Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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731 rows where state = "OR" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/-democrats-are-already-building-a-case-against-trumps-pick-to-lead-treasury-department | Democrats are already building a case against Trump’s pick to lead Treasury Department | 2016-12-30 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Democrats are already building a case against Trump’s pick to lead Treasury Department Friday, December 30, 2016 By: Ylan Q. Mui President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department is likely to face a contentious confirmation battle centered on his purchase of a failed subprime mortgage lender that repeatedly has been accused of wrongful foreclosures. The formal vetting process for Steven T. Mnuchin, who served as Trump’s campaign finance chairman and worked at investment bank Goldman Sachs for nearly two decades, has not yet begun. A staffer at the Senate Finance Committee, which is handling the nomination, said it is waiting for his paperwork to be completed before starting the process. In the meantime, Democrats have already begun preparing a line of attack that accuses Mnuchin of preying on the middle-class workers that helped sweep Trump into the White House. Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, said political action committee plans to use paid advertisements and local organizing to pressure Republican lawmakers from states that suffered widespread foreclosures to oppose Mnuchin’s confirmation. The AFL-CIO issued a statementthis month slamming Mnuchin for profiting from the worst financial crisis in generations. And Senate Democrats — led by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren — set up a website calling him the “Foreclosure King” and soliciting complaints from his bank’s customers. “Trump’s cabinet hearings are right around the corner in January and you better believe that by the time they're over, the American people will know that the Trump Administration is all about special interests and the super-rich at the expense of working people,” Merkley posted on Facebook recently. Mnuchin led a consortium of investors that purchased the troubled bank IndyMac from the federal government in 2009, acquiring a $13.9 billion portfolio of some of the nation’s sho… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senators-ask-trumps-epa-pick-to-disclose-his-connections-to-energy-industry | Senators Ask Trump's EPA Pick To Disclose His Connections To Energy Industry | 2016-12-28 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senators Ask Trump's EPA Pick To Disclose His Connections To Energy Industry Wednesday, December 28, 2016 By: Brakkton Booker Democratic senators on the Environment and Public Works Committee say Donald Trump's choice to lead the Environmental Protection Agency should reveal his connections with energy insiders before his confirmation hearings get underway. In the letter dated Tuesday, the senators told Scott Pruitt, currently Oklahoma's attorney general, they were concerned about his close ties to energy lobbyists and wanted him to disclose lists of donors who contributed to a nonprofit organization that took funds from a network connected to the Koch brothers. Pruitt is an outspoken critic of climate change and has sued the Obama administration over the EPA's Clean Power Plan. The letter was signed by five Democrats plus independent Bernie Sanders. "We have been troubled that as Attorney General of Oklahoma you used, nearly verbatim, industry talking points in official correspondence your office sent to EPA concerning EPA's estimation of methane pollution in your state," said the letter, signed by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Cory Booker, Ben Cardin and Sanders. "What that conduct says about your ability to lead EPA in a manner that is not beholden to special or secret interests is a subject we expect will receive a full airing during your confirmation hearing," the letter continued. The letter goes on to request details about meetings and emails related to the Rule of Law Defense Fund, which Pruitt help establish to collect large donations from big oil and gas companies including Devon Energy. Specifically the senators are seeking "a written explanation of the role you or any other person under your supervision has played" in the fund's founding and operation, a list of all expenditures greater than $1,000 made to the fund, and a list of meeting times, dates, locations, attendees and agenda items of its fundraisers. "Before the Senate … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-defazio-praise-12-million-federal-grant-for-douglas-county-and-the-city-of-roseburg-to-assist-with-ucc-recovery | Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Praise $1.2 Million Federal Grant for Douglas County and the City of Roseburg to Assist with UCC Recovery | 2016-12-28 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Praise $1.2 Million Federal Grant for Douglas County and the City of Roseburg to Assist with UCC Recovery Wednesday, December 28, 2016 PORTLAND – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Peter DeFazio today welcomed a $1.2 million federal grant to Douglas County and the City of Roseburg that will help the community’s recovery from the Oct. 1, 2015 campus shooting at Umpqua Community College. These funds will help county and city agencies continue their exemplary work to support victims and all those affected by the 2015 shooting. “Umpqua Community College, Douglas County and Roseburg displayed remarkable resiliency in the face of unspeakable tragedy, and fully deserve this federal support for the ongoing work,” Wyden said. “I am pleased to have worked to secure this essential grant that helps cover the emotional and financial costs of this crisis. And I remain committed to supporting the college and the entire Roseburg community as they continue taking the steps that make all Oregonians proud.” “All of Douglas County, the City of Roseburg and the UCC community experienced an unfathomable trauma last October, and the last thing they should have to worry about is the financial cost of this horrific attack,” said Merkley. “This grant shows that our nation is committed to helping the entire community recover and heal, and I thank the Department of Justice for recognizing and supporting these important needs. Healing from an attack like this one is never a fast or an easy process, and I will continue standing by Douglas County, Roseburg and UCC’s side as they work to move forward in the years ahead.” “I’m proud to have helped Douglas County and the City of Roseburg receive this much-needed grant,” said DeFazio. “In a time of crisis, local support organizations stepped forward to help our community deal with truly terrible events. This grant will provide financial assistance for the incredible services they performed for the victims of last year’s tragedy. I will continue … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-defazio-praise-12-million-federal-grant-for-douglas-county-and-the-city-of-roseburg-to-assist-with-ucc-recovery | Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Praise $1.2 Million Federal Grant for Douglas County and the City of Roseburg to Assist with UCC Recovery | 2016-12-28 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 28, 2016 PORTLAND – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Peter DeFazio today welcomed a $1.2 million federal grant to Douglas County and the City of Roseburg that will help the community’s recovery from the Oct. 1, 2015 campus shooting at Umpqua Community College. These funds will help county and city agencies continue their exemplary work to support victims and all those affected by the 2015 shooting. “Umpqua Community College, Douglas County and Roseburg displayed remarkable resiliency in the face of unspeakable tragedy, and fully deserve this federal support for the ongoing work,” Wyden said. “I am pleased to have worked to secure this essential grant that helps cover the emotional and financial costs of this crisis. And I remain committed to supporting the college and the entire Roseburg community as they continue taking the steps that make all Oregonians proud.” “All of Douglas County, the City of Roseburg and the UCC community experienced an unfathomable trauma last October, and the last thing they should have to worry about is the financial cost of this horrific attack,” said Merkley. “This grant shows that our nation is committed to helping the entire community recover and heal, and I thank the Department of Justice for recognizing and supporting these important needs. Healing from an attack like this one is never a fast or an easy process, and I will continue standing by Douglas County, Roseburg and UCC’s side as they work to move forward in the years ahead.” “I’m proud to have helped Douglas County and the City of Roseburg receive this much-needed grant,” said DeFazio. “In a time of crisis, local support organizations stepped forward to help our community deal with truly terrible events. This grant will provide financial assistance for the incredible services they performed for the victims of last year’s tragedy. I will continue to work to ensure that Roseburg, Douglas County, and UCC both have the resources necessary to move forward and heal.” … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-statement-un-resolution-regarding-israeli-settlements | Bonamici Statement on U.N. Resolution Regarding Israeli Settlements | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued the following statement: “Earlier this year, more than 390 of my colleagues and I called on President Obama to veto any one-sided United Nations Security Council resolution that could harm the peaceful negotiation of a two-state solution by the Israeli and Palestinian people. With recent reports that a vote on such a resolution is imminent, I am once again urging President Obama to veto any resolution that fails to advance the peace process.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390699 | Schrader Statement on U.N. Security Council Resolution | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Kurt Schrader released the following statement today on the delayed U.N. Security Council on a resolution regarding the Israeli-Palestinian dispute: “I urge President Obama to keep with long-standing U.S. policy and veto the UN Security Council resolution that singularly condemns Israel in the dispute with Palestine. Legitimate and lasting peace between Israel and Palestine requires bilateral negotiations, not a one-sided resolution placing blame on a single party. This resolution would further set back the delicate peace process. A veto of this resolution is also in line with this Administration's past positions on the matter. And so I urge the President to continue to reject unilateral resolutions and remain focused on a genuine and lasting peace.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/union-pacific-in-fiery-mosier-derailment-agrees-to-changes | Union Pacific in fiery Mosier derailment agrees to changes | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Union Pacific in fiery Mosier derailment agrees to changes Friday, December 23, 2016 The nation's largest freight railroad has agreed to more thorough inspections and maintenance improvements after a fiery oil train derailment in Oregon and the discovery of more than 800 potential safety violations across its sprawling network. Details on the agreement between the Federal Railroad Administration and Union Pacific were obtained by The Associated Press. Sixteen tank cars from a Union Pacific train hauling crude through the Columbia River Gorge derailed in early June along a curve in the tracks near Mosier, Oregon. The accident sparked a massive fire that burned for 14 hours and prompted the evacuation of nearby areas. No one was injured. But federal officials said the railroad wasn't following its own maintenance rules to ensure the track was safe. Better inspections would have caught a series of broken bolts that allowed the rails to move too far apart where the accident occurred, officials said. The investigation into the accident is continuing. Representatives of Union Pacific Railroad did not have an immediate comment on the agreement. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued a joint statement Friday morning supporting the agreement. "While banning oil trains from the Columbia Gorge is the only way to completely eliminate future derailments, this agreement has the potential to significantly improve railroad safety - something we have been calling for since 2014," according to the statement. "We will review the compliance agreement's details to ensure it helps protect communities near train tracks, and will closely monitor its enforcement to ensure the Trump administration upholds the agreement's requirements." The more than 800 potential violations against Union Pacific were found as part of a two-year examination of tracks across the U.S. used to haul crude, federal officials said. Enforcement actions against the company have not been finalized and further details on the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-welcome-federal-railroad-administrations-additional-safety-standards-for-union-pacific-railroad | Wyden, Merkley Welcome Federal Railroad Administration’s Additional Safety Standards for Union Pacific Railroad | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley Welcome Federal Railroad Administration’s Additional Safety Standards for Union Pacific Railroad Friday, December 23, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today issued the following joint statement following the Federal Railroad Administration’s announcement that it has reached an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Co. that will require the railroad to meet higher safety standards. The agreement follows an oil train derailment near Mosier, Ore., earlier this year. “We welcome the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision to hold Union Pacific to higher safety standards following the disastrous oil train derailment in Mosier this year. While banning oil trains from the Columbia Gorge is the only way to completely eliminate future derailments, this agreement has the potential to significantly improve railroad safety – something we have been calling for since 2014. “We will review the compliance agreement’s details to ensure it helps protect communities near train tracks, and will closely monitor its enforcement to ensure the Trump administration upholds the agreement’s requirements. We also expect the FRA to complete its investigation of the Mosier accident and to make further changes to strengthen or add safety measures to the agreement if the investigation warrants them.” In June, Wyden and Merkley called on the FRA to halt crude oil traffic through the Columbia Gorge until the cause of the Mosier accident had been fully analyzed. In July, the senators introduced a bill to require the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate every major oil train derailment and clarify the Federal Rail Administration’s authority to place moratoriums on oil train traffic when derailments occur. The bill, the Mandate Oil Spill Inspections and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act, would also require the Department of Transportation to reduce the amount of volatile gases in the crude oil that trains transport. Additionally, Wyden and Merkley intr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-welcome-federal-railroad-administrations-additional-safety-standards-for-union-pacific-railroad | Wyden, Merkley Welcome Federal Railroad Administration’s Additional Safety Standards for Union Pacific Railroad | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Friday, December 23, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today issued the following joint statement following the Federal Railroad Administration’s announcement that it has reached an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Co. that will require the railroad to meet higher safety standards. The agreement follows an oil train derailment near Mosier, Ore., earlier this year. “We welcome the Federal Railroad Administration’s decision to hold Union Pacific to higher safety standards following the disastrous oil train derailment in Mosier this year. While banning oil trains from the Columbia Gorge is the only way to completely eliminate future derailments, this agreement has the potential to significantly improve railroad safety – something we have been calling for since 2014. “We will review the compliance agreement’s details to ensure it helps protect communities near train tracks, and will closely monitor its enforcement to ensure the Trump administration upholds the agreement’s requirements. We also expect the FRA to complete its investigation of the Mosier accident and to make further changes to strengthen or add safety measures to the agreement if the investigation warrants them.” In June, Wyden and Merkley called on the FRA to halt crude oil traffic through the Columbia Gorge until the cause of the Mosier accident had been fully analyzed. In July, the senators introduced a bill to require the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate every major oil train derailment and clarify the Federal Rail Administration’s authority to place moratoriums on oil train traffic when derailments occur. The bill, the Mandate Oil Spill Inspections and Emergency Rules (MOSIER) Act, would also require the Department of Transportation to reduce the amount of volatile gases in the crude oil that trains transport. Additionally, Wyden and Merkley introduced the Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation Safety Improvement Act last year to reduce r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-slams-un-resolution-unfairly-targeting-israel | Wyden Slams U.N. Resolution Unfairly Targeting Israel | 2016-12-23 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Friday, December 23, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today slammed a United Nations resolution that unjustly targets Israel, and expressed deep disappointment the White House chose not to veto the resolution. "I am deeply disappointed that the administration set aside longstanding U.S. policy to allow such a one-sided resolution to pass,” Wyden said. "Actions like this will only take us further from the peace we all want to see." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-congratulates-clatsop-county-350000-federal-grant-high-quality-preschool | Bonamici Congratulates Clatsop County on $350,000 Federal Grant for High-Quality Preschool | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | BEAVERTON, OR [12/22/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that Clatsop County was awarded a $350,000 two-year grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Preschool Development Grants Preschool Pay for Success program. This program helps communities develop innovative, cost-effective plans to increase access to high-quality early childhood education. Clatsop County is one of eight grant recipients across the country. “Young children benefit tremendously from high-quality preschool, but too often these programs are out of reach for low-income families, especially in rural areas,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “I’m very proud that Clatsop and Tillamook Counties will have this opportunity to explore ways to improve access to high-quality preschool in Northwest Oregon. Their work will help chart a new course for delivering affordable, high-quality pre-kindergarten programs in towns and cities across America. Students, families, and communities reap profound long-term benefits, including higher high school graduation rates, when children are able to gain the social and educational skills they need to enter kindergarten ready to learn.” “The preschool feasibility grant will allow us to plan for how best to provide free preschool to up to 600 children in Clatsop and Tillamook counties,” said Dan Gaffney of Clatsop Kinder Ready. “We will reach out to parents, current preschool providers, elementary schools, local healthcare providers, and others to determine how best to engage children and their families in high-quality preschool. The program will be for children in low-income families and those who are learning English as a second language. Being rural counties we recognize the need for higher wages for Pre-K teachers, ongoing professional development, and transportation to help make sure children can attend preschool. This funding is a great opportunity to address the needs of our communities and enhance early childhood education on the Oregon coast.” Bonamici served on the select panel of Hou… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/congress-awards-30m-in-grants | Congress awards $30M in grants | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Congress awards $30M in grants Thursday, December 22, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Lands Access Program has awarded the Oregon Department of Transportation more than $30 million to improve access to federal lands in the Columbia River Gorge. The funding includes $29 million to complete a new portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail and connect it at Mitchell Point Crossing; $2.6 million for the Columbia Gorge Express to improve access to Multnomah Falls; and $300,000 for the Historic Columbia River Highway Congestion Mitigation Plan. “It’s no secret that one of Oregon’s greatest assets is our unique natural beauty and emphasis on quality of life,” said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “This funding helps ensure that more and more Oregonians and visitors can continue to enjoy our state’s natural beauty. I’m thrilled that we are one step closer toward interconnectedness in our beautiful gorge region and will keep working to improve our recreational infrastructure to boost our job-creating recreation industry and quality of life.” One hundred years after the Columbia River Highway was dedicated in 1916, the Federal Lands Access Program granted $29 million to continue reconnecting abandoned or disconnected sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway for bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy. With the funds, ODOT will design and build a safe crossing through the formidable cliffs at Mitchell Point, just west of the city of Hood River. “A lot of great ideas began in Oregon, and the Historic Columbia River Highway, America’s first scenic highway, is one of them,” added U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). “The Historic Columbia River Highway connects visitors and locals alike to some of the world’s most beautiful sights – found right here in the Gorge. These resources will help preserve this Oregon treasure, which supports outdoor recreation opportunities, local jobs and rural economies along the way.” The funding also helps complete the design, engineering and constructio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/democrats-aim-to-launch-comeback-with-cabinet-showdown- | Democrats aim to launch comeback with Cabinet showdown | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Democrats aim to launch comeback with Cabinet showdown An opposition strategy for January confirmation hearings is emerging: To expose Trump's campaign platform as a 'scam.' Thursday, December 22, 2016 By: Burgess Everett Senate Democrats are approaching the January confirmation battle over Donald Trump’s Cabinet as a chance to launch their political comeback and expose the president-elect as a fraud. Lawmakers know they’re unlikely, at best, to stop any of Trump’s Cabinet picks from being installed. But they still see major opportunity in the confirmation hearings. The goal, according to lawmakers and aides: to depict Trump’s chosen inner circle of billionaires and conservative hard-liners as directly at odds with the working-class Americans he vowed to help. “His campaign, based on his nominations, was a charade. [H]e sold the American public on a story that is a false story. It is a scam,” said Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), who was recently promoted to chief deputy whip. “He said: ‘I’m for working people and for taking on Wall Street, I’m for draining the swamp.’ And his nominees say the exact opposite.” Senate Democrats want to force Trump’s picks to lay down markers on specific policies that can be used to build a case against the incumbent as his administration unfolds and the next election approaches, insiders said. More immediately, they want to begin to make the case to Trump voters that what they voted for is a far cry from what they’ll be getting with the next president. Democrats believe they have a target-rich environment. Trump’s selections to run the Transportation Department and Small Business Administration, Elaine Chao and Linda McMahon, will probably move quickly. But the other selections, they say, have serious vulnerabilities to exploit — whether it’s Rex Tillerson’s ties to big oil and Russia, Steven Mnuchin’s Wall Street career, Betsy DeVos’ antipathy toward public schools or Tom Price’s past support for overhauling Medicare. “You’… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-democrats-press-wells-fargo-board-for-answers-on-sales-practices | Senate Democrats Press Wells Fargo Board For Answers on Sales Practices | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Democrats Press Wells Fargo Board For Answers on Sales Practices Members of Senate Banking Committee sent letter to bank seeking more information Thursday, December 22, 2016 By: Emily Glazer Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee demanded Wells Fargo & Co.’s board respond to questions the bank has yet to answer related to its sales practices scandal, according to a letter reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. The senators asked the board for more information about its continuing independent investigation of the alleged fraud that caused the bank to pay a $185 million settlement in September over opening as many as 2.1 million accounts using fictitious or unauthorized customer information. The senators in this latest letter also asked the board for a timeline of when its members learned of the questionable sales tactics, actions the board took to address the problemand reasons why it didn’t investigate sooner, according to the letter. It asked for answers to its 10 questions by Jan. 7. “Continued failure to answer questions—especially basic questions—about the causes and consequences of the fraud that Wells Fargo permitted for many years does nothing to restore the trust of Wells Fargo’s customers and shareholders, many of whom are our constituents,” according to the letter. Wells Fargo’s board in late September announced its independent investigation alongside moves to rescind a collective $61 million in pay from now-former Chief Executive John Stumpf and former retail banking head Carrie Tolstedt. The board’s independent directors “will take such other actions as they collectively deem appropriate,” according to a statement at the time. The bank neither admitted nor denied the allegations in the settlement Sept. 8. The 10 Democratic senators, led by ranking member Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio), submitted 58 questions to Wells Fargo management on Sept. 29 that they said weren't answered by Mr. Stumpf in two congressional hearings. The bank… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/trump-alarms-arms-control-community-with-nuke-tweet | Trump alarms arms-control community with nuke tweet | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Trump alarms arms-control community with nuke tweet Thursday, December 22, 2016 By: Rebecca Kheel The arms-control community is sounding the alarm on President-elect Donald Trump calling for the United States to “greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.” “This is a how arms races begin,” warned Joe Cirincione, president of nuclear nonproliferation group the Ploughshares Fund. On Thursday afternoon, Trump tweeted that “the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.” A follow-up statement from spokesman Jason Miller said Trump “was referring to the threat of nuclear proliferation and the critical need to prevent it — particularly to and among terrorist organizations and unstable and rogue regimes. “He has also emphasized the need to improve and modernize our deterrent capability as a vital way to pursue peace through strength,” Miller added. The United States currently has about 7,000 nuclear warheads. The country is also in the midst of nuclear modernization efforts to replace the aging nuclear force, estimated to cost $1 trillion over 30 years. The statement did not address what Trump meant by strengthen and expand. The president-elect’s message prompted a flurry of tweets from everyone from arms control advocates to Hollywood. “Trump wants to expand our nuclear arsenal,” tweeted actor George Takei. “I think of my aunt and baby cousin, found burnt in a ditch in Hiroshima. These weapons must go.” “.@realDonaldTrump you are proposing a new nuclear arms race,” the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation tweeted. “The consequences of ‘expanding nuke capability’ could be global disaster.” “.@realDonaldTrump, Reagan & even your friend Nixon knew better,“ tweeted Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “Nuke arms race = dangerous, expensive & bad for America. True then, true now.” Arms-control groups said it was unclear what Trump meant by expanding and… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-push-for-oregon-counties-to-receive-federal-timber-payments | Wyden, Merkley Push for Oregon Counties to Receive Federal Timber Payments | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley Push for Oregon Counties to Receive Federal Timber Payments Thursday, December 22, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to make much-needed federal timber sales payments as quickly as possible to Oregon counties in need of funding for schools, roads and law enforcement. In letters (attached) to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the senators noted that congressional failure to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding puts a premium on ensuring the federal timber payments are sent in a timely fashion to Oregon counties. Counties no longer receiving an SRS payment as of Jan. 1 will instead receive payment under a federal act that provides them 25 percent of the federal timber sale revenue from national forestlands generated in each county, the senators wrote Vilsack. In 2015 when SRS was not reauthorized until after the 25-percent payments were made, the 25-percent payment was $50 million nationwide compared to about $300 million from SRS the previous year. “Without the certainty of SRS payments, schools, libraries and jails close, roads go unpaved and become unsafe, mental and physical health services are scaled back or even ended and fewer and fewer law enforcement officers patrol larger and larger areas,’’ Wyden and Merkley wrote. “We have talked to counties in Oregon experiencing these hardships, which will be made even worse if the remaining 25 percent payments are delayed.” In their letter to Jewell, the senators made a similar point urging that the 18 Oregon O & C counties receive their payments in a timely fashion under the 1937 O & C Lands Act and 1939 Coos Bay Wagon Road grant fund providing counties with 50 percent of the revenue from O & C federal timber sales. When SRS was not reauthorized in 2015, those counties received $18 million from those federal timber sales and an additional $19.9 million after SRS was reauthorized. Wyden and Merkley are continuing t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-push-for-oregon-counties-to-receive-federal-timber-payments | Wyden, Merkley Push for Oregon Counties to Receive Federal Timber Payments | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, December 22, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to make much-needed federal timber sales payments as quickly as possible to Oregon counties in need of funding for schools, roads and law enforcement. In letters to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the senators noted that congressional failure to reauthorize Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding puts a premium on ensuring the federal timber payments are sent in a timely fashion to Oregon counties. Counties no longer receiving an SRS payment as of Jan. 1 will instead receive payment under a federal act that provides them 25 percent of the federal timber sale revenue from national forestlands generated in each county, the senators wrote Vilsack. In 2015 when SRS was not reauthorized until after the 25-percent payments were made, the 25-percent payment was $50 million nationwide compared to about $300 million from SRS the previous year. “Without the certainty of SRS payments, schools, libraries and jails close, roads go unpaved and become unsafe, mental and physical health services are scaled back or even ended and fewer and fewer law enforcement officers patrol larger and larger areas,’’ Wyden and Merkley wrote. “We have talked to counties in Oregon experiencing these hardships, which will be made even worse if the remaining 25 percent payments are delayed.” In their letter to Jewell, the senators made a similar point urging that the 18 Oregon O & C counties receive their payments in a timely fashion under the 1937 O & C Lands Act and 1939 Coos Bay Wagon Road grant fund providing counties with 50 percent of the revenue from O & C federal timber sales. When SRS was not reauthorized in 2015, those counties received $18 million from those federal timber sales and an additional $19.9 million after SRS was reauthorized. Wyden and Merkley are continuing to work on reauthorizing the SRS program, which has brought almost $4 billion si… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-urges-president-elect-trump-to-endorse-drain-the-swamp-act | Rep. DeFazio Urges President-elect Trump to Endorse DRAIN the SWAMP Act | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Peter DeFazio | D000191 | defazio.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Rep. Peter DeFazio today sent a letter to President-elect Trump’s transition team urging the incoming president to endorse the DRAIN the SWAMP Act, legislation that would codify a ban on political appointees from lobbying for five years after they leave his administration. The DRAIN the SWAMP Act (Deter Revolving-Door Appointments in Our Nation; Stop Washington Appointees from becoming Manipulative Petitioners), H.R. 6476, would require a five-year ban, barring anyone who serves as a political appointee from lobbying for five years after they leave the Executive Branch. The bill would also permanently bar any individual appointed to the Trump Administration from lobbying on behalf of a foreign government. “The American people elected Mr. Trump with the expectation that he would bring a new way of doing business to Washington,’” Rep. DeFazio wrote in the letter. “His lobby ban is a good start, and I would like to assist in his efforts. I am certain that if the president-elect endorsed my bill it would send a strong message to Congress that he takes the ethical standards of his administration seriously. With the weight of his endorsement, the House and Senate could pass the bill and have it ready for his signature on his first day in office.” Although the President-Elect’s transition team announced an intended ban on appointees becoming lobbyists for five years after they leave the White House, there is no penalty for violating the provision unless it is codified by Congress. By law, current Administration appointees are barred from lobbying for two years after they leave the Executive Branch, with a penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of $50,000. Under Rep. DeFazio’s bill, if either the five-year lobbying ban or lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign nations is violated, offenders face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000. Rep. DeFazio introduced the DRAIN the SWAMP Act at the end of the 114th Congress, and plans to reintroduce the legislation when Congress reconvenes … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-nominates-oregon-students-acceptance-us-service-academies-1 | Greg Walden nominates Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden nominates Southern Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies Medford -- U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced today that he has nominated 15 Oregon students for acceptance to one of the prestigious United States service academies. Walden’s Service Academy Nomination Board -- active and retired military officers who interview potential candidates for the service academies -- recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character. “I am honored and privileged to nominate these remarkable young Oregonians to our nation’s service academies,” Walden said. “Their years of hard work and dedication have led to these much deserved nominations. These students have shown a desire to grow intellectually, lead by example, and serve their country by pursuing a higher education at one of our country’s select service academies. I am confident that each will be successful in this admirable endeavor, and that America’s future is in good hands. “I’d like to thank my Service Academy Nomination Board for recommending these young leaders. Their service to our country and experience wearing our nation’s uniform speaks to the character of the students they interviewed and referred for nomination. These nominations would not be possible without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to excel and succeed at the U.S. service academies,” said Walden. Serving on Walden’s Service Academy Nomination Board are: retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Frank Toney, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Harriet Harris, retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. John Howard, retired U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Richard Halsted, and Oregon Army National Guard Lt. Col. Travis Lee. The service academies include the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Final selection for admission to the service academies will be determined by officials at each… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/merkley-and-the-hounds | Merkley and the hounds | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley and the hounds Wednesday, December 21, 2016 By: The Editorial Board Jeff Merkley made headlines last April when he became the first U.S. senator to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. As April turned to May, it became apparent that the Oregon Democrat would be the only senator in Sanders’ corner. Hillary Clinton’s victory at the Democratic National Convention, and poll-fed confidence that Clinton would be elected president in November, led to speculation that Merkley might become an exile in his own caucus. But in this year of confounded expectations, Merkley prepares to enter the 115th Congress in a stronger position than ever before. Merkley will become the chief deputy whip for the Democratic caucus in the Senate, succeeding retiring Sen. Barbara Boxer of California. As deputy whip Merkley will be a member of the minority leadership team, with newly chosen Minority Leader Chuck Schumer at its head. Merkley says that whips don’t really do much — it’s the opportunity to participate in the caucus leadership, which sets the agenda and plans strategy for the 48 Democratic senators, that really counts. But party whips can be important figures. The term was first used about 300 years ago in the British Parliament to describe the member responsible for keeping party members in line, from the “whippers-in” who keep the hounds focused on the quarry in a fox hunt. If Schumer needs an enforcer, he’ll call Merkley. Oregon hasn’t had a senator of either party in a caucus leadership position for a century or more, though a number of Merkley’s predecessors — including Sens. Bob Packwood and Mark Hatfield — held powerful committee chairmanships. On the House side, Rep. Greg Walden, who represents Oregon’s 2nd District, is a member of the Republican leadership team, currently serving as head of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Democrats will remain in the minority in both chambers of Congress, but a minority in the Senate can block legislation and some… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-pacific-northwest-senators-announces-40-million-for-first-us-wave-energy-test-facility | Bipartisan Group of Pacific Northwest Senators Announces $40 Million for First U.S. Wave Energy Test Facility | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Bipartisan Group of Pacific Northwest Senators Announces $40 Million for First U.S. Wave Energy Test Facility Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Patty Murray, D-Wash., today announced funding will be awarded to build the United States’ first open-ocean, power grid-connected wave energy test facility at a site off the Oregon coast. The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $40 million to build the wave energy test site about six nautical miles off the coast of Newport, Ore. A partnership made up of Oregon State University, the University of Washington, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and renewable energy innovators applied for the federal funding earlier this year. The senators, along with Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., urged the Energy Department to award the funding to the Newport site in an October letter. "This is great news for OSU and its partners and will launch a new level of local job creation and clean energy innovation,” Wyden said. “Oregon will use this opportunity to build on its solid position nationally and internationally as a leader in renewable wave energy." “This is a huge success story for Oregon State University, and I thank the Department of Energy for helping us harness the enormous potential of wave energy off the Oregon coast,” Merkley said. “This test facility will make Oregon the leader in bringing wave energy to the United States, which will create good-paying local jobs, and strengthen our coastal economies.” "Given the important role that current and wave energy innovation can play in Alaska's energy future, it is great news that a consortium of universities, including the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been awarded with this opportunity to test and develop marine hydrokinetic devices,” Murkowski said. “This should help advance renewable energy technologies that hold great promise for our coastal communities." “This is an excitin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-pacific-northwest-senators-announces-40-million-for-first-us-wave-energy-test-facility | Bipartisan Group of Pacific Northwest Senators Announces $40 Million for First U.S. Wave Energy Test Facility | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Patty Murray, D-Wash., today announced funding will be awarded to build the United States’ first open-ocean, power grid-connected wave energy test facility at a site off the Oregon coast. The U.S. Department of Energy will provide up to $40 million to build the wave energy test site about six nautical miles off the coast of Newport, Ore. A partnership made up of Oregon State University, the University of Washington, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and renewable energy innovators applied for the federal funding earlier this year. The senators, along with Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska and Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., urged the Energy Department to award the funding to the Newport site in an October letter. "This is great news for OSU and its partners and will launch a new level of local job creation and clean energy innovation,” Wyden said. “Oregon will use this opportunity to build on its solid position nationally and internationally as a leader in renewable wave energy." “This is a huge success story for Oregon State University, and I thank the Department of Energy for helping us harness the enormous potential of wave energy off the Oregon coast,” Merkley said. “This test facility will make Oregon the leader in bringing wave energy to the United States, which will create good-paying local jobs, and strengthen our coastal economies.” "Given the important role that current and wave energy innovation can play in Alaska's energy future, it is great news that a consortium of universities, including the University of Alaska Fairbanks, has been awarded with this opportunity to test and develop marine hydrokinetic devices,” Murkowski said. “This should help advance renewable energy technologies that hold great promise for our coastal communities." “This is an exciting step forward for the Pacific Northwest, which continues to be a leader in developing renewable energy… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-praises-oregons-selection-in-demonstration-program-treating-mental-and-substance-use-disorders | Wyden Praises Oregon’s Selection in Demonstration Program Treating Mental and Substance Use Disorders | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Clinics to benefit in Baker, Columbia, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Malheur, Multnomah, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington & Yamhill counties Wednesday, December 21, 2016 Washington – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden praised today’s selection of Oregon for participation in a federal community health clinic demonstration program as a well-deserved boost to high-quality care for people in all parts of the state with mental and substance use disorders. Oregon is one of eight states chosen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the two-year Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration program. “This program will help rural and urban Oregonians receive quality treatment that’s proven effective for mental health and substance use disorders,” said Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. “All of Oregon can look forward to seeing real gains from this comprehensive approach that blends behavioral health care with physical health care.” Oregon’s demonstration program has 14 certified clinics in Baker, Columbia, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Josephine, Klamath, Lane, Malheur, Multnomah, Wallowa, Wasco, Washington and Yamhill counties. Certified clinics will provide core services, use evidence-based practices and health information technology, report on quality measures, and coordinate care with primary care providers and hospitals in the community. Integrated services include peer-delivered services, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, recovery supports, and treatment for co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Participating Oregon clinics will be reimbursed at a fixed daily rate for all services provided to Oregon Health Plan beneficiaries. Populations to be served include adults with serious mental illness, children with serious emotional disturbance, and those with long-term and serious substance use disorders, as well as others with mental illness and substance use disorders. States have until … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/the-2016-progressive-honor-roll | The 2016 Progressive Honor Roll | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | The 2016 Progressive Honor Roll Yes, it’s been an awful year. But the untold story is that grassroots activists have actually frequently prevailed. Tuesday, December 20, 2016 By: John Nichols Yes, the election results were generally awful. But the untold story of 2016 is that grassroots activists, bold campaigners, and the movements they embraced frequently prevailed—and their successes showed progressives how to press forward even in the most frustrating and difficult of times. Our 2016 honor roll of the most valuable progressives is a chronicle of the fight that has already begun, and a road map for the resistance yet to come. Most Valuable Campaign Bernie Sanders “So, are you guys ready for a radical idea?” the Vermont senator asked as he kicked his 2016 presidential campaign into high gear. Sanders was speaking about creating “an economy that works for all of us, not just the 1 percent.” But he could have been referring to the idea of a presidential bid by a seventysomething democratic socialist from a small state that began, as Sanders likes to point out, at just 3 percent in the polls. “We had no campaign organization and we had no money. And we were taking on the most powerful political organization in the United States of America,” the senator recalled. Yet his rallies would soon fill the largest halls in the country, and he would go on to win more than 13 million votes, 23 primary and caucus contests, and more than 1,800 delegates. That wasn’t enough to clinch the nomination, and Sanders is the first to admit that his campaign made strategic mistakes in its initial outreach to key Democratic constituencies and superdelegates. Yet he won overwhelming support from young people; he forged a coalition that energized Native Americans, Arab Americans, rural voters, and displaced and disappointed workers across the country; he opened up transformational debates about the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and about pipelines and climate change; and h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-applauds-offshore-oil-and-gas-drilling-ban-in-atlantic-and-arctic | Merkley Applauds Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Ban in Atlantic and Arctic | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Applauds Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling Ban in Atlantic and Arctic Obama Implements Sections of Merkley's Keep It in the Ground Act Tuesday, December 20, 2016 Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the lead sponsor of both the Keep It in the Ground Act and the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, released the following statement after President Obama announced a permanent ban on offshore drilling in citizen-owned waters of the Arctic and Atlantic, including 3.8 million acres in the Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast and 115 million acres in the U.S. Arctic Ocean: “Drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic poses a grave threat to our environment. The cold and remote Arctic ecosystems are extremely fragile. Drilling there is the height of irresponsibility and drilling in the Atlantic poses a huge risk of damage to important fisheries, estuaries, beaches and coastal businesses. “To prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate change, it is imperative that we continue the momentum to Keep It in the Ground. Today’s announcement sends a powerful message to an incoming Administration bent on outsourcing its energy policy to the oil and gas industry: our public lands and waters should and must be managed for the public good, not for private profit.” Under section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, President Obama has authority to withdraw U.S. waters from future oil and gas leasing; future Presidents do not have the authority to undo the withdrawal. Senator Merkley has been a leading voice in the movement to combat drilling on our public lands and waters, continuously calling for the Arctic to be put off-limits to offshore drilling. Last year, Senator Merkley introduced the Keep It in the Ground Act to end all new leases for coal, oil, gas and tar sands extraction on federal public lands and waters. … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/oregon-sen-jeff-merkley-appointed-to-senate-democratic-leadership-going-into-2017 | Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley appointed to Senate Democratic leadership going into 2017 | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley appointed to Senate Democratic leadership going into 2017 Monday, December 19, 2016 By: Hillary Borrud Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley will have a more powerful role in Congress next year, as chief deputy whip for the Senate Democratic caucus. Party whips and their deputies work to line up votes. Although Democrats will be in the minority in 2017, they still have the ability to push back against Republican priorities, for example by filibustering legislation or some of President-elect Donald Trump's nominees. Merkley was also appointed to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. His office announced the appointments in a press release on Monday. Merkley has focused on issues dear to the left wing of the Democratic Party, and on Monday he highlighted his relationships with "grassroots progressive groups." "I am honored to join the leadership team and help carry the fight for good living wage jobs, a secure retirement, and opportunity for all Americans," Merkley said in a statement, listing issues Senate Democrats might hope will appeal to more voters going forward. Merkley's staff pointed out in the press release that as minority leader in the Oregon House in 2006, he "engineered a Democratic takeover" and became the state's first Democratic House speaker in 16 years. Merkley was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, when he unseated Republican incumbent Gordon Smith. He won re-election in 2014, against Republican Monica Wehby. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-tapped-for-leadership-post-will-join-senate-foreign-relations-committee | Merkley Tapped for Leadership Post, Will Join Senate Foreign Relations Committee | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Tapped for Leadership Post, Will Join Senate Foreign Relations Committee Monday, December 19, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he has been appointed Chief Deputy Whip of the Senate Democratic Caucus and will also join the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the 115th Congress beginning in January. As a member of the newly constituted Democratic leadership team, Merkley will bring strong relationships with grassroots progressive groups and a reputation for digging deep on policy. He also brings experience winning back a majority -- as minority leader in Oregon's House of Representatives, Merkley engineered a Democratic takeover in 2006, becoming Oregon's first Democratic Speaker of the House in 16 years. Merkley will also serve on the prestigious Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which plays a critical role in the development of the United States’ foreign policy and has jurisdiction over diplomatic nominations including the Secretary of State. “I am honored to join the leadership team and help carry the fight for good living wage jobs, a secure retirement, and opportunity for all Americans,” said Merkley. “Now, more than ever, billionaires and special interests are looking to stack the deck in their favor at the expense of the rest of us. We have big battles in front of us, and I’m ready to fight for our vision of a ‘We the People’ nation. “I’m also looking forward to serving on the Foreign Relations Committee at a time of substantial international upheaval and national security concerns,” Merkley continued. “Some of the biggest challenges we face as Americans are international, like climate change, violent extremism, and globalization, and require global cooperation. We can’t give all Americans the opportunities they deserve without a strong, thoughtful foreign policy.” In joining the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Merkley is returning to his foreign policy roots. Earlier in his career he worked in the Pentagon and then as an ana… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/merkley-russian-hacking-is-an-attack-on-democracy | Merkley: Russian Hacking is an Attack on Democracy | 2016-12-17 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joins MSNBC’s All in With Chris Hayes to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election and the need for a full, bipartisan and independent investigation into Russia’s hacking. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/merkley-wyden-hold-town-hall-at-south-medford-high-school | Merkley, Wyden hold town hall at South Medford High School | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley, Wyden hold town hall at South Medford High School Friday, December 16, 2016 By: Ryan Pfeil A few years ago, following the end of a federal government shutdown, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told reporters his next move: go dialogue with high school students about important issues in a town hall setting. "We were told that we could have a week or so at home," Wyden said Friday. "I came off the Senate floor, and some press folks said, 'What are you going to do?' And I said, 'I have been watching adults bicker and quarrel and behave badly for weeks now. I'm going to go home to Oregon. I'm going to go to the high schools and talk to adults who set a higher standard, who are really interested in solutions, and not bickering." This decision was the start of a program called Listening to Oregon's Future, a supplement to regular town hall meetings Wyden and colleague Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) hold across the state. They've held dozens of the student sessions so far. On Friday, they took the program to South Medford High School, where students asked prepared questions on a variety of topics. "I thought it was awesome. I've never been able to see a politician speak live before," said South junior Coi Holloway, president of the school's speech and debate team. "I thought they answered the questions pretty well." Many of those questions concerned current events on the national stage, including the Dakota Access Pipeline, legislative support for career technical education training, and the Affordable Care Act. Both senators applauded the students' efforts. "The questions were clear, they were substantive," Merkley said. Here are a sampling of issues students brought before Merkley and Wyden: Repeal of the Affordable Care Act Wyden believes there will be an effort to repeal the ACA "without offering a replacement." "Of course, Americans were told the two were intertwined," Wyden said. "We heard there was going to be repeal and replace, and it's starting to feel a litt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-democrats-seek-complaints-about-mnuchin-the-so-called-foreclosure-king | Senate Democrats seek complaints about Mnuchin, the so-called ‘foreclosure king’ | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Democrats seek complaints about Mnuchin, the so-called ‘foreclosure king’ Warren, Sanders focus attacks on Trump’s pick for Treasury Friday, December 16, 2016 By: Robert Schroeder Senate Democrats are asking members of the public for complaints about Donald Trump’s choice to lead the U.S. Treasury, in a move that reveals how much they plan to focus on his involvement with a failed subprime mortgage lender. Democrats set up a web site on Friday regarding Steven Mnuchin and California-headquartered OneWest Bank, formerly known as IndyMac. Mnuchin and other investors bought IndyMac in 2009. CIT Group Inc. CIT, +2.05% bought it in 2015. Mnuchin’s involvement with OneWest has already come under fire. Even before Trump formally tapped Mnuchin for the Treasury job, the California Reinvestment Coalition, an advocacy group, was blasting his expected selection and said the bank has foreclosed on more than 36,000 families in California alone. The group said it expected families “who lost their homes at the hands of OneWest” will want to share their experiences with lawmakers. Now Democrats are asking for just that. The site asks Americans “to share their personal stories of being impacted by the ‘Foreclosure King’ Steve Mnuchin.” It was announced by Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Mnuchin has defended the IndyMac deal, as has Trump himself. Trump nominated Mnuchin on Nov. 30, and his selection won praise from Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican who heads the Senate Finance Committee. The panel will hold a confirmation for Mnuchin, whose nomination would also need to be approved by the full Senate. Next year, Republicans will control the Senate with 52 seats to Democrats’ 48. Mnuchin’s confirmation is assured if all Republicans vote yes. Confirmation requires a simple majority. But the former Goldman Sachs GS, +1.87% banker and film producer can expect blistering criticism from the minori… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-dems-were-you-hurt-by-foreclosure-king-steve-mnuchin | Senate Dems: Were You Hurt By 'Foreclosure King' Steve Mnuchin? | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Dems: Were You Hurt By 'Foreclosure King' Steve Mnuchin? Friday, December 16, 2016 By: Lauren Fox Senate Democrats are dubbing President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin the "Foreclosure King" on a new website they've set up to solicit public complaints from people allegedly hurt by Mnuchin's past work in financial services. Mnuchin– the former chief executive officer and chairman of OneWest Bank– was accused of aggressively foreclosing on homes during the financial crisis. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Jeff Merkely (D-OR) are leading the charge. “After years peddling the kind of dangerous mortgage-backed securities that eventually blew up the economy, Mnuchin swooped in after the crash to take a second bite out of families by aggressively--and sometimes illegally--foreclosing on their homes,” Warren said in a statement about the website. “This man has engaged in the worst kinds of practices on Wall Street and directly hurt thousands of working families – and now, Donald Trump wants to literally hand him the keys to the Treasury where he can make big banks even richer at the expense of America's families.” Democrats are hoping to collect even more stories about Mnuchin. Already, Democrats are reminding voters of the story of one elderly woman who was forced out of her home after a 27-cent payment error. The strategy is part of Democrats plan to play hardball with Trump's cabinet nominees. After a change in the Senate rules in 2013, Republicans will only need 51 votes to confirm Trump's nominees. That's likely to be an easy lift for the GOP, but Democrats aren't going to make the process comfortable. Democrats have already said they plan to make Trump's pick for HHS Secretary Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) answer tough questions on his past plans to privatize Medicare. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/led-by-merkley-warren-and-sanders-senate-democrats-roll-out-new-website-inviting-personal-stories-from-americans-hurt-by-foreclosure-king-steve-mnuchin | Led by Merkley, Warren and Sanders, Senate Democrats Roll Out New Website Inviting Personal Stories from Americans Hurt by Foreclosure King Steve Mnuchin | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Led by Merkley, Warren and Sanders, Senate Democrats Roll Out New Website Inviting Personal Stories from Americans Hurt by Foreclosure King Steve Mnuchin Friday, December 16, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) announced that Senate Democrats have launched a new website inviting Americans to share their personal stories of being impacted by the foreclosure practices of Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary nominee, foreclosure king Steve Mnuchin. “Donald Trump’s choice of Mnuchin is not only a fundamental betrayal of his promise to stand up to Wall Street—it is a punch in the gut to the thousands of American families who were thrown out of their homes by Mnuchin's bank,” said Merkley. “The voices of these Americans should be heard loud and clear as the Senate examines his record and considers his nomination.” “After years peddling the kind of dangerous mortgage-backed securities that eventually blew up the economy, Mnuchin swooped in after the crash to take a second bite out of families by aggressively--and sometimes illegally--foreclosing on their homes,” said Warren. “This man has engaged in the worst kinds of practices on Wall Street and directly hurt thousands of working families – and now, Donald Trump wants to literally hand him the keys to the Treasury where he can make big banks even richer at the expense of America's families.” “During the campaign, President-elect Donald Trump told the American people that he was going to change Washington by taking on Wall Street. But now that the election is over, Donald Trump’s choice for Treasury Secretary is the same old, same old Wall Street insider who made a fortune during the financial crisis as millions lost their homes,” said Sanders. “If confirmed, Steve Mnuchin would be the third Treasury Secretary to come from Goldman Sachs in the last 17 years. That is not the type of change that Donald Trump promised to bring to Washington – that is hypocrisy at its worst. The… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-calls-for-immediate-declassification-and-public-release-of-intelligence-related-to-russian-interference-in-us-election | Wyden Calls for Immediate Declassification and Public Release of Intelligence Related to Russian Interference in U.S. Election | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Friday, December 16, 2016 Washington, D.C. – In response to statements by the executive branch that it may be weeks before new information is released to the public about Russian interference in the U.S. election, Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the American people cannot wait that long to get the facts. “This is a national crisis that must be fully explained to the American people right now,” Wyden said. “When a foreign nation interferes in our election, delays and closed-door investigations are not good enough. We cannot continue to sweep this under the rug or to wait until just before inauguration day before leveling with the public.” The Intelligence Community last declassified information about the Russian Government and the U.S. election on October 7, 2016. On November 30, 2016, Senator Wyden and other members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence urged the President to declassify and release to the public specific information concerning the Russian Government and the U.S. election. “American democracy, and its independence from foreign interference, is at stake,” Wyden said. “History will not forgive those who kept the facts from the American people.” Immediate declassification and public release is necessary for the following reasons: Given intense and ongoing public interest in Russian Government interference in the U.S. election, it is critical that the public discussion be informed by facts and the best analysis of the Intelligence Community and the FBI. The longer reliable information is withheld from the American people, the more opportunity there is for misinformation to be disseminated without correction. Transparency demonstrates to our friends and allies, as well as to our adversaries, how a democracy deals with a threat like this and sends a message of strength and resilience. Declassification and public release will allow for open congressional hearings in the weeks ahead. These hearings will allow for a full airing of the threat and its implica… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-dems-seek-divestment-blind-trust-for-trumps-assets | Senate Dems seek divestment blind trust for Trump's assets | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Dems seek divestment blind trust for Trump's assets Thursday, December 15, 2016 By: ELANA SCHOR Five Democratic senators on Thursday unveiled a bill they plan to release next month that would require Donald Trump to divest assets that risk a conflict of interest and place the proceeds in a blind trust as well as require his appointees to step aside from official decisions that could benefit him. The legislation previewed by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) also would symbolically deem any Trump violation of federal conflict-of-interest rules "a high crime or misdemeanor under the impeachment clause of the U.S. Constitution," according to a summary released by its sponsors. Although its chances of advancing in the GOP-controlled Congress are close to zero, the bill represents the latest step by Democrats to escalate their ethics war with the president-elect. More than 20 Senate Democrats on Tuesday released a letter urging Trump to heed the counsel of the nonpartisan Office of Government Ethics, which has warned the president-elect that his plans to transfer control of his vast holdings to his sons would not be enough to eliminate conflicts of interest. Senate Democrats also have called on top Trump nominees to release their tax returns as part of the vetting process before their confirmation votes. The five Democrats' planned bill could become a vehicle for the minority to put political pressure on Republicans by forcing Trump's party to support his still-incomplete plan for separating his official duties in the White House from his sprawling business. "The American people deserve to know that the president of the United States is working to do what's best for the country — not using his office to do what's best for himself and his businesses," Warren said in a statement on the measure. The proposal's reference to impeachment could divide Democrats, however, with so… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-30-million-to-improve-access-to-federal-lands-in-the-gorge | Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $30 Million to Improve Access to Federal Lands in the Gorge | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $30 Million to Improve Access to Federal Lands in the Gorge Funding includes major investment in completion of Historic Columbia River Highway Trail Thursday, December 15, 2016 Washington, DC - Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Federal Lands Access Program awarded the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) over $30 million to improve access to federal lands in the Gorge. This funding included $29 million to complete a new portion of the Historic Columbia River Highway Trail and connect it at Mitchell Point Crossing, $2.6 million for the Columbia Gorge Express to improve access to Multnomah Falls, and $300,000 for the Historic Columbia River Highway Congestion Mitigation Plan. “It’s no secret that one of Oregon’s greatest assets is our unique natural beauty and emphasis on quality of life,” said Merkley. “This funding helps ensure that more and more Oregonians and visitors can continue to enjoy our state’s natural beauty. I’m thrilled that we are one step closer towards interconnectedness in our beautiful Gorge region and will keep working to improve our recreational infrastructure to boost our job-creating recreation industry and quality of life.” “A lot of great ideas began in Oregon and the Historic Columbia River Highway, America’s first scenic highway, is one of them,” Wyden said. “The Historic Columbia River Highway connects visitors and locals alike to some of the world’s most beautiful sights – found right here in the Gorge. These resources will help preserve this Oregon treasure, which supports outdoor recreation opportunities, local jobs and rural economies along the way.” One hundred years after the Columbia River Highway was dedicated in 1916, the Federal Lands Access Program granted $29 million to continue reconnecting the abandoned or disconnected sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway for bicyclists and pedestrians to enjoy. Thanks to these grants, ODOT will design and build a safe crossing through … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-president-elects-nominee-for-interior-secretary | Wyden Statement on President-elect’s Nominee for Interior Secretary | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, December 15, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., to lead the U.S. Department of the Interior: “The Secretary of the Interior is charged with protecting and properly managing our public lands, which belong to every American. I am encouraged by indications that Rep. Ryan Zinke recognizes the importance of keeping our public lands in public ownership, as well as his apparent support of making the Land and Water Conservation Fund permanent. “I will be asking him about how he will ensure our public lands can continue to be a source of local job creation through outdoor recreation opportunities and clean, sustainable development of renewable energy sources. Any energy resources produced on federal lands must deliver a fair return to American taxpayers, and clearly just turning public lands over to fossil fuel industries is a nonstarter. “The Interior secretary also plays a role in responsibly managing forests in Oregon, which includes prioritizing wildfire prevention work, while safeguarding clean air and clean water and preserving habitats to allow all species to thrive. As a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, I will also be asking Rep. Zinke about how he plans to improve sustainable management of Oregon's forests and how he plans to put into action his support for ending fire borrowing.” Wyden is the former chair of and a senior Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where the Interior Secretary nomination hearing will be held. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-signing-21st-century-cures-act | Greg Walden applauds signing of 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | VIDEO RELEASE: Greg Walden applauds signing of 21st Century Cures Act “This plan will help save the lives of countless patients and bring hope to their families. I’m proud that it is now the law of the land.” WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) today praised a new disease research initiative -- the 21st Century Cures Act -- after it was signed into law by the President at the White House today. Walden was a strong supporter of the bill, which cleared the House and Senate with overwhelmingly bipartisan votes. “All of us know someone who has fought a horrible disease like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. This plan will help save the lives of countless patients and bring hope to their families. I’m proud that it is now the law of the land,” Walden said. The signing of the 21st Century Cures Act represents the culmination of many years of work by the Energy and Commerce Committee and its chairman, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.). “None of this work would have been possible without the tireless work of Fred Upton, his staff, and his partners on both sides of the aisle. Millions of patients and their families owe them a debt of gratitude.” Over the past two years, Walden held seven roundtable meetings with patients and health care professionals in southern, central, and eastern Oregon to solicit feedback on the 21st Century Cures Act and how it can improve the lives of people in Oregon and nationwide. Of the 10,000 known diseases in the world (7,000 of which are considered rare), there are treatments for only about 500 of them. Yet, the cost and time associated with conducting clinical trials are at all-time highs (it takes upwards of 15 years to bring a new drug to the market, and the cost of developing new drugs has doubled since the early 1980s). This bill would boost medical research and streamline the approval process for new treatments to help accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of cures. For testimonies from Oregon researchers, health professionals, and pa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/media-center/photos/good-morning-oregon-november-december-2016 | Good Morning Oregon November December 2016 | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Skip to primary navigation Skip to content About Meet Jeff Issues Oregon Stories News Press Releases In the News Video & Audio Photos … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/democratic-senators-press-trumps-education-pick-betsy-devos-to-pay-years-old-53-million-fine | Democratic senators press Trump’s education pick Betsy DeVos to pay years-old $5.3 million fine | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Democratic senators press Trump’s education pick Betsy DeVos to pay years-old $5.3 million fine Wednesday, December 14, 2016 By: Danielle Douglas-Gabriel A group of Senate Democrats is urging President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for education secretary, Betsy DeVos, to pay $5.3 million in fines imposed on her political action committee for campaign finance violations in Ohio eight years ago. “As secretary of education, Betsy DeVos would be responsible for overseeing the nation’s student loan program, including ensuring that students repay their loans, so it’s troubling that she has blatantly ignored her own PAC’s debt to the people of Ohio,” said Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.). “When a student borrower defaults, it has serious ramifications that haunt that student for years — yet when DeVos’s PAC defaulted on its fine for violating the law, they just walked away.” Udall, along with Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), sent DeVos a letter this week requesting she pay the millions of dollars in fines and late fees ahead of her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Ed Patru, a spokesman for DeVos, said she was never a party to the lawsuit at the center of the fine. Furthermore, he said a trial court judge ruled that none of the officers or board members at All Children Matter could be held liable for the fine. “This suit was a politically driven effort to derail education reform in Ohio,” Patru said in a statement. “Anyone looking at today’s developments understands it’s a transparently political maneuver that doesn’t in any way change the underlying facts of this case.” The debt stems from a 2008 case the Ohio Elections Commission brought against All Children Matter, an organization DeVos headed that lobbied for school-choice legislation. Two years earlier, the PAC asked the commission whether it was allowed to contribute more than the $10,000 limit to an a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/lawmakers-welcome-va-clearing-red-tape-for-advanced-rns | Lawmakers welcome VA clearing red tape for advanced RNs | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Lawmakers welcome VA clearing red tape for advanced RNs Wednesday, December 14, 2016 WASHINGTON - Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) welcomed news Wednesday that the Department of Veterans Affairs will implement one of the key proposals from the bipartisan Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, sponsored by Merkley and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), helping to ensure veterans can get the care they need from Advanced Practice Registered Nurses. The VA will now allow APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. This will help enable the VA to find enough medical professionals to fill the need for health care services for veterans. This is particularly important for primary care services in rural areas, where veterans struggle to find access to medical care. “After a lifetime of service to our nation, veterans deserve nothing but the best medical support. But unfortunately, all too many of our wounded warriors face significant hurdles to accessing the health care they need to thrive upon their return to civilian life,” Merkley said. “In order to support our veterans to the best of their ability, our medical professionals must be able to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. “When it comes to our veterans, there should be no holding back,” he continued. “I’m thrilled that the VA heeded our call to improve VA health care staffing today and will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for our veterans who have fought for us.” “Allowing these highly-qualified registered nurses to put their training to practice will help address delays at VA hospitals and clinics across the country,” said Durbin. “I commend Secretary McDonald and Under Secretary Shulkin for taking steps to remove barriers to health care access by increasing the number of qualified medical professionals providing primary care to our nation’s veterans, and hope the VA … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-senators-presses-federal-regulator-for-clear-guidance-on-banking-services-for-vendors-working-with-legal-marijuana-businesses | Bipartisan Group of Senators Presses Federal Regulator for Clear Guidance on Banking Services for Vendors Working with Legal Marijuana Businesses | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Bipartisan Group of Senators Presses Federal Regulator for Clear Guidance on Banking Services for Vendors Working with Legal Marijuana Businesses Landlords, chemists, security companies and more have had their bank accounts frozen for doing business with legal marijuana businesses Wednesday, December 14, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of Senators led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley pressed a key federal regulator to take further action to ensure that vendors working with legal marijuana businesses in states that have legalized recreational or medicinal marijuana do not have their banking services taken away. In states that have legalized recreational or medicinal marijuana, conflicting federal policies have led most financial institutions to deny banking services to legal marijuana businesses, creating huge logistical and safety problems for communities across the country. In some cases, banks have even revoked services to businesses—for example, landlords and security companies—that contract to offer their services to legal marijuana businesses. With eight states having voted to allow or expand some form of legal marijuana usage this November, the problem is only set to grow. In a letter to the head of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Senators Merkley, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) wrote: “Most banks and credit unions have either closed accounts or simply refused to offer services to indirect and ancillary businesses that service the marijuana industry. A large number of professionals have been unable to access the financial system because they are doing business with marijuana growers and dispensaries. This long list of professionals includes chemists who have had their checking accounts closed due to their role in testing marijuana for the presence of harmful materials like arsenic; … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/va-applies-bipartisan-provision-to-enhance-va-medical-care | VA Applies Bipartisan Provision to Enhance VA Medical Care | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | VA Applies Bipartisan Provision to Enhance VA Medical Care New policy will improve staffing at Veterans Administration health clinics Wednesday, December 14, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today welcomed the news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will implement one of the key proposals from the bipartisan Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, sponsored by Merkley and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), helping to ensure veterans can get the care they need from Advance Practice Registered Nurses. The VA will now allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. This will help enable the VA to find enough medical professionals to fill the need for health care services for veterans. This is particularly important for primary care services in rural areas, where veterans struggle to find access to medical care. “After a lifetime of service to our nation, veterans deserve nothing but the best medical support. But unfortunately, all too many of our wounded warriors face significant hurdles to accessing the health care they need to thrive upon their return to civilian life,” said Senator Merkley. “In order to support our veterans to the best of their ability, our medical professionals must be able to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification. “When it comes to our veterans, there should be no holding back,” he continued. “I’m thrilled that the VA heeded our call to improve VA health care staffing today and will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for our veterans who have fought for us.” “Allowing these highly-qualified registered nurses to put their training to practice will help address delays at VA hospitals and clinics across the country,” said Durbin. “I commend Secretary McDonald and Under Secretary Shulkin for taking steps to remove barriers to health… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-group-of-senators-presses-federal-regulator-for-clear-guidance-on-banking-services-for-vendors-working-with-legal-marijuana-businesses | Bipartisan Group of Senators Presses Federal Regulator for Clear Guidance on Banking Services for Vendors Working with Legal Marijuana Businesses | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Landlords, chemists, security companies and more have had their bank accounts frozen for doing business with legal marijuana businesses Wednesday, December 14, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a bipartisan group of Senators led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley pressed a key federal regulator to take further action to ensure that vendors working with legal marijuana businesses in states that have legalized recreational or medicinal marijuana do not have their banking services taken away. In states that have legalized recreational or medicinal marijuana, conflicting federal policies have led most financial institutions to deny banking services to legal marijuana businesses, creating huge logistical and safety problems for communities across the country. In some cases, banks have even revoked services to businesses—for example, landlords and security companies—that contract to offer their services to legal marijuana businesses. With eight states having voted to allow or expand some form of legal marijuana usage this November, the problem is only set to grow. In a letter to the head of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Senators Merkley, Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Al Franken (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) wrote: “Most banks and credit unions have either closed accounts or simply refused to offer services to indirect and ancillary businesses that service the marijuana industry. A large number of professionals have been unable to access the financial system because they are doing business with marijuana growers and dispensaries. This long list of professionals includes chemists who have had their checking accounts closed due to their role in testing marijuana for the presence of harmful materials like arsenic; the security industry, which marijuana businesses heavily rely on due to the massive amounts of cash they handle; and lawyers … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-president-elects-nominee-for-secretary-of-energy | Wyden Statement on President-elect’s Nominee for Secretary of Energy | 2016-12-14 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 14, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Texas Gov. Rick Perry to lead the U.S. Department of Energy: “Gov. Rick Perry campaigned on a promise to eliminate the department he is now being nominated to run. I will be asking Gov. Perry how he plans to continue fulfilling the Energy Department’s crucial role in creating good-paying energy jobs – which include clean, renewable energy jobs – and how he will continue to pursue all types of energy production and development. “The person at the helm of the U.S. Department of Energy cannot simply shill for Big Oil and ignore the fact that part of protecting our country means facing head-on the very real challenge of climate change by working toward a low-carbon economy. “I will also be asking him about how he plans to address the dangerous and decades-long challenge of cleaning up toxic nuclear waste at the Hanford Reservation Site in Washington State, while meeting the department’s obligations to protect its workers and the citizens of the Pacific Northwest. Given that more than half of the Energy Department’s budget is devoted to our nuclear arsenal and cleanup, it’s important that the Secretary of Energy understands this highly technical area that is so vital to Americans’ security.” Wyden is the former chair of and a senior Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, where the Energy Secretary nomination hearing will be held. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-nominations-rex-tillerson-secretary-state-rick | Blumenauer Statement on Nominations of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, Rick Perry as Secretary of Energy | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Portland, OR – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) today condemned the nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State and expected nomination of former Governor of Texas Rick Perry as Secretary of Energy. Blumenauer released the following statement on the nomination of Tillerson as Secretary of State: “Donald Trump continues to stack his Cabinet with people out of touch with the American people. Rex Tillerson has a history of putting business interests above those of American families, and he has very questionable ‘friends.’ As Secretary of State, he would have huge conflicts of interest with his stakes in ExxonMobil. It’s also not entirely clear where he stands on many key U.S. foreign policy issues. It’s an outrageous choice, and we deserve better. “In light of the CIA assessment on Russian interference in our election in favor of Donald Trump, perhaps most concerning about this selection is Tillerson’s ties to Vladimir Putin. The Senate should not confirm him until we have a full accounting of Russian interference in the election.” Blumenauer released the following statement on the announcement that Perry will be nominated for Secretary of Energy: “This nomination is a farce – unless you consider a failed stint on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ a qualifier for being our nation’s lead nuclear scientist. Rick Perry in the past has promised to dismantle the Department of Energy – though, he couldn’t remember the agency’s name. He favors big oil over renewable energy and is a Board Member for the company pushing for the Dakota Access Pipeline. There are several more reasons for concern. The Senate has a responsibility to the American people to vote no on this confirmation. “ ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/columbia-river-cleanup-bill-passes-congress | Columbia River Cleanup Bill Passes Congress | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Columbia River Cleanup Bill Passes Congress Tuesday, December 13, 2016 By: Courtney Flatt Cleaning up and monitoring toxics in the Columbia River Basin could now be a little easier. Congress recently passed a bill that would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to start a voluntary grant program for environmental cleanup in the Columbia River system. The Columbia River Basin, which was named as a “large aquatic ecosystem” in 2006, was the only system of that sort that didn’t receive dedicated funding to reduce toxins. Others included Puget Sound, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley praised the Columbia River Restoration Act in an emailed statement. “Nobody wants to worry that the water they are drinking or fishing in or swimming in is tainted, but 8 million inhabitants of the Columbia River Basin have had their health, safety and environment endangered by toxins in the river. Now Congress is finally doing something about it,” Merkley. said. “This bill will provide a much needed boost to the health and economy of our beloved Columbia River.” Toxics in the river — like PCBs, mercury and pesticides — can build up in fish. That accumulation can then cause birth defects and other health issues for people who eat a lot of fish. A number of programs could benefit from grant funding, including hazardous and pharmaceutical collections and better toxics monitoring. “There is not any long-term monitoring done on most of the mainstem Columbia,” said Debrah Marriott, executive director of the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, which worked to get the bill passed. She said a lot of the pollution in the Columbia River Basin stems from undefined sources, like stormwater and agricultural runoff, known as nonpoint source pollution. Marriott said a lot of smaller projects are underway in the basin — this grant will help expand them. “It’s like most things — one or two is good, but when we start accumulating the impact of those, we’ll really… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/merkley-denounces-nomination-of-putins-buddy-rex-tillerson-for-secretary-of-state | Merkley denounces nomination of 'Putin's buddy' Rex Tillerson for secretary of state | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley denounces nomination of 'Putin's buddy' Rex Tillerson for secretary of state Tuesday, December 13, 2016 By: FOX 12 Staff SALEM, OR (KPTV) - Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon on Tuesday harshly criticized President-elect Donald Trump's selection of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson as nominee for secretary of state. If approved, Tillerson would be the first secretary of state in modern history without previous government experience, The Washington Post reported. “Donald Trump told us he would drain the swamp -- he just didn't tell us he would drain it directly into his own cabinet," Merkley said in a statement. Trump made his pick official on Tuesday, calling Tillerson "one of the truly great business leaders of the world." Merkley said Tillerson's role as chief executive of one of the biggest energy companies in the world makes him ill-suited for a seat at the table in international climate talks. “Exxon Mobil is not just any oil company. It is the largest fossil fuel company in the world, one that is under investigation in multiple states for misleading investors and waging a public misinformation campaign to cast doubt on climate change while Exxon's own scientists knew for decades the stark reality of the climate threat. As Secretary of State, Tillerson would be able to approve the Keystone pipeline and would be responsible for helping lead the global response to the urgent threat of climate change. An oilman has no business running international climate policy." Merkley went on to criticize Tillerson for his close ties to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, who gave the ExxonMobil CEO a government award after the company struck a major deal with a Russian company. “Additionally, Tillerson's close ties to Putin and the fact that he personally received Russia's ‘Order of Friendship’ for the oil deals he cut in the country are deeply worrisome. Every American should be able to agree that America should forcefully respond to any foreign power’s efforts to … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-on-tillerson-trump-told-us-he-was-going-to-drain-the-swamp_--he-didnt-tell-us-he-would-drain-it-directly-into-his-own-cabinet | Merkley on Tillerson: “Trump Told Us He Was Going to Drain the Swamp -- He Didn't Tell Us He Would Drain It Directly Into His Own Cabinet” | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley on Tillerson: “Trump Told Us He Was Going to Drain the Swamp -- He Didn't Tell Us He Would Drain It Directly Into His Own Cabinet” Tuesday, December 13, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Rex Tillerson, the CEO of Exxon Mobil, to be Secretary of State: “Donald Trump told us he would drain the swamp -- he just didn't tell us he would drain it directly into his own cabinet. “Exxon Mobil is not just any oil company. It is the largest fossil fuel company in the world, one that is under investigation in multiple states for misleading investors and waging a public misinformation campaign to cast doubt on climate change while Exxon's own scientists knew for decades the stark reality of the climate threat. As Secretary of State, Tillerson would be able to approve the Keystone pipeline and would be responsible for helping lead the global response to the urgent threat of climate change. An oilman has no business running international climate policy. “Additionally, Tillerson's close ties to Putin and the fact that he personally received Russia's ‘Order of Friendship’ for the oil deals he cut in the country are deeply worrisome. Every American should be able to agree that America should forcefully respond to any foreign power’s efforts to influence our elections. So it is deeply disturbing that Donald Trump would respond to Russia’s covert campaign to help elect Trump by appointing Vladimir Putin’s buddy to direct American foreign policy. With Russia invading its neighbors, threatening our allies, fueling the crisis in Syria, and hacking our own institutions, we need a diplomat ready to stand up to Russia. “Given that we now have a serial labor law violator nominated to run the Department of Labor and someone who has sued the EPA tapped for that agency, maybe the Exxon CEO running international climate negotiations makes some perverse sense in Trumpworld. But it doesn’t in reality.” … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-statement-russian-interference-election | Bonamici Statement on Russian Interference in Election | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC [12/12/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) released the following statement after the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) concluded that Russia interfered in the U.S. election:“The clear consensus among U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with our election is deeply troubling. I support the President’s demand for a full review of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election, and I join leaders from both parties who are calling for a bipartisan investigation into Russia’s efforts to influence our presidential election. America’s democracy is built upon free and fair elections. Any effort by a foreign nation to undermine our government is unacceptable and must be made known to the public.“The President-elect’s dismissive response to the findings of the intelligence community is also very alarming. Labeling the CIA’s assessment ‘ridiculous’ calls into question the future administration’s willingness and capacity to protect our government from foreign interference. A full, transparent investigation will help the American people understand the extent of foreign intrusion and allow us to take measures to prevent interference in the future.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/columbia-river-restoration-act-passes-house-and-senate | Columbia River Restoration Act Passes in House and Senate | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Legislation was included in water infrastructure package Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-4) announced that the Columbia River Restoration Act has passed in the House and the Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Nobody wants to worry that the water they are drinking or fishing in or swimming in is tainted, but 8 million inhabitants of the Columbia River Basin have had their health, safety and environment endangered by toxins in the river. Now Congress is finally doing something about it,” said Merkley. “This bill will provide a much needed boost to the health and economy of our beloved Columbia River. “Pacific Northwesterners count on the Columbia River as a vital economic resource and environmental treasure,” Wyden said. “Preserving and protecting the river is a must to ensure the river remains the clean and healthy lifeblood of our region.” “This is a significant win for our efforts to reduce pollution and improve the water quality of the Columbia River,” said Blumenauer. “We have a responsibility to protect this critical resource, and we’ll keep pushing to help restore this iconic river system. “The Columbia River is a powerful economic force in Oregon,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “The river carries goods to market, serves as a valuable source of energy, and provides salmon to tribal populations and others. We must reduce pollution and contamination of this critical resource. I am pleased the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act has passed Congress and is on its way to the President's desk. “The Columbia River is one of the most bountiful natural resources in Oregon, providing cultural, economic, and ecological benefits to many states,” said Representative DeFazio, Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and a lead negotiator on … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-provisions-help-rebuild-lost-housing-columbia-river | Congress Passes Provisions to Help Rebuild Lost Housing for Columbia River Tribe | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), announced that provisions to help fulfill long-unmet housing obligations to tribes along the Columbia River have passed both the House and Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), now the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. The bill will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Beginning in the 1930s, the construction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation. These Tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accustomed places. The Senators and Congressman have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at tribal fishing access sites constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) following construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping; however, in many cases tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. A Fact-Finding Review on Tribal Housing prepared by the Army Corps found that as many as 85 tribal families who lived on the banks of the Columbia River prior to construction of the Bonneville and The Dalles dams did not receive relocation assistance, despite the fact that several non-tribal communities inundated by dam construction did receive such assistance. “Leaving our tribes displaced without safe, reliable housing is simply wrong,” said Merkley. “Ever since the construction of the Columbia River unjustly displaced these tribes starting over 75 years ago, the federal governm… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/congress-passes-columbia-river-restoration-act | Congress passes Columbia River Restoration Act | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Congress passes Columbia River Restoration Act Monday, December 12, 2016 By: George Plaven Congress has passed a bill authorizing the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a competitive, voluntary grant program for environmental cleanup work in the Columbia River. The Columbia River Restoration Act was included as part of the federal Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which lawmakers approved Dec. 9. Grants could help pay for projects that improve water quality in the basin, reduce pollution or clean up contaminated sites. Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both Democrats, cheered the legislation, which was supported by a diverse group of environmental, tribal and industry groups. “Nobody wants to worry that the water they are drinking or fishing in or swimming in is tainted, but 8 million inhabitants of the Columbia River Basin have had their health, safety and environment endangered by toxins in the river,” Merkley said. “Now, Congress is finally doing something about it.” The Columbia River is the largest river in the Northwest, with a drainage basin roughly the size of France. It is historically the largest salmon-producing river system in the world, with annual returns peaking at around 16 million fish. However, the basin is the only large aquatic ecosystem in the U.S. that receives no dedicated funding to clean up and monitor toxic chemicals. The EPA has identified numerous toxins in the basin, including arsenic, lead, pesticides and flame retardants. High levels of pollutants can build up in the fatty tissue of fish and lamprey, which are consumed by people and can cause significant health problems and birth defects. “Preserving and protecting the river is a must to ensure the river remains the clean and healthy lifeblood of our region,” Wyden said. The program does not add any new EPA regulations. The bill was supported by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission — representing the Umatilla, Yakama, Warm Springs and Nez Perce t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-calls-for-preservation-distribution-and-declassification-of-torture-report | Wyden Calls for Preservation, Distribution and Declassification of Torture Report | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Naming the Report a Presidential Record Falls Far Short of What’s Needed; Keeps Report Off-Limits from Policymakers and the Public for More Than a Decade Monday, December 12, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today renewed his call for the president to preserve, distribute and declassify the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence’s Study of the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program. He said the president’s decision to establish the study as a presidential record falls far short of what’s necessary. “We’re going to start on the very first day of the new session building a bipartisan coalition to get the study declassified. The American people deserve the opportunity to read this history rather than see it locked away in a safe for twelve years. When the president-elect has promised to bring back torture, it is also more critical than ever that the study be made available to cleared personnel throughout the federal government who are responsible for authorizing and implementing our country’s detention and interrogation policies,” Wyden said. Wyden called on the president to establish the study as a federal record under the Federal Records Act and an agency record under the Freedom of Information Act, and to distribute the study among cleared personnel in the federal government. He also called on the president to direct that the study be declassified, with minimal redactions necessary to protect national security, so that it can be released to the public. “President Obama has made his opposition to torture a central part of his legacy, from the Executive Order he signed shortly after he took office, to the speech he gave last Tuesday in which he spoke passionately about how our strength as a nation lies in upholding our values and adhering to the rule of law. But this legacy – and our legacy as a nation - rests in the balance,” Wyden said. Senator Wyden also criticized the administration’s efforts to prevent the study from being subject to the Freedo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-cia-assessment-russian-interference-2016-election | Blumenauer Statement on CIA Assessment of Russian Interference in 2016 Election | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) released the following statement: “Foreign intervention in the U.S. election is something that all Americans — Republican, Democrat or non-affiliated voters — should be deeply concerned about. “I echo Representatives Swalwell and Cumming's call for a bipartisan and independent commission to investigate foreign interference in the election. I’m also calling on House and Senate leadership to hold investigative hearings on this issue. We need to figure out how this happened so that we can protect our democracy. “Democrats may be in the minority in Congress, but we represent the majority of Americans. The more noise we make, the better chance there is that this happens.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/columbia-river-tribes-one-step-away-from-housing-at-bonneville-dam-after-us-senate-approves-bill | Columbia River tribes one step away from housing at Bonneville Dam after U.S. Senate approves bill | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Columbia River tribes one step away from housing at Bonneville Dam after U.S. Senate approves bill Saturday, December 10, 2016 By: Molly Harbarger Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senators-wyden-and-merkley-urging-leadership-to-renew-srs-payments-to-counties | Senators Wyden and Merkley Urging Leadership to Renew SRS Payments to Counties | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senators Wyden and Merkley Urging Leadership to Renew SRS Payments to Counties Saturday, December 10, 2016 By: Chuck Benson US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have urged their colleagues to keep the government's promise to rural communities in Oregon, 40 other states and Puerto Rico by passing legislation that would provide vital funding for schools, law enforcement and essential road repairs.Since payments through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act expired last year, Wyden and Merkley have been working to reauthorize the program to ensure that counties like Josephine will receive a payment next spring that gives them certainty for funding critical county services.But congressional leaders blocked their efforts, citing the contention that increased timber management could somehow replace the SRS payments. In doing so, they ignored estimates from the Forest Service concluding that logging on public lands would have to increase by 400% in order for timber revenues to match what counties have received in SRS investments.Wyden and Merkley recently sought to extend this vital program by including it in the end-of-the-year must-pass bill to fund the US government. But because of congressional leadership's inaction, the payments counties received last spring will be their last until leadership agrees to extend these crucial programs.Last year's SRS funds were paid to counties in March 2016 and included payments from the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. In Oregon, 33 counties received a total of $95 million in SRS payments this year. Over its lifetime, the program has brought almost $4 billion to Oregon's timber counties. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/columbia-river-restoration-act-passes-in-house-and-senate | Columbia River Restoration Act Passes in House and Senate | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Columbia River Restoration Act Passes in House and Senate Legislation was included in water infrastructure package Saturday, December 10, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-4) announced that the Columbia River Restoration Act has passed in the House and the Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “Nobody wants to worry that the water they are drinking or fishing in or swimming in is tainted, but 8 million inhabitants of the Columbia River Basin have had their health, safety and environment endangered by toxins in the river. Now Congress is finally doing something about it,” said Merkley. “This bill will provide a much needed boost to the health and economy of our beloved Columbia River.” “Pacific Northwesterners count on the Columbia River as a vital economic resource and environmental treasure,” Wyden said. “Preserving and protecting the river is a must to ensure the river remains the clean and healthy lifeblood of our region.” “This is a significant win for our efforts to reduce pollution and improve the water quality of the Columbia River,” said Blumenauer. “We have a responsibility to protect this critical resource, and we’ll keep pushing to help restore this iconic river system.” “The Columbia River is a powerful economic force in Oregon,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “The river carries goods to market, serves as a valuable source of energy, and provides salmon to tribal populations and others. We must reduce pollution and contamination of this critical resource. I am pleased the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act has passed Congress and is on its way to the President's desk.” “The Columbia River is one of the most bountiful natural resources in Oregon, providing cultural, economic, and ecological benefits to many states,” said Repre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/congress-passes-provisions-to-help-rebuild-lost-housing-for-columbia-river-tribes | Congress Passes Provisions to Help Rebuild Lost Housing for Columbia River Tribes | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Congress Passes Provisions to Help Rebuild Lost Housing for Columbia River Tribes Saturday, December 10, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), as well as Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), announced that provisions to help fulfill long-unmet housing obligations to tribes along the Columbia River have passed both the House and Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), now the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. The bill will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Beginning in the 1930s, the construction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Indian Nation of the Yakama Reservation. These Tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accustomed places. The Senators and Congressman have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at tribal fishing access sites constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) following construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping; however, in many cases tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. A Fact-Finding Review on Tribal Housing prepared by the Army Corps found that as many as 85 tribal families who lived on the banks of the Columbia River prior to construction of the Bonneville and The Dalles dams did not receive relocation assistance, despite the fact that several non-tribal communities inundated by dam construction did receive such assistance. “Leaving our tribes displaced without safe, reliable housing is simply wrong,” said Merkley. “Ever … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/job-creating-water-infrastructure-bill-passes-congress | Job-Creating Water Infrastructure Bill Passes Congress | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Job-Creating Water Infrastructure Bill Passes Congress Merkley, Wyden Championed Key Provisions for Oregon Saturday, December 10, 2016 Washington, DC - Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the House and Senate have passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes key job creation and funding opportunities for Oregon communities. The legislation previously passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in April and the Senate in September; it will now be signed into law by the President. In particular, the Senators highlighted that the bill would make permanent a provision ensuring that small ports in Oregon and elsewhere receive funding from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF). The bill also helps channel $20 million in funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which Senator Merkley developed to help local communities finance safe drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects. The $20 million in initial funding could leverage over $200 million in low-interest loans for communities to finance safe drinking and wastewater infrastructure projects. “Water infrastructure is absolutely essential to our health and economy alike. Senator Wyden and I have been fighting for these Oregon water infrastructure wins, and I’m thrilled to see them included in the bill passed today,” said Merkley. “From keeping communities safe with modernized drinking water systems, to expanding economic opportunities and putting folks back to work with good-paying jobs, these projects will have a real impact across Oregon.” “Small ports serve as economic linchpins up and down the Oregon Coast, providing a terrific trifecta of benefits – crucial access for commercial and recreational fishing, safe harbor for ocean science and research vessels, and the nation’s gateway to the global economy,” Wyden said. “That’s why I am so glad this water bill includes stable, permanent funding for these ports that generate good-paying jobs and r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-efforts-trump-undermine-obama-climate-change-policy-will-not | Blumenauer: Efforts by Trump to Undermine Obama Climate Change Policy Will Not be Tolerated | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) released the following statement on a questionnaire sent by the Donald Trump Transition Team to Department of Energy employees on their climate change work: “This questionnaire is deeply troubling and begs the question of whether or not it’s intended to instill fear of retribution for those public servants who have done their duty in implementing the Obama Administration’s policies to address climate change. “If Donald Trump engages in an anti-science, highly partisan witch hunt to drive out hard working analysts and scientists who understand the risks of climate change, I will fight and do everything I can to protect their rights and voices. “From this questionnaire, to the nomination of climate-denier Scott Pruitt as head of the EPA, and to the various statements made by Trump and his advisors, all signs indicate that the Trump Administration plans to undermine President Obama’s critical work to combat climate change. This will not be tolerated. Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation, and none of Trump’s delusions will stop the seas from rising, and the earth from warming.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-decries-lack-of-secure-rural-schools-extension-in-continuing-resolution | Merkley Decries Lack of Secure Rural Schools Extension in Continuing Resolution | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Decries Lack of Secure Rural Schools Extension in Continuing Resolution Friday, December 9, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding his ‘no’ vote on the continuing resolution tonight: “With tonight’s congressional action—or lack thereof—a critical lifeline for rural Oregon will disappear. Since 2000, the Secure Rural Schools program has provided essential resources for rural Oregon counties to maintain schools, transportation and public safety. Without it, children’s education will suffer, roads will crumble, and lives will be put in danger as patrols are cut back drastically. “We need a long-term solution for Oregon’s timber counties, but we also need a bridge to get there. Congress’s failure to extend the Secure Rural Schools program before the end of this year fails our rural communities. That’s 100% unacceptable. “Unfortunately, this is not the only area in which Congress abdicated its responsibilities with this bill. Instead of investing in a year-long funding bill, Congress punted and is instead running our government on autopilot until the end of April. A full year-long bill would have averted the threat of a shutdown in early 2017 and would have made critical investments for both urban and rural Oregon. “Congress also failed to keep our promise to miners who are depending on the government to uphold the long-standing bargain on health insurance. With this bill, the miners will have no idea if they will be insured after April. “Finally, the Senate leadership has pre-emptively abandoned the Senate’s responsibility to thoroughly debate the highly extraordinary request by President-elect Trump that Congress change long-standing laws that maintain civilian control of our military. This issue deserves a full and extensive debate in broad daylight. The bill to change those laws won’t even be introduced until next year and yet Senate leadership slipped a provision into this legislation in the dead of night that stifles Senate debat… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-end-of-year-government-funding-bill | Wyden Statement on End-of-Year Government Funding Bill | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Announces ‘No’ Vote After Congressional Leaders Fail to Include Protections for Vulnerable Americans and Families of Mine Workers Friday, December 9, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today voted against the end-of-year, must-pass bill to fund the government because the bill leaves out essential reforms for vulnerable children in foster care and protections for the families of mine workers. “Republican leaders touted this as a clean extension of noncontroversial, already agreed-upon policies. Instead, Republicans are skipping town without extending tax policies that protect middle class homeowners and jobs and without reauthorizing aid for rural timber counties. They also leave behind some of the most vulnerable among us – children in foster care and certainty for the widows of miners and their families who would have been helped by widely supported bipartisan bills. “Furthermore, I strongly oppose the exemption to allow recently retired military officers to serve as Secretary of Defense. Congress has only exempted one Secretary of Defense from the legal requirement for military officers to spend time out of uniform. That one exemption happened in 1950, and it was controversial then too. That exemption explicitly recommended that no further exemptions should be given. The fact is, a Congress full of World War II veterans recognized the importance of having a civilian lead the Pentagon, and I urge my colleagues to heed their example.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-blasts-republican-leadership-for-jeopardizing-oregon-s-fishing | DeFazio Blasts Republican Leadership for Jeopardizing Oregons Fishing Industry and Coastal Economy | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Peter DeFazio | D000191 | defazio.house.gov | legacy | Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) blasted Republican leadership for sabotaging bipartisan legislation that would have created and sustained needed jobs and boosted economic growth in Oregon’s coastal communities. For months, DeFazio worked with a group of bipartisan negotiators to finalize the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA), now called the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), which authorizes funding for the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) navigation, flood control, and environmental restoration projects. This legislation would have directly benefitted Oregon’s ports. However, at the last minute, Republican leadership added a controversial California drought plan that will jeopardize Oregon’s fishing industry. The House passed the WIIN Act 360-61—DeFazio voted against the legislation. “For months, I worked with my Republican counterparts on a WRDA bill that would have strengthened coastal communities and our environment, and created and sustained thousands of jobs. Instead of passing that bipartisan bill, Republican leadership added a last-minute, 90-page poison pill that will allow California to divert scarce water from the Sacramento River Bay-Delta. Diverting water from this critical watershed risks a shutdown of the West Coast fishery, and thousands of good-paying jobs that depend on healthy fisheries. Despite the many victories that I was able to secure, including dedicated funding for small port dredging, I could not support this bill,” said DeFazio. This is the second time the Republican leadership have interfered with what had been a bipartisan agreement on this legislation. In September, Republican leaders stripped from the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 DeFazio’s provision to ensure that funds collected in the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund are only used for harbor maintenance—not for unrelated government spending. The additional investment from this provision would have created and sust… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-introduces-bill-to-enforce-president-elect-trump-s-promise | Rep. DeFazio Introduces Bill to Enforce President-Elect Trumps Promise to Drain the Swamp" | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Peter DeFazio | D000191 | defazio.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Peter DeFazio today introduced legislation that would codify a campaign promise made by President-Elect Trump to ban political appointees from profiting from their time in the Administration after they leave. The DRAIN the SWAMP Act (Deter Revolving-Door Appointments in Our Nation; Stop Washington Appointees from becoming Manipulative Petitioners), H.R. 6476, would require a five-year ban, barring anyone who serves as a political appointee from lobbying for five years after they leave the Executive Branch. The bill would also permanently bar any individual appointed to the Trump Administration from lobbying on behalf of a foreign government. “President-Elect Trump ran on the promise of ‘Draining the Swamp,’” said Rep. Peter DeFazio. “The American people elected him with the expectation that he would bring a new way of doing business to Washington. I am introducing legislation to hold him and the thousands of political appointees accountable to those high standards.” Although the President-Elect’s transition team announced an intended ban on appointees becoming lobbyists for five years after they leave the White House, there is no penalty for violating the provision unless it is codified by Congress. By law, current Administration appointees are barred from lobbying for two years after they leave the Executive Branch, with a penalty of up to one year in prison and/or a fine of $50,000. Under Rep. DeFazio’s bill, if either the five-year lobbying ban or lifetime ban on lobbying for foreign nations is violated, offenders face up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000. Rep. DeFazio will send the legislation to President-Elect Trump so he has an opportunity to endorse the bill ahead of its re-introduction in the 115th Congress. To watch Rep. DeFazio’s floor speech on the DRAIN the SWAMP Act, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-democrats-gear-up-to-fight-trumps-dangerous-epa-nominee | Senate Democrats gear up to fight Trump’s ‘dangerous’ EPA nominee | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senate Democrats gear up to fight Trump’s ‘dangerous’ EPA nominee Thursday, December 8, 2016 By: Natasha Geiling Moments after news broke that President-elect Donald Trump would be appointing Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt?—?a close friend of the fossil fuel industry and noted climate denier?—?as EPA administrator, Democratic legislators in Congress began voicing their ardent disapproval. “At a time when climate change is the great environmental threat to the entire planet, it is sad and dangerous that Mr. Trump has nominated Scott Pruitt to lead the EPA,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, (I-VT), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee that will hold hearings on Pruitt’s confirmation, said in a statement. “Mr. Pruitt’s record is not only that of being a climate change denier, but also someone who has worked closely with the fossil fuel industry to make this country more dependent, not less, on fossil fuels. The American people must demand leaders who are willing to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels. I will vigorously oppose this nomination.” Other staunch supporters of climate action on the Environment and Public Works committee issued similarly strongly-worded statements in opposition to Pruitt’s nomination. Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), said that “denying the science of climate change and carrying water for Big Oil and the fossil fuel industry make [Pruitt] unsuitable to lead the EPA,” adding that, like Sanders, he would “vigorously oppose Scott Pruitt’s nomination.” Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called Pruitt “a dangerous and unacceptable choice to lead the agency tasked with leading our climate efforts and protecting clean air and clean water for all Americans,” noting Pruitt’s history of climate denial and his penchant for suing the federal government to block environmental regulations like limits on mercury, arsenic, and carbon pollution. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) also hit Pruitt for his climate denial, and added that “Scott Pruitt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/wyden-merkley-fight-to-save-lifeline-for-rural-communities | Wyden, Merkley fight to save 'lifeline' for rural communities | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley fight to save 'lifeline' for rural communities Thursday, December 8, 2016 By: KTVZ.COM news sources WASHINGTON - Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., urged the Senate Thursday to keep the government’s promise to rural communities in Oregon, 40 other states and Puerto Rico by passing legislation that would provide vital funding for schools, law enforcement and essential road repairs. Since payments through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act expired last year, Wyden and Merkley have been working to reauthorize the program to ensure counties will receive a payment next spring that gives them certainty for funding critical county services in rural areas. But congressional leaders blocked their efforts, citing the contention that increased timber management could somehow replace the SRS payments. In doing so, the senators said, they ignored estimates from the Forest Service concluding that logging on public lands would have to increase by 400 percent in order for timber revenues to match what counties have received in SRS investments. “The notion that these investments in rural communities could be killed and replaced with logging alone is disconnected from reality,” Wyden said. “I will continue to pursue a comprehensive, reality-based approach to get these counties the funding they have long relied on. “That comprehensive approach includes creating jobs in the woods through responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction and sustainable biomass production, increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, boosting renewable energy jobs, and promoting our state’s growing agricultural diversity, from raspberries to industrial hemp, all while protecting clean air and clean water for all Oregonians.” “We need to honor the promise to these counties. We need to address the Secure Rural Schools program that provides a strong foundation and a strong commitment to the promise made to rural forested counties,” said Merkley. “We need to act, an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-senate-to-extend-critical-lifeline-for-rural-communities | Wyden, Merkley Urge Senate to Extend Critical Lifeline for Rural Communities | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley Urge Senate to Extend Critical Lifeline for Rural Communities Thursday, December 8, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley urged the Senate to keep the government’s promise to rural communities in Oregon, 40 other states and Puerto Rico by passing legislation that would provide vital funding for schools, law enforcement and essential road repairs. Since payments through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act expired last year, Wyden and Merkley have been working to reauthorize the program to ensure counties will receive a payment next spring that gives them certainty for funding critical county services in rural areas. But congressional leaders blocked their efforts, citing the contention that increased timber management could somehow replace the SRS payments. In doing so they ignored estimates from the Forest Service concluding that logging on public lands would have to increase by 400 percent in order for timber revenues to match what counties have received in SRS investments. “The notion that these investments in rural communities could be killed and replaced with logging alone is disconnected from reality,” Wyden said. “I will continue to pursue a comprehensive, reality-based approach to get these counties the funding they have long relied on. That comprehensive approach includes creating jobs in the woods through responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction and sustainable biomass production, increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, boosting renewable energy jobs, and promoting our state’s growing agricultural diversity, from raspberries to industrial hemp, all while protecting clean air and clean water for all Oregonians.” “We need to honor the promise to these counties. We need to address the Secure Rural Schools program that provides a strong foundation and a strong commitment to the promise made to rural forested counties,” said Merkley. “We need to act, and we need to act now.” Over the last two years, R… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/keeping-our-promise-to-rural-america | Keeping Our Promise to Rural America | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate floor today to discuss the need to honor the contract the federal government made with Oregon’s rural communities by extending the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Community Self-Determination Act. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-urge-president-elect-trump-to-live-up-to-campaign-promises-and-clarify-whether-he-opposes-cuts-to-medicare-and-medicaid | Senators Urge President-Elect Trump to Live Up to Campaign Promises and Clarify Whether He Opposes Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, December 8, 2016 Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) andalong with 19 fellow senators, today sent a letter calling on President-Elect Donald Trump to remind him of his campaign promises to reject cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and to ask that he clarify whether he still intends to do so. The letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Robert P. Casey (D-Pa.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). "During your campaign for President of the United States, you differentiated yourself from your 16 primary opponents by noting that you were the only Republican who would protect Medicare and Medicaid," the senators wrote. "After winning the election, you suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs." The letter continues, "Over one hundred million Americans rely on these programs for health care. Low-income children and families and people with disabilities are the primary beneficiaries of Medicaid. Millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities have earned and rely on their Medicare benefits. Medicaid is the only assistance available to millions of low and middle-income families who have a loved one requiring nursing home care. As you noted when you extolled their benefits on your campaign website, cutting these programs would be devastating." The senators' letter draws attention to differences between the President-Elect's statements during the campaign, which were highlighted on his campaign website, and statements that are now pos… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-senate-to-extend-critical-lifeline-for-rural-communities | Wyden, Merkley Urge Senate to Extend Critical Lifeline for Rural Communities | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, December 8, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley urged the Senate to keep the government’s promise to rural communities in Oregon, 40 other states and Puerto Rico by passing legislation that would provide vital funding for schools, law enforcement and essential road repairs. Since payments through the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Act expired last year, Wyden and Merkley have been working to reauthorize the program to ensure counties will receive a payment next spring that gives them certainty for funding critical county services in rural areas. But congressional leaders blocked their efforts, citing the contention that increased timber management could somehow replace the SRS payments. In doing so they ignored estimates from the Forest Service concluding that logging on public lands would have to increase by 400 percent in order for timber revenues to match what counties have received in SRS investments. “The notion that these investments in rural communities could be killed and replaced with logging alone is disconnected from reality,” Wyden said. “I will continue to pursue a comprehensive, reality-based approach to get these counties the funding they have long relied on. That comprehensive approach includes creating jobs in the woods through responsible forest management, including hazardous fuels reduction and sustainable biomass production, increasing outdoor recreation opportunities, boosting renewable energy jobs, and promoting our state’s growing agricultural diversity, from raspberries to industrial hemp, all while protecting clean air and clean water for all Oregonians.” “We need to honor the promise to these counties. We need to address the Secure Rural Schools program that provides a strong foundation and a strong commitment to the promise made to rural forested counties,” said Merkley. “We need to act, and we need to act now.” Over the last two years, Republican leaders have blocked the senators’ numerous bipartisan bills… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-statement-nomination-scott-pruitt-epa-administrator | Bonamici Statement on Nomination of Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC [12/07/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), the top Democrat on the House Science Committee’s Environment Subcommittee, released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump selected Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his nominee for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency:“Scott Pruitt’s close ties with fossil fuel companies are deeply concerning for a nominee who will direct the agency tasked with protecting the environment and combatting climate change. As Oklahoma’s Attorney General, Mr. Pruitt led a legal battle against President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, a plan that builds on the efforts of states like Oregon to create a unified, national approach to our biggest environmental challenge—climate change. The Clean Power Plan represents an opportunity for American ingenuity that will allow us to benefit from the needed transition to a low-carbon economy. Many businesses in Oregon have stepped up and demonstrated their support to address climate change. Nike, Genentech, Intel, Lam Research, and Portland General Electric are among the more than 150 companies nationwide that have signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. Environmental protection, economic development, and job creation can go hand in hand, but instead of finding ways to invest in the development of renewable and sustainable resources, Mr. Pruitt continues to support fossil fuel industries.“As the top Democrat on the Science Committee’s Environment Subcommittee, I take my responsibility seriously to protect the environment and address the effects of climate change. The EPA Administrator should be working to implement the historic Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions worldwide. Additionally, the EPA stands as a strong defense for the clean air, water, and planet we all need to live healthy, productive lives.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/wyden-merkley-urge-trump-dont-cut-medicare-medicaid | Wyden, Merkley urge Trump: Don't cut Medicare, Medicaid | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley urge Trump: Don't cut Medicare, Medicaid Wednesday, December 7, 2016 By: Barney Lerten A total of 21 Democrat U.S. senators, including Oregon’s Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, sent a letter Wednesday to President-elect Donald Trump to remind him of his campaign promises to reject cuts to Medicare and Medicaid and to ask that he clarify whether he still intends to do so. The letter was signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.,) Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Robert P. Casey (D-Pa.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii). "During your campaign for President of the United States, you differentiated yourself from your 16 primary opponents by noting that you were the only Republican who would protect Medicare and Medicaid," the senators wrote. "After winning the election, you suddenly appear to be using language supporting policies that would gut the Medicare and Medicaid programs." The letter continues, "Over one hundred million Americans rely on these programs for health care. Low-income children and families and people with disabilities are the primary beneficiaries of Medicaid. Millions of seniors and individuals with disabilities have earned and rely on their Medicare benefits. Medicaid is the only assistance available to millions of low and middle-income families who have a loved one requiring nursing home care. As you noted when you extolled their benefits on your campaign website, cutting these programs would be devastating." The senators' letter draws attention to differences between the President-Elect's statements during the campaign, which were highligh… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-trumps-nomination-of-scott-pruitt-to-head-the-epa | Merkley Statement on Trump’s Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Head the EPA | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Trump’s Nomination of Scott Pruitt to Head the EPA “Under Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency would become the ‘Polluter Protection Agency’” Wednesday, December 7, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “Once again, Donald Trump has picked a special-interest advocate to run an executive agency. Scott Pruitt has spent his career fighting to protect fossil fuel polluters rather than the public interest. As Oklahoma Attorney General, Pruitt was caught red-handed taking arguments virtually word-for-word from fossil fuel lobbyists and putting them on his official letterhead as the position of the State of Oklahoma. Under Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency would become the ‘Polluter Protection Agency.’ “Pruitt has questioned the reality of climate change and sued the federal government to block action on the mercury, arsenic, and carbon pollution that poisons our communities and children. Instead of protecting our families’ right to clean air and water, Pruitt has demonstrated time and again that his main interest is protecting polluters. He is a dangerous and unacceptable choice to lead the agency tasked with leading our climate efforts and protecting clean air and clean water for all Americans.” Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-markey-and-merkley-lead-effort-calling-for-100-clean-and-renewable-energy-by-2050 | Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Effort Calling for 100% Clean and Renewable Energy by 2050 | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Effort Calling for 100% Clean and Renewable Energy by 2050 Transition to clean and renewable energy will help combat climate change, support continued job creation gains Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Washington (December 7, 2016) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oreg.) today introduced a Senate resolution calling for generating 100 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States from clean and renewable energy resources by 2050. The resolution points to the enormous job creation potential of transitioning to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and geothermal, particularly in communities with high rates of unemployment or underemployment. There are currently 310,000 individuals in the United States employed in the solar industry and 88,000 in the wind industry. The United States is projected to add more electric generating capacity from solar and wind than from any other source in 2016. More than half of all new electricity capacity added in the world in 2015 was renewable “As a technological giant, the United States must continue to lead the clean energy revolution,” said Senator Markey. “The question is no longer if we can power our country with 100 percent renewable energy, it’s when and how we will make the transition. Moving to 100 percent clean energy will power job creation that is good for all creation. We can and will meet this goal and now, more than ever, it is critical that we stand up and fight for our clean energy future. I thank Senator Merkley for his partnership introducing this resolution that sets out the bold goal of generating 100 percent renewable energy by the year 2050.” “Today’s resolution sends a message loud and clear to our Senate colleagues: It’s time to get serious about our climate efforts with big, bold and rapid moves to accelerate the clean energy economy,” said Senator Merkley. “Transitioning to clean and renewable energy is not only the right thing to do for clean air and a strong econo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-praise-passage-of-their-siletz-and-grand-ronde-land-bills | Wyden, Merkley Praise Passage of Their Siletz and Grand Ronde Land Bills | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden, Merkley Praise Passage of Their Siletz and Grand Ronde Land Bills Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today praised the passage of their two bills that would streamline the Bureau of Indian Affairs process for putting land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This week’s House approval of the two bills written by Wyden and Merkley follows Senate approval on July 14 and sends the legislation to the desk of President Obama. “These bills mark a significant step forward for tribal sovereignty and the right of the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes to grow their own economies and build up their own communities,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified to have worked with Senator Merkley to pass these two pieces of legislation that begin to honor long-ago promises made to the tribes.” “Too often in our history, we have not kept our promises to tribes in Oregon and across the nation,” Merkley said. “The passage of these bills is another milestone in the journey of righting these wrongs, and more fully empowering their sovereignty and self-determination.” “I'd like to thank Senators Wyden and Merkley, and Congressman Schrader, for their tireless work passing this legislation. The new law helps provide the Siletz Tribe a fair process to recover a small portion of our historic reservation,” said Dolores Pigsley, Siletz Tribal Chairman. "This legislation will enable the Tribe to more efficiently move the land it owns into reservation status, which is historically a very complex and time-consuming process," said Chairman Reyn Leno of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "The Tribe would like to thank Senators Merkley and Wyden and the Oregon delegation for their support in advancing this important piece of legislation." Print … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-asks-congress-to-pass-historic-bipartisan-bicameral-child-welfare-reform-bill | Wyden Asks Congress to Pass Historic Bipartisan, Bicameral Child Welfare Reform Bill | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wyden Votes Against 21st Century Cures Act After Republican Leaders Ripped the Provision out of Final Package Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today voted against the 21st Century Cures Act because Republican leaders stripped bipartisan, bicameral child welfare legislation out of the final bill. Wyden then asked for unanimous consent that the Senate pass the Family First Prevention Services Act, which has the support of almost 500 child welfare organizations across the country, including the Children’s Defense Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Catholic Bishops. The Family First Prevention Services Act would help combat the opioid addiction crisis, keep more children safely in their homes and reduce overreliance on foster care group homes. Wyden and Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, along with Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., and House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., introduced the Family First Prevention Services Act in June. The bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously on June 21. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., objected to Wyden’s request to pass the bill on the Senate floor. “Today the Senate squandered an opportunity to pass legislation that would have offered new hope for hundreds of thousands of America’s most vulnerable children and families. For close to three years, senators and Congress members have worked on bipartisan efforts to produce the Family First Prevention Services Act, so more kids can stay safely at home with their families and relatives. Nearly 500 health and public interest groups support this legislation. The House passed the Family First Prevention Services Act unanimously in June. “The Family First Prevention Services Act would implement the most significant improvements to the child welfare system in decades and provide real funding to fight the opioid and other drug epidemics. I am infuriated and heartbroken that … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-praise-passage-of-their-siletz-and-grand-ronde-land-bills | Wyden, Merkley Praise Passage of Their Siletz and Grand Ronde Land Bills | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today praised the passage of their two bills that would streamline the Bureau of Indian Affairs process for putting land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. This week’s House approval of the two bills written by Wyden and Merkley follows Senate approval on July 14 and sends the legislation to the desk of President Obama. “These bills mark a significant step forward for tribal sovereignty and the right of the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes to grow their own economies and build up their own communities,” Wyden said. “I’m gratified to have worked with Senator Merkley to pass these two pieces of legislation that begin to honor long-ago promises made to the tribes.” “Too often in our history, we have not kept our promises to tribes in Oregon and across the nation,” Merkley said. “The passage of these bills is another milestone in the journey of righting these wrongs, and more fully empowering their sovereignty and self-determination.” “I'd like to thank Senators Wyden and Merkley, and Congressman Schrader, for their tireless work passing this legislation. The new law helps provide the Siletz Tribe a fair process to recover a small portion of our historic reservation,” said Dolores Pigsley, Siletz Tribal Chairman. "This legislation will enable the Tribe to more efficiently move the land it owns into reservation status, which is historically a very complex and time-consuming process," said Chairman Reyn Leno of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "The Tribe would like to thank Senators Merkley and Wyden and the Oregon delegation for their support in advancing this important piece of legislation." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-defense-authorization-bill | Wyden Statement on Defense Authorization Bill | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 7, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on his vote against the National Defense Authorization Act. “This bloated defense bill is exactly what Americans hate about politics as usual. It increases defense spending by billions at the same time Republicans insist we can’t afford to pay to repair our roads and bridges, support Oregon’s timber counties or fix wildfire funding. It breaks last year’s bipartisan budget deal. And once again, this bill does far too little to restore fiscal accountability at the Pentagon and ensure the Defense Department is audit-ready by next year, or ever,” Wyden said. I support fully funding the troops who keep our country safe, and ensuring that scandals like the one affecting National Guard bonuses don’t happen again.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390696 | Schrader Legislation to Benefit Siletz, Grand Ronde Tribes Passes the House | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed two bills introduced by Congressman Kurt Schrader and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley that will streamline the fee-to-trust process for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. The bills will provide considerable help to the two tribes in their continued efforts to restore land that was lost during federal policies of allotment and termination of tribal recognition in 1954.“For the past six years we’ve been working tirelessly to get these bills passed which will provide considerable help to the Siletz and Grand Ronde tribes as they work to restore their historic lands,” said Congressman Schrader. “The ability of the Tribes to reacquire the land they lost is critical to their self-determination efforts, which in turn will foster more immediate job creation for both Tribal members and the community at large. Streamlining this process will save the Tribes’ time and money which can be better utilized serving its membership and the community. I congratulate both the Siletz and Grand Ronde on this hard fought victory.”Currently, the process for previously terminated tribes to take land into trust is lengthy, expensive and cumbersome. The legislation passed today will deem any property located within the Siletz or Grand Ronde’s original reservation boundaries as “on-reservation” for the purpose of processing acquisitions of property into trust through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process. Once taken into trust, the land can then be deemed part of the Tribe’s reservation.Both the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz and Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde are represented by Congressman Kurt Schrader in Congress. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-names-experienced-policymaker-ray-baum-energy-and-commerce | Greg Walden names experienced policymaker Ray Baum as Energy and Commerce Committee Staff Director, thanks Gary Andres for his many years of dedicated service | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden names experienced policymaker Ray Baum as Energy and Commerce Committee Staff Director, thanks Gary Andres for his many years of dedicated service Baum brings deep experience as long-time Energy and Commerce staffer, state regulatory board chairman, Oregon House Majority Leader WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced today that Ray Baum will bring his decades-long experience in policy making back to Capitol Hill as Staff Director of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Last week, Walden was elected by his colleagues as Chairman of that Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over health care, energy, and telecommunications policy. Baum will replace Gary Andres. “Ray Baum is a gifted policy leader and a true pro who will bring nearly three decades of policy experience to the Committee’s top staff role. As a long-time Energy and Commerce staffer, state regulatory board chairman, and Oregon House Majority Leader, Ray has put into place common-sense policies to help consumers and grow jobs in America. We’re fortunate to have him on our team. “I’d like to thank outgoing Staff Director Gary Andres for his long record of dedicated service to the Committee. Gary is a remarkable leader who has done great work for the American people. I will continue to turn to him for advice, counsel, and friendship,” Walden said. Baum, a native of La Grande, Oregon, joined the staff of the Energy and Commerce Committee in 2011, serving as senior policy advisor and chief strategist on state initiatives, cybersecurity, telecommunications, and technology. Prior to that, he served as the Chairman of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, as well as the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Telecommunications Committee. He has chaired the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council, served as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and was state chair of the Federal–State Joint Board on Universal Service. Walden and Baum wer… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/a-democratic-senator-weighs-in-on-trumps-emerging-cabinet | A Democratic Senator Weighs In On Trump's Emerging Cabinet | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | A Democratic Senator Weighs In On Trump's Emerging Cabinet Tuesday, December 6, 2016 By: RACHEL MARTIN As Donald Trump's cabinet takes shape, Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, weighs in. He says he's "deeply concerned" about the choice of Ben Carson to leading Housing and Urban Development. RACHEL MARTIN, HOST: Now that President-elect Donald Trump has nominated some of his choices for cabinet positions, the Senate is going to start vetting them. And there are growing signs Senate Democrats are not planning to make that process an easy one for a number of Trump's picks. That includes yesterday's announcement of Dr. Ben Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Among those speaking out is Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon. He serves on the Senate Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. And he joins us in the studio now. Senator, thanks for coming in. JEFF MERKLEY: You're welcome. It's great to be with you. MARTIN: You say Dr. Ben Carson is not a good pick to lead HUD. Why not? MERKLEY: Well, it's very disappointing because the challenge we have in affordable housing is central to the quality of life of millions of Americans. And so you want someone to lead a very complex set of housing programs, who has a history in those programs, who understands them, who might be able to improve how they're administered. But in this case, Ben Carson is somebody who has absolutely no background in this area, who has cast doubt on the need to address discrimination in housing, who didn't particularly address this during his presidential campaign and said, when it came to Health and Human Services, he didn't have the experience to run a large organization. And certainly this is a large organization in the housing world. MARTIN: We spoke with one of his close advisers and friends yesterday who said he wanted to clarify, saying, you know, Dr. Carson was - was reticent at first, but he said after being urged by Donald Trump to take the job, he decided that he w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/the-keys-of-our-government-cannot-be-returned-to-wall-street-profiteers | The Keys of our Government Cannot Be Returned to Wall Street Profiteers | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate Floor today to highlight serious concerns with Trump’s appointment for Treasury Secretary: former Goldman Sachs Executive and “Foreclosure Machine” CEO Steve Mnuchin, who has said that one of his top priorities will be rolling back Wall Street reform. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-call-on-government-accountability-office-to-study-impacts-of-genetically-modified-foods-on-hunger-pesticide-use- | Wyden, Merkley Call on Government Accountability Office to Study Impacts of Genetically Modified Foods on Hunger, Pesticide Use | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Following New York Times Investigation into GMO Foods, Senators Ask if They are Adequately Addressing Food Needs Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley in a letter today called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study whether genetically modified foods are reducing hunger and the use of pesticides in the United States and worldwide. The senators asked the GAO to study the use of genetically modified (GMO) crops in the United States after a New York Times investigation raised questions about whether the use of GMO crops increased overall crop yields and decreased the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, as advocates claimed they would. “We are concerned about the findings of the NYT analysis, and ask that the GAO conduct its own study into the use of genetically modified crops in the United States, specifically whether the use of genetically modified crops has increased overall crop yields and whether the use of genetically modified crops has impacted the overall use of chemical pesticides and herbicides,” the senators wrote in the letter. The article references reports that found little evidence that GMO crops have increased yields any more than non-GMO crops. It also states that while the use of pesticides – the chemicals used to get rid of insects – in the U.S. has fallen, the use of herbicides – the chemicals used to get rid of weeds - has gone up. The senators also wrote, “The goal to feed more of the world’s hungry is a necessary and laudable goal. One that we have actively supported for our entire careers. But if that goal is not actually being met, and if we are putting ourselves and the environment at greater risk by using GMOs, then we should take a closer look at the appropriate use of GMO technology.” A signed copy of today's letter is attached and available here. Read the New York Times story here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sen-jeff-merkley-on-republicans-efforts-to-repeal-and-delay | Sen. Jeff Merkley on Republicans' efforts to repeal and delay | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Sen. Jeff Merkley on Republicans' efforts to repeal and delay Monday, December 5, 2016 By: Elizabeth Hayes Sen. Jeff Merkley, the junior Democrat from Oregon, takes a dim view of his Republican colleagues' strategy to immediately repeal the Affordable Care Act — but delay the effective date. Republicans don't want the "the millions hurt by repeal to be hurt before the next election, so they push it beyond that," Merkley said in a sit-down interview with the Business Journal at his Washington, D.C. Senate office. "That way, they can fulfill their promise to their base, but not actually do it for several years, so they don’t suffer a big backlash in the next election. When people are afraid of how citizens will react, it tells you millions of people will be hurt." President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly promised to repeal Obamacare, something Republicans in Congress tried dozens of times to no avail with President Obama in office. Now Republicans plan to proceed shortly after inauguration day, using budget reconciliation. That way, they could revoke parts of the health law with a simple majority, thus avoiding a Senate filibuster. More than 20 million Americans have gained coverage under the ACA, mostly through the Medicaid expansion and the rest through the health exchanges. In Oregon, more than 400,000 people were added to the Medicaid roles, while another 135,000 signed up for commercial plans via the exchange. The uninsured rate dropped to about 5 percent from 14 percent before the ACA, making Oregon “one of the most successful states in the country,” Merkley noted. Still, the law has experienced major bumps, as private insurers have exited the health exchanges, in Oregon and around the country, and rates have increased by double digits. Premium tax credits, however, have insulated most consumers who buy their own insurance, including 95,000 Oregonians. Merkley worries that if Congress passes a repeal early next year but it doesn’t take effect for three years,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-joins-senators-in-introducing-bill-to-give-wells-fargo-victims-their-day-in-court | Merkley Joins Senators in Introducing Bill to Give Wells Fargo Victims Their Day in Court | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Joins Senators in Introducing Bill to Give Wells Fargo Victims Their Day in Court Bill Would Prevent Wells Fargo from Using Forced Arbitration Clauses in Real Accounts to Block Customers from Suing over Fraudulent Ones Monday, December 5, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he has joined 14 of his colleagues to introduce legislation, the Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016, to give Wells Fargo customers who were victims of a fraudulent account scheme their day in court. Wells Fargo is using the forced arbitration clauses it tucked away in the fine print of contracts customers signed when they opened legitimate accounts to prevent the Wells Fargo customers with fraudulently-opened accounts who were harmed from joining together and taking Wells Fargo to court. “What Wells Fargo did was outrageous,” said Merkley. “Opening millions of fraudulent accounts was a jaw-dropping betrayal of their customers’ trust, and one that had a real cost for many consumers. Whether it’s fraudulent fees or a falsely-damaged credit score, consumers should have every recourse when it comes to these violations—especially since customers never actually agreed to these contracts for accounts that were created without their knowledge. Wells Fargo should not be able to hide behind fine print and technicalities to escape their day in court.” Forced arbitration clauses can prevent everyday consumers from taking companies to court for legal relief, and instead put victims of wrongdoing at a disadvantage by forcing their claims to go through an arbitration process. This arbitration process is often stacked against them, since the arbitration is typically provided by private firms who are paid by the companies accused of wrongdoing. The Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016 would work hand-in-hand with a new oversight rule that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put out in May to strengthen protections for consumers. Whereas the CFPB proposal would apply t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-carson-hud-nomination | Merkley Statement on Carson HUD Nomination | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Carson HUD Nomination Monday, December 5, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President-Elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Dr. Ben Carson to be the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): “Ben Carson has given me plenty of reasons to question his judgment, and I’m curious to hear why he and the new Administration think he is qualified to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. “Carson has previously taken himself out of the running for a cabinet position due to his lack of political experience. He has no professional experience in either government or housing policy. And his campaign website when he ran for President didn’t even mention HUD. “I am also deeply concerned that the incoming Administration has proposed someone who believes ‘poverty is really more of a choice than anything else’ to lead American urban development. We need policies coming out of HUD that reflect the needs of people struggling to find affordable housing in supercharged housing markets like Portland’s. Telling people that their lack of means is their own problem is not a solution. “It looks like we will have plenty to discuss at Dr. Carson’s hearing.” Merkley sits on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, which will consider Carson’s nomination. Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-welcomes-decision-army-corps-deny-easements-dakota-access | Blumenauer Welcomes Decision by Army Corps to Deny Easements for Dakota Access Pipeline | 2016-12-04 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) released the following statement: “I'm encouraged by the Administration's decision today to not grant the easements needed for the Dakota Access Pipeline and to explore different routes. “Given the scale of the project and its environmental and other risks, this should have happened sooner. I was disappointed with the failure of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to properly engage and consult with tribal governments, and to fully examine the potential environmental impacts of the routing of the pipeline. I was also distressed at the actions by law enforcement and what appeared to me and many others as excessive and unnecessary force used against the protestors. “For many people, this protest has come to represent more than a decision over constructing a pipeline. It is a flashpoint after decades of mistreatment and misunderstanding. Re-routing the pipeline is a necessary first step in the right direction. Now we owe the parties here, and the generations to come, greater efforts to build relationships and more action toward righting the mistreatment and misunderstanding of the past.” As a member of the Congressional Native American Caucus, Blumenauer stood with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and called upon President Obama to engage in real, meaningful, government-to-government consultation and collaboration with tribal officials. He also joined with his colleagues in the House to urge the president to withdraw the permits for the pipeline, halt construction of the project in areas of federal jurisdiction, and conduct a comprehensive environmental review and transparent permitting process that includes public notice and participation. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-warns-policymakers-not-overstate-student-loan-costs-and-dismantle-protections | Bonamici Warns Policymakers Not to Overstate Student Loan Costs and Dismantle Protections for Struggling Student Loan Borrowers | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | Congresswoman Responds to Government Report, Calls for Improved Cost Estimates for Income-Driven Repayment Plans WASHINGTON, DC [12/02/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a member of the House Education Committee, released the following statement about the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finding that the U.S. Department of Education’s cost projections for income-driven repayment plans are unreliable.“The Government Accountability Office’s recent report on the federal government’s student loan program reveals that the Department of Education’s cost estimates are based on shaky methodologies,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “More accurate projections would contemplate borrowers’ income trajectories, consider the barriers to participating in income-driven repayment plans, and factor in the variation among the terms of repayment plans, all of which could shift estimates by billions of dollars.”The GAO’s report notes that the Department’s current cost estimates have doubled from previous projections, likely because of the increased participation in income-driven repayment plans. These plans permit student loan borrowers to make loan payments that are based on a percentage of their discretionary income. If borrowers have debt remaining after 20 or 25 years, it is forgiven. A separate program, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, forgives federal student loan debt after ten years of qualifying public service. The GAO’s examination concluded that the Department’s estimates may significantly exaggerate or undervalue actual costs.“I am concerned that many of the news stories and responses from members of Congress have narrowly focused on the cost of the estimated loan principal that may be forgiven in income-driven repayment plans,” Bonamici continued. “This limited focus overlooks the lower net costs of income-driven repayment plans, and it ignores the safety net these plans provide to people who, after decades, remain weighed down by student debt. Additionally, the Congressional Budget… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-calls-protection-dreame | Blumenauer Calls for Protection of DREAMers | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Yesterday evening on the House floor, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) called on Congress to do everything it can to protect DREAMers, those brought to the United States as children and registered in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “… The notion of sending these young people back who … came here as children – they didn’t have any choice. What four-year-old, three-year-old, two-year-old, or infant is making this perilous journey on their own? They were brought here. They were raised here. Many of these young people … have had amazing records of success. And, they took the United States government and its president at his word, and came forward and took a little bit of a risk because they wanted to be part of the fabric of this country,” Blumenauer said. “… I think it would be a tragedy if we were to punish people who took the president at his word, who put confidence in this Congress to unwind this unfortunate situation. I think it’s important that all of us add our voices, that we connect with the people at home who are desperate and apprehensive and vulnerable, and make sure the American public knows what’s at stake. Because if we add our voices, our examples, and engage, there’s no doubt in my mind that there will be enough public pressure to prevent a tragedy of immense proportions.” Blumenauer is also part of a group of House members calling on President Obama to provide retroactive and prospective pardon of categorical civil immigration violations for these young people granted DACA status. For many DREAMers, this could clear a path to legal status. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sizing-up-the-governments-new-fintech-plan | Sizing Up the Government’s New Fintech Plan | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Sizing Up the Government’s New Fintech Plan Friday, December 2, 2016 By: PETER RUDEGEAIR AND TELIS DEMOS A proposal from a top U.S. banking regulator to allow financial-technology companies to apply for bank charters drew a range of reactions on Friday from industry executives, policy makers, attorneys and advocacy groups. Here are a few of the early takes on the proposal: Favorable/Positive · Ken Rees, chief executive of online lender Elevate Credit Inc., said that the new charter could enable innovation, but partnerships between a bank and a fintech company would still offer big opportunities to provide better financial services to consumers. “I don’t think fintech companies have to go it alone to get the advantages we want because banks do a lot of things really well and fintech companies do a lot of things really well [and] those things don’t necessarily overlap.” · Marla Blow, chief executive of FS Card Inc., a startup that offers subprime credit cards via a partnership a bank, said that she would “absolutely be taking a long hard look” at the new charters. Currently, only banks can issue debit cards that work with networks like Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. and pull money from checking accounts. Expanding that to fintech firms, she said, “would cause a lot of creative juices to start flowing. There are lots of possibilities for financial inclusion.” · Colin Walsh, CEO and co-founder of online banking startup Varo Money Inc., has said in the past that the firm would consider pursuing a bank charter. Of today’s announcement, he said it was “very good news,”and that “a national bank charter is a major stamp of approval and consumer trust. It ushers in a whole new opportunity.” Varo, which is building a mobile-banking app that uses artificial intelligence to offer financial advice, presently partners with a bank to provide deposit accounts. Varo is also seeking state lending licenses. · Brian Peters, head of the Financial Innovation Now, an industry group repre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-expresses-concern-that-occ-fintech-charter-plan-will-allow-lenders-to-sink-to-the-lowest-common-denominator | Merkley Expresses Concern that OCC FinTech Charter Plan Will Allow Lenders to “Sink to the Lowest Common Denominator” | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Expresses Concern that OCC FinTech Charter Plan Will Allow Lenders to “Sink to the Lowest Common Denominator” Friday, December 2, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) laid out plans to create a new national charter for financial technology, or “FinTech,” firms: "The emerging FinTech market has the potential for great innovation and expansion of opportunity. However, without proper safeguards, it will become a breeding ground for predatory practices that gouge consumers and small business owners and undermine the vast majority of entrepreneurs trying to operate responsibly. I am deeply concerned that the OCC’s plan to offer a national charter will weaken consumer protection standards in online lending and allow FinTech firms to sink to the lowest common denominator rather than abiding by stronger state laws, such as Oregon’s payday lending law. Innovation and consumer protection need not be mutually exclusive, and I will continue working with the OCC to make sure that they pursue both with equal vigor." Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-passage-landmark-medical-research-and-disease | Greg Walden applauds passage of landmark medical research and disease prevention bill | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | VIDEO RELEASE: Greg Walden applauds passage of landmark medical research and disease prevention bill The 21st Century Cures Act will help Americans live longer, healthier lives Click here or on the image above to watch Walden’s speech in support of the bill WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), a sweeping, bipartisan initiative cosponsored by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to bring hope to millions of Americans suffering from deadly diseases. “This really means a lot. This will make a difference in real people’s lives back home in our communities. And I’ve heard from those people, like Carol Fulkerson in Bend, who has MS. She’s ecstatic about this. She said ‘it’s a great step toward making it possible to find a cure to MS.’ Can you imagine what that means in a person’s life?” said Walden in support of the bill. “These are critical reforms and improvements on mental health and substance abuse programs, as we’ve heard. These changes will help people all across America, and certainly in Oregon.” Of the 10,000 known diseases in the world (7,000 of which are considered rare), there are treatments for only about 500 of them. Yet, the cost and time associated with conducting clinical trials are at all-time highs (it takes upwards of 15 years to bring a new drug to the market, and the cost of developing new drugs has doubled since the early 1980s). This bill would boost medical research and streamline the approval process for new treatments to help accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of cures. The 21st Century Cures Act also brings sweeping reforms to the treatment of drug addiction and mental illness, largely based off of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act (H.R. 2646), a separate bill Walden cosponsored that passed the House in July. Walden has held seven roundtable meetings with patients and health care professionals in southern, central, and eastern Oregon to solicit feedback. He spoke of input he received from commu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-selected-chairman-house-energy-and-commerce-committee | Greg Walden selected as Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden selected as Chairman of House Energy and Commerce Committee WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The House GOP Steering Committee today elected U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) to serve as the next Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Walden released the following statement: “I am deeply honored to earn the support of my colleagues to chair this incredibly important committee. Americans are looking for big improvements out of Washington, and that’s just what we’re going to give them as we work with the Trump Administration, the Senate, and the governors, to move forward on the Better Way agenda. Our work will focus on what’s best for consumers, on creating better paying jobs and providing patient-centered health care. “I commend my friends and fellow committee members, former Chairman Joe Barton and Subcommittee Chairman John Shimkus, for stepping forward to compete for this chairmanship. They are talented legislators and leaders to whom I will turn for help as we embark on our legislative work. I also want to thank outgoing Chairman Fred Upton who proved again yesterday with overwhelming passage of the 21st Century Cures legislation, that our committee does great, bipartisan work for the American people," said Walden. Walden said he and other committee chairs will not make subcommittee chairmanship decisions until after the Steering Committee finalizes committee rosters in early January. About the Energy and Commerce Committee As the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House, the Energy and Commerce Committee has broad jurisdiction. It has responsibility for the nation's telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce. Walden is the first Energy and Commerce Chairman from the Pacific Northwest. For a complete history of the committee, please click here. About Greg Walden Greg Walden represents the people of Oregon's Second Congressional District, which includes 20 … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/democrats-say-theyll-take-aim-at-trumps-treasury-pick | Democrats say they’ll take aim at Trump’s Treasury pick | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Democrats say they’ll take aim at Trump’s Treasury pick Thursday, December 1, 2016 By: Victoria McGrane WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump selected a former Goldman Sachs trader and Hollywood financier as secretary of the Treasury on Wednesday, handing Democrats a high-profile target to make the case that Trump is abandoning his populist campaign promises to clear out monied elites and make Washington work for the average Joe. Trump named Steven Mnuchin , 53, who reportedly made much of his $40 million net worth in his 17 years at Goldman, as his pick for the top economic policy post in his incoming administration. If confirmed, Mnuchin would be placed at the forefront of major Trump plans such as an ambitious overhaul of the tax code and a $1 trillion infrastructure spending blitz. As with his other Cabinet choices, the selection elevates one of Trump’s early supporters to a plum government role. Mnuchin served as the national finance chairman for Trump’s campaign, joining shortly after the president-elect clinched the Republican nomination in May. “Steve Mnuchin is a world-class financier, banker, and businessman, and has played a key role in developing our plan to build a dynamic, booming economy that will create millions of jobs,” Trump said. Bottom of Form Also Wednesday, Trump named billionaire investor Wilbur Ross, 79, an early financial backer of Trump’s campaign, to be his secretary of commerce. The choices further boost the rich, white, and largely male makeup of Trump’s emerging Cabinet. Democrats and their allies signaled they will make Mnuchin’s confirmation as turbulent as possible. Readying their line of attack, they seized on his role in the resurrection of a Southern California mortgage lending institution that failed during the 2008 financial crisis. As Mnuchin led the bank’s revival, it was the focus of complaints by consumer watchdogs that it engaged in unfair foreclosures and discriminatory lending practices. “Given Mr. Mnuchin’s his… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/merkley-fights-to-keep-consumer-bureau-independent | Merkley fights to keep consumer bureau independent | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley fights to keep consumer bureau independent Thursday, December 1, 2016 By: KTVZ.COM news sources WASHINGTON - Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., has joined an amicus brief of 20 current and former members of Congress supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s appeal of a judicial decision that threatens its independent structure. The brief was filed this week in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief was led by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the top Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, respectively. In addition to Merkley, they were joined by Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), former Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), former Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Merkley worked closely with his colleagues to craft the CFPB’s structure as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Merkley and his colleagues deliberately structured the CFPB as an independent agency headed by a Director, so that the agency would have the power, independence and efficiency to combat Wall Street abuses and not succumb to political sway of the day. Furthermore, under its current structure, the CFPB has returned more than $12 billion to consumers in just five years of existence. In an earlier decision by a three-member panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court struck down the Bureau’s independent structure by throwing out the provision that allows Presidents to only fire the Bureau’s Director for cause. This decision directly th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-joins-amicus-brief-in-fight-to-protect-consumer-bureaus-independence | Merkley Joins Amicus Brief in Fight to Protect Consumer Bureau’s Independence | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Joins Amicus Brief in Fight to Protect Consumer Bureau’s Independence Thursday, December 1, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined an amicus brief of 20 current and former Members of Congress supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) appeal of a judicial decision that threatens its independent structure. The brief was filed this week in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The brief was led by Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the top Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Banking Committee, respectively. In addition to Merkley, they were joined by Rep. Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), former Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), Rep. Al Green (D-TX), Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), former Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). As a member of the Senate Banking Committee, Merkley worked closely with his colleagues to craft the CFPB’s structure as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Merkley and his colleagues deliberately structured the CFPB as an independent agency headed by a Director, so that the agency would have the power, independence and efficiency to combat Wall Street abuses and not succumb to political sway of the day. Furthermore, under its current structure, the CFPB has returned more than $12 billion to consumers in just five years of existence. In an earlier decision by a three-member panel of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court struck down the Bureau’s independent structure by throwing out the provision that allows Presidents to only fire the Bureau’s Director for cause. This decision directly threatens the ability of the B… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/millions-of-americans-scrooged-this-holiday-season-without-overtime-pay | Millions of Americans Scrooged This Holiday Season Without Overtime Pay | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate Floor today about the millions of Americans who should have gotten a raise today through the new overtime rule, which has been held up by Republican legal efforts. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/restoring-the-voting-rights-act-to-save-our-democracy | Restoring the Voting Rights Act to Save Our Democracy | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate Floor today about the massive voter suppression efforts that made a real impact in cities and communities across our country during this election and the need to fully restore the Voting Rights Act to block these insidious efforts in future elections. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-wyden-merkley-call-on-justice-department-to-continue-rigorous-investigations-into-all-reported-hate-crimes- | Wyden, Merkley Call on Justice Department to Continue Rigorous Investigations into All Reported Hate Crimes | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, December 1, 2016 Washington, D.C. – In a letter to the Department of Justice, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley called on the department to continue investigating all instances of reported hate crimes in the United States and to prosecute perpetrators of such crimes. Wyden and Merkley specifically noted that reports of hate crimes against Muslims, Jews, African-Americans and LBGTQ individuals have risen nationwide over the last year, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The senators also mentioned a “disturbing level of animosity” against minority groups throughout the recent election cycle. “We write to express our deep concern about the harassment and intimidation of people in Oregon and across this country based on their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation and other personal characteristics. We urge you to continue to investigate all instances of such behavior and to hold perpetrators accountable for any illegal actions,” Wyden and Merkley wrote. The senators also wrote, “We will continue to fight for the rule of law in the U.S. Senate, regardless of who serves as Attorney General. We urge you to do all that you can to embolden the entire DOJ, particularly the FBI, to protect the public and ensure the fair administration of justice for all Americans.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-afghan-siv-program-provisions-2017-ndaa-conferenced | Blumenauer Statement on Afghan SIV Program Provisions in 2017 NDAA Conferenced Bill | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) released the following statement on the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) provisions in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report: “We’ve come a long way since we began this process earlier this year. Working with a bipartisan coalition in the House and Senate, we’ve fought to keep intact a program critical to those brave Afghan men and women who risked their lives, and those of their families, by helping the US mission on the ground. I am encouraged that this program will be extended through 2020, and that additional visas will be authorized. “Our work, however, is far from done to meet our obligations to these faithful allies. With an estimated backlog of nearly 10,000 applicants, and almost no visas left, we need more visas. We also need to ease these new eligibility requirements, so that all of those at risk because of their help can make it out of harm’s way. We will continue to pursue any and every opportunity we have to fight for this program.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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[has_text] INTEGER,
[collected_at] TEXT,
[updated_at] TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_date]
ON [releases] ([date]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_year]
ON [releases] ([year]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_party]
ON [releases] ([party]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_chamber]
ON [releases] ([chamber]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_state]
ON [releases] ([state]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_bioguide_id]
ON [releases] ([bioguide_id]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_has_text]
ON [releases] ([has_text]);