantle the Department, this proposed rule will only serve to increase chaos and uncertainty for schools, states, institutions of higher education and families across the Country.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Trump administration\u2019s proposed rule allows the department to terminate a grant \u201cfor convenience.\u201d This would allow Trump\u2019s political appointees to terminate grants, even ones that have been awarded, with no justification.\n\n\u201cSchools and other grant recipients need a meaningful degree of certainty to properly plan their budgets and provide services to students,\u201d the Senators continued. \u201cBroad, unwarranted termination and discontinuation authority makes it difficult, if not impossible, for recipients to responsibly plan and spend these funds. In section 75.253(c), the proposal also would remove a priority to continue previously awarded grants over awarding new grants. These changes will increase funding uncertainty which may discourage recipients from undertaking ambitious projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe know high-quality education has the ability to raise families out of poverty and meaningfully improve future earnings. However, at a time when student achievement is falling and families are struggling with rising costs, this proposed rule only serves to undermine efforts to improve outcomes for students and raise costs by creating financial uncertainty for schools and educational programs,\u201d the Senators concluded. \u201cThis damage and uncertainty will only hurt student populations that federal funding intended to support.\u201d\n\nThe letter was also co-led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and signed by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary McMahon,\n\nWe write in opposition to the proposed rule, \u201cEducation Department General Administrative Regulations\u201d (EDGAR) (Docket ID ED-2026-OPEPD-2542),1 which would make fundamental changes to the administration of formula and competitive grants Congress has authorized and funded through the U.S. Department of Education (\u201cthe Department\u201d). This proposed rule is unnecessarily broad and vague, would undermine the stability of educational programs, and does nothing to improve educational outcomes for students. As the Trump Administration continues its illegal attempt to dismantle the Department, this proposed rule will only serve to increase chaos and uncertainty for schools, states, institutions of higher education and families across the country. One of the key functions of the Department is to award and administer both formula and competitive grants. These grants range from Title I-A, which provide additional funding for elementary and secondary education programs serving students from low-income communities, to TRIO grants providing support to first generation college students, to Innovative Approaches to Literacy grants which promote literacy programs in low-income communities, and every education stage in-between. The funding provided to the Department for programs authorized by Congress is essential to ensure schools and communities across the country are able to provide every child, regardless of their zip code, a high-quality education.\n\nPolitical Interference in Grant Awards and Administration\n\nThe proposed rule (Section 75.901) would give the Department free rein to end already awarded grants \u201cfor convenience,\u201d without substantive reason or justification or connection to performance under a grant. Grants provided by the Department frequently support multiyear contracts involving the hiring of staff who provide services to students, research activities, and commitments to students and families that cannot be easily unwound. Schools and other grant recipients need a meaningful degree of certainty to properly plan their budgets and provide services to students. Broad, unwarranted termination and discontinuation authority makes it difficult, if not impossible, for recipients to responsibly plan and spend these funds. In section 75.253(c), the proposal also would remove a priority to continue previously awarded grants over awarding new grants. These changes will increase funding uncertainty which may discourage recipients from undertaking ambitious projects.\n\nThe proposed indirect-cost provision (section 75.228) will only add to this financial instability and uncertainty. This proposal could create a race to the bottom with an incentive structure where applicants are not encouraged to create programs based on value and merit but instead based on how much institutional costs they can absorb themselves. This will disadvantage entities that are not well-resourced, such as entities in rural communities or on tribal lands. Furthermore, lowering the amount of funds that can be used on indirect costs will not actually lower those costs for programs. Capping the amount of funds will not lower the cost of rent or electricity for an after-school program or a rural college serving first-generation students.\n\nUndermining Congressional Intent in Serving Underserved Students and Communities\n\nThe General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) governs the administration of the Department and its grant programs. Section 427(b) of GEPA requires the Secretary to ensure each applicant for federal education funding describe how the applicant will ensure equitable access and participation to all students and teachers in federally funded education programs including \u201cbased on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age.\u201d2 This demonstrates a clear Congressional intent that federal education programs help provide assistance to students and communities that have been historically underserved in our nation, including students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, and LGBT students. This proposed rule would further gut the intent of GEPA Sec. 427, which the Department has undermined by not renewing the information collection it previously collected from its applicants for grant programs.\n\nSection 75.210(d) of the proposal weakens compliance by removing the current EDGAR requirement for the Secretary to consider equitable and adequate access on the basis of economic disadvantage, gender, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, age, language, migration, living in a rural location, experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, involvement in the justice system, pregnancy, parenting or caregiver status, and sexual orientation. In addition to section 427 of GEPA, many federal laws3 authorized on a bipartisan basis direct federal education programs to focus on many of these underserved student populations. Removing this provision from EDGAR goes against Congressional intent not only in GEPA, but in these core foundational education laws.\n\nThis Proposed Rule Will Lead to a Weaker Evidence Base for Education Programs\n\nThe proposed rule also suggests a number of changes that would weaken evidence standards that govern Department programs. In changes detailed in section 77.1(c), the proposed rule would permit unknown, non-governmental organizations to determine whether grantees\u2019 strategies and interventions meet the different levels of evidence established in EDGAR. This would break from how evidence standards are determined now by IES through a transparent and rigorous process. This could result in these important evidence standards being applied inconsistently within grant competitions. The evidence standards established in federal legislation and implementing regulations are critical to ensuring limited federal funds are spent on meaningful interventions that improve student outcomes. We are concerned that such goals are undermined by having unknown third parties judge applicants\u2019 grant applications for whether or not they meet such evidence standards without a clear, rigorous, consistent, and transparent evaluation process.\n\nWe know high-quality education has the ability to raise families out of poverty and meaningfully improve future earnings. However, at a time when student achievement is falling and families are struggling with rising costs, this proposed rule only serves to undermine efforts to improve outcomes for students and raise costs by creating financial uncertainty for schools and educational programs. This damage and uncertainty will only hurt student populations that federal funding intended to support.\n\nWe urge you to withdraw the proposed rule.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-decries-senate-republicans-opposition-to-his-bipartisan-resolution-condemning-prcs-transnational-repression/", "Merkley Decries Senate Republicans\u2019 Opposition to His Bipartisan Resolution Condemning PRC\u2019s Transnational Repression", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley\u2014a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)\u2014released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked his bipartisan resolution condemning the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in repression, coercion, and intimidation beyond its own borders, targeting citizens of other nations, including in the United States:\n\n\u201cJournalists, activists, and everyday people who have spoken truth to power about China\u2019s oppression are being bullied, intimidated, and targeted far beyond China\u2019s borders. As long as the PRC continues this campaign of oppression, the United States cannot remain silent.\n\n\u201cSenate Republicans, however, blocked my resolution to condemn the Chinese government for this repression, which targets Americans too. Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Xi Jinping as he visits the U.S. this week, and this rejection absolutely sends the wrong message.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll keep making the case to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we must oppose all acts of transnational repression\u2014no matter the perpetrator.\u201d\n\nMerkley has led the charge to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in America and across borders. He leads the Transnational Repression Policy Act\u2014bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would tackle the growing threat of transnational repression, elevate countering transnational repression as a key U.S. foreign policy priority, and promote diplomacy that addresses it as part of a broader strategy to advance democratic principles and human rights at home and abroad.\n\nFull text of Merkley\u2019s bipartisan resolution that passed out of committee can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire/", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Medford, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek\u2019s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency\u2019s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR.\n\nAt the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cTheir efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\u201d\n\nThe State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA\u2019s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres.\n\n\u201cOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. \u201c\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich:\n\nWe write in support of the State of Oregon\u2019s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026 for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures.\n\nWe believe that Oregon\u2019s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state\u2019s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA\u2019s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program.\n\nAt the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\nThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\n\nOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident.\n\nWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Medford, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek\u2019s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency\u2019s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR.\n\nAt the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers, and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cTheir efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\u201d\n\nThe State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA\u2019s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres.\n\n\u201cOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,\u201d the lawmakers continued. \u201cWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. \u201c\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich:\n\nWe write in support of the State of Oregon\u2019s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026, for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures.\n\nWe believe that Oregon\u2019s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state\u2019s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA\u2019s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program.\n\nAt the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 \u201cGo Now\u201d Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure.\n\nThis fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry\u2019s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.\n\nOregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident.\n\nWe thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-proposes-housing-downpayment-savings-initiative/", "Merkley Proposes Housing Downpayment Savings Initiative", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Senator leads groundbreaking new legislation to give federal match for money saved by first-time homebuyers for a downpayment on a home\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced new legislation to help support the dream of homeownership for Americans by ensuring working families have a credible path to save up for a downpayment sufficient to purchase a modest home by age 30. Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden cosponsored the legislation.\n\nThe Homeownership Promise Act would create Homeownership Promise Accounts, a basic new standard for Americans that would allow any first-time homebuyer who saves $1 for a downpayment on a house to get a $5 match from the federal government. As young Americans struggle to purchase their first home\u2014with the median age of first-time homebuyers rising to 40 years old in 2025\u2014Merkley\u2019s legislation is essential to restoring the dream of homeownership for millions of families nationwide.\n\n\u201cWorking families should be able to afford a decent home in a decent community,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cFor millions of young Americans, homeownership remains further out of reach than ever before, keeping them from establishing the foundation that has enabled middle-class families to build equity for generations.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy new Homeownership Promise Act would restore the promise of homeownership\u2014one of the foundations that working families need to thrive\u2014by allowing all Americans to save for a home and live that piece of the American Dream,\u201d Merkley concluded.\n\nThe Homeownership Promise Act would:\n\nDirect the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a matching downpayment grant, called a Homeownership Promise Account, that supports first-time homebuyers purchasing a median-priced principal residence.\n\nEstablish an overall maximum contribution limit of $60,000 ($10,000 maximum combined personal, employer, and nonprofit contributions in addition to $50,000 maximum federal matching funds).\n\nMerkley, earlier in his career, led Portland Habitat for Humanity and has continued to fight for affordable housing at every level of government.\n\nIn the Senate, Merkley, when serving on the Banking Committee, led the charge to end predatory mortgages that had turned the dream of homeownership into a nightmare. This ban was passed into law as part of the Dodd\u2013Frank Act in 2010.\n\nMore recently, he has led the fight to kick hedge funds out of the housing market. His efforts produced the first-ever ban on hedge funds buying up single-family homes as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which recently became law.\n\nFull text of the Homeownership Promise Act can be found by clicking here.\n\nA one-page summary of the Homeownership Promise Act can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-kotek-announce-7-45-million-for-affordable-housing-support-in-oregon/", "Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden\u2014along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek\u2014today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and these funds will support public housing authorities across Oregon in better serving people with disabilities,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cAs communities across our state face the biggest housing affordability crisis in decades\u2014with rents dramatically outpacing incomes\u2014we must do everything we can to ensure our families have a decent roof overhead. I\u2019ll keep fighting to deliver critical resources to help ease the burden on all Oregonians searching for a place to call home.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a human right, and it\u2019s crucial that federal investments support that statement with action in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThese resources help advance toward that goal in our state by investing in public housing that\u2019s affordable and accessible for people with disabilities. And I\u2019ll keep battling for similar housing investments throughout Oregon for all communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis funding is one more win for providing more affordable housing and supportive services for Oregonians with disabilities and their families,\u201d said Governor Kotek. \u201cWe\u2019re staying true to our values by making sure all of our neighbors have access to core basic needs that make life more affordable and create opportunities to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe federal funds are being awarded to the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) in the form of new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. Known as Mainstream Vouchers, they enable people with disabilities to access both affordable housing and supportive services\u2014provided through partnership agreements between public housing authorities and local agencies\u2014to enable individuals to live independently in the community.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-kotek-announce-745-million-for-affordable-housing-support-in-oregon", "Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden\u2014along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek\u2014today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and these funds will support public housing authorities across Oregon in better serving people with disabilities,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cAs communities across our state face the biggest housing affordability crisis in decades\u2014with rents dramatically outpacing incomes\u2014we must do everything we can to ensure our families have a decent roof overhead. I\u2019ll keep fighting to deliver critical resources to help ease the burden on all Oregonians searching for a place to call home.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a human right, and it\u2019s crucial that federal investments support that statement with action in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cThese resources help advance toward that goal in our state by investing in public housing that\u2019s affordable and accessible for people with disabilities. And I\u2019ll keep battling for similar housing investments throughout Oregon for all communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis funding is one more win for providing more affordable housing and supportive services for Oregonians with disabilities and their families,\u201d said Governor Kotek. \u201cWe\u2019re staying true to our values by making sure all of our neighbors have access to core basic needs that make life more affordable and create opportunities to thrive.\u201d\n\nThe federal funds are being awarded to the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) in the form of new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. Known as Mainstream Vouchers, they enable people with disabilities to access both affordable housing and supportive services\u2014provided through partnership agreements between public housing authorities and local agencies\u2014to enable individuals to live independently in the community.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ahead-of-xis-visit-to-the-united-states-merkley-mcgovern-urge-trump-admin-to-stand-up-to-prc-for-its-treatment-of-political-prisoners-transnational-repression/", "Ahead of Xi\u2019s Visit to the United States, Merkley & McGovern Urge Trump Admin to Stand Up to PRC for its Treatment of Political Prisoners, Transnational Repression", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (MA-02)\u2014Ranking Members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)\u2014led Congressional Democrats in calling attention to the Chinese government\u2019s treatment of political prisoners and its ongoing campaign of transnational repression. They sent two letters ahead of People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping\u2019s visit to the United States this week and his expected meeting with President Donald Trump.\n\nThe lawmakers urged Trump to use this summit as an opportunity to secure the release of those wrongfully detained in China, including American citizen Min Zin, and stressed, \u201cEven a single mention of a detainee\u2019s name by a senior U.S. official, let alone by yourself, can significantly increase that individual\u2019s chances of clemency or improved treatment. We urge you to be their champion during President Xi Jinping\u2019s upcoming visit.\u201d\n\nJoining McGovern and Merkley in signing this letter were U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as well as U.S. Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03).\n\nFull text of the letter to President Trump on political prisoners can be found by clicking here.\n\nIn a separate letter to Trump Administration officials on transnational repression, the lawmakers wrote, \u201cPresident Xi\u2019s visit comes at a time when China\u2019s transnational repression has intensified. It is therefore essential that your agencies work together to prevent and respond to any effort by the Chinese government and its agents to use these tactics to interfere with the speech and advocacy of those living in the United States or to retaliate against relatives inside the People\u2019s Republic of China.\u201d\n\nJoining Merkley and McGovern in signing this letter were U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and U.S. Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03).\n\nFull text of the letter to the Trump Administration on transnational repression can be found by clicking here.\n\nMerkley and McGovern have led the charge to free those unjustly detained by the PRC and to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in America and across borders. They lead the Transnational Repression Policy Act, bipartisan legislation that would tackle the growing threat of transnational repression, elevate countering transnational repression as a key U.S. foreign policy priority, and promote diplomacy that addresses it as part of a broader strategy to advance democratic principles and human rights at home and abroad.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-demand-trump-administration-release-energy-bill-assistance-for-low-income-americans/", "Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Energy Bill Assistance for Low-Income Americans", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Key federal heating assistance program targeted for budget, staffing cuts by Trump administration as energy costs soar\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release all available funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the November 1, 2026 deadline as cold weather sets in.\n\nLIHEAP is a lifeline that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help cover the cost of energy bills. This program is more important than ever as energy costs continue to skyrocket under Trump\u2019s war in Iran, and cancellation of new wind and solar energy projects.\n\nDonald Trump has repeatedly tried to undermine LIHEAP. Last year, he fired the federal employees overseeing the program. The previous two years, Trump\u2019s budget has zeroed out funding for the program entirely. Earlier this year, legislators appropriated roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year that must be released no later than November 1, 2026.\n\n\u201cAs you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,\u201d the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, and more households may need heating assistance this winter as temperatures drop while the cost of oil, gas, propane, and other residential fuels rise. Heating oil costs are projected to soar by 31.3 percent this winter, the largest increase among the major heating fuels. Overall, the average U.S. household is projected to spend an average of $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7 percent increase over last year.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks, D-Md., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Angus S. King, Jr., I-Maine, Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.M., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.\n\nThe full text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-demand-trump-administration-release-energy-bill-assistance-for-low-income-americans", "Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Energy Bill Assistance for Low-Income Americans", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Key federal heating assistance program targeted for budget, staffing cuts by Trump administration as energy costs soar\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release all available funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the November 1, 2026 deadline as cold weather sets in.\n\nLIHEAP is a lifeline that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help cover the cost of energy bills. This program is more important than ever as energy costs continue to skyrocket under Trump\u2019s war in Iran, and cancellation of new wind and solar energy projects.\n\nDonald Trump has repeatedly tried to undermine LIHEAP. Last year, he fired the federal employees overseeing the program. The previous two years, Trump\u2019s budget has zeroed out funding for the program entirely. Earlier this year, legislators appropriated roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year that must be released no later than November 1, 2026.\n\n\u201cAs you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,\u201d the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr.\n\nNationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, and more households may need heating assistance this winter as temperatures drop while the cost of oil, gas, propane, and other residential fuels rise. Heating oil costs are projected to soar by 31.3 percent this winter, the largest increase among the major heating fuels. Overall, the average U.S. household is projected to spend an average of $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7 percent increase over last year.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks, D-Md., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Angus S. King, Jr., I-Maine, Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.M., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/mcgovern-merkley-duckworth-walkinshaw-urge-trump-administration-do-not-deport-people-back-to-persecution-and-torture-in-china/", "McGovern, Merkley, Duckworth, Walkinshaw\u00a0Urge\u00a0Trump Administration: Do Not Deport People Back to Persecution and Torture in China", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Lawmakers Make Letter Public So Attorneys Can Use It to Support At-Risk Uyghur, Hong Konger, Tibetan and Chinese Asylum Seekers Held in ICE Detention\n\nWASHINGTON\u2014Yesterday, Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), along with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on the Trump Administration to protect people who have fled repression in China and could face persecution or torture if they are sent back.\n\nMcGovern, Merkley, Duckworth, and Walkinshaw all serve on the CECC\u2014a congressional commission that monitors and documents human rights violations in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC).\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers called on the U.S. government to stop the practice of detaining at-risk individuals, release those currently in detention, prohibit them from being deported to the PRC, and give fair and timely consideration of their applications for asylum.\n\n\u201cMany people who have fled persecution in the PRC come to the United States with an expectation that they can find refuge,\u201d the Members wrote. \u201cThey should be given every opportunity to apply for asylum if they have not yet done so and given fair and timely consideration of such application for asylum or other protection. Under no circumstances should at-risk individuals be deported to the PRC.\u201d\n\nThe Members also made the letter public so immigration attorneys and advocates can use it in cases involving Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans and others who fear persecution if returned to China.\n\n\u201cThere are likely many more detainees at ICE facilities, perhaps lacking representation, who fear deportation to a country run by a government that seeks to do them harm,\u201d the Members continued. \u201cThere are perhaps others who have already been sent back to the PRC who are now experiencing persecution, torture or worse. Thus, we see value in making this letter and its message public.\u201d\n\nThe letter notes that the U.S. government deporting an individual to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened (also known as \u201crefoulement\u201d) would violate both United States and international law, and would also be a betrayal of that promise by then-Senator Marco Rubio to provide refuge to those subject to the repression of the Chinese Communist Party, when he introduced the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act and the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act.\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-leads-oregon-washington-lawmakers-to-urge-continued-support-for-west-coast-fishermen-and-oregons-seafood-industry/", "Merkley Leads Oregon, Washington Lawmakers to Urge Continued Support for West Coast Fishermen and Oregon\u2019s Seafood Industry", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a bipartisan group of Oregon and Washington lawmakers in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins that calls on the USDA to deliver critical federal support to West Coast fishermen and seafood harvesters, processors, and distributors by purchasing Pacific Hake (whiting) fillets under its Section 32 purchase program.\n\n\u201cHistorically, Pacific whiting exports to Ukraine, one of the largest whiting fillet markets, reached up to nearly $95 million per year, but instability in the region as a result of war has put that market in jeopardy and caused significant impacts to the supply chain. Compounded by trade embargoes, increased imported competition from low-cost proteins, inflationary pressures, rising operational costs, and more, these factors threaten the long-term stability and viability of this once-booming market and create uncertainty for coastal economies that rely on the whiting fishery\u2019s success for their livelihoods,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 bipartisan letter calls on USDA to include whiting in this year\u2019s Section 32 purchases, supporting harvesters, processors, and coastal economies along the West Coast during a period of significant market disruption and strengthening the resiliency of America\u2019s food systems by supporting domestic protein production and distribution.\n\nThey stressed, \u201cOver the last several years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked with the West Coast seafood industry to support domestic distribution of surplus product and ensure that our food supply chain and fisheries operations aren\u2019t wholly disrupted by fluctuations or complete loss of markets abroad. We ask the USDA to continue that partnership by addressing these sustained market losses that have created vast economic strains and challenges for our seafood industry.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Emily Randall (WA-06).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-randall-lead-bicameral-resolution-to-honor-americas-lgbtq-veterans-and-servicemembers/", "Merkley, Randall Lead Bicameral Resolution to Honor America\u2019s LGBTQ+ Veterans and Servicemembers", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Marking September 20th as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers & Veterans Day\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA-06) introduced a resolution recognizing September 20, 2026, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day.\n\nNational LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day falls on the anniversary of the repeal of \u2018Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell\u2019 in 2011 and recognizes the courage and contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans who have served our nation. It is estimated that more than 100,000 servicemembers were discharged from the Armed Forces on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity between World War II and 2011.\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s servicemembers and veterans come from all walks of life, but they all share a common commitment to serve our nation,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese heroes put on their uniform knowing their country would likely ask them to hide who they are, deny who they love, or punish them simply for living openly. For generations, LGBTQ+ Americans have answered the call to serve, and we should honor their service and acknowledge the discrimination they endured.\u201d\n\n\u201cService members and Veterans who\u2019ve proudly served our country deserve respect and care no matter who they are or who they love. But this Administration continues to push out trans and queer service members using discriminatory policies that don\u2019t make our military more prepared or our nation more secure. Unacceptable,\u201d said Randall. \u201cToday, on the 15-year anniversary of the repeal of \u2018Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell,\u2019 \u2013 the long-standing policy that kept LGBTQ+ service members in the closet \u2013 we honor all LGBTQ+ Americans who have bravely served our country. Today we recommit to fighting for every veteran to receive the dignity, support, and benefits they\u2019ve earned.\u201d\n\nThe resolution calls for greater awareness of the historical and ongoing injustices faced by LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans, including discriminatory military policies, unjust discharges, and bans on transgender military service and health care. It also urges the federal government to support LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans and ensure they receive the recognition and benefits they have earned through their service.\n\nThe Trump Administration continues to pursue policies restricting transgender Americans\u2019 ability to serve openly in the military. The ban on transgender military service and additional restrictions on gender-affirming care continue to be litigated in federal court, with the Trump Administration asking the Supreme Court to uphold the ban on transgender troops, threatening the careers of thousands of servicemembers who serve in critical national security roles.\n\nMerkley and Randall have led the charge in Congress to support our military readiness and national security by prohibiting discrimination against our servicemembers. Previously, Merkley wrote the No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act, which would ensure that Trump\u2019s hateful anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, including the ban on transgender servicemembers, have no force or effect, and that no federal funds are used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out those executive orders.\n\nIn addition to Merkley and Randall, this resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08).\n\nThis resolution is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Minority Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, Advocates for Transgender Equality, Out in National Security, National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund, Black Veterans Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and SPARTA Pride.\n\n\u201cFor generations, LGBTQ+ Americans have felt called to service in the U.S. Armed Forces, even as they were prevented from serving openly until recent years. The dire predictions \u2013 lately resurrected by anti-equality figures \u2013 that claimed that recognizing LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans would somehow harm military readiness or effectiveness, have been conclusively and forever debunked. At a time when transgender servicemembers are seeing their service cut short for no good reason, it\u2019s good to remember we all owe a debt of gratitude to our LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans, and we thank Sen. Merkley and Rep. Randall for this resolution to honor them,\u201d said Jennifer Pike Bailey, Human Rights Campaign Senior Director of Government Affairs.\n\n\u201cLGBTQ+ Americans have answered the call to serve this country for generations, often at extraordinary cost to themselves, their families, and their futures,\u201d said Lindsay Church, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America. \u201cThey put on the uniform knowing their country would likely ask them to hide who they were, deny who they loved, or punish them simply for living openly. LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day is our declaration that our service will not be erased and our sacrifices will not be forgotten. We honor those who served, we reckon with what has been done to them in the name of national defense, and we demand a country worthy of the people who have always been willing to defend it.\u201d\n\n\u201cModern Military Association of America (MMAA) is proud to endorse the National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day Resolution. LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans have defended our nation with courage and distinction in every generation, often while confronting discrimination and barriers simply because of who they are. Even when our nation did not always afford them the dignity or recognition they deserved, they continued to serve and sacrifice. Their service, sacrifice, and stories are an essential part of American military history. We also recognize the families who have supported them and the importance of ensuring servicemembers, veterans, and their families have access to the care they need, including gender-affirming care. This resolution provides an important opportunity to recognize their contributions, acknowledge the harm caused by discriminatory policies, and honor and preserve their legacy for generations to come. MMAA is proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community in honoring their service, sacrifice, and enduring contributions to our nation,\u201d said Hale Allegretti, Modern Military Chair of the Board of Directors, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. (ret.).\n\n\u201cLGBTQ+ Americans have served our country from the founding of the Republic, including during decades when their government asked for their service while denying them equal treatment. National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day honors that service and sacrifice, recognizes the costs of exclusion, and affirms that everyone who raises their hand to serve deserves dignity, respect, and the benefits they have earned. We are grateful to Senator Merkley and Representative Randall for recognizing the generations of LGBTQ+ Americans who have worn the uniform,\u201d said Lucas F. Schleusener, CEO of Out in National Security.\n\n\u201cAt a time of immense national security challenges, tens of thousands of LGBTQIA+ people are answering the call and proudly serving our nation through military service,\u201d said Brian Dittmeier, Director of LGBTQI+ Equality at the National Women\u2019s Law Center Action Fund. \u201cTheir selfless service is undermined by the ongoing attacks by the Trump administration, which is forcing trans people out of military careers and ripping away the benefits they\u2019ve earned through their service. LGBTQIA+ service members and veterans have had to overcome a long legacy of discrimination and exclusion in the military, but despite these challenges, they have continued to excel and rise through the ranks. Now, more than ever, we need leaders in Congress who are willing to stand with our service members and veterans as the administration senselessly undermines our military\u2019s recruitment and readiness. This resolution, led by Sen. Merkley and Rep. Randall, is an important step in ensuring that anyone can put themselves forth to serve this country, regardless of who they are or who they love.\u201d\n\nFull text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-join-bipartisan-congressional-push-to-stop-proposed-yosemite-land-transfer-to-trump-donor/", "Merkley, Wyden Join Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, joined a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in urging DOI to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch.\n\nIn their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers condemned recent reporting that indicated the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite to facilitate access to private property owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose chief executive officer began making a series of donations to Trump\u2019s campaign and the Republican National Committee in late 2024 \u2014 shortly after Kingsbarn acquired the Hazel Green Ranch property.\n\n\u201cAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cAny decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also raised concerns about the Department\u2019s proposal to use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate the exchange. The letter noted that the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward with the project due to congressional objections.\n\n\u201cPublic lands belong in public hands,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cProtection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.\n\nFull letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nYosemite National Park is a cornerstone of the National Park System and is one of California\u2019s crown jewels. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that \u201cnothing in the world is more beautiful than the Yosemite\u201d and that our national parks should be \u201cpreserved\u201d and \u201ctheir majestic beauty all unmarred.\u201d Yosemite is a national treasure preserved for the benefit of the American people. Its continued beauty, status as a wildlife sanctuary, and source of enjoyment is contingent upon preservation and proper maintenance of its land\u2014not parts being sold off to enrich nearby private property owners. We are extremely concerned that the Department of the Interior is considering selling off portions of the park to private development and we strongly oppose the proposed land transfer.\n\nRecent reporting indicates that since early 2025, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park to facilitate access to an 83-acre privately owned ranch. This is not the first time this property has sought to have private access to Yosemite, with federal courts blocking this right to access in both 2007 and 2012. Now that the ranch has a new owner, they are once again seeking to acquire this land to enhance the value of their property, and the political leadership at DOI is pressuring career staff to approve the exchange.\n\nAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans. This transaction does not seek to expand public access to Yosemite, improve visitor services, or address transportation deficiencies in park access. Rather, this land exchange seeks to merely cut down on driving time for a select few on private property. Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\n\nWe were alarmed that the Department submitted to Congress a proposal to use money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate this exchange. That fund exists to acquire and protect public lands for the benefit of the American public\u2014not sell them off to corporate developers. In response to the Department\u2019s request to fund this exchange through the LWCF, the Senate Interior Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward on this project due to our objection.\n\nFurther, in response to inquiries from Congress, the Department indicated that it has not identified any land to be exchanged for the parcel of Yosemite National Park that the Department is seeking to sell to the private developer. This gives further credence to the notion that this exchange is not being done in the public interest, but rather solely to benefit a private developer. In its justification for the LWCF proposal, the Department indicated that this exchange was a \u201cpriority,\u201d while providing no compelling explanation for why it was in the interest of the United States to pursue this exchange. Instead, when explaining the need for the project, the Department simply stated that the private landowner requested an interest in federally owned property within the national park.\n\nPublic lands belong in public hands. Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life. We oppose any effort to privatize, sell off, give away, or otherwise undermine the continued existence of public lands, in Yosemite or across the country. We ask that you honor congressional objections and abandon this effort to sell off a piece of Yosemite National Park.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-demand-investigation-into-trump-administration-voter-data-misconduct/", "Wyden, Merkley Demand Investigation into Trump Administration Voter Data Misconduct", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Oregon senators seek \u201cthorough and objective\u201d investigation into new whistleblower disclosure revealing DHS officers were directed to illegally access sensitive voter data and create law enforcement records based on unreliable data compiled with \u201csupplemental magic\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately and independently investigate wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower\u2019s disclosure alleging DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as part of its effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for Donald Trump\u2019s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DHS Office of Inspector General\u2019s mission is \u2018[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS,\u2019\u201d wrote Wyden, Merkley along with 16 other senators. \u201cWe urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower\u2019s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.\u201d\n\nThe senators highlighted the whistleblower\u2019s allegations and potential impacts on eligible voters and other lawfully present noncitizens, such as directing USCIS personnel to make false certifications to access sensitive voter information, create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as \u201cTECS records,\u201d require reckless performance quotas of reviewing 40 subjects per day, and rely on unreliable source data compiled with \u201csupplemental magic.\u201d\n\nIn addition to opening an investigation, the senators urged the OIG to take immediate action to prevent additional wrongdoing, writing: \u201cIn addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cFinally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary\u2019s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.\u201d\n\nThe DHS whistleblower disclosure has also prompted outside watchdog organizations to conduct their own investigations into the Trump administration\u2019s wrongdoings, including an investigation launched by American Oversight to obtain DHS and USCIS records under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the administration\u2019s so-called \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and alleged DHS directives to violate state laws.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).\n\nThe entire letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-join-bipartisan-congressional-push-to-stop-proposed-yosemite-land-transfer-to-trump-donor", "Merkley, Wyden Join Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, joined a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in urging DOI to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch.\n\nIn their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers condemned recent reporting that indicated the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite to facilitate access to private property owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose chief executive officer began making a series of donations to Trump\u2019s campaign and the Republican National Committee in late 2024 \u2014 shortly after Kingsbarn acquired the Hazel Green Ranch property.\n\n\u201cAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cAny decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers also raised concerns about the Department\u2019s proposal to use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate the exchange. The letter noted that the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward with the project due to congressional objections.\n\n\u201cPublic lands belong in public hands,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cProtection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee.\n\nFull letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretary Burgum:\n\nYosemite National Park is a cornerstone of the National Park System and is one of California\u2019s crown jewels. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that \u201cnothing in the world is more beautiful than the Yosemite\u201d and that our national parks should be \u201cpreserved\u201d and \u201ctheir majestic beauty all unmarred.\u201d Yosemite is a national treasure preserved for the benefit of the American people. Its continued beauty, status as a wildlife sanctuary, and source of enjoyment is contingent upon preservation and proper maintenance of its land\u2014not parts being sold off to enrich nearby private property owners. We are extremely concerned that the Department of the Interior is considering selling off portions of the park to private development and we strongly oppose the proposed land transfer.\n\nRecent reporting indicates that since early 2025, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park to facilitate access to an 83-acre privately owned ranch. This is not the first time this property has sought to have private access to Yosemite, with federal courts blocking this right to access in both 2007 and 2012. Now that the ranch has a new owner, they are once again seeking to acquire this land to enhance the value of their property, and the political leadership at DOI is pressuring career staff to approve the exchange.\n\nAt its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans. This transaction does not seek to expand public access to Yosemite, improve visitor services, or address transportation deficiencies in park access. Rather, this land exchange seeks to merely cut down on driving time for a select few on private property. Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.\n\nWe were alarmed that the Department submitted to Congress a proposal to use money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate this exchange. That fund exists to acquire and protect public lands for the benefit of the American public\u2014not sell them off to corporate developers. In response to the Department\u2019s request to fund this exchange through the LWCF, the Senate Interior Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward on this project due to our objection.\n\nFurther, in response to inquiries from Congress, the Department indicated that it has not identified any land to be exchanged for the parcel of Yosemite National Park that the Department is seeking to sell to the private developer. This gives further credence to the notion that this exchange is not being done in the public interest, but rather solely to benefit a private developer. In its justification for the LWCF proposal, the Department indicated that this exchange was a \u201cpriority,\u201d while providing no compelling explanation for why it was in the interest of the United States to pursue this exchange. Instead, when explaining the need for the project, the Department simply stated that the private landowner requested an interest in federally owned property within the national park.\n\nPublic lands belong in public hands. Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life. We oppose any effort to privatize, sell off, give away, or otherwise undermine the continued existence of public lands, in Yosemite or across the country. We ask that you honor congressional objections and abandon this effort to sell off a piece of Yosemite National Park.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-demand-investigation-into-trump-administration-voter-data-misconduct", "Wyden, Merkley Demand Investigation into Trump Administration Voter Data Misconduct", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon senators seek \u201cthorough and objective\u201d investigation into new whistleblower disclosure revealing DHS officers were directed to illegally access sensitive voter data and create law enforcement records based on unreliable data compiled with \u201csupplemental magic\u201d\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately and independently investigate wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower\u2019s disclosure alleging DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as part of its effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for Donald Trump\u2019s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DHS Office of Inspector General\u2019s mission is \u2018[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS,\u2019\u201d wrote Wyden, Merkley along with 16 other senators.\u201cWe urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower\u2019s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.\u201d\n\nThe senators highlighted the whistleblower\u2019s allegations and potential impacts on eligible voters and other lawfully present noncitizens, such as directing USCIS personnel to make false certifications to access sensitive voter information, create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as \u201cTECS records,\u201d require reckless performance quotas of reviewing 40 subjects per day, and rely on unreliable source data compiled with \u201csupplemental magic.\u201d\n\nIn addition to opening an investigation, the senators urged the OIG to take immediate action to prevent additional wrongdoing, writing: \u201cIn addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary,\u201d the senators concluded.\u201cFinally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary\u2019s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.\u201d\n\nThe DHS whistleblower disclosure has also prompted outside watchdog organizations to conduct their own investigations into the Trump administration\u2019s wrongdoings, including an investigation launched by American Oversight to obtain DHS and USCIS records under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the administration\u2019s so-called \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and alleged DHS directives to violate state laws.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/dexter-merkley-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-comprehensive-legislation-to-protect-wildland-firefighters-health/", "Dexter, Merkley Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters\u2019 Health", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes first-of-its-kind respiratory protections, strengthens health monitoring and improves care for federal wildland firefighters.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 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 Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect wildland firefighters from the serious health risks associated with smoke, toxic substances and other hazards they encounter on the job.\n\nFor nearly 30 years, federal agencies have had data documenting the serious health risks wildland firefighters face. Structural firefighters began using respiratory protection in the 1970s, yet wildland firefighters are still routinely sent into dangerous conditions without adequate respiratory protection.\n\nDeveloped in partnership with firefighters, unions and health experts, Dexter\u2019s legislation would establish federal respiratory protection standards, strengthen long-term health monitoring, improve decontamination practices and ensure firefighters have better support when seeking federal workers\u2019 compensation for job-related illnesses.\n\n\u201cAs a pulmonologist and critical care physician, I\u2019ve cared for firefighters with acute smoke and burn injuries, as well as chronic lung disease and cancer caused by repeated smoke exposure,\u201d Congresswoman Dexter said. \u201cIt is devastating, and it is preventable. Our wildland firefighters deserve more than our gratitude\u2014they deserve a government that protects them as fiercely as they protect all of us. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is legislation that will finally close critical gaps in protecting wildland firefighter health. It is built upon a simple principle: protecting firefighters\u2019 health must be an operational priority, not an afterthought.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels an even more ferocious fire season, our wildland firefighters are on the front lines, battling deadly blazes to protect our communities,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThese heroes deserve adequate resources and strong protections from the dangers posed by smoke exposure and other contaminants. Our bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is critical to ensuring these firefighters get the support they need because they put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it\u2019s our job to step up to keep them safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, wildland firefighters face tremendous health risks at work, where they protect our communities, defend the environment, and save lives,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cAs California faces an increasing threat from devastating wildfires, we have a responsibility to make sure the heroes fighting these fires have the resources, safety equipment, and support needed to do their jobs safely. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act takes an important step toward closing longstanding gaps in health and safety protections, giving our wildland firefighters the equipment, resources, and support they need to stay healthy while they brave dangerous conditions to save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur wildland firefighters are facing one of the worst fire seasons on record. Rep. Dexter and I have heard directly from these first responders on the dangers they face on the fire line and the health risks they take on every day as they fight these increasingly catastrophic fires. Young, healthy firefighters are developing cancer and lung disease at alarming rates, and some are paying with their lives,\u201d said Ranking Member Huffman, House Natural Resources Committee \u2013 Democrats. \u201cThese folks keep our communities standing and our forests healthy. The least we owe them is the pay, the protective gear, and the health care to live long, healthy lives, and I am going to make sure Congress delivers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWildland firefighters run toward danger battling some of the biggest blazes we have ever seen,\u201d said Congressman Gallagher. \u201cWe must take the health risks that come with that job seriously. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act ensures that our firefighters have the right protocols, equipment, and working conditions to better protect them during and after a wildland fire.\u201d\n\n\u201cNFFE-IAM strongly supports the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act and its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of federal wildland firefighters who put themselves in harm\u2019s way to protect our communities and public lands,\u201d said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). \u201cWildland firefighters face extraordinary occupational hazards, including toxic smoke, extreme heat, injuries, fatigue, and mental health challenges. They deserve the best available prevention, treatment, and protective technologies. Investing in their long-term health will save lives, retain experienced firefighters, strengthen workforce readiness, and help ensure these dedicated public servants can enjoy long, healthy lives after their service.\u201d\n\n\u201cWildland firefighters and fire support personnel are exposed to a variety of hazards, including wildfire smoke, on the job. Understanding the significant impacts of these hazards, the Commission called for investments in the physical and mental health of fire personnel as well as improved mitigation techniques for wildfire smoke exposure,\u201d said Annie Schmidt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Partnerships for Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. \u201cThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act\u2019s creation of a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program makes an important and necessary investment in the health and safety of those who serve us all by responding to wildfires. We applaud Reps. Dexter and Gallagher as well as Senators Padilla, Merkley, Sheehy, and Curtis on their efforts to protect wildland fire personnel.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they\u2019ve disengaged from the firelines,\u201d said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters put everything on the line to protect us, and they deserve the same commitment in return. This bill takes an important step toward ensuring firefighters get the healthcare, benefits, and long-term support they\u2019ve earned,\u201d said Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action. \u201cCongresswoman Dexter is a leader on this issue and Megafire Action looks forward to advancing this long-overdue commitment to those who protect our communities.\u201d\n\nThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act would:\n\nEstablish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and Program\n\nCreate an interagency Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate efforts to reduce harmful exposures, pilot respiratory technologies and develop an updated Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy every three years.\n\nCodify and fund the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program to support firefighters\u2019 long-term health and safety.\n\nEstablish Respiratory Protection Standards\n\nPermanently establish a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of Firefighter Health and Safety to develop criteria for new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and support long-term health surveillance.\n\nEstablish a two-year pilot program to test respiratory protection technologies under real-world wildland firefighting conditions.\n\nRequire OSHA to issue an interim final standard for wildland firefighter health protection, followed by a final standard within five years of the pilot program\u2019s report.\n\nProtect Firefighters During and After the Job\n\nRequire paid duty time during operations for firefighters to shower, decontaminate gear and clean vehicles following exposure to smoke or PFAS.\n\nRequire fire facilities to provide commercial-grade washing machines for contaminated gear, designated decontamination areas and access to showers.\n\nCreate a dedicated Office of Workers\u2019 Compensation Programs claims unit with specialized training on firefighting exposures to reduce processing delays and improve coordination for firefighters seeking benefits.\n\nThe Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is endorsed by the National Federation of Federal Employees, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire Protection Association, Megafire, and Firefighters United for Safety.\n\nRead bill text here.\n\nWatch Rep. Dexter\u2019s remarks here.\n\nWatch full Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act press conference here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-salinas-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde-land-transfer-act/", "Merkley, Salinas, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues\u2014including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)\u2014to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area.\n\n\u201cWith the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is long-overdue, and I\u2019ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,\u201d said Salinas. \u201cThis legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe\u2019s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill takes a big step toward helping the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to support services and provide opportunities that will enhance quality of life in the surrounding community,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support this legislation and will keep battling for all Tribes in Oregon to have the federal government working with them every step of the way as they exercise their sovereignty.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThis land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I\u2019m grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde\u2019s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cThe Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cThis legislation recognizes the Tribe\u2019s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon\u2019s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe\u2019s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon\u2019s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon\u2019s tribal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon\u2019s natural resources, and I\u2019m proud to support this effort,\u201d said Bynum. \u201cThis bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I\u2019ll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon\u2019s tribal communities.\u201d\n\nThe Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,\u201d said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cThe transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\nFull text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here.\n\nA map detailing the land transfer can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects/", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\nNOAA\u2019s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation\u2019s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cOregon\u2019s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I\u2019ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon\u2019s ecosystems for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cSalmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state\u2019s natural wonders renowned around the world,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I\u2019ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cSalmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,\u201d said Hoyle. \u201cNOAA\u2019s Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cAt a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.\u201d\n\nThe $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows:\n\nThe Freshwater Trust \u2013 Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million\n\nWild Salmon Center \u2013 Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million\n\n\u201cWhen we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn\u2019t to put them on some sacred list and mourn\u2014it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that\u2019s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,\u201d said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust.\n\n\u201cThis investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,\u201d said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).\n\nNOAA\u2019s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation\u2019s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cOregon\u2019s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I\u2019ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon\u2019s ecosystems for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cSalmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state\u2019s natural wonders renowned around the world,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I\u2019ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.\u201d\n\n\"Salmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,\" said Hoyle. \"NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district.\"\n\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,\u201d said Dexter. \"At a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.\u201d\n\nThe $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows:\n\nThe Freshwater Trust \u2013 Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million\n\nWild Salmon Center \u2013 Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million\n\n\"When we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn\u2019t to put them on some sacred list and mourn\u2014it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that\u2019s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,\u201d said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust.\n\n\"This investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,\" said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-schiff-press-flock-ceo-for-answers-on-troubling-abuse-of-technology-amid-surveillance-network-concerns-push-to-protect-americans-privacy", "Wyden, Schiff Press Flock CEO for Answers on Troubling Abuse of Technology Amid Surveillance Network Concerns, Push to Protect Americans\u2019 Privacy", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said today they are pressing Flock for information regarding allegations of abuse of its surveillance platforms and whether its existing protocols are failing to protect Americans\u2019 privacy.\n\nThe inquiry follows increasingly troubling and documented reports of law enforcement officials abusing Flock\u2019s nationwide license plate readers, camera network and sensors to carry out extensive, unauthorized surveillance.\n\n\u201cDespite a professed public commitment to responsible governance, Flock has repeatedly failed to implement the safeguards necessary to protect Americans\u2019 civil liberties,\u201d Wyden and Schiff wrote Flock CEO Garrett Langley.\n\nMultiple organizations and news reporting have revealed alarming concerns of unauthorized surveillance by Flock cameras. Organizations have come forward to express concern that states restricting reproductive health care access are using Flock data to track down patients traveling to other states for care while other reports indicate Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are conducting immigration-related searches of Flock databases to pursue individuals without warrants. An analysis of police and court reports by The Washington Post revealed that at least 50 law enforcement officers have been charged or accused of misusing Flock\u2019s surveillance system for unauthorized purposes.\n\nIn their inquiry, the senators express concern over how Flock has repeatedly failed to implement the safeguards necessary to protect Americans\u2019 civil liberties and demand answers on how the company is protecting against misuse by law enforcement and others, as well as its compliance with existing privacy laws. They also direct Flock to preserve all records between the company, employees, consultants, and state, local, and federal agents regarding Flock cameras.\n\nWyden has been a staunch advocate for privacy rights and holding Flock accountable. In October 2025, Wyden questioned Flock regarding its massive license plate recognition network and data-sharing practices. He criticized the company for misleading local law enforcement customers and enabling the sharing of sensitive vehicle tracking data with federal immigration authorities or out-of-state agencies enforcing anti-abortion laws. Wyden also slammed the platform's ineffective safeguards, noting that officers could easily bypass accountability by sharing passwords or entering generic, meaningless reasons for data searches. Following his initial investigation, Wyden urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Flock and hold the company responsible for negligent cybersecurity practices such as failing to require multi-factor authentication leaving millions of Americans' personal data vulnerable to hackers.", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/curtis-merkley-wildfire-emissions-prevention-bill-unanimously-passes-committee/", "Curtis, Merkley\u00a0Wildfire Emissions Prevention Bill Unanimously Passes Committee", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee\u2019s unanimous passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA), bipartisan legislation to streamline states\u2019 use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. The bill\u2014led by Senator Curtis\u2014is cosponsored by EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s unanimous approval by the Committee brings us one step closer to addressing the glaring irony in our current environmental regulations: They deter prescribed burns due to pollution concerns, practically guaranteeing catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cI thank my colleagues for their work and support and look forward to the bill\u2019s passage by the full Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels longer, hotter, and more dangerous wildfire seasons, our communities need to have all the necessary resources to mitigate wildfire threats. Prescribed fire and cultural burning on the landscape are one such tool by reducing hazardous fuels,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would streamline the use of prescribed burns and establish the Smoke Ready Communities Program, which is based on provisions from my Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act. As our Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act moves closer to becoming law, we are on the way to supporting more prescribed fire on the landscape\u2014an essential forest management activity\u2014while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events, protecting public health and saving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe unanimous passage of the WEPA through the EPW Committee represents a key step toward implementing common-sense solutions that will help states more effectively prevent wildfires and protect their land and communities. I am grateful to Senator Curtis and Senator Merkley for their leadership on this bill, and I look forward to supporting its passage through the full Senate,\u201d said Chair Capito.\n\n\u201cEmpowering states to proactively manage forests will reduce the frequency and devastation that wildfires increasingly inflict on communities. I am pleased the EPW Committee reached strong, bipartisan consensus around this commonsense solution and appreciate Sen. Curtis\u2019 leadership on this critical issue,\u201d said Senator Boozman.\n\n\u201cYear after year, increasingly devastating wildfires ravage our public lands and communities, so it\u2019s critical we act with urgency,\u201d said Senator Padilla. \u201cToday\u2019s unanimous Committee vote to advance WEPA will allow more prescribed fire to be deployed on the landscape and help prevent or mitigate wildfires. I am proud to see our bill advance as we work to be proactive in responding to the wildfire crisis instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Arizona, we know just how catastrophic wildfires can be. One of the best tools we have to reduce wildfire risk and the damage it wreaks is prescribed fires. But right now, federal air quality rules can make it harder for states to use prescribed fire proactively,\u201d said Senator Kelly. \u201cThe WEPA gives states greater certainty that they won\u2019t be penalized under the Clean Air Act for responsibly using prescribed burns to reduce the risk of a much larger and more destructive wildfires. This is a commonsense change that will help us keep our communities safe and our forests healthy.\u201d\n\nThe Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would:\n\nMake it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions;\n\nProtect ecosystems and wildlife habitat;\n\nProvide certainty that states won\u2019t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires;\n\nPromote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and\n\nMake our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner.\n\nA one-pager on the bill is available here, and the full bill text is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-booker-grassley-hinson-and-adams-lead-bipartisan-push-for-stillbirth-prevention-and-awareness/", "Merkley, Booker, Grassley, Hinson, and Adams Lead Bipartisan Push for Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) partnered with U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day. With almost one-fourth of stillbirths being potentially preventable, this resolution stresses the importance of advancing evidence-based stillbirth prevention efforts in the United States.\n\n\u201cEvery parent who experiences a stillbirth deserves support and clear action. Stillbirth remains a heartbreaking and preventable public health crisis, with Black, Native, and Hispanic families facing disproportionately high rates of loss,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cGetting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we cannot let up. This National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we must keep pushing for necessary action to save lives and spare families this devastating loss.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery year, more than 20,000 families in the United States experience a stillbirth, and too many of these losses may be preventable,\u201d said Booker. \u201cLosing a baby to stillbirth is devastating, and on National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we stand with the families who have experienced this profound loss and recommit ourselves to preventing stillbirth wherever possible. By investing in research, improving data collection, raising awareness, and strengthening access to high-quality maternal health care, we can better understand the causes of stillbirth, reduce preventable losses, and support healthier pregnancies.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo family should have to endure the heartbreak of a stillbirth. While states like Iowa have made progress at reducing stillbirths, there\u2019s still much more to be done to strengthen maternal healthcare, especially in rural areas, to help prevent these tragedies. Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness and promotes research to help target contributing factors and save babies\u2019 lives,\u201d said Grassley.\n\n\u201cImproving prenatal education and access to maternal care\u2014especially in rural areas where women may travel over an hour to see a provider\u2014is critical to protecting babies and reducing maternal deaths. Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was a major step, but more must be done to support expecting moms and prevent stillbirths. I\u2019m proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day and will continue working across the aisle to end the tragedy of stillbirth,\u201d said Hinson.\n\n\u201cIt has already taken way too long for Congress to wake up to the tragedy that is our country\u2019s stillbirth crisis,\u201d said Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. \u201cWe have made some great progress, but there is so much more to be done. We already have many innovative solutions to reduce stillbirth \u2014 our country just hasn\u2019t invested in them at a national scale. We can, and we must do better for our moms.\u201d\n\nAccording to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, one out of every 183 U.S. births\u2014more than 20,000 per year\u2014tragically results in a stillbirth, which is more stillbirths annually than the number of babies who pass away during their first year of life. Parents who experience stillbirth are also at an increased risk for severe maternal morbidity, depression, and mortality.\n\nIn the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nIn the House, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01).\n\nThe bipartisan, bicameral resolution is supported by 46 organizations, including Healthy Birth Day, Inc., March of Dimes, and the Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.\n\n\u201cNearly five thousand babies\u2019 lives could be saved annually through greater focus on stillbirth prevention efforts. National Stillbirth Prevention & Awareness Day is an opportunity to address the urgent stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and share free resources and tools like Count the Kicks which are saving lives. Our message to the country: it doesn\u2019t have to be this way,\u201d said Emily Price, Healthy Birth Day, Inc. CEO.\n\n\u201cThe Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses applauds Senator Jeff Merkley for introducing the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and for elevating awareness of an issue that affects thousands of families across the United States each year. Stillbirth is a devastating loss with lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts on parents, families, and communities. While not all stillbirths can be prevented, research continues to demonstrate that increased awareness, equitable access to high-quality prenatal care, evidence-based clinical practices, and timely recognition of warning signs can help reduce the risk of preventable stillbirths. This resolution helps shine a spotlight on the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts, support families who have experienced loss, and address persistent disparities in maternal and infant health,\u201d said Elizabeth A. McIntire, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, C-EFM, Association of Women\u2019s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses President.\n\n\u201cEvery year, thousands of families experience the devastating loss of a stillborn baby with lasting impacts on mom and her health,\u201d said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs. \u201cYet, research shows that many stillbirths are potentially preventable. We must do more to support moms, protect babies, and care for their families. March of Dimes is proud to endorse the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and urges action to advance research, strengthen prevention, address maternal health risks, and ensure families have access to the care and resources they need.\u201d\n\nIn 2024, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act\u2014led by Merkley in the Senate and Hinson and Adams in the House\u2014was signed into law to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America. Senators Booker and Merkley also lead the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, which would improve data collection, research, education, and public awareness around stillbirth.\n\nFull text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-markey-bipartisan-group-of-senators-trump-administration-must-release-all-documents-from-u-s-saudi-nuclear-deal/", "Merkley, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senators: Trump Administration Must Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Massachusetts\u2019 U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey led a bipartisan group of Senators to press the Trump Administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a \u201c123 agreement.\u201d\n\nThe Trump Administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress\u2014as is required by law\u2014but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them.\n\n\u201cCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,\u201d wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. \u201cThe side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u2018\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u2019 Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\u201d\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\u201d\n\nJoining Merkley and Markey in signing the letter were U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), John Kennedy (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nAs co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, Merkley and Markey have raised concerns about the proposed details of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal. Merkley began his career in public service as a nuclear weapons policy analyst at the Pentagon and the Congressional Budget Office and, along with Markey, has advocated for strong nuclear arms control in Congress.\n\nFull text of the bipartisan letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright:\n\nWe write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed U.S.-Saudi 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. While the text of the agreement and the bilateral safeguards agreement are now publicly available in unclassified form, the two side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level.\n\nIn previous 123 agreements, the Executive Branch publicly released the agreement along with side letters and related documents. Releasing the agreement text without the side letters here leaves that practice only half met. We are aware of no precedent for classifying and withholding the side letters, particularly when the stated purpose is peaceful nuclear cooperation.\n\nCongress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation\u2019s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States. The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President\u2019s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement \u201c\u2026was concluded with two accompanying side letters.\u201d Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.\n\nTransparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/sheehy-merkleys-air-traffic-situational-awareness-enhancement-act-advances-through-senate-commerce-committee/", "Sheehy, Merkley\u2019s Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act Advances through Senate Commerce Committee", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. SENATE \u2013 Senator Tim Sheehy\u2019s Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act today advanced out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill, co-led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), provides air traffic controllers more tools and training to keep American airspace safe. It now heads to the Senate floor for full consideration.\n\n\u201cAmerica has long set the gold standard in aviation, but a lack of resources and outdated technology puts public safety at risk. It\u2019s crucial that we ensure our Air Traffic Controllers in airports across the country, including regional and rural airports, have the training and tools they need to enhance their situational awareness and keep our airspace safe. This practical, bipartisan legislation makes sure our technology is upgraded to meet our modern aviation safety needs, and I\u2019m pleased to see it head to the Senate floor,\u201d said Senator Sheehy.\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s small and regional airports are an important partner in keeping the flying public safe. Our simple bipartisan bill\u2014which just cleared a key hurdle\u2014will unlock resources for these airports to make critical safety upgrades if they need them, something we should all get behind,\u201d said Senator Merkley.\n\nSenators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Sheehy and Merkley in introducing the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act in February. The bill is supported by the Regional Airline Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, and National Business Aviation Association.\n\nBackground:\n\nMany airports, particularly smaller and rural ones under the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) program, still lack modern situational awareness technology such as Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS) or other radar-integrated displays. Of the 266 Federal Contract Towers, more than 90 lack any surveillance tools. In towers at these airports, controllers rely on visual observation and radio calls, tools that can become strained during periods of high traffic, complex mixed operations, or reduced visibility. This technology gap can contribute to missed traffic conflicts or delayed recognition of emerging hazards.\n\nAs part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve technology to improve operational situational awareness at FCTs, after years of requests from airports asking for assistance in addressing this technological gap.\n\nLast summer, the FAA approved the first Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT), which uses ADS-B data to present controllers with a real-time display of local airspace. Since then, APRTs have already been deployed at several airports around the country, and controllers and operators report that APRTs significantly enhance situational awareness and improve controller confidence, bolstering safety.\n\nRead the full text of the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/warren-hoyle-wyden-merkley-ocasio-cortez-subramanyam-introduce-bill-to-ban-the-corporate-practice-of-medicine/", "Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cPatients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cIf we\u2019re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cBillionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cIn Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It\u2019s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m proud of Oregon\u2019s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.\u201d\n\n\u201c80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,\u201d said Representative Hoyle. \u201cHealthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it\u2019s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,\u201d said Representative Subramanyam.\n\n\u201cAcross the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,\u201d said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. \u201cI\u2019m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans\u2019 doctors\u2019 offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,\u201d Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). \u201cOregon has shown that it\u2019s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it\u2019s time to take that fight nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,\u201d said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. \u201cThat\u2019s why the AAEM strongly supports The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders,\u201d said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. \u201cIt\u2019s an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business.\u201d\n\n\u201cStates established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care,\u201d said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care. \u201cWe commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today\u2019s legislation, which will enshrine our nation\u2019s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross America, physician\u2019s private practices have been bought up by shadowy corporations and private equity groups with the sole goal of profit. Putting patients first is out \u2014 monopolizing local physician services, driving up fees, and shortening hours is in. This has made life worse for Americans across the country. The Bull Moose Project has long sounded the alarm about these shady practices, such as in cancer care. The \u2018\u2018Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026\u2033 can halt these appalling practices once and for all by making it illegal for big corporations to vacuum up private clinics,\u201d said Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project.\n\n\u201cThe Association for Independent Medicine strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, and we\u2019re grateful to Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for championing it. A prohibition is only as strong as its enforcement, and this bill backs its corporate practice of medicine prohibition with three enforcement paths: the FTC, state attorneys general suing on behalf of residents, and physicians themselves through a private right of action with treble damages. That layered enforcement, paired with mandatory divestment, is what gives this bill teeth that earlier CPOM laws have often lacked,\u201d said Dr. Marco Fernandez, President and Co-Founder, Association for Independent Medicine.\n\n\u201cPatients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors,\u201d says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. \u201cThe threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill\u2019s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine.\u201d\n\n\u201cPrivate equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,\u201d said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.\n\n\u201cFor too long, private corporations have overridden physicians\u2019 clinical judgment, prioritizing shareholder returns and profits over patient care. This legislation would end that practice. Patients deserve care decisions made by clinicians, not by investors managing a portfolio. We thank Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for introducing this vital legislation and urge Congress to pass it without delay,\u201d said Rachel Madley, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy\n\n\u201cOur health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins,\u201d said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. \u201cWe strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs doctors, we have a duty to put the needs of our patients first,\u201d said Hugh Bassewitz, M.D., the OrthoForum. \u201cThat\u2019s much harder when a practice is run by corporate executives focused on increasing returns for their shareholders, not by physicians focused on helping people who need us. We\u2019re glad to see Congress acting to help doctors provide patient-centric care, and thank the sponsors for their work on this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis groundbreaking legislation is absolutely needed to give health providers and patients a fighting chance against corporate greed. Congress must stop private equity from ripping the copper wires out of American healthcare and put patients first. Social Security Works is proud to endorse this legislation,\u201d said Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-9-1-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades/", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties.\n\n\u201cEvery Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure \u2013 two critical needs that I\u2019ve heard about time and time again from Oregon\u2019s rural communities,\u201d said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. \u201cThese funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I\u2019ll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cWe need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I\u2019m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.\u201d\n\nThe $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA\u2019s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows:\n\n$1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes.\n\n$5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units.\n\n$2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.\n\n\u201cThe preservation of these properties is really focused on the households. Not only are we extending the federal rent assistance long term, the scope of the rehab will bring the projects up to a \u2018like new\u2019 condition, and of course, we hope that this will be a home they will be proud to bring their friends and family to,\u201d said Shelly Cullin, Director of Development for Chrisman Development, Inc.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-91-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit.\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties.\n\n\u201cEvery Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure \u2013 two critical needs that I\u2019ve heard about time and time again from Oregon\u2019s rural communities,\u201d said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. \u201cThese funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.\u201d\n\n\"It's a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,\" said Rep. Hoyle. \"This funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I'll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon.\"\n\n\u201cOregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cWe need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I\u2019m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.\u201d\n\nThe $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA\u2019s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows:\n\n$1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes.\n\n$5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units.\n\n$2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-williams-booker-lead-push-to-close-constitutional-loophole-allowing-for-slavery/", "Merkley, Williams, Booker Lead Push to Close Constitutional Loophole Allowing for Slavery", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Nikema Williams (GA-05) today teamed up with New Jersey\u2019s U.S. Senator Cory Booker to reintroduce the End the Exception Amendment. The bicameral resolution would strike the \u2018Slavery Clause\u2019 of the 13th Amendment, a constitutional loophole that allows slavery \u201cas a punishment for crime\u201d in the United States.\n\n\u201cFor over 160 years, the 13th Amendment has sought to ensure our democratic republic lives up to the principles of equality and justice that America was founded on, but our work still remains to fully confront the horrific legacies of slavery and white supremacy,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cFor too long, the sinister Slavery Clause in our Constitution has denied the dream of a more perfect union, stripping millions of people\u2014particularly people of color\u2014of their most basic human rights and preventing true justice and equality for all. We must pass the End the Exception Amendment to eliminate the loophole that drove legal slavery long past passage of the 13th Amendment.\u201d\n\n\u201cSlavery was wrong from day one, and we should have abolished it when the 13th Amendment was ratified,\u201d said Williams. \u201cI will keep pushing, no matter how long it takes, for Congress to close the Slavery Loophole in the Constitution, finally ending slavery in America in every form, once and for all. It\u2019s been one hundred sixty years since we passed the 13th Amendment. We\u2019ve waited long enough. The time to pass the End the Exception Amendment is now.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver one hundred and sixty years after Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, the law has failed to fully fulfill its promise of freedom for all. A loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment allows individuals to be sentenced to forced labor as \u2018punishment for a crime,\u2019\u201d said Booker. \u201cWe cannot claim to be a free country while allowing people to be enslaved\u2014it is a violation of our founding principles that continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans. It is time we eliminate slavery in every form and pass the End the Exception Amendment so we can live up to our country\u2019s foundational principles of liberty, justice, and equality for all.\u201d\n\nImmediately following the 1865 ratification of the 13th Amendment\u2014including the Slavery Clause\u2014Southern jurisdictions passed what became known as \u201cBlack Codes,\u201d laws that allowed the arrest of Black Americans in large numbers for minor crimes like loitering or vagrancy. The Slavery Clause was then used by sheriffs to lease out imprisoned Black individuals to work landowners\u2019 fields, which in some cases included the very same plantations where the prisoners had previously been enslaved. The practice grew in prevalence and scope to the point that, for example, by 1898, 73 percent of Alabama\u2019s state revenue came from renting out the forced labor of Black Americans. Throughout the Jim Crow era, the Slavery Clause continued to incentivize minor crime convictions and drove the over-incarceration of Black Americans on infamous prison plantations, like Parchman, in Mississippi, and Angola, in Louisiana.\n\nThe End the Exception Amendment would finally correct this historic constitutional loophole and send a clear message: a ban on slavery cannot come with exceptions. While communities across the nation wait for federal action, nine states across the country\u2014including Oregon\u2014have banned slavery as a form of punishment.\n\nThe bicameral resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D\u2011CT), Tammy Duckworth (D\u2011IL), Dick Durbin (D\u2011IL), Mazie Hirono (D\u2011HI), Edward J. Markey (D\u2011MA), Alex Padilla (D\u2011CA), Chris Van Hollen (D\u2011MD), Raphael Warnock (D\u2011GA), Elizabeth Warren (D\u2011MA), Peter Welch (D\u2011VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager\u2011Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Susie Lee (NV-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Nydia M. Vel\u00e1zquez (NY-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25).\n\nMerkley, Williams, and Booker\u2019s End the Exception Amendment is supported by 90 organizations, including Worth Rises, Vera Institute of Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.\n\n\u201cSlavery is wrong under all circumstances. Yet more than 160 years after the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, an exception still allows governments and corporations to exploit incarcerated people for their labor. Congress has a moral obligation to finish the work of abolition by passing the End the Exception Amendment. No slavery, no exceptions,\u201d said Celina Chapin, Chief Advocacy Officer, Worth Rises.\n\nA one-page summary of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here.\n\nFull text of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-to-portland-area-airports-for-infrastructure-improvements/", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Portland, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX).\n\n\u201cPortland\u2019s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAs Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements\u2014such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management\u2014to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cVital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThese investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cPDX is the best airport in the country,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cI am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,\u201d said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. \u201cThese federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I\u2019m grateful for the Oregon delegation\u2019s continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.\u201d\n\nThe awards\u2014totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)\u2014for the Port of Portland are as follows:\n\n$7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives.\n\n$600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/new-trumps-war-in-iran-cost-dod-nearly-40-billion-and-drove-nearly-half-of-inflation-according-to-cbo-report/", "NEW: Trump\u2019s War in Iran Cost DoD Nearly $40 Billion and Drove Nearly Half of Inflation, According to CBO Report", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Text of Report (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, in response to an inquiry led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, along with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new data on the cost of President Trump\u2019s war in Iran.\n\nThe major findings include:\n\nTrump\u2019s war with Iran cost the Department of Defense (DoD) nearly $40 billion as of Aug 1 \u2013 without including the cost of damage to \u201chundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases\u201d in the region.\n\nThe U.S. military will not be able to replace munitions destroyed in the war for at least five years.\n\nCBO estimates that more than 40% of inflation from the second quarter of 2026 is a consequence of Trump\u2019s war.\n\nCBO estimates that inflation will be 0.5 percentage points higher in the first quarter of 2027 than it would have been without the war\u2014ultimately driving interest rates higher and increasing borrowing costs for American families and businesses.\n\nCBO estimates that it will take \u201cat least five years\u2014even if production was increased\u201d to replace the munitions destroyed.\n\nCBO\u2019s estimate did not include $113 million in costs incurred by State, including $79.2 million \u201cto respond to contingencies stemming from the Iran conflict.\u201d Additionally, given that the macroeconomic projections were based on data through August 17, 2026, and global oil prices and futures have increased since then, it\u2019s likely that these estimates do not capture the full extent of the war\u2019s continued impact on inflation.\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s illegal war with Iran is a one-two punch that\u2019s burning a hole in Americans\u2019 pockets and burning a hole in our munitions supply, hurting our military readiness,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cThis war is a betrayal of the American people, and it needs to end.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter months of the Trump Administration hiding the true cost of his illegal war of choice with Iran, the American people are finally getting independent and objective answers on the cost of the conflict,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cAs prices for everything from groceries to gas skyrocket, we must end this abuse of taxpayer dollars and double down on ending Trump\u2019s illegal war. It has cost America dearly.\u201d\n\nSenator Warren has fought to hold the Trump administration accountable for waging an illegal war in Iran:\n\nOn July 30, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, led 11 members of Congress in opening an investigation into reports that the DoD failed to provide adequate medical care to service members injured in a March drone strike on a U.S. military post at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait.\n\nOn April 22, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) pressed General Randall Reed, Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), on the Trump administration\u2019s failures in evacuating Americans from the Middle East at the start of President Trump\u2019s illegal war in Iran.\n\nOn April 20, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Van Hollen (D-Md.) led nine senators in opening a new investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth\u2019s role in weakening civilian harm prevention programs and the catastrophic civilian impacts of President Trump\u2019s war in Iran.\n\nOn April 7, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) released a new video condemning President Trump\u2019s threat to wipe out the \u201cwhole civilization\u201d of Iran and called for Majority Leader Thune to bring the Senate back into session immediately to vote to stop Trump\u2019s war.\n\nOn March 20, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote to Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and other members of the Trump administration, raising concerns about the financial costs for American families from President Trump\u2019s illegal and reckless war with Iran.\n\nOn March 20, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) sounded the alarm about the Trump administration\u2019s sidelining of the military\u2019s Judge Advocate General Corps, who are responsible for providing independent legal advice to commanders. Senator Warren pressed the commanders of United States Northern Command and United States Southern Command about the impact the sidelining of JAGs has on civilian harm as the war against Iran continues.\n\nOn March 11, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kaine (D-Va.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 41 colleagues pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a full investigation into the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, and other civilian casualties in the Trump administration\u2019s war on Iran.\n\nOn March 12, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned the Director of the Congressional Budget Office on the financial implications of the Iran war and highlighted that the enormous financial cost could instead be used to lower the cost of health care.\n\nOn March 5, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) led the entire Massachusetts delegation in pressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the Trump administration\u2019s \u201ccomplete failure\u201d to evacuate U.S. citizens \u2014 including Massachusetts residents \u2014 from the Middle East following the administration\u2019s starting a reckless war in Iran.\n\nOn March 3, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to call on Congress to end President Donald Trump\u2019s reckless war in Iran and demand accountability.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-protect-agricultural-water-access-amid-worsening-drought-in-oregon/", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year\u2019s record-low snowpack.\n\n\u201cWater scarcity in the West isn\u2019t a question of if, it\u2019s when,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe federal government needs to get serious about protecting water resources before it\u2019s too late, and my legislation will help Oregon\u2019s farmers and producers remain even more resilient against growing drought conditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels hotter and drier summers, we must ensure that we have reliable, resilient water infrastructure that every farmer, Tribe, and community in our state can count on,\u201d said Merkley, whose Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act is included in this bill. \u201cPassing this bill will provide more opportunities for crucial investments and innovative solutions to support communities facing persistent drought conditions.\u201d\n\nThe Western Water Reinvestment Act would improve water access for agriculture and conservation by supporting projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users.\n\nMost regions of Oregon have just one-third of their average annual snowpack, and many parts of the state remain under extreme drought conditions.\n\nLegislative text is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-to-portland-area-airports-for-infrastructure-improvements", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Portland, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX).\n\n\u201cPortland\u2019s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAs Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements\u2014such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management\u2014to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cVital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThese investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cPDX is the best airport in the country,\u201d said Dexter. \u201cI am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,\u201d said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. \u201cThese federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I\u2019m grateful for the Oregon delegation's continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.\u201d\n\nThe awards\u2014totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)\u2014for the Port of Portland are as follows:\n\n$7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives.\n\n$600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-protect-agricultural-water-access-amid-worsening-drought-in-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year\u2019s record-low snowpack.\n\n\u201cWater scarcity in the West isn\u2019t a question of if, it\u2019s when,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe federal government needs to get serious about protecting water resources before it\u2019s too late, and my legislation will help Oregon\u2019s farmers and producers remain even more resilient against growing drought conditions.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs climate chaos fuels hotter and drier summers, we must ensure that we have reliable, resilient water infrastructure that every farmer, Tribe, and community in our state can count on,\u201d said Merkley, whose Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act is included in this bill. \u201cPassing this bill will provide more opportunities for crucial investments and innovative solutions to support communities facing persistent drought conditions.\u201d\n\nThe Western Water Reinvestment Act would improve water access for agriculture and conservation by supporting projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users.\n\nMost regions of Oregon have just one-third of their average annual snowpack, and many parts of the state remain under extreme drought conditions.", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-veasey-introduce-resolution-recognizing-september-as-national-voting-rights-month-ahead-of-midterm-elections", "Wyden, Veasey Introduce Resolution Recognizing September as National Voting Rights Month Ahead of Midterm Elections", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Resolution comes amid efforts by Donald Trump and Republicans to upend vote-by-mail and make voting harder for Americans\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced today they have introduced a bicameral resolution recognizing September as \u201cNational Voting Rights Month.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year\u2019s midterms because he\u2019s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cAccess to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and Congressman Veasey and I will continue fighting to protect this fundamental right for all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past year, we\u2019ve seen our fundamental right to vote eroded and access to critical information about the voting process worsen. In my home state alone, we\u2019ve seen efforts to redistrict mid-decade, introduce restrictive voter ID laws, and reduce the number of polling locations available to voters,\u201d said Representative Veasey.\n\n\u201cNow more than ever, it is essential for Americans to understand their voting rights, stay informed about what is happening around them, and help to keep their communities informed. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce a resolution alongside Sen. Wyden to designate September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month - a step towards raising awareness, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring that Americans have the information they need to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in November,\u201d Representative Veasey continued.\n\nSince the start of his second term, Donald Trump has tried at every opportunity to undermine election systems nationwide. From appointing election deniers to key positions, to firing all members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, and attempting to limit mail-in voting.\n\nWyden and Veasey\u2019s resolution encourages voter registration in the month of September and calls on Congress to preserve the right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act, and by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965.\n\nThe resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawai\u2019i., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai\u2019i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Mark Warner, D-Va. ,Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is attacking the freedom to vote on multiple fronts\u2013\u2013from attempting to turn the postal service into a gatekeeper for voting to pushing red states into a mid-decade redistricting scheme, emboldened by a Supreme Court that gutted the Voting Rights Act. The stakes for our democracy couldn\u2019t be higher, and we need champions in Congress to stand up for every American\u2019s voice,\u201d said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. \u201cSenator Wyden and Representative Veasey have long been on the frontlines of the fight for the freedom to vote, and we\u2019re grateful for their continued leadership when we need it most.\u201d\n\nThe text of the resolution is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting/", "Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump\u2019s DOJ\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress challenging the legality of President Trump\u2019s Executive Order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans cast their ballots with vote-by-mail, and Donald Trump is trying to make it harder for folks to vote just weeks before an election,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAt Trump\u2019s bidding, this new USPS rule would upend procedures that states and voters rely on and create confusion about whether ballots will be delivered and counted. Trump doesn\u2019t have unilateral authority to rewrite the rules for voting, and we\u2019re urging the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional role of Congress and states in administering our free and fair elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is plotting in plain sight to rig the upcoming election by weaponizing the Postal Service to undermine vote-by-mail in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cVote-by-mail has long proven to be fair and effective, which of course means Trump hates it and is scheming to create confusion weeks before ballots go out. His actions are illegal, and our court brief asks the Supreme Court to follow the clear language of the Constitution and protect elections throughout America.\u201d\n\nThe coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the USPS. The court case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump\u2019s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\nNearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14399 and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.\n\nThe amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are \u201csubstantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\nThe amicus brief was led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Co-Chairs of the House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08).\n\nIn addition to Merkley and Wyden, the brief was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, current Members of Congress, and former Members of Congress from both parties.\n\nMerkley and Wyden have consistently supported access to voting by mail and have previously urged USPS to follow federal law and protect voters\u2019 ability to cast their ballots by mail.\n\nFull text of the amicus brief can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting", "Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump\u2019s DOJ\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress challenging the legality of President Trump\u2019s Executive Order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.\n\n\u201cMillions of Americans cast their ballots with vote-by-mail, and Donald Trump is trying to make it harder for folks to vote just weeks before an election,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAt Trump\u2019s bidding, this new USPS rule would upend procedures that states and voters rely on and create confusion about whether ballots will be delivered and counted. Trump doesn\u2019t have unilateral authority to rewrite the rules for voting, and we\u2019re urging the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional role of Congress and states in administering our free and fair elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump is plotting in plain sight to rig the upcoming election by weaponizing the Postal Service to undermine vote-by-mail in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cVote-by-mail has long proven to be fair and effective, which of course means Trump hates it and is scheming to create confusion weeks before ballots go out. His actions are illegal, and our court brief asks the Supreme Court to follow the clear language of the Constitution and protect elections throughout America.\u201d\n\nThe coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the USPS. The court case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump\u2019s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\nNearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14399 and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.\n\nThe amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are \u201csubstantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\nThe amicus brief was led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Co-Chairs of the House Democrats\u2019 Litigation Task Force Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08).\n\nIn addition to Merkley and Wyden, the brief was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, current Members of Congress, and former Members of Congress from both parties.\n\nMerkley and Wyden have consistently supported access to voting by mail and have previously urged USPS to follow federal law and protect voters\u2019 ability to cast their ballots by mail.", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-statement-on-25th-anniversary-of-september-11-terrorist-attacks/", "Merkley Statement on 25th Anniversary of September 11 Terrorist Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:\n\n\u201cI will never forget that day 25 years ago: the clear blue morning sky, the billowing black smoke, the clouds of white ash, and everywhere, the confusion and fear. Our nation watched in shock and horror as an unprecedented act of terrorism on Americans was carried out in cold blood. Nearly 3,000 people were taken from us, including courageous first responders who raced toward danger to save others.\n\n\u201cBut alongside the devastation, we witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and compassion. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue workers put their lives on the line for strangers. Passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers. Across the country, neighbors reached out to one another, gathering in communities and at candlelight vigils to share their grief and offer comfort. While facing unimaginable tragedy, Americans came together. The divisions that so often separate us fell away as people helped one another simply because help was needed.\n\n\u201cSeptember 11 will always be a solemn day of remembrance. We honor the irreplaceable lives lost, the families and loved ones who continue to carry those losses, and all those whose bravery and service offered hope amid darkness.\n\n\u201cOn this anniversary, we hold those memories close and renew our commitment to one another. The spirit of service, community, and common purpose we witnessed that day and the days that followed remains a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together. May we continue striving to build a country worthy of the sacrifice of those we lost, guided by the enduring values of freedom, equality, justice, and care for our fellow Americans.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-davidson-to-uk-spy-court-let-apple-tell-congress-about-reported-uk-secret-demand-for-encryption-backdoor", "Wyden and Davidson to UK Spy Court: Let Apple Tell Congress About Reported UK Secret Demand for Encryption Backdoor", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan Members of Congress Warn the Secret Order Threatens UK-US Relationship; Weakening Encryption Puts Americans\u2019 Safety and US National Security at Risk\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, urged a U.K. court to lift the secrecy around a reported order from the U.K. government that Apple create a secret backdoor in its products to allow surveillance.\n\nWyden and Davidson urged the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which oversees government surveillance in the UK, to allow more transparency in the matter, in a letter sent today.\n\n\u201cThe U.K. government\u2019s unprecedented demands for secrecy in this matter undermine democratic governance in both the United States and the U.K., and needlessly strain the relationship between our two nations,\u201d Wyden and Davidson wrote.\n\nIn their letter, Wyden and Davidson revealed that Apple informed Congress that it is challenging the U.K. government\u2019s authority to issue surveillance directives and that it was denied permission to discuss the issue in detail with both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Apple informed congressional staff that the U.K. government granted the company permission to brief the U.S. Attorney General, the Vice President and key staffers, but blocked the company from discussing the issue in detail with Congress.\n\nThe U.K. has reportedly sought to weaken security features of Apple\u2019s iCloud service, which stores private messages, passwords, photos and other files, since last year. While the U.K. government\u2019s first order would have impacted American Apple users, it reportedly revised its request in response to pushback from the U.S. government, including a letter by Wyden and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., that warned of the risks to privacy and national security.\n\nThe full scope of the current request is unknown, both to the public and members of Congress, due to secrecy mandated by the U.K. government.\n\nWyden and Davidson echoed a warning from the prior Director of National Intelligence that secretly undermining encryption would leave individual Americans and our country at risk of hacks.\n\n\u201cWeakening encryption in consumer software introduces critical vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hostile foreign actors,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cCongress cannot fulfill its constitutional duty to evaluate and mitigate these national security threats if foreign non-disclosure orders are weaponized to prevent U.S. technology companies from answering inquiries from duly elected lawmakers.\u201d\n\nWyden and Biggs previously urged the Investigative Powers Tribunal to provide more transparency about its surveillance orders, which observers have credited with influencing the court to release more information about its proceedings last year.\n\nThe full letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-presses-trump-administration-on-lack-of-firefighting-resources-during-the-2026-wildfire-season", "Wyden Presses Trump Administration on Lack of Firefighting Resources During the 2026 Wildfire Season", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he and four other senators are calling out the Trump administration\u2019s failures to prepare and adequately respond to the ongoing 2026 fire season throughout the West.\n\nA record 2.5 million acres-plus have burned in Oregon so far this year, and temperatures for much of Oregon next week are forecast to be in the 80s.\n\n\u201c[...] Record-breaking high temperatures and historic drought have led to catastrophic fires across the West, destroying thousands of homes, wreaking havoc on the economies of rural communities, stressing the budgets of local governments, and leading to the loss of four wildland firefighters and two pilots,\u201d Wyden and the other senators wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins.\n\nBetween July 18 and September 4, 2026, the national firefighting force was at preparedness level 5 with federal resources fully committed to combating wildland fires across the country. So far this year, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Wildland Fire Service has dedicated more than $6 billion to fire suppression budget authority, spending nearly the entire fire suppression budget as of September 2, 2026. The West is expected to remain in peak fire season with hot, dry, and windy conditions for at least the next two months, raising concerns that federal wildfire resources and suppression funds could run out entirely.\n\n\u201cIn light of these concerns, the capacity of the federal government to sustain operations is critical. We are concerned that the agencies simply do not have enough highly qualified personnel, Incident Management Teams, and supervisory staff to sustain operations,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cOur offices have received reports that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are not available. We have also heard that locally-led initial attack was affected by national mobilization, and that personnel have worked repeated or extended assignments. This is exceptionally concerning given that the worst of the fire season is likely yet to come and the high wildland firefighter fatality rate this season.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Wyden, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-requests-ai-camera-firm-explain-use-of-portland-footage-in-promotional-video", "Wyden Requests AI Camera Firm Explain Use of Portland Footage In Promotional Video", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked Portland technology firm Sightline Intelligence to answer questions raised by Oregonians about how it trains AI software it produces for use in high-resolution cameras, in a letter sent this week.\n\nConstituents raised privacy concerns about the firm\u2019s actions after footage of Oregon Health and Science University was included in a promotional video posted by Sightline, without permission of the institution. Sightline representatives have said the company did not use the footage to train its AI models.\n\nFostering high-tech jobs in Oregon that reduce dependence on foreign drone technology is beneficial to America\u2019s economy and security, Wyden said, but companies need to ensure Americans\u2019 privacy is protected.\n\n\u201cCompanies like yours are producing cutting-edge technologies to advance America\u2019s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry and supply chain, which help the United States reduce its reliance on foreign sources for UAV technologies utilized in search-and-rescue missions and military operations,\u201d Wyden wrote in his letter. \u201cWhile the development of these technologies is beneficial to the United States, it is also ripe for abuse, and I have heard firsthand in my town halls that Oregonians are particularly concerned about the misuse of such technologies to surveil Americans, harm civilians, and enable human rights abuses.\n\nWyden requested Sightline respond to the following questions in writing by no later than September 30:\n\nWill you confirm that footage retained by Sightline Intelligence of the OHSU tram, or any other footage filmed in Oregon, was not used in the development of any technologies, including in training, tuning, or testing models for object classification?\n\nWill you commit to permanently deleting the OHSU tram footage and any other footage that Sightline Intelligence retains of Oregonians who did not consent to filming?\n\nI recognize Sightline Intelligence creates AI-video processing software for target recognition, utilized in autonomous aircraft and other defense applications. Does Sightline Intelligence also collect its own video footage and images, in Oregon or elsewhere, to train, tune, or test its models and other technologies?\n\nDoes Sightline Intelligence follow all applicable U.S. laws and regulatory frameworks associated with exporting its technologies to its customers overseas?\n\nDoes Sightline Intelligence follow U.S. laws with regard to sanctioned entities?\n\nRelated Files", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-tout-nearly-10-million-for-oregon-tribes-affordable-housing-efforts/", "Merkley, Wyden Tout Nearly $10 Million For Oregon Tribes\u2019 Affordable Housing Efforts", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding a combined nearly $9,917,680 to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Warm Springs Housing Authority to build more affordable housing for Tribal members.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s critical that Tribal families have affordable, safe places to live that will foster community and connect them to their land,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis nearly $10 million in federal funding will help Tribes work to overcome their affordable housing shortage. I will keep working to deliver the necessary housing resources to ensure everyone in our state can thrive and live safe, healthy lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a basic human right, and Tribal communities across Oregon urgently need safe, affordable places for families to live and grow,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI applaud the Warm Springs Housing Authority and the Cow Creek Band for winning this federal investment that will support constructing new homes and building out essential infrastructure. I will keep fighting to ensure Tribal nations in Oregon and across the nation have the federal resources required to support their citizens and build strong futures.\u201d\n\nThe Warm Springs Housing authority is receiving $5 million for the new construction of seven three-bedroom homes for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is receiving $4,917,680 for the new construction of seven single-family homes and the infrastructure needed to support another new construction housing project. The nearly $10 million announced today comes from the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive Program, which provides federal funds to eligible Tribes and Tribally Designated Entities to support affordable housing projects in Tribal communities. Priority is given to new construction and housing rehabilitation projects.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for HUD\u2019s significant investment in our Nation that will help us provide new affordable housing for Warm Springs families who need safe, stable homes,\u201d said Edward R. Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. \u201cWe appreciate Housing Director Danielle Wood\u2019s effort to secure this award for our community.\u201d\n\n\u201cAffordable housing for our Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal citizens is such a crucial component of self-sufficiency,\u201d said Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians Chair Carla Keene. \u201cIt helps families and individuals feel a sense of security, stability, traditions and provides a place for lasting, living memories. We are thrilled to receive this generous grant and look forward to the positive contributions it will make in Douglas County.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-harrigan-and-whitehouse-call-on-commerce-department-to-sanction-mercenary-foreign-hacking-firms", "Wyden, Harrigan and Whitehouse Call on Commerce Department to Sanction Mercenary Foreign Hacking Firms", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Bipartisan Members of Congress Urge Secretary Lutnick to Take Action Against Three Indian Companies Linked to Hacks of Thousands of Americans and U.S. Companies; Hacking Companies Silenced U.S. Journalists, News Outlets and Technology Companies In Foreign Courts To Censor Reporting\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D- R.I. and Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., called for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take action against three companies based in India that have hacked and stolen data from thousands of Americans and U.S. companies.\n\n\u201cSeveral India-based cyber-mercenary groups have spent more than fifteen years conducting targeted espionage against U.S. citizens, businesses and the lawyers representing them,\u201d Wyden, Harrigan and Whitehouse wrote to Lutnick. \u201cCompounding this security threat, these cyber mercenaries and their associates have engaged in an aggressive campaign of global lawfare to censor investigative reporting by prominent American media organizations. This coordinated effort effectively allows foreign entities to use foreign courts to keep the American public in the dark about cyber threats to their own country and undermines the fundamental constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.\u201d\n\nAccording to investigations by Reuters and The Citizen Lab, these companies conducted widespread hacking campaigns targeting private equity firms, pharmaceutical companies, and more than 1,000 attorneys across major U.S. law firms to manipulate ongoing litigation. There is evidence that these groups have operated at the behest of the Qatari government, targeting opponents of Qatar\u2019s World Cup bid and the family of a former Republican Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.\n\nThese same companies also have attempted to censor reporting about their hacking campaigns by abusing foreign courts \u2014 at one point forcing a global takedown of Reuters\u2019 investigation. The Indian companies have ongoing lawsuits against U.S. technology and media companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft and The New Yorker to silence criticism and bury facts about their illegal hacking campaigns.\n\nThe members called on the Commerce Department\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security to add three companies identified by Reuters and Citizen Lab as the perpetrators of these major hacking operations\u2014 to the Entity List to cut off their access to American software, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity tools:\n\nSunkissed Organic Farms Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as \u201cAppin Technology Pvt. Ltd.\u201d) and its subsidiaries, including:\n\nAdaptive Control Security Global Corporate Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as \u201cAppin Software Security Pvt. Ltd.\u201d or \u201cAppin Security Group\u201d)\n\nABP Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as \u201cKGW Appin Knowledge Solutions Pvt. Ltd.\u201d)\n\nBellTroX Pvt. Ltd.\n\nCyberRoot Pvt. Ltd.\n\nThe full letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-tout-nearly-10-million-for-oregon-tribes-affordable-housing-efforts", "Merkley, Wyden Tout Nearly $10 Million For Oregon Tribes\u2019 Affordable Housing Efforts", "2026-09-09", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding a combined nearly $9,917,680 to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Warm Springs Housing Authority to build more affordable housing for Tribal members.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s critical that Tribal families have affordable, safe places to live that will foster community and connect them to their land,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis nearly $10 million in federal funding will help Tribes work to overcome their affordable housing shortage. I will keep working to deliver the necessary housing resources to ensure everyone in our state can thrive and live safe, healthy lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cHousing is a basic human right, and Tribal communities across Oregon urgently need safe, affordable places for families to live and grow,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI applaud the Warm Springs Housing Authority and the Cow Creek Band for winning this federal investment that will support constructing new homes and building out essential infrastructure. I will keep fighting to ensure Tribal nations in Oregon and across the nation have the federal resources required to support their citizens and build strong futures.\u201d\n\nThe Warm Springs Housing authority is receiving $5 million for the new construction of seven three-bedroom homes for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is receiving $4,917,680 for the new construction of seven single-family homes and the infrastructure needed to support another new construction housing project. The nearly $10 million announced today comes from the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive Program, which provides federal funds to eligible Tribes and Tribally Designated Entities to support affordable housing projects in Tribal communities. Priority is given to new construction and housing rehabilitation projects.\n\n\"We are grateful for HUD's significant investment in our Nation that will help us provide new affordable housing for Warm Springs families who need safe, stable homes,\" said Edward R. Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. \"We appreciate Housing Director Danielle Wood's effort to secure this award for our community.\"", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/america-in-jeopardy-puts-spotlight-on-trumps-corruption-chaos-and-costs-to-american-families/", "\u201cAmerica in Jeopardy\u201d Puts Spotlight on Trump\u2019s Corruption, Chaos, and Costs to American Families", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cDonald Trump has turned the White House into a cesspool of corruption. \u2018America in Jeopardy\u2019 names just a handful of ways that American families are paying the price while Donald Trump pads his own pockets,\u201d said Senator Warren.\n\n\u201cDonald Trump has turned the White House into a pay-to-play casino where the billionaire class profits and working Americans suffer. Trump\u2019s corruption isn\u2019t a game though and it\u2019s on a scale we have never seen before. We must continue to shine a light on all of their schemes,\u201d said Senator Van Hollen.", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-statement-on-smithsonian-secretary-lonnie-g-bunch-iii/", "Merkley Statement on Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cAs Secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie Bunch sought to make the Institution more than a place for tourists to see artifacts, and he succeeded by ensuring the collections reflect the vastness of the American experience. As the first historian to serve as Secretary, Lonnie brought studied research and independence to extend the Institution\u2019s mission to share America\u2019s journey in all its dimensions with visitors across the country and the world. As his crown jewel, he brought the National Museum of African American History and Culture from an idea to an extraordinary addition to the National Mall, establishing an enduring institution to tell the story of the African-American experience as an integral part of the American experience.\n\n\u201cLonnie\u2019s legacy will be standing up for the Smithsonian\u2019s independence and dedication to telling the whole American story. I congratulate Lonnie on an incredible career \u2013 including nearly 40 years at the Smithsonian \u2013 and thank him for his leadership and wisdom in telling the complete American story.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-harrigan-call-for-investigation-into-dod-efforts-to-protect-us-servicemembers-from-commercial-location-data-threats", "Wyden and Harrigan Call for Investigation into DOD Efforts to Protect US Servicemembers from Commercial Location Data Threats", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Joint Investigation Reveals New Details About US Military Policies Intended to Stop Sales of Troop Data; Raises Questions About How Adversaries are Obtaining Location Data of American Personnel in Combat Zones\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., called for an investigation by the Inspector General into the Defense Department\u2019s policies intended to protect U.S. servicemembers from being tracked and targeted by adversaries based on commercial location data collected from cell phones.\n\nWyden, Harrigan and 12 other members of Congress revealed in May that adversaries targeted U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East using commercial location data, which can be harvested from phones and is sold by data brokers. The members released memos from multiple components of the U.S. military \u2014 the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command \u2014 revealing that they have all adopted a widely recommended anti-tracking defense, by disabling unique mobile advertising IDs assigned to each smartphone by the manufacturer, on government-issued smartphones. The members also provided the inspector general with a non-public report produced by a U.S. defense contractor demonstrating how commercial data can easily track movements from sensitive DOD facilities.\n\n\u201cWe commend these service branches for implementing this cybersecurity defensive best practice on government devices,\u201d Wyden and Harrigan wrote. \u201cHowever, recent reports regarding the continued availability of commercial location data originating from DoD facilities raise troubling questions.\u201d\n\nThe members asked the DOD inspector general to look into how location data from DOD personnel continues to be available for sale, in spite of DOD\u2019s efforts. The members suggested data could continue to be available for several reasons, including that commercial data available originates from personal devices, not government phones, that are carried by servicemembers and government contractors.\n\nWyden and Harrigan called on the DOD inspector general to examine commercial location data that DOD and other government agencies have already purchased to determine why existing policies have not prevented servicemembers location data from being sold online, and to recommend policy changes to better protect U.S. personnel.\n\nA copy of the full letter and responses from DOD components is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/warren-merkley-booker-van-hollen-question-ed-secretary-mcmahon-on-lack-of-transparency-guardrails-for-1-billion-student-loan-administration-fund/", "Warren, Merkley, Booker, Van Hollen Question ED Secretary McMahon on Lack of Transparency, Guardrails for $1 Billion Student Loan Administration Fund", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201c(T)he agency has displayed a worrying lack of public transparency about what this vast sum of money has been spent on or will be spent on in the future.\u201d\n\nText of Letter (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) raised their concerns in a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon about ED\u2019s use of the $1 billion that Republicans\u2019 One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) allocated to ED for student loan administration. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined the letter as well.\n\nStudent loan borrowers are facing the largest default and delinquency crisis in recorded history. While OBBBA allocated $1 billion to be used to cover \u201cadministrative costs\u201d of the federal student loan program, the law created no accountability, oversight, or transparency measures regarding how the money is spent. ED has reported that it spent approximately $216 million of this fund by the start of Fiscal Year 2026, but it has not disclosed to the public what it has spent this money on or its future plans for the fund, leaving borrowers, advocates, and lawmakers in the dark.\n\n\u201cWhile ED has disclosed that it has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, the agency has displayed a worrying lack of public transparency about what this vast sum of money has been spent on or will be spent on in the future,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nIn addition to pushing for increased transparency regarding the student loan administration fund, the senators urged Secretary McMahon to use the money to address the ongoing student loan default crisis, such as by expanding outreach to borrowers at risk of defaulting or who have already defaulted, improving Federal Student Aid customer service, and rehiring ED\u2019s servicer oversight team to ensure that servicer errors do not raise the risk of default.\n\n\u201cED should spend the money on whatever measures are necessary to address the default crisis by bringing borrowers out of default and preventing additional borrowers from defaulting,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nThe senators asked McMahon to provide answers to their questions regarding how ED has used \u2014 and intends to use \u2014 this $1 billion fund no later than September 16, 2026.\n\nSenator Warren has led the fight to make our higher education system more affordable, cancel student loan debt, and hold student loan servicers accountable for incompetence and malfeasance. She launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump\u2019s attempts to abolish the Department of Education:\n\nOn August 27, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of senators in investigating federal student loan servicer MOHELA on the company\u2019s plans to address the false delinquency notices that it reportedly sent to numerous student loan borrowers.\n\nOn July 30, 2026, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee\u2019s bipartisan 21-1 vote to advance Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy\u2019s (R-La.) College Transparency Act out of committee, Senator Warren released the following statement.\n\nOn July 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2026 (AREAA). The legislation would take steps to reduce student debt and protect students and taxpayers by reforming higher education accreditation and centering student outcomes and consumer protection. On July 16, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Francis Brooke, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, to answer basic questions about the largest student loan default crisis in recorded history, which the Treasury Department has now inherited as part of President Trump\u2019s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Mr. Brooke was unable to answer questions about the size of the default crisis and potential effects on Social Security benefits for seniors with defaulted loans.\n\nOn July 6, 2026, in response to a May 2026 request from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed it would investigate whether the Trump administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED\u2019s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds.\n\nOn June 8, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Pressley (D-Mass.) and Carson (D-Ind.), led 62 members of Congress in pressing the Department of Education to immediately address the largest student loan default and delinquency crisis on record, which has been made worse by the Trump administration\u2019s policies.\n\nOn May 28, 2026, in response to a request from Senator Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed the expansion of its investigation into the Department of Education\u2019s (ED) transfer of critical programs to other agencies through interagency agreements (IAAs), including the transfer of student loan default collections to the Department of the Treasury. GAO previously confirmed it had initiated an investigation into ED\u2019s transfer of grant programs for career and technical education and adult education to the Department of Labor.\n\nOn May 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a new investigation into whether the Trump administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED\u2019s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds.\n\nOn May 4, 2026, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released new responses from the Department of Education and the Treasury Department demonstrating that the agencies cannot articulate a clear purpose or plan for implementing their illegal interagency agreement (IAA) transferring the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury.\n\nOn April 28, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pressed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s new Student Loan Ombudsman, Geoffrey Gradler, on his plan to protect student loan borrowers, especially given his past censorship of a key student loan report at the CFPB and his background as a lobbyist for lenders. The senators also asked him to recuse himself from past clients\u2019 matters that might come before his office at the CFPB.\n\nOn April 2, 2026, Senators Warren, Sanders, Wyden, Murray, and Baldwin\u2014all top Democrats on influential education committees\u2014pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to rescind their plans to move the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury Department, the latest move in the Trump administration\u2019s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.\n\nOn February 23, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, along with Representative Ayanna Pressley, released a response from the Department of Education to their November letter regarding a potential sale of the federal student debt portfolio. In the response, ED confirms for the first time publicly that they are weighing a sale of the federal student loan portfolio.\n\nOn February 19, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) pushed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on concerns that the U.S. Department of Education is apparently obstructing Congressional efforts to hold federal student loan servicers accountable for underperformance.\n\nOn February 2, 2026, Senator Warren released a new report revealing the findings of their investigation into how private student loan lenders will reap the benefits from cuts to federal student loan access enacted in Republicans\u2019 Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBBA). The report is the first Congressional analysis of the impacts of the OBBBA\u2019s student loan restrictions on the private lending market.\n\nOn January 22, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) led their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the Trump Administration\u2019s proposal to eliminate affordable student loan repayment options for millions of Americans.\n\nOn December 8, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in writing to the federal student loan servicers to ensure they are providing borrowers with the customer service they deserve in the wake of the Trump administration\u2019s student loan policy whiplash. The senators sent letters to MOHELA, Nelnet, EdFinancial, Maximus, and CRI.\n\nOn December 1, 2025, Senator Warren published an op-ed in USA Today calling for Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to resign following the recent news that President Trump and Secretary McMahon plan to further dismantle the Department of Education (ED).\n\nOn November 17, 2025, Senator Warren led over 40 of her colleagues in a letter urging Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to immediately end any plans to sell or transfer the federal student loan portfolio to the private market.\n\nOn November 10, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in a letter urging the Trump administration to use the IRS\u2019s existing legal authorities to stop the looming \u201ctax bomb\u201d facing borrowers who obtain income-driven repayment (IDR) discharges of their student loan debt.\n\nOn October 15, 2025, Senator Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) led 70 members of Congress in a letter calling on the Trump administration to address the ongoing and unprecedented wave of student loan delinquencies and defaults, which threatens the financial stability of millions of people and could have disastrous effects on the American economy.\n\nOn September 19, 2025, following a push by Senator Warren and nine other senators, the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education agreed to open an investigation into DOGE\u2019s infiltration of internal systems, including the scope of its access to sensitive student loan borrower information and its impact on borrowers\u2019 rights and privacy.\n\nOn August 26, 2025, Senator Warren led colleagues in sending a follow-up letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon condemning the Department of Education for deliberately hiding the \u201cSubmit a Complaint\u201d button on the Office of Federal Student Aid\u2019s website, firing employees responsible for providing customer service to borrowers and families and misleading Congress about the scope of these firings.\n\nOn August 4, 2025, Senator Warren led eight Senators in pressing major private student loan lenders on their plans to serve the incoming surge of borrowers who will be pushed to the industry because of Republicans\u2019 recently passed \u201cBig, Beautiful Bill.\u201d\n\nOn July 17, 2025, Senator Warren released a new 23-page report, \u201cEducation At Risk: Frontline Impacts of Trump\u2019s War on Students,\u201d highlighting warnings from 11 major national education and civil rights organizations on the impact of the Trump Administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) and slashing support to millions of American students, primary and secondary school teachers, administrators, parents, and student loan borrowers.\n\nOn July 15, 2025, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging her to reverse the interest hike on student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-announce-650000-loan-for-improvements-at-anthony-lakes-ski-area-to-enhance-safety-and-support-local-economy/", "Wyden, Merkley Announce $650,000 Loan for Improvements at Anthony Lakes Ski Area to Enhance Safety and Support Local Economy", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal loan of $650,000 for the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association (ALORA) to build a new rental shop to support ski programs and the local economy.\n\n\u201cAnthony Lakes is a crown jewel of Eastern Oregon drawing skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor enthusiasts whose visits directly fuel the local economy in Baker and Union counties,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cInvesting in this new rental shop ensures ALORA can continue expanding its community ski programs and welcoming visitors with top-tier facilities. I will keep pushing for federal investments like these that protect Oregon\u2019s outdoor recreation opportunities and keep our rural economies moving forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnthony Lakes is a treasured part of Eastern Oregon, bringing people together to enjoy the outdoors and supporting the small businesses in surrounding rural communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis federal loan will help Anthony Lakes continue welcoming visitors from across the region and providing affordable skiing opportunities for Baker County youth and veterans\u2014ensuring this special place can serve Eastern Oregon for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThis $650,000 investment to ALORA is from the USDA\u2019s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program in partnership with Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has been in operation for more than 85 years and is owned and operated by the nonprofit. This investment along with funds from additional community contributors and donations will replace the current 70-year-old structure with a new two-story facility capable of holding retail space, the repair shop, and seasonal staff accommodations.\n\n\u201cOTEC and the USDA have helped make this very important project possible. The Rural Economic Development Loan program will allow Anthony Lakes to continue offering current programs as we see the building project through. The new building is an investment in the future of outdoor recreation in our region and provides an amazing space to create more opportunities for our local youth. ALORA is beyond grateful for the support from OTEC, the USDA, almost 200 community members and businesses, and the grant funds received to make this project a reality,\u201d said Chelsea Judy, Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association Marketing Director.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-650000-loan-for-improvements-at-anthony-lakes-ski-area-to-enhance-safety-and-support-local-economy", "Wyden, Merkley Announce $650,000 Loan for Improvements at Anthony Lakes Ski Area to Enhance Safety and Support Local Economy", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal loan of $650,000 for the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association (ALORA) to build a new rental shop to support ski programs and the local economy.\n\n\u201cAnthony Lakes is a crown jewel of Eastern Oregon drawing skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor enthusiasts whose visits directly fuel the local economy in Baker and Union counties,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cInvesting in this new rental shop ensures ALORA can continue expanding its community ski programs and welcoming visitors with top-tier facilities. I will keep pushing for federal investments like these that protect Oregon's outdoor recreation opportunities and keep our rural economies moving forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnthony Lakes is a treasured part of Eastern Oregon, bringing people together to enjoy the outdoors and supporting the small businesses in surrounding rural communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis federal loan will help Anthony Lakes continue welcoming visitors from across the region and providing affordable skiing opportunities for Baker County youth and veterans\u2014ensuring this special place can serve Eastern Oregon for generations to come.\u201d\n\nThis $650,000 investment to ALORA is from the USDA\u2019s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program in partnership with Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has been in operation for more than 85 years and is owned and operated by the nonprofit. This investment along with funds from additional community contributors and donations will replace the current 70-year-old structure with a new two-story facility capable of holding retail space, the repair shop, and seasonal staff accommodations.", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/khanna-moolenaar-merkley-mcgovern-smith-and-thompson-request-homeland-security-briefing-on-uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act-uflpa-implementation/", "Khanna, Moolenaar, Merkley, McGovern, Smith, and Thompson Request Homeland Security Briefing on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Implementation", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Ranking Member Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), alongside Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ), CECC Ranking Members Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Select Committee Members Young Kim (R-CA) and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting a briefing on the Department\u2019s implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The lawmakers also request information on the enforcement of additional U.S. trade laws preventing the influx of illegally traded goods originating from the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC) that harm American industries and workers.\n\n\u201cCongress enacted these laws to ensure that illegally traded goods, particularly those made with forced labor, do not enter U.S. commerce and do not make American consumers complicit in atrocities, including genocide, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),\u201d the lawmakers write. \u201cStrong enforcement protects human rights, supports American workers, and helps ensure that U.S. businesses are not undercut by illegal and unfair trade practices.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublicly available information raises concerns about recent enforcement trends,\u201d the lawmakers continue. \u201cReports of substantially declining detention activity in key high-risk sectors, combined with continued imports from known transshipment hubs and PRC-linked supply chains, make it important for Congress to understand how DHS is setting enforcement priorities, measuring results, and identifying gaps in enforcement capacity.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers request a briefing within 30 days addressing the following:\n\nCurrent DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force enforcement priorities across high-risk and priority enforcement sectors, including consumer goods, seafood, textiles and apparel, steel and aluminum, polysilicon, silane gas, silicon-carbon materials, critical minerals, and other advanced materials;\n\nEnforcement measures addressing forced labor exposure in seafood supply chains, including vessel-based labor abuses, transshipment practices, and coordination with other federal agencies;\n\nThe status of efforts to update and expand the UFLPA Entity List and any barriers or resource constraints to the listing of additional entities;\n\nData on shipments detained, released, excluded, or seized under UFLPA and Section 307 authorities, including trends over the past year, sector-specific data, and country-of-shipment data;\n\nCurrent evidentiary standards required for importers to rebut the UFLPA presumption, including the types of supply-chain tracing, documentation, and verification CBP currently requires;\n\nStaffing levels and resources at CBP and DHS dedicated to UFLPA enforcement and FLETF duties, including any changes since 2024;\n\nHow DHS is evaluating emerging supply chains, including silicon-carbon battery anodes, critical minerals, and other advanced materials, for forced-labor exposure;\n\nDHS\u2019s efforts to investigate forced labor violations and other trade-related crimes, including in partnership with the Department of Justice\u2019s Trade Fraud Task Force launched in August 2025 and other relevant federal agencies;\n\nDHS\u2019s bilateral and multilateral engagements with foreign governments to promote enforceable forced-labor import bans, reduce diversion and transshipment, and strengthen international supply-chain accountability; and\n\nHow DHS is leveraging artificial intelligence to validate shipment country-of-origin and supply-chain documentation to identify potential UFLPA violations or other inconsistencies in shipment data.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-10T09:25:58Z", "2026-09-10T09:27:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-calls-on-nsa-to-update-federal-cybersecurity-guidance-for-vpns", "Wyden Calls on NSA to Update Federal Cybersecurity Guidance for VPNs", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Following a CRS memo, Wyden presses the NSA for answers on protecting Americans\u2019 communications from foreign surveillance\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged General Joshua M. Rudd, the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) to update federal cybersecurity guidance for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to address surveillance threats posed by foreign intelligence agencies.\n\nA Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo, requested by Senator Wyden and released along with the letter, highlights the vulnerability of consumer VPNs to surveillance by intelligence agencies capable of monitoring large swaths of the internet. The CRS memo cautions that \u201cencryption strength alone does not protect users from an advanced, persistent threat conducting bulk data traffic collection.\u201d Even when data traffic is encrypted, it can reveal metadata \u2013 such as its source, destination, timing, and volume \u2013 that foreign adversaries can analyze and correlate across networks to potentially identify and track users\u2019 internet browsing without breaking the encryption\n\nThe CRS memo notes that other technologies, including Apple iCloud Private Relay, Tor, Nym can better protect users from such surveillance by sending their data through multiple servers, often in different jurisdictions.\n\n\u201cAmericans facing advanced foreign threats\u2014including government personnel, defense contractors, journalists, and human rights defenders\u2014deserve clear, honest advice about how best to protect their communications from surveillance by foreign adversaries,\u201d Wyden wrote to General Joshua M. Rudd.\n\nWyden also released a letter he received in July from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which recommends VPNs as part of basic cyber hygiene but stressed the importance of VPN providers\u2019 data retention and encryption practices. The DNI guidance did not address the vulnerability of consumer VPNs to foreign surveillance or the relative benefits of multi-server technologies like Apple iCloud Private Relay, Tor and Nym. In addition to requesting that NSA update its existing guidance related to VPNs, Wyden requested that NSA provide unclassified responses to the following questions by September 20, 2026:\n\nAre standard, single-hop commercial VPNs sufficient to protect Americans\u2019 sensitive digital footprints from foreign adversaries monitoring internet backbones?\n\nDoes the NSA recommend multi-hop tools such as Apple Private Relay, Tor, or Nym over standard VPNs for Americans facing heightened surveillance threats?\n\nWhat technical features, such as random delays, padding, and cover traffic, are needed to defend against sophisticated surveillance, and how does the NSA assess multi-hop systems like Apple Private Relay compared with Tor and Nym?\n\nWyden has been at the forefront of this issue, urging the Trump administration last month to end its use of insecure remote access software.\n\nA copy of the full letter sent to General Rudd, the CRS memo and the letter sent to Senator Wyden from the ODNI is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-bringing-stop-the-corruption-town-hall-meetings-to-portland-springfield-medford/", "Merkley Bringing \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meetings\u2019 to Portland, Springfield, Medford", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "PORTLAND, OR \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will hold \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meetings\u2019 in Portland, Springfield, and Medford on Thursday, September 10.\n\n\u201cOur democratic republic works best when elected officials work for the public good, not the elected official\u2019s personal profit,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cTrump and his family abuse his office and official connections to rake in billions for themselves at every turn, while making life more expensive for hard-working Americans. During the \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meetings,\u2019 we invite Oregonians to come share their ideas for how to restore \u2018government by and for the people.\u2019\u201d\n\nAt each event, Merkley will provide a brief update about the extent of corruption and discuss proposed solutions, before turning to attendees to discuss the impact of corruption and why it must be stopped.\n\nIn the U.S. Senate, Merkley has led the charge to end public corruption\u2014including preventing lawmakers from trading stocks, banning cryptocurrency-related corruption by elected officials at the highest levels of the federal government, cracking down on the dangers that prediction markets pose to our democracy, getting dark money out of politics, and reforming the Supreme Court.\n\nDetails about Merkley\u2019s \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting\u2019 are as follows, with additional details to be sent to local media ahead of each event:\n\nThursday, September 10:\n\nPortland \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting\u2019\n\nTime: 9:00 am PT\n\nLocation: East Portland Community Center \u2013 Gym\n\n740 SE 106th Ave, Portland, OR 97216\n\nSpringfield \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting\u2019\n\nTime: 12:45 pm PT\n\nLocation: Bob Keefer Center \u2013 Gym\n\n250 S 32nd St, Springfield, OR 97478\n\nMedford \u2018Stop the Corruption Town Hall Meeting\u2019\n\nTime: 5:15 pm PT\n\nLocation: Abraham Lincoln Elementary \u2013 Gym\n\n3101 McLoughlin Dr, Medford, OR 97504\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-jayapal-call-for-gao-investigation-of-dhs-surveillance-courts-must-protect-public-from-subpoena-abuses-and-government-intimidation-tactics-used-to-keep-surveillance-of-americans-secret", "Wyden and Jayapal Call for GAO Investigation of DHS Surveillance; Courts Must Protect Public from Subpoena Abuses and Government Intimidation Tactics Used to Keep Surveillance of Americans Secret", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Private companies and other entities often receive subpoenas from federal law enforcement containing vague, boilerplate nondisclosure provisions that can carry threats of legal consequences for noncompliance\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., called for an investigation into decades-long abuses of authority by federal law enforcement agencies to coerce silence from subpoenaed private companies and on federal courts to protect the public from misleading demands for secrecy related to government surveillance.\n\nIn a letter to Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS), John Roberts, and Acting Comptroller of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Orice W. Brown, Wyden and Jayapal requested action to address federal agencies\u2019 abuse of subpoena powers to surveil Americans. It has been the routine practice of federal law enforcement agencies to demand secrecy from companies that have received government subpoenas for customer records. But under federal law, only courts have that power. The agencies may not gag recipients of subpoenas, except in a few limited circumstances in which a court order is granted.\n\n\u201cWhile these secrecy demands carry no force of law, their coercive effect is extremely successful,\u201d Wyden and Jayapal said. \u201cThis leaves customers entirely in the dark about government incursions into their personal data.\u201d\n\nUnfortunately, this practice has become institutionalized across multiple agencies including: Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Association (DEA), and Department of Justice (DOJ).\n\nICE frequently makes boilerplate requests for indefinite silence through its administrative subpoenas, including its customs summons and immigration subpoenas. For example, on July 8, 2025, Harvard University received three immigration subpoenas from ICE regarding international students with boilerplate requests for silence. The next day, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a press release celebrating the same enforcement action it had just directed Harvard to keep secret.\n\nDOJ has also treated extra-legal gag requests as standard operating procedure, regularly instructing the recipients of grand jury subpoenas not to disclose the government's demands. DOJ\u2019s letters often include boilerplate language demanding recipients to \"not disclose the existence of this subpoena or the fact of your compliance for a period of 90 days... Any such disclosure could seriously impede the investigation being conducted and, thereby, interfere with the enforcement of the federal criminal law.\"\n\nAs a result of these brazen abuses of authority, Wyden requests that the GAO initiate a comprehensive audit of the DOJ, DHS, and their relevant component agencies \u2013including DEA, ICE, and HSI\u2013regarding the use of non-disclosure language in subpoenas.\n\nThe text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-urges-google-meta-and-tiktok-to-stop-putting-small-businesses-at-risk-of-violating-state-privacy-laws", "Wyden Urges Google, Meta and TikTok To Stop Putting Small Businesses At Risk of Violating State Privacy Laws", "2026-09-01", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Surveillance Ad Tracking Tools Collect Users\u2019 Sensitive Information by Default, Big Tech Tracking Tools Won\u2019t to Follow Universal Opt-Out required by Oregon California and Colorado\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged major tech companies to stop putting small businesses at risk of violating state privacy laws and to let Americans more easily opt-out of invasive surveillance by their advertising tracking tools, in a letter sent on Tuesday.\n\nWriting to the heads of Google, Meta and TikTok, Wyden noted that the companies\u2019 advertising tracking tools are designed to collect information on users by default to capture what websites they view, and what sensitive information they enter into sites online. That information is sent back to tech companies to fuel targeted advertising algorithms. These big tech companies all offer alternate modes that limit the data that is collected and shared by their trackers to comply with strict privacy laws enacted by a number of states, but these settings are disabled by default, and must be enabled by each business that embeds the companies\u2019 trackers on their website or app.\n\n\u201cBy making privacy-invasive tracking that is banned in several states the default, your platforms shift the entire burden of legal compliance onto small businesses, non-profits, and local organizations that lack the specialized legal teams or engineering resources to recognize their legal peril,\u201d Wyden wrote. \u201cWhen a local shop, a community healthcare provider, or a main-street business in Oregon deploys your tracking tools using your standard out-of-the-box configurations, they understandably expect that your tools allow them to comply with state or local laws out of the box \u2014 and do not expect that they are needlessly placed in severe legal jeopardy if they don\u2019t take further action.\u201d\n\nOregon, California, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Connecticut, and Utah all have state privacy laws that restrict how businesses can process sensitive data. Oregon, California and Colorado require sites to respect the Global Privacy Control, a one-click way to opt-out of surveillance advertising trackers. Google Ads, the TikTok Pixel and the Meta Pixel, however, don\u2019t recognize and respect the global privacy control, instead forcing small business owners to add functionality to their websites to recognize the privacy signal and then trigger the relevant setting in the companies\u2019 tracking tools.\n\nWyden has been a leader in the Senate pushing for stronger consumer privacy protections. His Mind Your Own Business Act was the first Senate bill that would have required sites to respect one-click privacy signals like the Global Privacy Control, and was an inspiration for California\u2019s privacy law. He is the lead Senate sponsor of the Banning Surveillance Advertising Act, which would outlaw targeted advertising to protect Americans\u2019 privacy.\n\nA copy of the full letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-02T09:19:58Z", "2026-09-02T09:20:51Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-klobuchar-heinrich-demand-answers-from-trump-official-that-diverted-federal-firefighting-resources-to-private-ranch", "Wyden, Klobuchar, Heinrich Demand Answers from Trump Official that Diverted Federal Firefighting Resources to Private Ranch", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Amid record wildfire season in Western U.S., top Trump official at USDA diverted scarce firefighting resources to a 7 acre fire near his private ranch in Idaho\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today demanded answers from the Trump administration following reports that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Undersecretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, Michael Boren, diverted federal firefighting resources away from active wildfires, in order to fight a seven acre fire near his personal ranch in Idaho.\n\n\u201cMr. Boren\u2019s actions constitute potentially a misuse of taxpayer funds and put American families at further risk by diverting scarce resources from high-priority wildfires threatening communities elsewhere in the region and country,\u201d the Senators wrote in their letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. \u201cWe request a full investigation into the nature and extent of Boren\u2019s involvement in response to the Cabin Creek Fire and a detailed accounting of the safeguards the agency has implemented or plans to implement to prevent political interference and conflicts of interest in wildfire response.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, it was reported that Mr. Boren used his position to pressure U.S. Forest Service personnel to divert already scarce firefighting resources away from other fires to suppress a small fire near his 480-acre ranch in the Sawtooth National Forest.\n\nNine aircraft were reportedly assigned to the fire, an extremely high number for a fire of this size. Western states are already facing a shortage of firefighting personnel and resources as a direct result of the Trump administration\u2019s staffing and funding cuts. During this record setting fire season, fires of much larger size threatening American lives and homes have not received even a fraction of the same commitment of resources.\n\nIn their letter, the senators requested details on how the Department would prevent similar interference by administration officials for personal gain in the future, and requested the findings of a Department investigation of the incident be provided to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\nThe full letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkleys-response-to-trumps-submission-of-u-s-saudi-nuclear-deal-to-congress/", "Merkley\u2019s Response to Trump\u2019s Submission of U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal to Congress", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWith this deal, President Trump is not only triggering a nuclear arms race in the Middle East but also weakening America\u2019s security and standing on the world stage.\n\n\u201cThe President\u2019s decision to provide Saudi Arabia with a nuclear deal that does not meet the bipartisan Gold Standard nor mandate the Additional Protocol, both necessary to ensure sensitive U.S. technology is not used to help build a nuclear bomb, is dangerous and a strategic mistake for our national security.\n\n\u201cThat Trump chose to submit the agreement in the middle of his unauthorized war against Iran is yet another blunder. The Administration must explain how agreeing to a deal that weakens nonproliferation safeguards will prevent Iran from seeking a nuclear bomb, including why Iran would accept a stricter agreement than Saudi Arabia. We know that Saudi Arabia\u2019s leaders have previously threatened to pursue a bomb if Iran develops one.\n\n\u201cThe deal could even open the nuclear floodgates beyond Iran. The 2009 U.S.-UAE nuclear deal included the Gold Standard but allowed the Emirates to renegotiate if the U.S. reached a more favorable nuclear agreement with another Middle East state.\n\n\u201cThe President also claims that the deal is \u2018subject to\u2019 Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords, but it is unclear how this goal will be enforced. The agreement will go into effect after 90 days unless Congress acts to stop it. The President also had the opportunity to negotiate Saudi-Israel normalization, including an irreversible pathway towards a Palestinian state as part of the initial negotiations under his Administration, but chose not to do so.", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-netanyahu-to-immediately-halt-settler-violence-in-west-bank", "Wyden, Merkley Urge Netanyahu to Immediately Halt Settler Violence in West Bank", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon Senators call for those responsible for violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, to be held accountable\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with 45 of their Senate colleagues, urged Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter to Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. \u201cContinued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u201d\n\nPresident Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address.\n\n\u201cLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was led by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai\u2019i, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai\u2019i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/warren-merkley-senators-investigate-federal-student-loan-servicer-mohela-for-false-delinquency-notices-allegedly-sent-to-borrowers/", "Warren, Merkley, Senators Investigate Federal Student Loan Servicer MOHELA for False Delinquency Notices Allegedly Sent to Borrowers", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "According to reports, MOHELA falsely told borrowers they were thousands of dollars behind on their student loans and nearing default\n\n\u201cIt is currently unclear how many borrowers received these false notices, whether any borrowers paid the incorrect amounts, and to what extent the issue has been fixed\u201d\n\nText of Letter (PDF)\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of senators in investigating federal student loan servicer MOHELA on the company\u2019s plans to address the false delinquency notices that it reportedly sent to numerous student loan borrowers. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) joined the letter as well.\n\nThis month, Forbes reported that MOHELA sent a large number of delinquency notices to student loan borrowers not actually delinquent on their loans. The emails mistakenly warned borrowers that their loans were \u201cseverely past due\u201d and told borrowers that they were at risk of wage garnishment and other consequences of default.\n\nAccording to reports, borrowers who received these notices and logged into their MOHELA account were incorrectly shown that their loans were past due for many months of payments and shown documents incorrectly indicating that they owed a \u201cpast due amount\u201d and \u201ctotal amount due,\u201d which, in some cases, was over $10,000. MOHELA\u2019s customer service representatives also allegedly failed to speedily resolve this issue for borrowers.\n\n\u201cThis error is a failure that has not only been highly distressing for borrowers but could have led to direct financial harm,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cIf a borrower does not realize that their false delinquency notice was issued in error and believes that they are on the verge of default, they might make the payment MOHELA has claimed they are responsible for, unnecessarily spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars.\u201d\n\nMOHELA has a long history of making significant errors at the expense of borrowers, including allegedly reporting millions of loan transfers to credit bureaus incorrectly, sending inaccurate billing statements to hundreds of thousands of borrowers and late billing statements to millions, and failing to process hundreds of thousands of borrowers\u2019 applications for affordable repayment plans in a timely manner.\n\nThe senators noted the Trump administration has stripped away key safeguards to prevent federal student loan servicers\u2019 errors. The dismantling of the Education Department (ED) has included the elimination of ED\u2019s entire servicer oversight team, which had been responsible for identifying and addressing servicer errors.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration\u2019s policy is to look the other way when servicers fail at their job, and borrowers are suffering the consequences,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\nThe senators pushed MOHELA to provide answers to their questions regarding these false delinquency notices no later than September 10, 2026. The senators also called on ED to rehire the servicer oversight team and follow the Government Accountability Office\u2019s recommendation to resume assessing servicer accuracy.\n\nSenator Warren has led the fight to make our higher education system more affordable, cancel student loan debt, and hold student loan servicers accountable for incompetence and malfeasance. She launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump\u2019s attempts to abolish the Department of Education:\n\nOn July 30, 2026, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee\u2019s bipartisan 21-1 vote to advance Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy\u2019s (R-La.) College Transparency Act out of committee, Senator Warren released the following statement.\n\nOn July 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2026 (AREAA). The legislation would take steps to reduce student debt and protect students and taxpayers by reforming higher education accreditation and centering student outcomes and consumer protection. On July 16, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Francis Brooke, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, to answer basic questions about the largest student loan default crisis in recorded history, which the Treasury Department has now inherited as part of President Trump\u2019s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Mr. Brooke was unable to answer questions about the size of the default crisis and potential effects on Social Security benefits for seniors with defaulted loans.\n\nOn July 6, 2026, in response to a May 2026 request from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed it would investigate whether the Trump administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED\u2019s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds.\n\nOn June 8, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Pressley (D-Mass.) and Carson (D-Ind.), led 62 members of Congress in pressing the Department of Education to immediately address the largest student loan default and delinquency crisis on record, which has been made worse by the Trump administration\u2019s policies.\n\nOn May 28, 2026, in response to a request from Senator Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed the expansion of its investigation into the Department of Education\u2019s (ED) transfer of critical programs to other agencies through interagency agreements (IAAs), including the transfer of student loan default collections to the Department of the Treasury. GAO previously confirmed it had initiated an investigation into ED\u2019s transfer of grant programs for career and technical education and adult education to the Department of Labor.\n\nOn May 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a new investigation into whether the Trump administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED\u2019s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds.\n\nOn May 4, 2026, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released new responses from the Department of Education and the Treasury Department demonstrating that the agencies cannot articulate a clear purpose or plan for implementing their illegal interagency agreement (IAA) transferring the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury.\n\nOn April 28, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pressed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\u2019s new Student Loan Ombudsman, Geoffrey Gradler, on his plan to protect student loan borrowers, especially given his past censorship of a key student loan report at the CFPB and his background as a lobbyist for lenders. The senators also asked him to recuse himself from past clients\u2019 matters that might come before his office at the CFPB.\n\nOn April 2, 2026, Senators Warren, Sanders, Wyden, Murray, and Baldwin\u2014all top Democrats on influential education committees\u2014pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to rescind their plans to move the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury Department, the latest move in the Trump administration\u2019s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.\n\nOn February 23, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, along with Representative Ayanna Pressley, released a response from the Department of Education to their November letter regarding a potential sale of the federal student debt portfolio. In the response, ED confirms for the first time publicly that they are weighing a sale of the federal student loan portfolio.\n\nOn February 19, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) pushed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on concerns that the U.S. Department of Education is apparently obstructing Congressional efforts to hold federal student loan servicers accountable for underperformance.\n\nOn February 2, 2026, Senator Warren released a new report revealing the findings of their investigation into how private student loan lenders will reap the benefits from cuts to federal student loan access enacted in Republicans\u2019 Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBBA). The report is the first Congressional analysis of the impacts of the OBBBA\u2019s student loan restrictions on the private lending market.\n\nOn January 22, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) led their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the Trump Administration\u2019s proposal to eliminate affordable student loan repayment options for millions of Americans.\n\nOn December 8, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in writing to the federal student loan servicers to ensure they are providing borrowers with the customer service they deserve in the wake of the Trump administration\u2019s student loan policy whiplash. The senators sent letters to MOHELA, Nelnet, EdFinancial, Maximus, and CRI.\n\nOn December 1, 2025, Senator Warren published an op-ed in USA Today calling for Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to resign following the recent news that President Trump and Secretary McMahon plan to further dismantle the Department of Education (ED).\n\nOn November 17, 2025, Senator Warren led over 40 of her colleagues in a letter urging Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to immediately end any plans to sell or transfer the federal student loan portfolio to the private market.\n\nOn November 10, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in a letter urging the Trump administration to use the IRS\u2019s existing legal authorities to stop the looming \u201ctax bomb\u201d facing borrowers who obtain income-driven repayment (IDR) discharges of their student loan debt.\n\nOn October 15, 2025, Senator Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) led 70 members of Congress in a letter calling on the Trump administration to address the ongoing and unprecedented wave of student loan delinquencies and defaults, which threatens the financial stability of millions of people and could have disastrous effects on the American economy.\n\nOn September 19, 2025, following a push by Senator Warren and nine other senators, the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education agreed to open an investigation into DOGE\u2019s infiltration of internal systems, including the scope of its access to sensitive student loan borrower information and its impact on borrowers\u2019 rights and privacy.\n\nOn August 26, 2025, Senator Warren led colleagues in sending a follow-up letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon condemning the Department of Education for deliberately hiding the \u201cSubmit a Complaint\u201d button on the Office of Federal Student Aid\u2019s website, firing employees responsible for providing customer service to borrowers and families and misleading Congress about the scope of these firings.\n\nOn August 4, 2025, Senator Warren led eight Senators in pressing major private student loan lenders on their plans to serve the incoming surge of borrowers who will be pushed to the industry because of Republicans\u2019 recently passed \u201cBig, Beautiful Bill.\u201d\n\nOn July 17, 2025, Senator Warren released a new 23-page report, \u201cEducation At Risk: Frontline Impacts of Trump\u2019s War on Students,\u201d highlighting warnings from 11 major national education and civil rights organizations on the impact of the Trump Administration\u2019s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) and slashing support to millions of American students, primary and secondary school teachers, administrators, parents, and student loan borrowers.\n\nOn July 15, 2025, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging her to reverse the interest hike on student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-reverse-unlawful-cuts-to-school-based-mental-health-services/", "Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Reverse Unlawful Cuts to School-Based Mental Health Services", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand the Department of Education disburse funds that were abruptly and unlawfully canceled for School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs and halt its attempts to end the grant programs.\n\nUpon canceling over 200 of these grants in April 2025, the Trump administration attempted to justify their cuts to school-based mental health funding by claiming that grant programs promoted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and did not adhere to the administration\u2019s policy priorities. The senators pushed back against this false claim pointing to the significant impact to mental health staffing and resources that thousands of students relied on.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals. These choices will increase the financial and administrative barriers to obtaining a quality education. We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption,\u201d the senators wrote in their letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon.\n\nThese grant programs \u2013 part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act \u2013 address the shortage of mental health professionals, social workers and services in our nation\u2019s schools, especially those in rural and underserved areas.\n\n\u201cDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences. The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued. Consequently, grantees were forced to pause hiring and training and lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. MHSP-supported graduate programs could also no longer fund the scholarships needed to recruit students,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nAfter a court-ordered injunction and restraining order stemming the grant cancellations, the Trump administration imposed additional requirements upon grantees before deciding to release funding for the second half of the year \u2013 causing greater uncertainty for schools. The administration is now attempting to fully terminate these programs, placing their future in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services. To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Angus King, I-Maine. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.\n\nMerkley leads and Wyden cosponsors the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would significantly boost the availability of mental health providers in America\u2019s public schools.\n\nThe text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-urge-netanyahu-to-immediately-halt-settler-violence-in-west-bank/", "Wyden, Merkley Urge Netanyahu to Immediately Halt Settler Violence in West Bank", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Oregon Senators call for those responsible for violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, to be held accountable\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with 45 of their Senate colleagues, urged Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter to Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. \u201cContinued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u201d\n\nPresident Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address.\n\n\u201cLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was led by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt-Rochester, D-Del., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chris Coons, D-Del., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai\u2019i, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai\u2019i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Mark Warner, D-Va., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.\n\nThe text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-reverse-unlawful-cuts-to-school-based-mental-health-services", "Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Reverse Unlawful Cuts to School-Based Mental Health Services", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand the Department of Education disburse funds that were abruptly and unlawfully canceled for School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration (MHSP) grant programs and halt its attempts to end the grant programs.\n\nUpon canceling over 200 of these grants in April 2025, the Trump administration attempted to justify their cuts to school-based mental health funding by claiming that grant programs promoted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and did not adhere to the administration\u2019s policy priorities. The senators pushed back against this false claim pointing to the significant impact to mental health staffing and resources that thousands of students relied on.\n\n\u201cThe Department\u2019s recent actions create significant operational uncertainty for local school districts, interrupting student access to care and stalling the recruitment of future school-based mental health care professionals. These choices will increase the financial and administrative barriers to obtaining a quality education. We therefore demand that the Department disburse the funds grantees are contractually owed in a timely manner to ensure local school programs face no further disruption,\u201d the senators wrote in their letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon.\n\nThese grant programs \u2013 part of the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act \u2013 address the shortage of mental health professionals, social workers and services in our nation\u2019s schools, especially those in rural and underserved areas.\n\n\u201cDespite these grants\u2019 clear effectiveness, the Department sent boilerplate notices in April 2025 to 70 SBMH and 153 MHSP recipients claiming that these grantees did not adhere to the Trump Administration\u2019s priorities and policy preferences. The notices failed to provide specific, individualized explanations for why the grants were abruptly discontinued. Consequently, grantees were forced to pause hiring and training and lay off school counselors, psychologists, and social workers. MHSP-supported graduate programs could also no longer fund the scholarships needed to recruit students,\u201d the lawmakers continued.\n\nAfter a court-ordered injunction and restraining order stemming the grant cancellations, the Trump administration imposed additional requirements upon grantees before deciding to release funding for the second half of the year \u2013 causing greater uncertainty for schools. The administration is now attempting to fully terminate these programs, placing their future in jeopardy.\n\n\u201cWe insist that the Department honor the statutory funding directives enacted by Congress, resolve the administrative barriers affecting the pipeline of mental health professionals in our nation\u2019s schools, and ensure that students have access to these crucial services. To cut, delay, and otherwise obstruct these grants is not only unlawful, but also unconscionable in light of the mental health crisis facing our youth. It\u2019s not an exaggeration to say that young lives are at stake. Please step in to help,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Angus King, I-Maine. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Rev. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.\n\nMerkley leads and Wyden cosponsors the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would significantly boost the availability of mental health providers in America\u2019s public schools.", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bonamici-announce-nearly-6-million-to-support-oregon-entrepreneurs-and-university-startups/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Announce Nearly $6 Million to Support Oregon Entrepreneurs and University Startups", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Federal award to Portland State University will help turn academic research into commercial products, startups, and community solutions.\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today announced a federal investment of $5.9 million to Portland State University to help turn institutional research into commercial products.\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s public universities produce top-tier scientific breakthroughs, and lab discoveries shouldn\u2019t sit on a shelf when they could be creating good-paying jobs and growing our local economy,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal award will help reward faculty who turn campus discoveries into viable startups, vibrant local industry partnerships, and practical solutions. It\u2019s a tremendous win for Oregon\u2019s innovation ecosystem and for training the next generation of scientific entrepreneurs.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstitutions of higher education like PSU are at the forefront of Oregon\u2019s innovation\u2014supporting and growing small businesses across our state,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis nearly $6 million federal award will supercharge PSU\u2019s work by expanding its capabilities and ability to utilize its research in real-world practical situations, ensuring Oregon continues to be a hub of ideas and economic development for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that this grant will meaningfully support innovation and entrepreneurship projects across NW Oregon and empower faculty and students to learn, test, and demonstrate the groundbreaking products and services that will drive our scientific future. This investment will enable the next generation of scientific leaders to bring discoveries to market and fuel our region\u2019s research economy,\u201d Bonamici said.\n\nThe $5,973,981 federal investment through the National Science Foundation\u2019s Accelerating Research Translation program will be used by PSU to update promotion and tenure rules to reward applied work, provide seed grants for commercial projects, train students in entrepreneurship, and offer business coaching to launch local partnerships and university spin-offs.\n\n\u201cPSU\u2019s motto is Let Knowledge Serve the City, and this award puts that commitment to work for our regional economy. Our researchers are producing discoveries with real commercial and civic value. This investment helps us turn more of that work into Oregon companies, Oregon jobs, and Oregon solutions,\u201d said Portland State University President Ann Cudd.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-brown-seek-gao-investigation-into-dot-failure-to-protect-airline-passenger-data", "Wyden, Brown Seek GAO Investigation Into DOT Failure to Protect Airline Passenger Data", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Following Major Privacy Incidents Affecting Hundreds of Millions of Air Travelers, Lawmakers Demand Answers on DOT Backtracking on Pledge to Act To Enforce Passenger Data Privacy and Security\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio., requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) ongoing failure to protect passenger privacy using its authority to regulate the practices of commercial airlines and ticket agents.\n\nDOT has had the sole authority to protect passenger data for more than 40 years, yet, according to a review by the Congressional Research Service, it has never taken a privacy enforcement action\u2014even after major incidents affecting hundreds of millions of travelers. This inaction has left sensitive personal travel data vulnerable to corporate exploitation, government surveillance, and potential threats from foreign adversaries.\n\n\u201cDOT\u2019s abdication of its role as a privacy regulator has left the sensitive personal information of hundreds of millions of Americans exposed to corporate exploitation, warrantless government surveillance, and warrantless seizure of money and other property, \u201d the lawmakers wrote in letter to Acting Comptroller General Orice W. Brown. \u201cIn addition to harming the public, DOT\u2019s regulatory inaction also potentially threatens national security. Travel data held by airlines and travel agencies may be of interest to foreign adversaries, who could exploit such information to track U.S. military, diplomatic, and other U.S. government personnel.\u201d\n\nHistorically, DOT has taken a reactive approach to airline privacy, relying on consumer complaints instead of proactively auditing airlines\u2019 privacy practices. In March 2024 Senator Wyden partnered with the DOT to launch a first-ever industry-wide review into the privacy practices of the nation\u2019s 10 largest airlines. More than two years later, DOT has not publicly released its findings or announced any enforcement actions.\n\nThe need for stronger DOT oversight is clear. For years, a data broker collectively owned by major U.S. airlines, the Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC) provided federal agencies access to roughly 722 million passenger travel records without warrants or judicial oversight. ARC shut down the program in November 2025, but DHS has since sought a replacement passenger-surveillance system.\n\nWyden and Brown asked the GAO to launch a comprehensive investigation into the DOT\u2019s systemic failure to fulfill its consumer privacy enforcement responsibilities, by answering the following questions:\n\nStatus of the 2024 Airline Privacy Review: Provide a full accounting of the status, findings, and disposition of the industry-wide review launched on March 21, 2024.\n\nAudit of Agency Personnel and Technical Expertise: Identify the exact number of full-time personnel within the OACP currently dedicated exclusively to privacy enforcement, including the number of technologists.\n\nAudit of Interagency Coordination on DEA Informants: Review the interagency coordination between DOT and the Department of Justice (DOJ) over airline employees selling passenger data to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), including any delays and actions taken to hold airlines accountable.\n\nAgency Response to Widespread Public Scandals: Evaluate whether DOT independently investigated ARC\u2019s sale of passenger records or took action only after congressional and media pressure led to the program\u2019s closure in November 2025.\n\nStructural Nature of the Complaint-Driven Model: Examine why DOT relies on a complaint-driven model instead of routine privacy audits.\n\nAssessment of Insider Threat Mitigation and Data Governance: Evaluate whether the DOT has established guidelines regarding airlines\u2019 protection of Passenger Name Record (PNR) databases against insider threats.\n\nInternational Data Commitments: Explain how DOT\u2019s domestic privacy enforcement since July 2023 aligns with its commitments to the European Commission under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework (DPF).\n\nThe lawmakers asked GAO to respond with legislative recommendations to strengthen DOT\u2019s enforcement authority and better protect travelers\u2019 privacy rights.\n\n\u201cIf the DOT continues to neglect its domestic regulatory obligations, it risks undermining the integrity of this entire agreement, potentially collapsing transatlantic data flows and destroying vital economic benefits for U.S. companies,\u201d the law makers concluded.\n\nA copy of the full letter sent to the GAO is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-announce-nearly-6-million-to-support-oregon-entrepreneurs-and-university-startups", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Announce Nearly $6 Million to Support Oregon Entrepreneurs and University Startups", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Federal award to Portland State University will help turn academic research into commercial products, startups, and community solutions.\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today announced a federal investment of $5.9 million to Portland State University to help turn institutional research into commercial products.\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s public universities produce top-tier scientific breakthroughs, and lab discoveries shouldn't sit on a shelf when they could be creating good-paying jobs and growing our local economy,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal award will help reward faculty who turn campus discoveries into viable startups, vibrant local industry partnerships, and practical solutions. It's a tremendous win for Oregon's innovation ecosystem and for training the next generation of scientific entrepreneurs.\u201d\n\n\u201cInstitutions of higher education like PSU are at the forefront of Oregon\u2019s innovation\u2014supporting and growing small businesses across our state,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis nearly $6 million federal award will supercharge PSU\u2019s work by expanding its capabilities and ability to utilize its research in real-world practical situations, ensuring Oregon continues to be a hub of ideas and economic development for decades to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that this grant will meaningfully support innovation and entrepreneurship projects across NW Oregon and empower faculty and students to learn, test, and demonstrate the groundbreaking products and services that will drive our scientific future. This investment will enable the next generation of scientific leaders to bring discoveries to market and fuel our region\u2019s research economy,\u201d Bonamici said.\n\nThe $5,973,981 federal investment through the National Science Foundation\u2019s Accelerating Research Translation program will be used by PSU to update promotion and tenure rules to reward applied work, provide seed grants for commercial projects, train students in entrepreneurship, and offer business coaching to launch local partnerships and university spin-offs.", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-bonamici-hoyle-dexter-colleagues-oppose-rescission-of-key-energy-leasing-and-public-lands-protections/", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle, Dexter, Colleagues Oppose Rescission of Key Energy Leasing and Public Lands Protections", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Maxine Dexter, today opposed the recent rescission of two key Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oil and gas rules on leasing and waste prevention that will harm public lands, reduce community input, increase pollution, and raise taxpayer costs.\n\nIn the first of two letters, the Oregon lawmakers denounce the BLM\u2019s proposal to rescind the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule).\n\n\u201c[\u2026] BLM\u2019s newly proposed rule threatens to dismantle this common-sense progress. We are deeply concerned that the proposed changes shift cleanup liabilities back to the public, restrict community and private landowner participation, and distort the balance required to manage America\u2019s public lands responsibly,\u201d the Senate and House members wrote to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.\n\nThe 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule ensured that the concerns of states, Tribes, and local communities were included in decision-making and was a long-overdue correction to decades of BLM policies that favored oil and gas development over other uses. This led to tens of thousands of dangerous abandoned wells that became the financial responsibility of taxpayers instead of the oil and gas companies. The 2024 rule had immense public support and established a balanced framework that saved taxpayer money, ensured multiple use management of public lands and protected cultural resources and rural communities that depend on public lands. In their letter, the lawmakers ask that the administration specifically reconsider oil and gas bonding requirements; public participation, Tribal consultation, and landowner involvement; and leasing preference criteria.\n\nThe first letter was led by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle and Dexter, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Cory Booker, D-N.J., as well as U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., Julia Brownley, D-Calif., Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IlI., Susie Lee, D-Nev., Mike Levin, D-Calif., Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Betty McCollum, D-Minn., Dave Min, D-Calif., Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Emily Randall, D-Wash., Mary Gay, Scanlon, D-Pa., Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Juan Vargas, D-Calif.\n\nThe Oregon lawmakers outlined in the second letter their strong opposition to BLM\u2019s proposal to overturn the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule. The BLM\u2019s reversal of this rule will increase pollution on public lands, reduce domestic energy supply, expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks and waste publicly owned natural gas costing Americans tens of millions in foregone revenue.\n\n\u201cWe strongly urge BLM to reject this proposed rescission and maintain the 2024 Waste Prevention rule. The oil and gas resources on these lands belong to the American public and Tribal nations, and they deserve to benefit from the full value and benefits of responsible resource stewardship,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe second letter was led by Bennet and Huffman. In addition to Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle and Dexter, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Luj\u00e1n, Angus King, I-Maine, Whitehouse, Hickenlooper, Heinrich, Markey, and Booker, as well as U.S. Representatives Ansari, Brownley, Carbajal, Sean Casten, D-IlI., Cohen, Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, DeGette, Dingell, Grijalva, Jacobs, Krishnamoorthi, Magaziner, McCollum, Min, Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Neguse, Pallone, Scott Peters, D-Calif., Randall, Scanlon, Simon, and Vargas.\n\nThe text of the letter opposing the rescission of the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule is here.\n\nThe text of the letter opposing the rescission of the 2024 Waste Prevention Rule is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-members-of-congress-call-on-commerce-department-to-block-americans-from-working-for-russian-and-chinese-intelligence-agencies", "Bipartisan Members of Congress Call on Commerce Department to Block Americans from Working For Russian and Chinese Intelligence Agencies", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Wyden, Cornyn, Welch, Harrigan, Jacobs and McCaul Urge Secretary Lutnick to Implement Rules Passed by Congress in 2022 to Stop American Companies and Citizens from Supporting Intelligence Agencies in Foreign Countries of Concern\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013Bipartisan members of Congress today called on the Commerce Department to stop American companies and citizens from aiding Russian and Chinese civilian intelligence agencies, by implementing a 2022 bipartisan law that the executive branch has never fully enforced.\n\nU.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Sen. Peter Welch, Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to close loopholes in U.S. export control rules that currently allow Americans to work with civilian intelligence agencies in China, Russia and other countries of concern. Without new controls against helping adversary nations, U.S. national security could be at risk.\n\n\u201cAs a result, foreign intelligence agencies in many countries can still legally hire consultants in the United States and buy advanced U.S. surveillance, cyber, and artificial intelligence technology, for use in their intelligence operations to target Americans, and operate against American national security and foreign policy interests,\u201d the members wrote.\n\nThe Trump Administration imposed export controls on U.S. persons doing business with military intelligence agencies in China, Russia, and other countries of concern in 2021. But the law at the time only allowed such restrictions to be applied to military intelligence agencies. In 2022, Congress closed the civilian intelligence loophole in a 2022 law, allowing the government to impose export controls on foreign civilian intelligence and security agencies too. While the Biden Administration proposed draft regulations imposing export controls in 2024, those regulations were never finalized.\n\n\u201cImplementing these crucial enhancements to fully close this loophole is vital to preventing foreign adversaries from leveraging American tools and expertise against the U.S. government, our citizens and strategic interests,\u201d the members wrote.\n\nThe members urged the administration to include recommendations by Wyden, national security and human rights experts, including:\n\nExtending export controls to cover all serial human rights abusers and espionage threats. The country lists proposed by the last administration omitted numerous repressive regimes and nations that conduct espionage against the United States. BIS should establish a \u201ctrusted countries list\u201d composed of nations with strong track records of respecting human rights and that do not surveil the United States. A license should be required for U.S. persons to do business with intelligence and security agencies in all countries not on that list\n\nClose due diligence loopholes for private surveillance contractors. Private spyware and cyber-surveillance firms frequently mask their client lists to bypass regulations. BIS must close this loophole by explicitly applying export restrictions to all foreign surveillance technology companies unless they provide their U.S. suppliers with a sworn attestation confirming that their clients do not include any intelligence or security end-users outside the trusted countries list.\n\nControl the export of all biometric surveillance and classification technologies: Although the 2024 draft rule proposed adding facial recognition to the EAR\u2019s Commerce Control List (CCL), oppressive regimes rely on a wider array of digital tracking tools. The final regulations must expand this category to include broader biometric identification technologies\u2014such as gait or cardiac signature recognition\u2014as well as biometric classification technologies used to sort individuals by demographic traits such as race, sex, or ethnicity.\n\nA copy of the full letter sent to the GAO is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-hoyle-dexter-colleagues-oppose-rescission-of-key-energy-leasing-and-public-lands-protections", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle, Dexter, Colleagues Oppose Rescission of Key Energy Leasing and Public Lands Protections", "2026-08-25", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Maxine Dexter, today opposed the recent rescission of two key Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oil and gas rules on leasing and waste prevention that will harm public lands, reduce community input, increase pollution, and raise taxpayer costs.\n\nIn the first of two letters, the Oregon lawmakers denounce the BLM\u2019s proposal to rescind the 2024 Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process rule (the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule).\n\n\u201c[...] BLM\u2019s newly proposed rule threatens to dismantle this common-sense progress. We are deeply concerned that the proposed changes shift cleanup liabilities back to the public, restrict community and private landowner participation, and distort the balance required to manage America\u2019s public lands responsibly,\u201d the Senate and House members wrote to Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.\n\nThe 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule ensured that the concerns of states, Tribes, and local communities were included in decision-making and was a long-overdue correction to decades of BLM policies that favored oil and gas development over other uses. This led to tens of thousands of dangerous abandoned wells that became the financial responsibility of taxpayers instead of the oil and gas companies. The 2024 rule had immense public support and established a balanced framework that saved taxpayer money, ensured multiple use management of public lands and protected cultural resources and rural communities that depend on public lands. In their letter, the lawmakers ask that the administration specifically reconsider oil and gas bonding requirements; public participation, Tribal consultation, and landowner involvement; and leasing preference criteria.\n\nThe first letter was led by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle and Dexter, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Cory Booker, D-N.J., as well as U.S. Representatives Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., Julia Brownley, D-Calif., Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Diana DeGette, D-Colo., Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-IlI., Susie Lee, D-Nev., Mike Levin, D-Calif., Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., Betty McCollum, D-Minn., Dave Min, D-Calif., Joe Neguse, D-Colo., Frank Pallone, D-N.J., Emily Randall, D-Wash., Mary Gay, Scanlon, D-Pa., Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., and Juan Vargas, D-Calif.\n\nThe Oregon lawmakers outlined in the second letter their strong opposition to BLM\u2019s proposal to overturn the 2024 Waste Prevention, Production Subject to Royalties, and Resource Conservation rule. The BLM\u2019s reversal of this rule will increase pollution on public lands, reduce domestic energy supply, expose nearby communities to avoidable health risks and waste publicly owned natural gas costing Americans tens of millions in foregone revenue.\n\n\u201cWe strongly urge BLM to reject this proposed rescission and maintain the 2024 Waste Prevention rule. The oil and gas resources on these lands belong to the American public and Tribal nations, and they deserve to benefit from the full value and benefits of responsible resource stewardship,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nThe second letter was led by Bennet and Huffman. In addition to Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Hoyle and Dexter, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Luj\u00e1n, Angus King, I-Maine, Whitehouse, Hickenlooper, Heinrich, Markey, and Booker, as well as U.S. Representatives Ansari, Brownley, Carbajal, Sean Casten, D-IlI., Cohen, Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, DeGette, Dingell, Grijalva, Jacobs, Krishnamoorthi, Magaziner, McCollum, Min, Seth Moulton, D-Mass., Neguse, Pallone, Scott Peters, D-Calif., Randall, Scanlon, Simon, and Vargas.\n\nThe text of the letter opposing the rescission of the 2024 Onshore Leasing Rule is here.", 1, "2026-08-26T05:33:32Z", "2026-08-26T05:34:56Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/179-members-of-congress-urge-supreme-court-to-protect-preschoolers-from-discrimination/", "179 Members of Congress Urge Supreme Court to Protect Preschoolers from Discrimination", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "CEC Chair Rep. Mark Takano: \u201cPublic dollars are for the good of the public, and this publicly-funded program\u2019s nondiscrimination policy reflects that.\n\nWashington, DC \u2014 Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) led 179 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, where religious preschools are seeking an exemption from the nondiscrimination provision in Colorado\u2019s universal preschool program so they can refuse to admit LGBTQ+ children or the children of LGBTQ+ people while still receiving public funding.\n\nThe members\u2019 brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold the nondiscrimination provision and not grant a religious exemption. The brief argues that 1) The Supreme Court defers to legislatures and the political process when assessing exemptions from neutral, generally-applicable laws; 2) Petitioners\u2019 rule would endanger a myriad of federal nondiscrimination laws that Congress has carefully crafted over decades; and 3) The Court should be mindful not to destabilize or undermine that legislative role by effectively legislating ad hoc exemptions to nondiscrimination laws.\n\nThe brief was joined by 166 Representatives and 13 Senators, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05), House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin (IL), and every Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus.\n\n\u201cIn 2020, Coloradans voted to ensure every child in the state would be able to benefit from a publicly-funded universal pre-school program, but the schools in this case want to take these funds and turn away LGBTQ+ kids and kids of LGBTQ+ parents\u2014despite the program\u2019s nondiscrimination policy. This is wrong,\u201d said Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and House lead of the amicus brief. \u201cPublic dollars are for the good of the public, and this publicly-funded program\u2019s nondiscrimination policy reflects that. A court ruling creating a new religious exemption would fly in the face of established precedent and would endanger a myriad of other carefully-crafted laws that have been designed to protect Americans from discrimination. I\u2019m thankful to Senators Baldwin and Merkley for helping me lead this bicameral coalition in urging the Court to uphold Colorado\u2019s nondiscrimination protections and ensure that no young child is being denied entry to a Colorado preschool receiving public funds.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiscriminating against anyone \u2013 let alone preschoolers is simply wrong and betrays some of our most fundamental and enduring beliefs as Americans,\u201d said Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), co-founder of the Congressional Equality Caucus and Senate co-lead of the amicus brief. \u201cIf you want to get taxpayer dollars to educate our kids, you cannot discriminate against them or their parents for who they are or who they love. Our country has taken great strides in the march for true equality, and the Supreme Court should stop such blatant discrimination that would take us an unmistakable step backwards.\u201d\n\n\u201cDiscrimination against preschoolers and parents who are part of the LGBTQ+ community has no place in America,\u201d said Senator Jeff Merkley (OR), Senate co-lead of the amicus brief. \u201cTo fully realize the promise of the United States as a land of freedom and equality for all, the Court must send a clear message that our LGBTQ+ friends, family members, and neighbors deserve full and equal treatment under the law. Back in 2007, I led the fight to secure this future for Oregonians, and I\u2019ll keep pushing in Congress to do the same for all LGBTQ+ Americans by passing our Equality Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cColorado\u2019s non-discrimination protections are critical for families with LGBTQ+ parents or children in accessing the same educational opportunities that any other family enjoys. To let certain schools accept public funding while excluding students solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, or those of their parents, contradicts the very purpose of nondiscrimination laws, and is even more inappropriate when we are talking about programs funded by taxpayer dollars,\u201d said Sharon McGowan, Senior Vice President of Policy and Litigation at the Human Rights Campaign. \u201cWe thank the Members of Congress for forcefully defending the important role that nondiscrimination laws play in ensuring equal opportunity in education and other spheres of life.\u201d\n\nThe amicus is available to read here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-joins-effort-to-help-state-local-tribal-agencies-monitor-air-pollution-from-wildfires/", "Merkley Joins Effort to Help State, Local, Tribal Agencies Monitor Air Pollution from Wildfires", "2026-08-24", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013 Oregon\u2019s 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.\n\n\u201cWhen the 2020 Labor Day fires swept across Oregon, I drove over 600 miles and never once escaped the smoke that blanketed our state. Oregonians are facing yet another deadly fire season this year, and it is essential that our communities have all the necessary tools to respond to wildfires and smoke-related threats,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cOur bill helps communities plan for and cope with hazardous air quality caused by wildfire smoke, which threatens public health, disrupts daily life, and shows just how devastating climate chaos-fueled fires can be.\u201d\n\nMerkley cosponsored the Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act\u2014led by U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)\u2014that would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to create and expand new and existing grant and loan programs allowing agencies to purchase and operate portable air sensors. Portable air sensors are a low-cost technology that can measure and detect harmful pollutants caused by wildfire smoke. Increasing access to air quality information will help leaders make better decisions for public health and wildfire response.\n\nMerkley has been a longtime leader in the fight to prepare for and mitigate the worst impacts of wildfires. He leads a series of bills to support mills processing hazardous fuels coming off public lands, train the new generation of wildland firefighters, aid toxic debris cleanup following wildfires, bolster collaborative forest management, promote renewable fuels to boost wildfire resiliency, and streamline the use of prescribed burns. He also wrote the Wildfire Insurance Affordability Act to lower home insurance rates in communities at risk of fires and the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act to strengthen federal support in the face of wildfire smoke threats.\n\nFull text of the Wildfire Air Quality Sensor Expansion Act can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-25T05:31:37Z", "2026-08-25T05:33:09Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-protect-domestic-violence-survivors-from-gun-violence/", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Bill to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors from Gun Violence", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they have joined their Senate and House colleagues in introducing legislation to close a dangerous loophole that allows domestic abusers to legally obtain firearms.\n\n\u201cKeeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers is common sense,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIt\u2019s past time to help end the cycle of gun violence and provide domestic violence survivors with bare minimum protection against their abusers, and our bill is the way to do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommon-sense measures to ensure abusers and violent offenders are barred from accessing firearms are the least we can do to protect the safety of both domestic abuse survivors and our broader communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cDomestic abuse survivors shouldn\u2019t have to worry that their abusers can obtain a gun either during or after they escape abusive situations.\u201d\n\nThe Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act prohibits individuals subject to temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing firearms and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by dating partners. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, an American mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, a mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is also led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Representative Jim Himes, D-Conn. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.\n\nThe legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-casar-demand-gao-investigation-into-federal-law-enforcements-use-of-hacking-and-spyware-on-americans", "Wyden, Casar Demand GAO Investigation Into Federal Law Enforcement\u2019s Use of Hacking and Spyware on Americans", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Members highlight need for transparency and effective oversight to protect Americans\u2019 privacy, prevent abuses, and guard against cybersecurity risks\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. and Ranking Member of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Federal Law Enforcement Greg Casar, D-Tex., requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a comprehensive review of federal law enforcement agencies\u2019 hacking of Americans\u2019 electronic devices.\n\nIn their letter, the lawmakers highlighted the need for transparency from federal law enforcement regarding its use of hacking and spyware, which it has used for more than 25 years as investigative tools. Little is known about the scope or frequency of the government\u2019s use of these technologies, nor the presence of operational safeguards.\n\n\u201cSpyware and other hacking tools grant expansive access to personal devices, including webcams, location data, stored files, and encrypted communications. Unrestricted access to such invasive surveillance capabilities invites abuse by rogue agency personnel,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in letter to Acting Comptroller General Orice W. Brown. \u201cTo enable informed public debate, ensure appropriate operational safeguards, and assist Congress in crafting future legislation, we request that the GAO conduct a review of federal law enforcement hacking and publish an unclassified report detailing its findings.\u201d\n\nWyden and Casar asked the GAO to review the practices and policies of federal law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations in three areas:\n\nInternal Misuse, Audit Protocols, and Safeguards Against Abuse: There are countless documented examples of government employees abusing sensitive surveillance databases and tools for unauthorized personal purposes. The lawmakers asked the GAO to review documented cases of misuse of hacking tools as well as how such cases are detected, monitored, and punished.\n\nCybersecurity Risks, Vulnerability Management, and Tool Proliferation: These hacking tools can fall into criminal and foreign adversary hands in myriad ways. The members asked the GAO to investigate cybersecurity measures around both internal and external use of the tools.\n\nJudicial Candor, Authorization Transparency, and Risk Disclosure: Given the invasiveness and collateral risks of hacking tools, it is imperative that the government provide courts with sufficient information to evaluate the risks when the government seeks approval for hacking operations.\n\nWyden and Casar requested that that response from GAO be in an unclassified report, including recommendations for legislative and executive reforms to ensure that the necessary guardrails and oversight are placed on these dangerous and invasive surveillance methods to ensure the safety and privacy of Americans are respected.\n\nA copy of the full letter sent to the GAO is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-protect-domestic-violence-survivors-from-gun-violence", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Bill to Protect Domestic Violence Survivors from Gun Violence", "2026-08-21", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they have joined their Senate and House colleagues in introducing legislation to close a dangerous loophole that allows domestic abusers to legally obtain firearms.\n\n\u201cKeeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers is common sense,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIt's past time to help end the cycle of gun violence and provide domestic violence survivors with bare minimum protection against their abusers, and our bill is the way to do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cCommon-sense measures to ensure abusers and violent offenders are barred from accessing firearms are the least we can do to protect the safety of both domestic abuse survivors and our broader communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cDomestic abuse survivors shouldn\u2019t have to worry that their abusers can obtain a gun either during or after they escape abusive situations.\u201d\n\nThe Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act prohibits individuals subject to temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing firearms and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by dating partners. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, an American mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, a mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish.\n\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is also led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Representative Jim Himes, D-Conn. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Chris Coons, D-Del., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tim Kaine, D-Va., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.\n\nThe legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence.", 1, "2026-08-22T05:24:59Z", "2026-08-22T05:26:16Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-senators-call-on-watchdog-to-probe-tax-subsidies-for-lng-exporters/", "Merkley, Senators Call on Watchdog to Probe Tax Subsidies for LNG Exporters", "2026-08-20", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in urging the Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to launch an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) providing tax breaks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters and determine whether the IRS\u2019 decision was intended to reward President Trump\u2019s political donors.\n\nThe Senators stressed that providing LNG tankers with Alternative Fuel Excise Tax (AFET) credits would favor fossil fuel companies\u2014at an unfair cost to the average taxpayer\u2014and do nothing to protect our environment, reduce costs for working families, or lessen America\u2019s reliance on fossil fuels.\n\n\u201cDespite these facts, news reports and public financial filings suggest the IRS has allowed taxpayers to claim the AFET credit for fuel used on LNG tankers, without publishing any updated guidance. Therefore, we request TIGTA investigate whether the IRS has made a determination that fuel used on LNG tankers is eligible for the AFET credit, and, if so, how the IRS made this determination and what guidance, if any, was provided to taxpayers,\u201d wrote the Senators in a letter to the TIGTA.\n\nThey emphasized, \u201cWe would further urge the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the extent to which Secretary Bessent was involved in any decision to make LNG tankers eligible for the AFET, who Secretary Bessent may have discussed this issue with at the IRS, whether Secretary Bessent communicated with any impacted party about LNG tankers being motorboats under the AFET, and to what extent Secretary Bessent or his staff communicated with anyone in the White House, including President Trump, about a request for AFET credits for LNG tankers.\u201d\n\nPreviously, Merkley led a group of Senators to press the IRS on its decision to give Cheniere Energy\u2014the largest LNG exporter in the United States\u2014a questionable $370 million tax break for using LNG as \u201calternative\u201d fuel.\n\nFull text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:\n\nDear Acting Inspector General Hill,\n\nWe are writing to request you open an investigation into reports the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has improperly determined that companies using liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propelling LNG tankers qualify for credits under the Alternative Fuel Excise Tax (AFET) and whether the determination was intended to reward the President\u2019s campaign contributors.\n\nProviding LNG tankers with AFET credits would unnecessarily waste taxpayer money while doing nothing to protect the environment, reduce costs for everyday Americans, or lessen the United States\u2019 dependence on oil. The AFET credit was created to decrease oil dependence by subsidizing the use of alternative fuels. The AFET credit provided 50 cents for every gallon equivalent of a nonliquid alternative fuel sold for use in a motorboat used by the taxpayer for the same purpose. While the tax code does not define \u201cmotorboats,\u201d federal shipping regulations have defined \u201cmotorboats\u201d as ships no more than 65 feet long since 1965. It is safe to assume that in drafting the AFET credit, Congress understood motorboat to retain the meaning that had been in federal regulations for almost 50 years.\n\nLNG Tankers are typically 1,000 feet or more in length. The more appropriate descriptor for an LNG tanker is the term \u201cvessel,\u201d which Congress explicitly defined in section 4221 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) as ships employed in fishing, whaling, foreign trade, or war. Vessels already receive special tax free treatment for using alternative fuels if they are \u201cengaged in foreign trade or trade between the Atlantic and Pacific ports of the United States or between the United States and any of its possessions.\u201d Vessels, as defined in the IRC, are not referenced in the AFET credit, implying that Congress did not intend for these ships to qualify for this tax credit.\n\nThe AFET credit was intended to encourage new and expanded use of alternative fuels but allowing taxpayers to claim the AFET for LNG tankers would allow companies to claim a tax credit for an activity they would have done regardless, on vessels that seemingly should not have qualified. Many LNG tankers are designed to operate by burning their own cargo, as LNG in tankers is continuously evaporating, and the gas must be removed, or \u201cboiled-off,\u201d from the tanks in order to maintain safe tank pressure. The boiled-off gas is often used to fuel the tanker; if it were not removed, the gas would have to be flared or vented into the atmosphere or reliquefied back into LNG. Tankers burn this gas for propulsion because it allows for the utilization of a valuable resource that would be otherwise wasted and potentially hazardous.\n\nDespite these facts, news reports and public financial filings suggest the IRS has allowed taxpayers to claim the AFET credit for fuel used on LNG tankers, without publishing any updated guidance. Therefore, we request TIGTA investigate whether the IRS has made a determination that fuel used on LNG tankers is eligible for the AFET credit, and, if so, how the IRS made this determination and what guidance, if any, was provided to taxpayers.\n\nWe would further urge the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the extent to which Secretary Bessent was involved in any decision to make LNG tankers eligible for the AFET, who Secretary Bessent may have discussed this issue with at the IRS, whether Secretary Bessent communicated with any impacted party about LNG tankers being motorboats under the AFET, and to what extent Secretary Bessent or his staff communicated with anyone in the White House, including President Trump, about a request for AFET credits for LNG tankers.\n\nThe IRS is designed to operate impartially to ensure that all taxpayers pay their fair share. We urge you to thoroughly investigate this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/blumenthal-durbin-hirono-merkley-demand-answers-after-unqualified-organization-with-close-ties-to-ice-receives-no-bid-contract-to-provide-legal-services-to-migrant-children/", "BLUMENTHAL, DURBIN, HIRONO, & MERKLEY DEMAND ANSWERS AFTER UNQUALIFIED ORGANIZATION WITH CLOSE TIES TO ICE RECEIVES NO-BID CONTRACT TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO MIGRANT CHILDREN", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cThis award is concerning given the incredible lack of details provided in the award notice, the nonexistence of legal services provided by your organization, the Trump Administration\u2019s continued use of no-bid awards\u2026and the Trump Administration\u2019s staggering disregard for the welfare of children in immigration enforcement.\u201d\n\n[WASHINGTON, D.C.] \u2013 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ranking Member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, today pressed Our Rescue, an anti-human trafficking and child exploitation organization with close ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for answers after the organization received a no-bid contract of up to $244 million to provide legal services to unaccompanied migrant children.\n\nU.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined Blumenthal in writing to the Chief Executive Officer of Our Rescue, Derek Benner, and the Chairman of Our Rescue\u2019s Board of Directors, Sean Vassilaros. In their letter, the Senators raised concerns that the organization lacks experience as a legal services provider and demanded records and information about its vague contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.\n\n\u201cThis award is concerning given the incredible lack of details provided in the award notice, the nonexistence of legal services provided by your organization, the Trump Administration\u2019s continued use of no-bid awards to steer taxpayer dollars to President Trump\u2019s friends, family, and associates, and the Trump Administration\u2019s staggering disregard for the welfare of children in immigration enforcement,\u201d the Senators wrote.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cUnfortunately, Our Rescue is not a legal services provider. A review of your public-facing materials confirms this, revealing no mention of providing legal services to unaccompanied migrant children, nor even to survivors of human trafficking or child exploitation in the United States. While your organization\u2019s stated mission of combatting human trafficking and child exploitation is laudable, you appear to address those issues in the United States in ways that are different from legal representation. Thus, it gives us apprehension that your organization is potentially being tasked with administering essential legal services to children whose cases require highly specialized expertise.\u201d\n\nThe Senators raised concerns that Our Rescue\u2019s documented ties to ICE could undermine confidentiality regarding unaccompanied migrant children: \u201cUnder the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congress deliberately assigned the care of and services for unaccompanied migrant children to ORR, wholly separate from the immigration enforcement functions the Act assigned to the Department of Homeland Security. This was done specifically to ensure that ORR functioned as a child welfare agency guided by unaccompanied migrant children\u2019s best interests rather than deportation quotas or other immigration enforcement priorities. Yet under the Trump Administration, ORR has increasingly abandoned this statutory mandate in service of ICE\u2019s enforcement agenda, including by routinely providing ICE formerly firewalled information about unaccompanied migrant children and their loved ones.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven these historical facts, Mr. Benner\u2019s nexus to ICE as the former leader of ICE\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the lack of a publicly available description of the contract, we must ask exactly what information on unaccompanied migrant children Our Rescue may have agreed to provide to ORR. It is critical that Our Rescue and ORR maintain transparency about any information-sharing the contract requires,\u201d the Senators concluded.\n\nThe full text of the Senators\u2019 letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Benner and Chair Vassilaros:\n\nWe write to request records and information regarding the recent contract of up to $244 million, of which $158.1 million has already been disbursed, that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded your organization to \u201censure the continuity of legal services for unaccompanied alien children.\u201d This award is concerning given the incredible lack of details provided in the award notice, the nonexistence of legal services provided by your organization, the Trump Administration\u2019s continued use of no-bid awards to steer taxpayer dollars to President Trump\u2019s friends, family, and associates, and the Trump Administration\u2019s staggering disregard for the welfare of children in immigration enforcement. We request that you immediately provide information and records to allow us to assess whether this contract is yet another waste of taxpayer dollars meant to harm migrant children.\n\nUnaccompanied migrant children are a uniquely vulnerable population with unique legal needs both in Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody and once released. Those needs may include, but are not limited to, direct representation in legal proceedings; orientations on legal rights and the immigration process in the United States; and legal screenings to identify a child\u2019s legal needs, rights, and options. These needs require effective advocates with a working knowledge of immigration law\u2014a complex and intricate legal landscape that is constantly changing.\n\nUnfortunately, Our Rescue is not a legal services provider. A review of your public-facing materials confirms this, revealing no mention of providing legal services to unaccompanied migrant children, nor even to survivors of human trafficking or child exploitation in the United States. While your organization\u2019s stated mission of combatting human trafficking and child exploitation is laudable, you appear to address those issues in the United States in ways that are different from legal representation. Thus, it gives us apprehension that your organization is potentially being tasked with administering essential legal services to children whose cases require highly specialized expertise.\n\nAdding to that apprehension is the complete lack of detail on exactly what your organization\u2019s legal services will entail. Ensuring \u201cthe continuity of legal services for unaccompanied alien children\u201d is vague and could mean the provision of legal services directly by your organization or referrals by your organization to other providers of legal services, or both. There is also no detail as to whether these services will be provided to unaccompanied migrant children only while they are in ORR custody or if legal services will be provided post-release as well.\n\nOur Rescue\u2019s close ties to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raises additional questions about confidentiality regarding unaccompanied migrant children. Under the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Congress deliberately assigned the care of and services for unaccompanied migrant children to ORR, wholly separate from the immigration enforcement functions the Act assigned to the Department of Homeland Security. This was done specifically to ensure that ORR functioned as a child welfare agency guided by unaccompanied migrant children\u2019s best interests rather than deportation quotas or other immigration enforcement priorities. Yet under the Trump Administration, ORR has increasingly abandoned this statutory mandate in service of ICE\u2019s enforcement agenda, including by routinely providing ICE formerly firewalled information about unaccompanied migrant children and their loved ones. On the basis of this information, ICE has arrested more than 12,000 unaccompanied migrant children and other individuals while sowing fear and panic in communities across the nation. In addition, from December 2025 to August 2026, ORR illegally refused to reimburse legal services providers under a prior contract unless they transmitted sensitive information to ORR about their clients that could have violated attorney-client privilege\u2014information that ORR could then have imparted to ICE in turn. Only after a federal court ruled that these withheld payments contravened a standing preliminary injunction did ORR initiate repayments.\n\nGiven these historical facts, Mr. Benner\u2019s nexus to ICE as the former leader of ICE\u2019s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the lack of a publicly available description of the contract, we must ask exactly what information on unaccompanied migrant children Our Rescue may have agreed to provide to ORR. It is critical that Our Rescue and ORR maintain transparency about any information-sharing the contract requires.\n\nSo that we can understand why Our Rescue is qualified to receive up to $244 million servicing unaccompanied migrant children, and exactly what the contract entails, please provide the following information by September 1, 2026:\n\nPlease provide an overview of what \u201ccontinuity of legal services for unaccompanied alien children\u201d entails;\n\nPlease indicate whether \u201ccontinuity of legal services for unaccompanied alien children\u201d encompasses children detained in ORR custody or children released from ORR custody, or both;\n\nPlease indicate whether Our Rescue will be directly providing legal services to unaccompanied alien children;\n\nWill Our Rescue be subcontracting to legal services providers or otherwise referring cases to a network of such providers?\n\nPlease identify all existing and planned subcontractors or other organizations with which Our Rescue will partner to implement this contract;\n\nPlease provide the number of attorneys currently employed by Our Rescue with an active bar license and for each attorney the jurisdiction in which they are barred;\n\nPlease list any attorneys at Our Rescue who have ever participated in an immigration proceeding in any capacity;\n\nPlease list any experience and qualifications among Our Rescue attorneys in providing trauma-informed representation to unaccompanied migrant children;\n\nPlease provide a list of Our Rescue\u2019s current office locations;\n\nPlease indicate whether Our Rescue will be fulfilling the terms of its contract virtually or in person; and\n\nPlease describe what information, if any, Our Rescue will provide to ORR and/or ICE concerning unaccompanied migrant children clients and their cases in performance of this contract\n\nPlease share Our Rescue\u2019s analysis of why any such information-sharing does or does not violate attorney-client privilege or other ethical considerations under the bar codes of all states in which Our Rescue will administer legal service pursuant to the contract.\n\nPlease also provide us with the following records by September 1, 2026:\n\nAll records regarding the solicitation of the $244 million to ensure continuity of legal services for unaccompanied alien children;\n\nAll communications regarding the awarding of the $244 million contract and the disbursement of the $158.1 million, including but not limited to communications with the Executive Office of the President, President Trump, the Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; and\n\nAll communications regarding how clients will be serviced in locations where Our Rescue personnel and/or attorneys are not located.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-secure-federal-funding-to-expand-pollinator-habitat-along-oregon-highways/", "Merkley, Wyden Secure Federal Funding to Expand Pollinator Habitat Along Oregon Highways", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", "merkley", "https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $150,000 in federal funds for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to create and restore pollinator habitats along Oregon highways.The funding, which is the maximum award under the Federal Highway Administration\u2019s Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way Program (also known as the Roadside Pollinator Program), will allow native seed mixes and adjusted mowing practices to improve roadside pollinator habitats.\n\n\u201cPollinators need healthy habitats to survive and benefit Oregon\u2019s farms, forests, and natural landscapes,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis project is a great example of how we can make our roadsides work even better for Oregon, creating habitat for iconic species such as the Western Monarch and native bees while building greater resilience to drought. I\u2019ll keep pushing for federal investments that strengthen our communities and ecosystems.\u201d\n\n\u201cBees and butterflies will all benefit from this fresh federal investment in pollinator health that\u2019s a key to fighting drought and supporting landscapes native to Oregon,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cI very much look forward as I travel our state\u2019s highways all over Oregon to witnessing the results of this innovative effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis sort of project delivers so many benefits,\u201d said Chris Warner, Interim ODOT Director. \u201cWe\u2019re creating healthier habitat for pollinators like native bees and Monarch butterflies, while increasing drought and fire resiliency, all while reducing the long-term need for pesticide use to control weeds. This work serves as an example of how our transportation system can work for people, the environment and the communities we serve.\u201d\n\nFor years, Merkley has led the charge to revive the populations of monarchs and other pollinators. He leads the bipartisan Roadside Pollinator Program Amendments Act, which builds upon the success of his bipartisan Monarch and Pollinator Highway Act that was signed into law as a part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and created the Roadside Pollinator Program.\n\nMerkley also wrote the Monarch Action, Recovery, and Conservation of Habitat (MONARCH) Act\u2014which is cosponsored by Wyden\u2014to help prevent the extinction of the Western Monarch butterfly and other critically important pollinators. Previously, Merkley hosted two Monarch Butterfly Summits, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior, the first of which announced a $1 million investment in the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Pollinator Fund and established a Pollinator Conservation Center at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. As former Chair of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the Interior Department, Merkley has secured more than $18 million in dedicated funding for monarch and pollinator conservation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1936, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"party\" = :p1 and \"state\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Senate", "p1": "Democrat", "p2": "OR"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1936, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&state=OR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR", "results": [{"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 1936, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR", "results": [{"value": "OR", "label": "OR", "count": 1936, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR", "results": [{"value": "2026", "label": "2026", "count": 605, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2026", "selected": false}, {"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 602, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2025", "selected": false}, {"value": "2024", "label": "2024", "count": 362, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2024", "selected": false}, {"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 235, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2020", "selected": false}, {"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 132, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2026-08-18,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emerkley~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fmerkley-wyden-secure-federal-funding-to-expand-pollinator-habitat-along-oregon-highways~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=Senate&party=Democrat&state=OR&_next=2026-08-18%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Emerkley~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fmerkley-wyden-secure-federal-funding-to-expand-pollinator-habitat-along-oregon-highways~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 264.0186441130936, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}