url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/big-beautiful-bill-provides-546-million-to-wallowa-memorial-hospital,Big Beautiful Bill Provides $5.46 Million to Wallowa Memorial Hospital,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Wallowa, OR – Wallowa Memorial Hospital announced Tuesday that it will receive $5.46 million in federal grants to modernize technology and enhance healthcare access. This $5.46 million comes from the Big Beautiful Bill’s provision that created the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative intended to transform and improve rural hospitals. Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) was the only member of Oregon’s congressional delegation to vote YES for the Big Beautiful Bill. Said Congressman Bentz: “I am very pleased that Wallowa Memorial Hospital was selected to receive this $5.46 million grant. This federal investment in Wallowa County means that county residents will be able to obtain high-quality medical assistance much more quickly and much more closely to home. This is exactly one of the many positive outcomes I hoped for when I voted for the Big Beautiful Bill.”",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-october-town-hall-meetings,Bonamici Announces October Town Hall Meetings,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [9/28/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced her fall town hall series with three meetings across the First Congressional District. Bonamici will answer questions from attendees and provide an update about her work in Congress. The town hall meetings will be in Beaverton, St. Helens, and Astoria. “Hearing from the people of NW Oregon is essential to my work in Congress,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I know many people are worried about the high cost of living, threats to our democracy, and more. I invite everyone to attend one of my town hall meetings to discuss their concerns and ask questions.” Members of Bonamici’s staff will be at the town hall meetings to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies, including the VA, Social Security Administration, immigration, and IRS. Beaverton Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, October 6th – 7 p.m. Arts & Communication Magnet Academy 11375 SW Center Street, Beaverton St. Helens Town Hall Meeting Wednesday, October 7th – 6 p.m. St. Helens Senior Center 375 S 15th Street, St. Helens Astoria Town Hall Meeting Saturday, October 17th – 1 p.m. To be announced For everyone’s safety and security, large bags and backpacks are not allowed at the town hall meeting. Small purses no larger than 4.5 by 6.5 inches are permitted. Attendees will not be allowed inside if they do not comply with these safety regulations. Doors will open an hour before each event. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-calls-review-epas-microplastics-monitoring-and-research,Bynum Calls for Review of EPA’s Microplastics Monitoring and Research,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers argue that to continue protecting Americans’ health, they need to understand what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what progress still needs to be made. They also emphasize the urgency of this review amid emerging research connecting microplastics to adverse health consequences and serious environmental risks. In the letter, the lawmakers write: “Even as the EPA's FY2023-FY2026 research plan approaches its conclusion, Congress lacks a clear assessment of what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what work remains necessary to support reliable monitoring, risk assessment and potential regulatory action.” Later in the letter, they write: “Addressing microplastic pollution is critical for protecting the health of Americans and safeguarding our waterways and ecosystems. Our constituents deserve to know what microplastic exposure means for their families’ health, and the requested information above will be critical in informing Congress’s work in tackling this challenge."" The letter was also signed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García (IL-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dave Min (CA-47), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18). In July, Rep. Bynum led a bicameral letter, urging the Environmental Protection Agency to add microplastics to the agency's recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). This letter urged the EPA to begin monitoring microplastics in America's drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects. Rep. Bynum also introduced the bicameral, bipartisan Microplastics Safety Act to require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct a study on the health impacts of microplastics in food, water, and other products. The new legislation is a critical step forward in better understanding the threat of microplastics to human health. Background Researchers at the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) define microplastics as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters to one nanometer. Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet, as well as in food, beverages, and animal and human tissue. When Environment Oregon sampled 30 of Oregon’s most iconic rivers, lakes, and urban waterways, they found microplastic fibers in 100% of the samples. The full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-meets-sandy-mayor-discuss-community-priorities,"Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Meets with Sandy Mayor to Discuss Community Priorities and Infrastructure Investments",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SANDY, OR – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) met with Sandy Mayor Kathleen Walker and city officials to discuss the community's infrastructure needs, explore local parks and visit a small business serving Sandy residents. During the visit, Dexter learned more about Sandy's investments in public parks, efforts to support local businesses and ongoing challenges with the city's wastewater treatment system. She was joined by Mayor Walker, City Manager Tyler Deems and Deputy City Manager Jeff Aprati. “Strong communities need reliable infrastructure, successful small businesses and public spaces where families can come together,” Congresswoman Dexter said. “Sandy is investing in its future, and I want to make sure the federal government is doing its part. I’m grateful to Mayor Walker and local leaders for sharing their priorities and showing me where federal investments can make a difference.” The visit included an opportunity to learn about improvements underway at Meinig Memorial Park and explore Cedar Park, Sandy's newest community park. Cedar Park features the Base Camp Action Sports Park, which offers year-round recreational opportunities, including skating, biking and other activities for residents of all ages. “We were excited to welcome Congresswoman Dexter to Sandy today to show her the work we’re doing to keep our community a great place to live,” Mayor Walker said. “From improving our parks to modernizing critical wastewater infrastructure, these projects are investments in Sandy’s future. We’re especially grateful for the Congresswoman's partnership in securing federal funding for our wastewater system upgrades, which helps reduce future utility rates for our residents. She understands how important infrastructure investments like these are for growing communities like Sandy.” Congresswoman Dexter also visited AntFarm Café & Bakery, a local business that serves as a community gathering space while supporting youth and family services, arts programming and educational opportunities. The Congresswoman has secured more than $1.8 million in proposed federal funding to help Sandy improve its wastewater system, including $1.09 million to plan a pipeline connecting Sandy to Gresham and $746,868 to repair aging wastewater pipes. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-bonamici-wyden-oregon-leaders-unlock-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-oregon-coast-project/,"Merkley, Bonamici, Wyden, Oregon Leaders Unlock $14 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Coast Project",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi announced that, thanks to their efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $14,567,624 in federal funds for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, featuring a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people. CMH had received an award for the expansion under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program—which provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities—but faced roadblocks to accessing the funding after the Trump Administration suspended the BRIC program in 2025. Following legal challenges and advocacy by Oregon lawmakers, CMH’s BRIC funding has finally been released. “You can’t wait for a disaster to happen to start preparing, and this funding finally moving forward will be transformative for disaster resiliency along the North Coast. Thanks to the partnership of state and local leaders, we held the Trump Administration accountable to deliver on the promise of this common-sense project to help Oregonians prepare for disasters and save lives,” said Senator Merkley. “I’ll keep pushing to get this project over the finish line and to deliver critical funding for disaster resiliency efforts in Oregon and communities across the country.” “This grant funding is long overdue for Columbia Memorial Hospital and everyone who lives on or visits the Oregon Coast,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “The BRIC grant for this lifesaving vertical evacuation structure should never have been jeopardized, and we’ve fought long and hard for it to be released. I look forward to celebrating the completion of this important project with the community in Astoria.” “Ensuring that Oregon’s coastal communities have access to health care in the wake of natural disasters is absolutely essential,” said Senator Wyden. “I am thankful we were able to get critical funding released for the Columbia Memorial Hospital after it was illegally withheld under the Trump administration’s draconian funding cuts that are putting Oregon families at risk. I’ll continue to pull out all the stops to ensure our state has the resources it needs to keep families safe.” “This award is a critical investment in the North Coast’s ability to be resilient in the face of disasters,” said Governor Kotek. “This project can now move forward with confidence in its completion, and the families on the North Coast will benefit from reliable health care access when they need it most. Thank you to our Congressional delegation and community leaders for your persistence to get this done.” “Disaster relief should have never been held up over partisan politics,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Oregonians’ safety is too important to play games with. That’s why we took immediate action to fight back and make sure this critically needed project will continue moving forward, providing peace of mind to the entire North Coast community.” “Natural disasters don’t care if you’re in a red state or a blue state – FEMA shouldn’t either. So when the Trump Administration went back on its word, I promised we’d keep fighting until Columbia Memorial got what it was owed. Today that fight paid off. This funding will help our community be ready when the ground shakes or the water rises,” said Representative Javadi. “We could not be more thrilled with the news that our BRIC grant funding has been restored! This $14 million grant completes our project budget and ensures that our community will receive a fully resilient, modern healthcare facility. The BRIC funds will help offset the cost of constructing a deep-pile foundation and a tsunami vertical evacuation structure capable of accommodating 1,900 people. The project will also locate critical infrastructure, generators, and the helipad on the roof of the new hospital—important features that will help ensure the facility can remain operational when our community needs it most. Our sincerest appreciation goes to Congresswoman Bonamici, Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Oregon Attorney General Rayfield, and all our state delegates for their unwavering support and tireless efforts to secure these funds. We are incredibly grateful,” said Erik Thorsen, Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Memorial Hospital. “Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Representative Bonamici, and Representative Bentz, this critical funding is returning to Clatsop County. This victory was made possible by a shared commitment from Governor Kotek, Attorney General Rayfield, Senator Weber, Representative Javadi, and the Oregon legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee. Above all, it is a direct result of our community keeping this project front and center. I want to thank my fellow Commissioners, County Manager Don Bohn, Sheriff Matt Phillips, and Emergency Management Director Justin Gibbs, and of course the leadership of CMH and CEO Erik Thorsen. This truly was a team effort that showcased the undeniable power of local, state, and federal collaboration,” said Mark Kujala, Chair of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-mcbath-brown-champion-legislation-to-improve-educational-outcomes-and-experiences/,"Merkley, McBath, Brown Champion Legislation to Improve Educational Outcomes and Experiences",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA-07) and Shontel Brown (D-OH-11) teamed up to reintroduce the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, bold legislation that would make investments to address overcrowded classrooms and set students up for success. Research shows students achieve better academic results with more individualized attention from instructors, especially in kindergarten through third grade. However, the continued strain on our public education system from staff shortages and tighter budgets has meant class sizes have continued to grow. Merkley, McBath, and Brown are making a bicameral push for better student outcomes with their legislation to boost funding for schools to reduce class sizes and increase individualized attention from instructors—improving the overall school experience for both students and educators. “Every student deserves the chance to learn, participate, and get the individual attention they need to thrive,” said Merkley. “Growing up as an Oregon public school student, I remember having around 20 children in my first-grade class. When I dropped my son off for his first day of school, his class had 34 children, and I wondered how his teacher could organize and teach such a large group. It’s time to make sure our schools have the resources they need to support educators and help every child receive a quality learning experience.” “Smaller class sizes help personalize education in ways that can fuel a child’s love of learning. When teachers have more opportunities for one-on-one time with their students, they can provide tailored instruction, individualized feedback, and the support each child needs to thrive,” said McBath. “I am deeply appreciative of Senator Merkley for his continued leadership on this important legislation and his advocacy for students and educators. Investments like these, which strengthen learning environments and support teacher well-being, are essential to improving educational outcomes and ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed.” “Smaller class sizes can help ensure that every child gets the time and attention they need to succeed. I am proud to join Congresswoman McBath and Senator Merkley in reintroducing the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act so that students get the support they need and educators are able to instruct every student. Importantly, this legislation provides school districts with an opportunity for federal funding to make smaller class sizes a reality,” said Brown. The Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act would establish a $2 billion competitive grant program to help school districts reduce K–3 class sizes in low-income public elementary schools to not more than 18 students per class. The grants could be used to recruit, hire, and support qualified teachers; obtain additional space or renovate school buildings; or provide professional development for teachers, among other purposes. The Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). The bill is also supported by the American Federation of Teachers, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Education Association, and National Parent Teacher Association. “Parents, students and educators all agree that overcrowded classrooms do not make a successful learning environment. Class size matters because it is directly linked to higher rates of student success: Students are more engaged and teachers can provide the individualized instruction students need and deserve. The Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, led by Sen. Jeff Merkley and Reps. Lucy McBath and Shontel Brown, helps all of America’s school districts reduce class size and is a vote of confidence in the future success of our nation’s public schools,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-slams-senate-republicans-for-rubberstamping-trump-arch/,Merkley Slams Senate Republicans for Rubberstamping Trump Arch,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked his bill to prevent the Trump Administration from using any federal funds for the planning and construction of the Trump Arch: “Trump’s Arch is a monument to his own ego—a waste of our taxpayer dollars. “This vanity project distorts our history while destroying historic views, disregards the Constitution’s separation of powers, disrupts the safety of planes in the sky and cars on the road in our nation’s capital, and disrespects the sacrifices of our veterans and their families. “The Trump Arch is a monumentally bad idea, and it is abundantly clear there is no authorization from Congress for this massive arch. I’ll keep fighting back against Trump’s efforts to use our tax dollars to fund his arch and to instead invest in the four foundations that families need to thrive—health care, housing, education, and good-paying jobs.” As the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the Interior Department and National Park Service, the agencies that manage many of our public lands in Washington, D.C., Merkley took to the Senate Floor in an attempt to pass the No Funds for Trump’s Illegal Arch Act, which would have blocked the Trump Arch. Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here. In addition to Merkley, the No Funds for Trump’s Illegal Arch Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Throughout Trump’s second term, Merkley has led the charge to hold the Administration accountable for its vanity projects and corruption—including putting Trump’s face on gold coins, park passes, a $250 bill, and the U.S. passport. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senate-blocks-merkley-murkowski-bill-to-prevent-trump-tearing-down-presidential-memorials/,"Senate Blocks Merkley, Murkowski Bill to Prevent Trump Tearing Down Presidential Memorials",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) blocked Merkley’s bipartisan bill with Alaska’s U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski to prohibit the demolition of any national memorial to honor a U.S. president—like the Kennedy Center—without an act of Congress: “Our congressionally authorized memorials to former presidents are a tribute to their accomplishments and service to our nation. Perhaps the greatest living memorial for a president is the Kennedy Center, in honor of our slain president who championed the arts. But now President Trump—without authorization from Congress—is trying to tear it down. First, he destroyed its programming, and now, he wants to destroy the building itself. All because the law says Trump can’t put his name on the building. “So today, I asked for unanimous consent on a one-page bipartisan bill with Senator Murkowski to defend this extraordinary institution, the Kennedy Center, saying no memorial to any president can be torn down without explicit authorization from Congress. Unfortunately, a colleague objected to this common-sense bill. “Trump’s threats are straight out of the authoritarian playbook and should infuriate every American who values our nation’s history and the rule of law. Instead of wasting taxpayer dollars putting Trump’s name on memorials and monuments as if he is a king, we should be focused on putting money back into the pockets of working families and honoring America’s greatest cultural institutions, not destroying them.” Merkley and Murkowski serve as the Ranking Member and Chair of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, respectively, which oversees funding for the Kennedy Center. Merkley took to the Senate Floor in an attempt to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, a one-page bill which would have blocked the demolition of any national memorial honoring a U.S. president—including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial—without an act of Congress. Full text of the bipartisan bill can be found by clicking here. In addition to Merkley and Murkowski, the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI). ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-impose-sanctions-of-israeli-settlement-construction/,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Sanctions would target settlement construction within the E1 area of the West Bank Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank. “Benjamin Netanyahu’s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,” Wyden said. “The United States must stand up against Netanyahu’s campaign of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians and sanction individuals and companies that are complicit in this unlawful action.” “In my visits to the West Bank, I’ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinians. The Netanyahu government, meanwhile, continues to rubberstamp this dangerous agenda, and these settlements in the West Bank are designed to destroy the possibility of a future Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the state of Israel,” said Merkley. “This is unacceptable, and our bill holds the Netanyahu government accountable for its illegal, reckless, and inhumane actions in the West Bank.” Last year, Israel approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced proposals to let companies bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials have publicly acknowledged the impact E1 settlement expansion could have on a two-state solution. Speaking at a ceremony shortly after his approval of the E1 plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated, “We said a Palestinian state will not be established – and indeed, a Palestinian state will not be established.” Following the initial announcement of the E1 settlements in August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly stated: “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not by slogans but by deeds. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.” The bill would impose sanctions on any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to have been responsible for or complicit in the construction of any Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements. In addition to Wyden, the legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Merkley, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jack Reed, D-R.I, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.. The full text of the bill is here. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-bonamici-wyden-oregon-leaders-unlock-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-oregon-coast-project,"Merkley, Bonamici, Wyden, Oregon Leaders Unlock $14 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Coast Project",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi announced that, thanks to their efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $14,567,624 in federal funds for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, featuring a vertical evacuation structure for 1,900 people. CMH had received an award for the expansion under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program—which provides grants for hazard mitigation planning and projects that reduce risks posed by natural hazards to communities—but faced roadblocks to accessing the funding after the Trump Administration suspended the BRIC program in 2025. Following legal challenges and advocacy by Oregon lawmakers, CMH’s BRIC funding has finally been released. “You can’t wait for a disaster to happen to start preparing, and this funding finally moving forward will be transformative for disaster resiliency along the North Coast. Thanks to the partnership of state and local leaders, we held the Trump Administration accountable to deliver on the promise of this common-sense project to help Oregonians prepare for disasters and save lives,” said Senator Merkley. “I’ll keep pushing to get this project over the finish line and to deliver critical funding for disaster resiliency efforts in Oregon and communities across the country.” “This grant funding is long overdue for Columbia Memorial Hospital and everyone who lives on or visits the Oregon Coast,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “The BRIC grant for this lifesaving vertical evacuation structure should never have been jeopardized, and we’ve fought long and hard for it to be released. I look forward to celebrating the completion of this important project with the community in Astoria.” “Ensuring that Oregon’s coastal communities have access to health care in the wake of natural disasters is absolutely essential,” said Senator Wyden. “I am thankful we were able to get critical funding released for the Columbia Memorial Hospital after it was illegally withheld under the Trump administration’s draconian funding cuts that are putting Oregon families at risk. I’ll continue to pull out all the stops to ensure our state has the resources it needs to keep families safe.” “This award is a critical investment in the North Coast’s ability to be resilient in the face of disasters,” said Governor Kotek. “This project can now move forward with confidence in its completion, and the families on the North Coast will benefit from reliable health care access when they need it most. Thank you to our Congressional delegation and community leaders for your persistence to get this done.” “Disaster relief should have never been held up over partisan politics,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “Oregonians’ safety is too important to play games with. That’s why we took immediate action to fight back and make sure this critically needed project will continue moving forward, providing peace of mind to the entire North Coast community.” “Natural disasters don’t care if you’re in a red state or a blue state - FEMA shouldn’t either. So when the Trump Administration went back on its word, I promised we’d keep fighting until Columbia Memorial got what it was owed. Today that fight paid off. This funding will help our community be ready when the ground shakes or the water rises,” said Representative Javadi. “We could not be more thrilled with the news that our BRIC grant funding has been restored! This $14 million grant completes our project budget and ensures that our community will receive a fully resilient, modern healthcare facility. The BRIC funds will help offset the cost of constructing a deep-pile foundation and a tsunami vertical evacuation structure capable of accommodating 1,900 people. The project will also locate critical infrastructure, generators, and the helipad on the roof of the new hospital—important features that will help ensure the facility can remain operational when our community needs it most. Our sincerest appreciation goes to Congresswoman Bonamici, Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Oregon Attorney General Rayfield, and all our state delegates for their unwavering support and tireless efforts to secure these funds. We are incredibly grateful,” said Erik Thorsen, Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Memorial Hospital. ""Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, Representative Bonamici, and Representative Bentz, this critical funding is returning to Clatsop County. This victory was made possible by a shared commitment from Governor Kotek, Attorney General Rayfield, Senator Weber, Representative Javadi, and the Oregon legislature's Joint Ways and Means Committee. Above all, it is a direct result of our community keeping this project front and center. I want to thank my fellow Commissioners, County Manager Don Bohn, Sheriff Matt Phillips, and Emergency Management Director Justin Gibbs, and of course the leadership of CMH and CEO Erik Thorsen. This truly was a team effort that showcased the undeniable power of local, state, and federal collaboration,” said Mark Kujala, Chair of the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners. ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-impose-sanctions-of-israeli-settlement-construction,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Sanctions would target settlement construction within the E1 area of the West Bank Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank. “Benjamin Netanyahu’s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,” Wyden said. “The United States must stand up against Netanyahu’s campaign of violence and aggression against Palestinian civilians and sanction individuals and companies that are complicit in this unlawful action.” “In my visits to the West Bank, I’ve heard numerous stories about the organized strategy of harassment and violence settlers are inflicting upon Palestinians. The Netanyahu government, meanwhile, continues to rubberstamp this dangerous agenda, and these settlements in the West Bank are designed to destroy the possibility of a future Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the state of Israel,” said Merkley. “This is unacceptable, and our bill holds the Netanyahu government accountable for its illegal, reckless, and inhumane actions in the West Bank.” Last year, Israel approved construction of more than 3,000 housing units in the E1 area of the West Bank. In recent weeks, Israel announced proposals to let companies bid for construction of these settlements. If completed, these units could sever the West Bank in two, gravely threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli officials have publicly acknowledged the impact E1 settlement expansion could have on a two-state solution. Speaking at a ceremony shortly after his approval of the E1 plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly stated, “We said a Palestinian state will not be established – and indeed, a Palestinian state will not be established.” Following the initial announcement of the E1 settlements in August 2025, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly stated: “The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not by slogans but by deeds. Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.” The bill would impose sanctions on any foreign person that the Secretary of the Treasury determines to have been responsible for or complicit in the construction of any Israeli settlements or related structures in the E1 area of the West Bank, including by submitting a bid for E1 tenders. It would also impose sanctions on those who attempt to organize, direct, finance, or facilitate the transfer of Israeli civilians into E1 settlements. In addition to Wyden, the legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons, D-Del., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz. In addition to Merkley, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Andy Kim, D-N.J., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Jack Reed, D-R.I, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Peter Welch, D-Vt..",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-announce-1-million-for-lane-county-emergency-communications-infrastructure,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce $1 Million for Lane County Emergency Communications Infrastructure",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Eugene, OR – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), announced $1 million in federal funding for Lane County’s Emergency Communications Resiliency and Interoperability Project. The funding will support a key portion of the project to replace aging radio communications infrastructure at Bear Mountain. “When an emergency strikes, first responders need to know they can reach each other and coordinate a response,” said Merkley, who helped secure funding for this project as a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Community-initiated projects like this one are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon quite like the folks who are a part of them, and that’s why I fight so hard to deliver them back to Oregon. These federal dollars will help Lane County replace aging infrastructure and build a more resilient communications network, strengthening the ability of firefighters and other emergency personnel to keep Oregonians safe when they need help most.” “First responders being able to reliably communicate can be the difference between life and death when emergencies hit rural communities,” said Wyden. “This federal investment will replace outdated radio equipment and deploy modern network technology so rural Oregon fire agencies can maintain uninterrupted contact during crises. I’ll keep fighting to deliver the federal resources that Oregon’s local emergency crews need to stay safe and protect our communities.” “Supporting our rural communities means investing in resilient infrastructure and modernization projects so no one gets left behind,” said Hoyle. “This $1M grant will invest in new radio systems to strengthen regional connectivity, limit service interruptions and advance emergency response capabilities across Lane County.” The project was developed by Lane County and supported by Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle as part of the FY24 agriculture funding bill. The $1 million federal investment will help advance upgrades at the Bear Mountain communications site, which is an important component of the county’s emergency communications infrastructure. Lane County has identified resilient communications as critical to coordinated emergency response and public safety. “These funds will help make sure our first responders can communicate as they patrol and respond to emergencies in South Lane County,” said County Commissioner Heather Buch, whose district includes Bear Mountain. “The continued advocacy of our federal delegation is helping us make our communities safer and healthier for everyone.” ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-condemns-more-pocket-rescissions-by-trump-administration/,Merkley Condemns More Pocket Rescissions by Trump Administration,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the below statement after President Donald Trump and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought issued more illegal pocket rescissions, this time clawing back nearly $1 billion in congressionally appropriated funding. “Once again, President Trump and Russ Vought have violated the law by sending Congress more illegal pocket rescissions in the dark of night. “We have seen this show before. Trump and Vought have a habit of ignoring Congress. That is why I have put forth several amendments that would have prevented the Trump Administration from undermining bipartisan agreements. “It is time for my Republican colleagues to finally stand up to the Administration and reaffirm that what Congress passes—and the President signs—is the law of the land, and the funds cannot be clawed back without Congress’ approval. Enough of these Executive Branch power grabs. The law is not a suggestion, and the President is not a king,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-hoyle-announce-1-million-for-lane-county-emergency-communications-infrastructure/,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce $1 Million for Lane County Emergency Communications Infrastructure",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Eugene, OR – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), announced $1 million in federal funding for Lane County’s Emergency Communications Resiliency and Interoperability Project. The funding will support a key portion of the project to replace aging radio communications infrastructure at Bear Mountain. “When an emergency strikes, first responders need to know they can reach each other and coordinate a response,” said Merkley, who helped secure funding for this project as a key member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Community-initiated projects like this one are rooted in the fact that no one knows the unique needs of communities across Oregon quite like the folks who are a part of them, and that’s why I fight so hard to deliver them back to Oregon. These federal dollars will help Lane County replace aging infrastructure and build a more resilient communications network, strengthening the ability of firefighters and other emergency personnel to keep Oregonians safe when they need help most.” “First responders being able to reliably communicate can be the difference between life and death when emergencies hit rural communities,” said Wyden. “This federal investment will replace outdated radio equipment and deploy modern network technology so rural Oregon fire agencies can maintain uninterrupted contact during crises. I’ll keep fighting to deliver the federal resources that Oregon’s local emergency crews need to stay safe and protect our communities.” “Supporting our rural communities means investing in resilient infrastructure and modernization projects so no one gets left behind,” said Hoyle. “This $1M grant will invest in new radio systems to strengthen regional connectivity, limit service interruptions and advance emergency response capabilities across Lane County.” The project was developed by Lane County and supported by Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle as part of the FY24 agriculture funding bill. The $1 million federal investment will help advance upgrades at the Bear Mountain communications site, which is an important component of the county’s emergency communications infrastructure. Lane County has identified resilient communications as critical to coordinated emergency response and public safety. “These funds will help make sure our first responders can communicate as they patrol and respond to emergencies in South Lane County,” said County Commissioner Heather Buch, whose district includes Bear Mountain. “The continued advocacy of our federal delegation is helping us make our communities safer and healthier for everyone.” ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senators-markey-and-merkley-lead-colleagues-to-demand-trump-administration-abandon-reckless-saudi-nuclear-deal/,Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Abandon Reckless Saudi Nuclear Deal,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Trump deal caves to Saudi demands, fails “Gold Standard” test Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that the Trump administration abandon its reckless nuclear deal with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which fails the Gold Standard nonproliferation test by surrendering two key conditions: the strictest inspection standards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Additional Protocol and denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade nuclear materials through uranium enrichment and/or plutonium reprocessing. The letter was signed by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). As a U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio was among the most consistent voices warning about the dangers of giving Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have repeatedly threatened to pursue nuclear weapons, access to sensitive nuclear technology without proper safeguards. In the letter, the senators wrote, “With this deal, the Trump Administration is departing from precedent, adopting looser restrictions, and caving to Saudi demands by agreeing to a process that is all but certain to allow Riyadh to acquire the means to enrich uranium and possibly develop nuclear weapons. If the Administration is serious about preventing that outcome, it should require Riyadh to meet the Gold Standard. And likewise, if Saudi Arabia genuinely has no intention of pursuing a nuclear weapon, it should have little objection to accepting the same commitments that the UAE and other states have made: implementing an Additional Protocol and banning enrichment and reprocessing.” The senators continued, “Although not included in the agreement, media reports have suggested that the Saudi government would not have access to a U.S.-supplied and operated enrichment plant on Saudi soil. While there is no evidence that Saudi officials have agreed to such a ‘black box’ arrangement, if implemented, it would just raise additional concerns. It would be difficult to prevent the Kingdom from spying on a facility built on its soil and thus from gleaning sensitive information. A hypothetical black box arrangement could also commit the United States to far more than a commercial transaction. Sensitive American enrichment technology and the American personnel operating it would sit on Saudi soil, in a region at war and with the possibility of instability within the Kingdom itself. Given that an attack on the black box would be an attack on U.S. equities, we would be obliged to defend the facility. This would constitute a security guarantee by another name; an open-ended commitment to the defense of Saudi Arabia that Congress has not debated.” The senators concluded, “President Trump launched an unconstitutional war against Iran claiming it was necessary to stop Tehran from enriching uranium. Yet, his Administration is now seeking to give Saudi Arabia access to the very technologies it says Iran must never possess. That hypocrisy undermines any chance of reaching a durable agreement with Iran. If Saudi Arabia can enrich uranium without the strongest inspections, Tehran will demand the same treatment. President Trump is weakening his own negotiating position while increasing the odds of regional nuclear proliferation.” On September 16, Senators Markey and Merkley led a bipartisan group of Senators to press the Trump administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a “123 agreement.” As a founder of the national Nuclear Freeze movement, Senator Markey has long been the Congressional leader on ending the proliferation of nuclear weapons. On August 26, Senator Markey urged Congress to reject the Trump-Saudi nuclear deal after the Trump administration sent to Congress a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that would open the door to providing the Kingdom with the means to produce nuclear weapons materials but would not require the most stringent safeguards against the development of those weapons. On July 31, Senators Markey and Merkley, along with Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, published an opinion piece slamming Trump’s Saudi nuclear deal, citing then-Senator Marco Rubio’s understanding that handing nuclear weapons to Saudi Arabia would be disastrous. On March 25, Senators Markey and Merkley reintroduced the No Nuclear Weapons for Saudi Arabia Act, legislation that would mandate that any nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia can go into effect only if it receives the affirmative vote of Congress. On March 18, Senator Markey led his colleagues in writing to Secretary Rubio demanding the Trump administration must meet the “gold standard” of nuclear non-proliferation protections by denying Saudi Arabia the means to produce weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, materials that could be used in a nuclear bomb. In November 2025, Senator Markey and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the Trump administration to include the strongest possible “gold standard” nonproliferation measures in any nuclear cooperation agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to foreclose any pathway to a nuclear weapon. In November 2024, Senator Markey wrote to the Biden administration seeking answers about any agreement that would normalize relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Israel in exchange for civil nuclear energy cooperation and a U.S. defense commitment to the Kingdom. As far back as 2017, Senator Markey pressed the first Trump administration on the status of all current and ongoing discussions between the United States and other countries, including Saudi Arabia, on 123 agreements after it was reported that former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was peddling a plan to build nuclear reactors throughout the Middle East. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/sens-markey-merkley-and-reps-jayapal-tlaib-pressley-reintroduce-legislation-to-halt-government-use-of-facial-recognition-and-other-biometric-technology/,"Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), announced the reintroduction of the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, legislation to prohibit the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies. The legislation responds to the federal government’s growing use of biometric recognition technology, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) mobile facial recognition app, which has been used to target immigrants and intimidate communities across the country. Research shows that nearly half of U.S. adults’ faces are already stored in facial recognition databases, and that Black, Brown, and Asian individuals are up to 100 times more likely to be misidentified by a facial recognition algorithm than white men. “Facial recognition and other biometric technologies in the hands of government agencies have become tools of authoritarianism. Agencies such as ICE and CBP are using this technology to track, target, intimidate and surveil communities across the country,” said Senator Markey. “Black and Brown communities — already subject to the most aggressive policing and immigration enforcement — are disproportionately affected and more likely to be wrongly flagged, detained, or targeted by a faulty facial recognition match. We must stop the Trump administration’s growing web of surveillance technology, and that starts with a moratorium on dangerous, discriminatory biometric recognition.” “Every American who values their right to privacy, stands against discrimination, and believes people are innocent until proven guilty should be concerned about facial recognition technology fueling a national surveillance state,” said Senator Merkley. “Enacting a federal moratorium on this technology is critical to ensuring we can rein in inappropriate surveillance and protect our communities’ fundamental right to privacy.” “We have to stop the constant, nonconsensual state of surveillance that we live in, and that starts with placing a moratorium on our government’s use of facial recognition technology,” said Congresswoman Jayapal. “Black and Brown people are more likely to be misidentified and wrongfully put in jail because of this unregulated technology, and our government has used it to unjustly target protestors and immigrants. Putting the brakes on this technology is necessary to protect civil rights and ensure public safety.” “Facial recognition technology is racist, misidentifying Black, Brown, and Asian residents and pinning them as suspects in crimes they did not commit,” said Representative Tlaib. “When such flawed and biased technology is used to invade our privacy, we are all less safe. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill that will ban facial recognition technology and protect all our civil liberties.” The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act would: Place a prohibition on the use of facial recognition technology by federal entities, which can only be lifted with an act of Congress; Place a prohibition on the use of other biometric technologies, including voice recognition, gate recognition, and recognition of other immutable physical characteristics, by federal entities, which can only be lifted with an act of Congress; Condition federal grant funding to state and local entities, including law enforcement, on those entities enacting their own moratoria on the use of facial recognition and biometric technology; Prohibit the use of federal dollars for biometric surveillance systems; Prohibit the use of information collected via biometric technology in violation of the Act in any judicial proceedings; Provide a private right of action for individuals whose biometric data is used in violation of the Act and allow for enforcement by state Attorneys General; and Allow states and localities to enact their own laws regarding the use of facial recognition and biometric technologies. “Face surveillance is one of the most intrusive surveillance technologies. It’s past time for the federal government to end its use. Face surveillance in the hands of the government is a fundamentally harmful technology, even under strict regulations or if the technology was 100% accurate. We thank the authors of this bill for their leadership in ending the federal government’s use of this dangerous and invasive technology,” said India McKinney, Director of Federal Affairs at Electronic Frontier Foundation. “We can no longer afford to ignore the very real harms of AI surveillance technologies, including facial recognition. We have seen how ICE and other federal agencies utilize facial recognition to abuse immigrants, Black and Brown communities, and people participating in protests and other First Amendment protected actions. There is no more excuse for inaction or justification for allowing the continued use of this surveillance technology – the time to pass this legislation is now,” said Caitlin Seeley George (she/her), Campaigns and Managing Director at Fight for the Future. “Facial recognition poses a significant threat to our privacy and our democracy. The technology has been shown to be biased, inaccurate, and disproportionally harmful to people of color. Even 100% accurate facial recognition poses considerable threats to our privacy and civil liberties. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act takes the right approach on this urgent issue, effectively banning its current use and ensuring Congress will give careful consideration to if and how the technology can be used in the future. EPIC is proud to support it,” said Jeramie D. Scott, Director of Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC)’s Surveillance Oversight Program. “The rapid adoption of powerful surveillance tech by our federal government benefits companies that amass billions in profits through contracts with law enforcement agencies, at the expense of our civil rights. This bill by Senator Markey couldn’t be more timely. Not only does this bill disrupt the money flow for surveillance profiteers; it prevents the use of one of the most invasive forms of surveillance and grants users a private right of action, urgently needed as we still lack federal data privacy protections and a prohibition on law enforcement purchases of sensitive data. We’ve seen how dangerous these tools can be and how easily bad actors can weaponize them against any person or community. Without proper guardrails or consideration for how our privacy will be protected, surveillance tech becomes a tool of oppression, not safety. We are proud to endorse this bill and appreciate Senator Markey’s continued leadership in this area,” said Amanda Beckham, Government Relations Director at Free Press. “Right now, just walking down the street could allow you to be detected by AI-powered cameras and put into a database. Sen. Markey’s Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act is a critically needed safeguard against a surveillance apocalypse where the government and unaccountable corporations can collect and store your face and voice,” said Hajar Hammado, Senior Policy Advisor at Demand Progress.“ Facial recognition technology threatens the privacy and security of all Americans. Every member of Congress who cares about invasive surveillance must support this bill.” “We should all be free to move freely in our communities — drive to work, walk our neighborhoods, travel to see family — without constant monitoring. ICE officers and other federal agents are out in our neighborhoods targeting Black and Brown people because of the color of our skin and scanning our faces without consent to fuel a cruel mass deportation machine. They’re using the very same facial recognition technologies that regularly misidentify people of color, leading to unjust arrests and detainment. Senator Markey’s Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act would put a stop to this racist invasion of privacy,” said Alejandra Montoya-Boyer, Vice President of The Leadership Conference’s Center for Civil Rights and Technology. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act is cosponsored in the Senate by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). This legislation is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Fight for the Future, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Color of Change, Access Now, Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Free Press, Demand Progress, and UnidosUS. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-warns-an-all-republican-fcc-could-violate-federal-law-and-cause-partisan-fcc-actions-to-be-overturned-in-court,Wyden Warns an All-Republican FCC Could Violate Federal Law and Cause Partisan FCC Actions to be Overturned in Court,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Wyden Seeks Legal Opinion From Commissioner Gomez on Whether the Communications Act Permits the Federal Communications Commission to Operate With Only Republican Commissioners Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. asked Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez to issue a legal opinion addressing whether the Communications Act permits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to legally operate with members from a single political party. Wyden warned that federal law prohibits an all-Republican RCC and that any action taken by a partisan FCC could be overturned in court, based on the statutory history of the Communications Act. President Trump recently nominated Danielle Thumann Severs to serve as FCC Commissioner. If confirmed, she would become the Commission's third Republican. Given that the Communications Act sets a quorum at three members, there is concern that Trump will fire Commissioner Gomez, the remaining Democrat on the FCC, after Severs is confirmed, leaving the agency with an all-Republican panel. In anticipation of Trump’s actions, Wyden’s letter to Gomez highlighted amendments enacted in 1982 that require the FCC to have political balance at any operational size: if there are three commissioners on the FCC, only two can be from the same political party. Before 1982, the Communications Act stated that “not more than four” commissioners of a then-seven member FCC could be from the same political party. Similar language has consistently been used with other bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission and the International Trade Commission. But in 1982, when resizing the FCC, Congress considered and rejected this numeric limit for the FCC. It instead enacted a novel mathematical formula for political balance: “The maximum number of commissioners who may be members of the same political party shall be a number equal to the least number of commissioners which constitutes a majority of the full membership of the Commission.” Congress did so in the same bill that it maintained a numeric limit for a different commission, the Interstate Commerce Commission. Under longstanding legal principles, when Congress amends language in a statute or uses different language in related provisions, courts presume that Congress enacted a distinct legal meaning. Wyden’s letter argues that these changes mean that Congress required the FCC to have political balance at any operational size. Despite this statutory structure, if Trump were to try to operate an all-Republican commission, the practical and economic consequences could be dramatic. “The U.S. communications sector represents hundreds of billions of dollars in economic valuation, and relies on the legal validity of these FCC actions,” said Wyden in his letter to Commissioner Gomez. “Under an all-Republican commission, every single license renewal, equipment certification, spectrum transfer, or other delegated action would be legally defective, casting a cloud of crippling legal uncertainty over the entire communications industry.” Ensuring bipartisan representation on the commission is increasingly important, as FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has abused FCC authorities in unprecedented ways to silence critics of Donald Trump and reward Trump’s allies with speedy approvals of controversial corporate mergers. A copy of the full letter sent to Commissioner Gomez is available here. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/milton-freewater-one-step-closer-to-obtaining-13-million-water-system-grant,Milton-Freewater One Step Closer to Obtaining $13 Million Water System Grant,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill last week that included a $13 million authorization, which if passed by the Senate and if appropriated by the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, would be given to the City of Milton-Freewater for the replacement and expansion of a portion of the City’s outdated water supply system. This biennial and bipartisan bill, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA), authorizes certain studies and projects presented by a congressman or congresswoman to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which, if approved by the Corp, becomes eligible for federal funding subject to appropriation by Congress. In January of this year Congressman Bentz met with Milton-Freewater’s Mayor, City Manager, and a city counselor to discuss the City’s dire need for funding to replace one of the City’s three reservoirs, which reservoir is 70 years old, failing, and not repairable. Water and sewer rates in the city are already close to $80.00 per month. Because there are other additional and unavoidable City utility improvements on the near horizon, City leaders are trying to avoid borrowing the $13 million, which would, of course, necessitate a water/sewer rate increase. They asked if the Congressman would assist them by requesting a WRDA authorization. Congressman Bentz did so and this first step was successful. A provision for Milton-Freewater has been included in the WRDA bill and, if this $13 million authorization is passed by the Senate and later appropriated through the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, the City would receive the $13 million. Said Mike Odman, Mayor of Milton-Freewater: “The Middle Reservoir is a critical component of our municipal water system, and its replacement will help ensure a safe, reliable water supply for our residents for decades to come. Congressman Bentz and his office's responsiveness throughout the application process—from the initial project scoping conversations through submission—made a meaningful difference for a small community with limited grant-writing capacity. We are grateful for the time Congressman Bentz’s staff invested in understanding the project and advocating for it in Washington.”",1,2026-09-28T11:29:07Z,2026-09-28T11:30:58Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-baldwin-leads-25-colleagues-in-rejecting-the-trump-admins-latest-move-to-politicize-and-undermine-education-funding/,"Merkley, Baldwin Leads 25 Colleagues in Rejecting the Trump Admin’s Latest Move to Politicize and Undermine Education Funding",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"New effort would allow Trump appointees to cut off funding to states, colleges, and schools, even after grants have been awarded, with no justification WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee, led 25 of their Senate colleagues in slamming the Department of Education’s (ED) latest move to further undermine the Department and jeopardize billions of dollars in funding for schools. Specifically, the Senators outlined their concerns with ED’s proposed changes to the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) that would allow the President’s political appointees to cancel grants to local schools for any reason – putting everything from school-based mental health programs to teacher training programs under constant threat of being defunded at any point. The Senators also raise concerns that, if implemented, the rule would lead to weaker evidence-based standards for programs that serve students, hinder student achievement, and defy Congressional intent. This rule comes on top of a tumultuous funding process under the Trump Administration, which has continued to try to entirely shut down the Department of Education. “This proposed rule is unnecessarily broad and vague, would undermine the stability of educational programs, and does nothing to improve educational outcomes for students,” wrote the Senators in a letter to Secretary McMahon. “As the Trump Administration continues its illegal attempt to dismantle the Department, this proposed rule will only serve to increase chaos and uncertainty for schools, states, institutions of higher education and families across the Country.” Specifically, the Trump administration’s proposed rule allows the department to terminate a grant “for convenience.” This would allow Trump’s political appointees to terminate grants, even ones that have been awarded, with no justification. “Schools and other grant recipients need a meaningful degree of certainty to properly plan their budgets and provide services to students,” the Senators continued. “Broad, unwarranted termination and discontinuation authority makes it difficult, if not impossible, for recipients to responsibly plan and spend these funds. In section 75.253(c), the proposal also would remove a priority to continue previously awarded grants over awarding new grants. These changes will increase funding uncertainty which may discourage recipients from undertaking ambitious projects.” “We know high-quality education has the ability to raise families out of poverty and meaningfully improve future earnings. However, at a time when student achievement is falling and families are struggling with rising costs, this proposed rule only serves to undermine efforts to improve outcomes for students and raise costs by creating financial uncertainty for schools and educational programs,” the Senators concluded. “This damage and uncertainty will only hurt student populations that federal funding intended to support.” The letter was also co-led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and signed by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Edward Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). Full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Secretary McMahon, We write in opposition to the proposed rule, “Education Department General Administrative Regulations” (EDGAR) (Docket ID ED-2026-OPEPD-2542),1 which would make fundamental changes to the administration of formula and competitive grants Congress has authorized and funded through the U.S. Department of Education (“the Department”). This proposed rule is unnecessarily broad and vague, would undermine the stability of educational programs, and does nothing to improve educational outcomes for students. As the Trump Administration continues its illegal attempt to dismantle the Department, this proposed rule will only serve to increase chaos and uncertainty for schools, states, institutions of higher education and families across the country. One of the key functions of the Department is to award and administer both formula and competitive grants. These grants range from Title I-A, which provide additional funding for elementary and secondary education programs serving students from low-income communities, to TRIO grants providing support to first generation college students, to Innovative Approaches to Literacy grants which promote literacy programs in low-income communities, and every education stage in-between. The funding provided to the Department for programs authorized by Congress is essential to ensure schools and communities across the country are able to provide every child, regardless of their zip code, a high-quality education. Political Interference in Grant Awards and Administration The proposed rule (Section 75.901) would give the Department free rein to end already awarded grants “for convenience,” without substantive reason or justification or connection to performance under a grant. Grants provided by the Department frequently support multiyear contracts involving the hiring of staff who provide services to students, research activities, and commitments to students and families that cannot be easily unwound. Schools and other grant recipients need a meaningful degree of certainty to properly plan their budgets and provide services to students. Broad, unwarranted termination and discontinuation authority makes it difficult, if not impossible, for recipients to responsibly plan and spend these funds. In section 75.253(c), the proposal also would remove a priority to continue previously awarded grants over awarding new grants. These changes will increase funding uncertainty which may discourage recipients from undertaking ambitious projects. The proposed indirect-cost provision (section 75.228) will only add to this financial instability and uncertainty. This proposal could create a race to the bottom with an incentive structure where applicants are not encouraged to create programs based on value and merit but instead based on how much institutional costs they can absorb themselves. This will disadvantage entities that are not well-resourced, such as entities in rural communities or on tribal lands. Furthermore, lowering the amount of funds that can be used on indirect costs will not actually lower those costs for programs. Capping the amount of funds will not lower the cost of rent or electricity for an after-school program or a rural college serving first-generation students. Undermining Congressional Intent in Serving Underserved Students and Communities The General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) governs the administration of the Department and its grant programs. Section 427(b) of GEPA requires the Secretary to ensure each applicant for federal education funding describe how the applicant will ensure equitable access and participation to all students and teachers in federally funded education programs including “based on gender, race, color, national origin, disability, and age.”2 This demonstrates a clear Congressional intent that federal education programs help provide assistance to students and communities that have been historically underserved in our nation, including students of color, students with disabilities, English learners, and LGBT students. This proposed rule would further gut the intent of GEPA Sec. 427, which the Department has undermined by not renewing the information collection it previously collected from its applicants for grant programs. Section 75.210(d) of the proposal weakens compliance by removing the current EDGAR requirement for the Secretary to consider equitable and adequate access on the basis of economic disadvantage, gender, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, age, language, migration, living in a rural location, experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, involvement in the justice system, pregnancy, parenting or caregiver status, and sexual orientation. In addition to section 427 of GEPA, many federal laws3 authorized on a bipartisan basis direct federal education programs to focus on many of these underserved student populations. Removing this provision from EDGAR goes against Congressional intent not only in GEPA, but in these core foundational education laws. This Proposed Rule Will Lead to a Weaker Evidence Base for Education Programs The proposed rule also suggests a number of changes that would weaken evidence standards that govern Department programs. In changes detailed in section 77.1(c), the proposed rule would permit unknown, non-governmental organizations to determine whether grantees’ strategies and interventions meet the different levels of evidence established in EDGAR. This would break from how evidence standards are determined now by IES through a transparent and rigorous process. This could result in these important evidence standards being applied inconsistently within grant competitions. The evidence standards established in federal legislation and implementing regulations are critical to ensuring limited federal funds are spent on meaningful interventions that improve student outcomes. We are concerned that such goals are undermined by having unknown third parties judge applicants’ grant applications for whether or not they meet such evidence standards without a clear, rigorous, consistent, and transparent evaluation process. We know high-quality education has the ability to raise families out of poverty and meaningfully improve future earnings. However, at a time when student achievement is falling and families are struggling with rising costs, this proposed rule only serves to undermine efforts to improve outcomes for students and raise costs by creating financial uncertainty for schools and educational programs. This damage and uncertainty will only hurt student populations that federal funding intended to support. We urge you to withdraw the proposed rule. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-decries-senate-republicans-opposition-to-his-bipartisan-resolution-condemning-prcs-transnational-repression/,Merkley Decries Senate Republicans’ Opposition to His Bipartisan Resolution Condemning PRC’s Transnational Repression,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked his bipartisan resolution condemning the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for engaging in repression, coercion, and intimidation beyond its own borders, targeting citizens of other nations, including in the United States: “Journalists, activists, and everyday people who have spoken truth to power about China’s oppression are being bullied, intimidated, and targeted far beyond China’s borders. As long as the PRC continues this campaign of oppression, the United States cannot remain silent. “Senate Republicans, however, blocked my resolution to condemn the Chinese government for this repression, which targets Americans too. Donald Trump is rolling out the red carpet for Xi Jinping as he visits the U.S. this week, and this rejection absolutely sends the wrong message. “I’ll keep making the case to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle that we must oppose all acts of transnational repression—no matter the perpetrator.” Merkley has led the charge to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in America and across borders. He leads the Transnational Repression Policy Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would tackle the growing threat of transnational repression, elevate countering transnational repression as a key U.S. foreign policy priority, and promote diplomacy that addresses it as part of a broader strategy to advance democratic principles and human rights at home and abroad. Full text of Merkley’s bipartisan resolution that passed out of committee can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire/,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Medford, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency’s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR. At the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. “This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,” wrote the lawmakers. “Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.” The State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA’s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres. “Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,” the lawmakers continued. “We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. “ Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below: Dear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich: We write in support of the State of Oregon’s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026 for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures. We believe that Oregon’s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state’s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program. At the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders. Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident. We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Medford, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency’s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR. At the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. “This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers, and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,” wrote the lawmakers. “Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.” The State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA’s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres. “Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,” the lawmakers continued. “We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. “ Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below: Dear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich: We write in support of the State of Oregon’s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026, for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures. We believe that Oregon’s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state’s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program. At the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders. Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident. We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-salinas-dexter-bynum-support-kotek-demanding-emergency-federal-assistance-for-east-evans-fire,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Medford, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency’s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR. At the time of the initial application earlier this year, the fire had reached more than 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. “This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident,” wrote the lawmakers. “Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders.” The State of Oregon requested financial assistance from FEMA through the FMAG program, which helps cover costs relating to emergencies and firefighting activities for fires that have the potential to become major disasters. FEMA’s decision to deny this specific FMAG came as Oregon was facing a record-setting 2026 fire season, ultimately resulting in firefighters responding to 1,873 distinct fires that burned more than 2.5 million acres. “Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident,” the lawmakers continued. “We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. “ Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below: Dear Administrator Hamilton and Mr. Maykovich: We write in support of the State of Oregon’s appeal of the denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) application on July 22, 2026 for the East Evans Creek Fire, located 14 miles northeast of Rogue River, Oregon in Jackson County. The fire broke out on the afternoon of July 10, 2026, and quickly spread due to dry conditions and high temperatures. We believe that Oregon’s appeal demonstrates that the costs associated with the mitigation, management and control of the East Evans Creek Fire on public and private forest land threatened destruction to the degree that it constituted a major disaster. At the time of the state’s request, the East Evans Creek fire demonstrated substantial and escalating threats under Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) criteria. In their appeal, the State provided further clarity and evidence supporting the need and criteria met under the FMAG program. At the time of the initial application, the fire had reached over 15,700 acres with over 3,100 structures threatened, one unoccupied structure lost, and hundreds of homes at a Level 3 “Go Now” Evacuation. In addition to homes, the East Evans Creek Fire posed a direct threat to commercial structures, natural resources, and additional and critical public infrastructure. This fire placed significant and sustained demands on local firefighting and emergency management resources, with personnel working for weeks on end to secure and protect property and human life. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s Complex Incident Management Team 1, State Fire Marshal Blue Team, local fire departments, law enforcement, emergency managers and other responders worked extended hours throughout the incident. Their efforts included supporting residents during evacuations, maintaining emergency services, protecting homes and property from advancing fire, and providing assistance to those evacuating and to protect their homes and property from threat of both fire and other risks during the many weeks of evacuation orders. Oregon has consistently demonstrated an ability to be a good steward of federal funding, and we are confident that the State will be effective and efficient with these funds should the Federal Mitigation Assistance Grant be awarded for this incident. We thank the Agency for its attention to this urgent matter. We encourage FEMA to grant this appeal and retroactively approve the FMAG for the East Evans Creek Fire to ensure that the necessary cost incurred for firefighters and state officials to fight the East Evans Creek Fire is covered. ###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-racial-slur-not-trash-talk-its-not-rivalry-its-straight,Congresswoman Bynum: “A racial slur is not trash talk. It’s not a rivalry. It’s straight up racist.”,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released the following statement following the alleged use of a racial slur during a recent Oregon high school football game. “Football is supposed to be about teamwork, healthy competition, and kids getting the chance to do something they love,” said Rep. Bynum. “A kid should be able to put on their jersey, take the field, and worry about the next play – not whether someone is going to attack them on their race, sex, religion, or any other distinguishing feature. A racial slur is not trash talk. It’s not a rivalry. It’s straight up racist. In the state legislature, I sponsored legislation to make sure incidents like this couldn’t just be swept under the rug. We can’t ask young people to speak up and then fail them when they do. We need to teach our kids that reporting incidents like these will be taken seriously, investigated, and appropriately addressed based on the findings. “The Oregon School Activities Association must step up and double down on eliminating these incidents. I have no tolerance for our kids being harmed in competition by racial slurs. And I have no patience for mealy-mouthed adults who throw their hands up and say there’s nothing we can do. If OSAA does not act, the governor and legislature should consider taking up a stronger set of sanctions sooner, rather than later.” As a state legislator, Congresswoman Bynum introduced HB 3409, requiring a process for reporting and responding to harassment and hateful language during school sports and activities. The legislation was in response to a 2019 racial slur incident at Parkrose High School during a girls varsity basketball game, as well as other reports from students around the state. ###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-bynum-statement-knights-1-billion-donation-university-oregon,Congresswoman Bynum Statement on Knight’s $1 Billion Donation to University of Oregon,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released a statement in response to Phil and Penny Knight’s announcement of a $1 billion donation to the University of Oregon to help start an engineering school. “This is exactly what investing in the next generation looks like – and I’m not just saying that because I’m an engineer,” said Rep. Bynum. “This generous and game-changing donation should be the standard for how we invest in getting our kids ready for the future and for how philanthropy can partner with local, state, and federal government to drive innovation. I’m fighting everyday in Congress to make that a reality. Go Ducks!”",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-proposes-housing-downpayment-savings-initiative/,Merkley Proposes Housing Downpayment Savings Initiative,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Senator leads groundbreaking new legislation to give federal match for money saved by first-time homebuyers for a downpayment on a home Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced new legislation to help support the dream of homeownership for Americans by ensuring working families have a credible path to save up for a downpayment sufficient to purchase a modest home by age 30. Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden cosponsored the legislation. The Homeownership Promise Act would create Homeownership Promise Accounts, a basic new standard for Americans that would allow any first-time homebuyer who saves $1 for a downpayment on a house to get a $5 match from the federal government. As young Americans struggle to purchase their first home—with the median age of first-time homebuyers rising to 40 years old in 2025—Merkley’s legislation is essential to restoring the dream of homeownership for millions of families nationwide. “Working families should be able to afford a decent home in a decent community,” said Merkley. “For millions of young Americans, homeownership remains further out of reach than ever before, keeping them from establishing the foundation that has enabled middle-class families to build equity for generations.” “My new Homeownership Promise Act would restore the promise of homeownership—one of the foundations that working families need to thrive—by allowing all Americans to save for a home and live that piece of the American Dream,” Merkley concluded. The Homeownership Promise Act would: Direct the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a matching downpayment grant, called a Homeownership Promise Account, that supports first-time homebuyers purchasing a median-priced principal residence. Establish an overall maximum contribution limit of $60,000 ($10,000 maximum combined personal, employer, and nonprofit contributions in addition to $50,000 maximum federal matching funds). Merkley, earlier in his career, led Portland Habitat for Humanity and has continued to fight for affordable housing at every level of government. In the Senate, Merkley, when serving on the Banking Committee, led the charge to end predatory mortgages that had turned the dream of homeownership into a nightmare. This ban was passed into law as part of the Dodd–Frank Act in 2010. More recently, he has led the fight to kick hedge funds out of the housing market. His efforts produced the first-ever ban on hedge funds buying up single-family homes as part of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which recently became law. Full text of the Homeownership Promise Act can be found by clicking here. A one-page summary of the Homeownership Promise Act can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-human-centered-framework-provide-guardrails-ai-education,Bonamici Introduces Human-Centered Framework to Provide Guardrails for AI in Education and Workforce,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [9/22/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced comprehensive legislation to establish guardrails against AI risks in education and the workforce and invest in protections for students, educators, and workers. The Artificial Intelligence Education and Workforce Readiness Act is a robust federal framework to protect students, educators, and workers and help them safely navigate the technology in their classrooms and careers. The bill establishes national workforce strategies and coordinates evidence-based programs across the Departments of Education and Labor, and it directs safety research at federal science agencies. It creates enforceable safeguards, protects workers and communities, invests in professional development, and more. “AI is already shaping how students learn and how people earn a living, but federal rules and regulations to protect students, support workers, and enforce ethical standards do not exist,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “The companies building these tools don’t get to regulate themselves; we need clear rules and accountability for how AI is used in classrooms and workplaces. My human-centered legislation will empower and protect students, families, educators and others in the workforce by investing in evidence-based research, reskilling, transparency, safety, and long-term strategies. Congress must act now so AI does not continue to threaten the development of critical thinking skills and the wellbeing of humanity.” The legislation has been endorsed by Alliance for Learning Innovation, Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI), American Council on Education, American Federation of Teachers, Center for American Progress, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and Workday. “As concerns about the risks of AI mount and industry leaders urge the federal government to act, Congresswoman Bonamici is answering the call with urgency,” said Center for American Progress Senior Director of K-12 Education Policy Weadé James, Ph.D. “This bill advances safeguards to promote responsible AI adoption in schools and the workforce, ensuring our nation’s 49 million public school students continue to receive an education rooted in learning science and human interaction.” “As educators, school systems, and parents confront the rapidly changing use of artificial intelligence applications throughout society, including with children in schools, education researchers applaud Congresswoman Bonamici’s effort to establish a comprehensive federal framework for the responsible use of AI in our nation’s schools including professional development and open-access evidence-based research,” said Emily Tanner-Smith, Dean, University of Oregon College of Education and Thomson Professor in Counseling Psychology and Human Services. “Our faculty are committed to generating the research and preparing the educators needed to ensure AI is used responsibly, ethically, and in ways that expand opportunity for all learners.” ""We appreciate Rep. Bonamici's efforts to encourage students and assist our institutions in navigating the fast-changing AI frontier,” said Sarah Spreitzer, Vice President and Chief of Staff for Government Relations, American Council on Education. “This much-needed legislation will create new programs and provide resources to ensure that postsecondary education is ready to respond to the array of questions and challenges posed by AI."" “Workday is pleased to support Congresswoman Bonamici’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education and Workforce Readiness Act,” said Chandler Morse, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Workday. “AI will fundamentally reshape the world of work and Congress needs to take steps to help modernize labor market data, pinpoint the skills of the future, and empower employers to invest deeply in upskilling their talent. By bridging the gap between emerging technology and workforce development, this legislation creates a framework for driving responsible innovation while building an AI-ready workforce.” Additional statements of support can be found here. The full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here, and a section-by-section breakdown can be found here. The bill will: Require AI risk assessment standards for classroom technology, safeguards against harmful content, parental notice and opt-out rights, human review of automated decisions in federally funded workforce programs, and a secure student data breach reporting portal, enforced jointly by the Department of Education and the Federal Trade Commission; Create strict safety compliance requirements, including prohibiting the use of student data to train AI models, open licensing and access of funded research and learning materials, independent evaluations and audits, human oversight and bias testing, robust data security protocols, and adoption of NIST's AI risk management framework; Prohibit model developers from directing school instructional content or requiring exclusive use of their AI product; Require data center operators to disclose pre-construction energy and water consumption projections and actual operational consumption, direct NIST to develop AI infrastructure energy and water measurement standards, and funds state, local, and community capacity for data center oversight, audits, and environmental research; Establish an Interagency Council on Artificial Intelligence in Education and the Workforce to publish and update list of AI-disrupted jobs to guide program design; Establish grants for regional career pathways and stackable micro-credential pilot programs to support interdisciplinary studies and project-based learning; Support in-service training for school leaders that pairs AI literacy with humanities, critical thinking, and work-based learning, including on algorithmic bias, student data privacy, and preventing reliance on AI for critical educator roles; Provide resources for educator professional development on responsible and ethical AI use; facilitate open-access education research on evidence-based, voluntary materials for AI-related literacy, ethics, civics, and humanities; Fund open-access research on AI effects in education, Regional Centers for Human-Centered AI in Education and Work, and updated federal practice guides for the responsible use of AI in the classroom; Invest in applied AI workforce research on employment disruption, regional training with wraparound supports, and evidence-based educator toolkits; Direct a National AI Workforce Strategy and State AI Workforce Implementation Plans, supported by a national workforce coordination council, to assess skills gaps, identify disrupted occupations, and align programs with regional labor needs; Provide grants for community colleges, small employers, and workforce programs to develop research and upskilling resources for individuals in non-traditional career pathways; Create grants for apprenticeships, reskilling, and public service fellowships; require AI accessibility in vocational programs; provide a small business reskilling tax credit; and require reporting on AI-caused worker displacement; Establish grants for equitable AI education access, capacity building at minority serving institutions, career scholarships, mentorship networks, and technical assistance; and Require EEOC liability guidance on preventing discriminatory AI use in recruitment, training, and performance evaluation. The package is cosponsored by Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), and Greg Landsman (D-OH). ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-kotek-announce-7-45-million-for-affordable-housing-support-in-oregon/,"Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek—today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and these funds will support public housing authorities across Oregon in better serving people with disabilities,” said Senator Merkley. “As communities across our state face the biggest housing affordability crisis in decades—with rents dramatically outpacing incomes—we must do everything we can to ensure our families have a decent roof overhead. I’ll keep fighting to deliver critical resources to help ease the burden on all Oregonians searching for a place to call home.” “Housing is a human right, and it’s crucial that federal investments support that statement with action in Oregon and nationwide,” said Senator Wyden. “These resources help advance toward that goal in our state by investing in public housing that’s affordable and accessible for people with disabilities. And I’ll keep battling for similar housing investments throughout Oregon for all communities.” “This funding is one more win for providing more affordable housing and supportive services for Oregonians with disabilities and their families,” said Governor Kotek. “We’re staying true to our values by making sure all of our neighbors have access to core basic needs that make life more affordable and create opportunities to thrive.” The federal funds are being awarded to the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) in the form of new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. Known as Mainstream Vouchers, they enable people with disabilities to access both affordable housing and supportive services—provided through partnership agreements between public housing authorities and local agencies—to enable individuals to live independently in the community. ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-kotek-announce-745-million-for-affordable-housing-support-in-oregon,"Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek—today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and these funds will support public housing authorities across Oregon in better serving people with disabilities,” said Senator Merkley. “As communities across our state face the biggest housing affordability crisis in decades—with rents dramatically outpacing incomes—we must do everything we can to ensure our families have a decent roof overhead. I’ll keep fighting to deliver critical resources to help ease the burden on all Oregonians searching for a place to call home.” “Housing is a human right, and it’s crucial that federal investments support that statement with action in Oregon and nationwide,” said Senator Wyden. “These resources help advance toward that goal in our state by investing in public housing that’s affordable and accessible for people with disabilities. And I’ll keep battling for similar housing investments throughout Oregon for all communities.” “This funding is one more win for providing more affordable housing and supportive services for Oregonians with disabilities and their families,” said Governor Kotek. “We’re staying true to our values by making sure all of our neighbors have access to core basic needs that make life more affordable and create opportunities to thrive.” The federal funds are being awarded to the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) in the form of new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers. Known as Mainstream Vouchers, they enable people with disabilities to access both affordable housing and supportive services—provided through partnership agreements between public housing authorities and local agencies—to enable individuals to live independently in the community. ###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-announces-formation-bipartisan-geothermal-caucus,Rep. Andrea Salinas Announces Formation of Bipartisan Geothermal Caucus,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Representatives Nick Begich (AK-AL), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), and Jeff Hurd (CO-03), announced the formation of the new, bipartisan Congressional Geothermal Caucus. “Geothermal will help deliver the affordable, reliable, and clean energy that Oregonians need,” said Rep. Salinas. “Oregon sits on some of the best geothermal resources in the country, and this energy can power our homes, cut costs for families, and create good jobs right here in our state. At a time when families are watching their utility bill, geothermal offers an energy source that's reliable and affordable. As Congress looks for ways to strengthen our grid and meet growing energy demand, geothermal deserves a seat at the table. I’m excited to launch this caucus that will coalesce strong bipartisan support for geothermal energy and help chart the future of this critical American industry.” “America is blessed with tremendous energy resources, and geothermal represents another opportunity to responsibly harness the resources we have to strengthen American energy leadership,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “I’m proud to join Representatives Salinas, Hurd, and Auchincloss as a co-chair of the Congressional Geothermal Caucus, and I look forward to working together to elevate geothermal in our national energy conversation and advance bipartisan solutions that continue to strengthen America’s energy future.” “Geothermal is firm, clean & affordable power,” said Rep. Auchincloss. “It sustains good jobs and provides the United States with greater energy sovereignty. It's also a potential export industry that could give America more leverage in energy diplomacy.” “I’m proud to serve as a co-chair of the Geothermal Caucus alongside Representatives Salinas, Auchincloss, and Begich and to help bring together members from both parties who recognize the enormous potential of this resource. Geothermal can provide reliable, around-the-clock American energy, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen communities across the West and around the country. I look forward to working with my fellow co-chairs and caucus members to build on the bipartisan progress we’ve already made and advance practical policies that make it easier to develop geothermal resources here at home,” said Rep. Hurd. The caucus will serve as a forum to build awareness of emerging geothermal technologies and the opportunities they create for economic growth, job creation, and grid reliability. The caucus will facilitate discussions on the role geothermal energy can play in meeting our nation's energy needs and work to identify legislative solutions to support geothermal development.",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ahead-of-xis-visit-to-the-united-states-merkley-mcgovern-urge-trump-admin-to-stand-up-to-prc-for-its-treatment-of-political-prisoners-transnational-repression/,"Ahead of Xi’s Visit to the United States, Merkley & McGovern Urge Trump Admin to Stand Up to PRC for its Treatment of Political Prisoners, Transnational Repression",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (MA-02)—Ranking Members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—led Congressional Democrats in calling attention to the Chinese government’s treatment of political prisoners and its ongoing campaign of transnational repression. They sent two letters ahead of People’s Republic of China (PRC) President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States this week and his expected meeting with President Donald Trump. The lawmakers urged Trump to use this summit as an opportunity to secure the release of those wrongfully detained in China, including American citizen Min Zin, and stressed, “Even a single mention of a detainee’s name by a senior U.S. official, let alone by yourself, can significantly increase that individual’s chances of clemency or improved treatment. We urge you to be their champion during President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit.” Joining McGovern and Merkley in signing this letter were U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), as well as U.S. Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03). Full text of the letter to President Trump on political prisoners can be found by clicking here. In a separate letter to Trump Administration officials on transnational repression, the lawmakers wrote, “President Xi’s visit comes at a time when China’s transnational repression has intensified. It is therefore essential that your agencies work together to prevent and respond to any effort by the Chinese government and its agents to use these tactics to interfere with the speech and advocacy of those living in the United States or to retaliate against relatives inside the People’s Republic of China.” Joining Merkley and McGovern in signing this letter were U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and U.S. Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Tom Suozzi (NY-03). Full text of the letter to the Trump Administration on transnational repression can be found by clicking here. Merkley and McGovern have led the charge to free those unjustly detained by the PRC and to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in America and across borders. They lead the Transnational Repression Policy Act, bipartisan legislation that would tackle the growing threat of transnational repression, elevate countering transnational repression as a key U.S. foreign policy priority, and promote diplomacy that addresses it as part of a broader strategy to advance democratic principles and human rights at home and abroad. ###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-demand-trump-administration-release-energy-bill-assistance-for-low-income-americans/,"Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Energy Bill Assistance for Low-Income Americans",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Key federal heating assistance program targeted for budget, staffing cuts by Trump administration as energy costs soar Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release all available funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the November 1, 2026 deadline as cold weather sets in. LIHEAP is a lifeline that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help cover the cost of energy bills. This program is more important than ever as energy costs continue to skyrocket under Trump’s war in Iran, and cancellation of new wind and solar energy projects. Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to undermine LIHEAP. Last year, he fired the federal employees overseeing the program. The previous two years, Trump’s budget has zeroed out funding for the program entirely. Earlier this year, legislators appropriated roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year that must be released no later than November 1, 2026. “As you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,” the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, and more households may need heating assistance this winter as temperatures drop while the cost of oil, gas, propane, and other residential fuels rise. Heating oil costs are projected to soar by 31.3 percent this winter, the largest increase among the major heating fuels. Overall, the average U.S. household is projected to spend an average of $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7 percent increase over last year. The letter was led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks, D-Md., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Angus S. King, Jr., I-Maine, Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.M., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. The full text of the letter is here. ###",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-demand-trump-administration-release-energy-bill-assistance-for-low-income-americans,"Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Energy Bill Assistance for Low-Income Americans",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Key federal heating assistance program targeted for budget, staffing cuts by Trump administration as energy costs soar Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release all available funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the November 1, 2026 deadline as cold weather sets in. LIHEAP is a lifeline that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help cover the cost of energy bills. This program is more important than ever as energy costs continue to skyrocket under Trump’s war in Iran, and cancellation of new wind and solar energy projects. Donald Trump has repeatedly tried to undermine LIHEAP. Last year, he fired the federal employees overseeing the program. The previous two years, Trump’s budget has zeroed out funding for the program entirely. Earlier this year, legislators appropriated roughly $4 billion in federal LIHEAP funds available for the coming year that must be released no later than November 1, 2026. “As you know, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act for Fiscal Year 2027 (P.L. 119-103) requires the Department of Health and Human Services to distribute no less than 90 percent of its total LIHEAP allotment by November 1, 2026. Given the extraordinary pressure consumers will face this winter, we ask that you make this distribution well before the deadline,” the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. Nationwide, an estimated 6 million households received assistance with heating and cooling costs through LIHEAP over the last year, and more households may need heating assistance this winter as temperatures drop while the cost of oil, gas, propane, and other residential fuels rise. Heating oil costs are projected to soar by 31.3 percent this winter, the largest increase among the major heating fuels. Overall, the average U.S. household is projected to spend an average of $1,030 to heat their homes this winter, an 8.7 percent increase over last year. The letter was led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks, D-Md., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Chris Coons, D-Del. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Mark Warner, D-Va., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Angus S. King, Jr., I-Maine, Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-N.M., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-announces-oregon-tech-officially-receiving-over-1-million-quantum,Rep. Salinas Announces Oregon Tech Officially Receiving Over $1 Million for Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the Oregon Institute of Technology is officially receiving $1,031,000 in federal funding she secured for the university’s Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative. The funding is being distributed through the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Scientific and Technical Research and Services Community Project Funding program. Rep. Salinas secured the funding in the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations package. “Quantum technology is moving quickly, and schools like Oregon Tech are helping lead the way,” said Rep. Salinas. “This $1 million investment will give Oregon Tech students and researchers access to the equipment and hands-on training they need to build careers in a growing industry. I’m glad I was able to secure this federal funding because investing in Oregon’s students, research, and innovation creates opportunities for working people and strengthens our economy.” The $1,031,000 will help Oregon Tech expand its quantum research capacity, upgrade specialized laboratory equipment, and provide hands-on education and workforce development in quantum science and engineering. The initiative will support work in areas including quantum computing, sensing, networking, and advanced quantum devices. “Oregon Tech is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Salinas for securing over $1 million to support our Quantum Devices and Computing Initiative,” said Dr. Nagi Naganathan, President of Oregon Institute of Technology. “This investment will help prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and technicians for careers in Oregon in one of the most transformative emerging fields of the 21st century. Quantum technologies have the potential to drive breakthroughs in healthcare, energy, transportation, and environmental sustainability, creating innovative solutions that improve lives and strengthen Oregon communities. We are proud to partner in advancing research and education that will deliver such meaningful benefits for society and we thank the Congresswoman for her leadership in this critical area.” Earlier this year, Rep. Salinas visited Oregon Tech to celebrate the funding’s inclusion in the FY26 appropriations package with university leaders.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/mcgovern-merkley-duckworth-walkinshaw-urge-trump-administration-do-not-deport-people-back-to-persecution-and-torture-in-china/,"McGovern, Merkley, Duckworth, Walkinshaw Urge Trump Administration: Do Not Deport People Back to Persecution and Torture in China",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Lawmakers Make Letter Public So Attorneys Can Use It to Support At-Risk Uyghur, Hong Konger, Tibetan and Chinese Asylum Seekers Held in ICE Detention WASHINGTON—Yesterday, Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA), Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), along with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Representative James R. Walkinshaw (D-VA), sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on the Trump Administration to protect people who have fled repression in China and could face persecution or torture if they are sent back. McGovern, Merkley, Duckworth, and Walkinshaw all serve on the CECC—a congressional commission that monitors and documents human rights violations in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). In the letter, the lawmakers called on the U.S. government to stop the practice of detaining at-risk individuals, release those currently in detention, prohibit them from being deported to the PRC, and give fair and timely consideration of their applications for asylum. “Many people who have fled persecution in the PRC come to the United States with an expectation that they can find refuge,” the Members wrote. “They should be given every opportunity to apply for asylum if they have not yet done so and given fair and timely consideration of such application for asylum or other protection. Under no circumstances should at-risk individuals be deported to the PRC.” The Members also made the letter public so immigration attorneys and advocates can use it in cases involving Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans and others who fear persecution if returned to China. “There are likely many more detainees at ICE facilities, perhaps lacking representation, who fear deportation to a country run by a government that seeks to do them harm,” the Members continued. “There are perhaps others who have already been sent back to the PRC who are now experiencing persecution, torture or worse. Thus, we see value in making this letter and its message public.” The letter notes that the U.S. government deporting an individual to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened (also known as “refoulement”) would violate both United States and international law, and would also be a betrayal of that promise by then-Senator Marco Rubio to provide refuge to those subject to the repression of the Chinese Communist Party, when he introduced the Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act and the Uyghur Human Rights Protection Act. The full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-leads-oregon-washington-lawmakers-to-urge-continued-support-for-west-coast-fishermen-and-oregons-seafood-industry/,"Merkley Leads Oregon, Washington Lawmakers to Urge Continued Support for West Coast Fishermen and Oregon’s Seafood Industry",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a bipartisan group of Oregon and Washington lawmakers in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins that calls on the USDA to deliver critical federal support to West Coast fishermen and seafood harvesters, processors, and distributors by purchasing Pacific Hake (whiting) fillets under its Section 32 purchase program. “Historically, Pacific whiting exports to Ukraine, one of the largest whiting fillet markets, reached up to nearly $95 million per year, but instability in the region as a result of war has put that market in jeopardy and caused significant impacts to the supply chain. Compounded by trade embargoes, increased imported competition from low-cost proteins, inflationary pressures, rising operational costs, and more, these factors threaten the long-term stability and viability of this once-booming market and create uncertainty for coastal economies that rely on the whiting fishery’s success for their livelihoods,” wrote the lawmakers. The lawmakers’ bipartisan letter calls on USDA to include whiting in this year’s Section 32 purchases, supporting harvesters, processors, and coastal economies along the West Coast during a period of significant market disruption and strengthening the resiliency of America’s food systems by supporting domestic protein production and distribution. They stressed, “Over the last several years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has worked with the West Coast seafood industry to support domestic distribution of surplus product and ensure that our food supply chain and fisheries operations aren’t wholly disrupted by fluctuations or complete loss of markets abroad. We ask the USDA to continue that partnership by addressing these sustained market losses that have created vast economic strains and challenges for our seafood industry.” In addition to Merkley, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Rick Larsen (WA-02), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Emily Randall (WA-06). Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-randall-lead-bicameral-resolution-to-honor-americas-lgbtq-veterans-and-servicemembers/,"Merkley, Randall Lead Bicameral Resolution to Honor America’s LGBTQ+ Veterans and Servicemembers",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Marking September 20th as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers & Veterans Day Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA-06) introduced a resolution recognizing September 20, 2026, as National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day. National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day falls on the anniversary of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ in 2011 and recognizes the courage and contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans who have served our nation. It is estimated that more than 100,000 servicemembers were discharged from the Armed Forces on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity between World War II and 2011. “America’s servicemembers and veterans come from all walks of life, but they all share a common commitment to serve our nation,” said Merkley. “These heroes put on their uniform knowing their country would likely ask them to hide who they are, deny who they love, or punish them simply for living openly. For generations, LGBTQ+ Americans have answered the call to serve, and we should honor their service and acknowledge the discrimination they endured.” “Service members and Veterans who’ve proudly served our country deserve respect and care no matter who they are or who they love. But this Administration continues to push out trans and queer service members using discriminatory policies that don’t make our military more prepared or our nation more secure. Unacceptable,” said Randall. “Today, on the 15-year anniversary of the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ – the long-standing policy that kept LGBTQ+ service members in the closet – we honor all LGBTQ+ Americans who have bravely served our country. Today we recommit to fighting for every veteran to receive the dignity, support, and benefits they’ve earned.” The resolution calls for greater awareness of the historical and ongoing injustices faced by LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans, including discriminatory military policies, unjust discharges, and bans on transgender military service and health care. It also urges the federal government to support LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans and ensure they receive the recognition and benefits they have earned through their service. The Trump Administration continues to pursue policies restricting transgender Americans’ ability to serve openly in the military. The ban on transgender military service and additional restrictions on gender-affirming care continue to be litigated in federal court, with the Trump Administration asking the Supreme Court to uphold the ban on transgender troops, threatening the careers of thousands of servicemembers who serve in critical national security roles. Merkley and Randall have led the charge in Congress to support our military readiness and national security by prohibiting discrimination against our servicemembers. Previously, Merkley wrote the No Place for LGBTQ+ Hate Act, which would ensure that Trump’s hateful anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders, including the ban on transgender servicemembers, have no force or effect, and that no federal funds are used to implement, administer, enforce, or carry out those executive orders. In addition to Merkley and Randall, this resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39), Mike Quigley (IL-05), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). This resolution is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Minority Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, Advocates for Transgender Equality, Out in National Security, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Black Veterans Project, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), and SPARTA Pride. “For generations, LGBTQ+ Americans have felt called to service in the U.S. Armed Forces, even as they were prevented from serving openly until recent years. The dire predictions – lately resurrected by anti-equality figures – that claimed that recognizing LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans would somehow harm military readiness or effectiveness, have been conclusively and forever debunked. At a time when transgender servicemembers are seeing their service cut short for no good reason, it’s good to remember we all owe a debt of gratitude to our LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans, and we thank Sen. Merkley and Rep. Randall for this resolution to honor them,” said Jennifer Pike Bailey, Human Rights Campaign Senior Director of Government Affairs. “LGBTQ+ Americans have answered the call to serve this country for generations, often at extraordinary cost to themselves, their families, and their futures,” said Lindsay Church, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Minority Veterans of America. “They put on the uniform knowing their country would likely ask them to hide who they were, deny who they loved, or punish them simply for living openly. LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day is our declaration that our service will not be erased and our sacrifices will not be forgotten. We honor those who served, we reckon with what has been done to them in the name of national defense, and we demand a country worthy of the people who have always been willing to defend it.” “Modern Military Association of America (MMAA) is proud to endorse the National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day Resolution. LGBTQ+ servicemembers and veterans have defended our nation with courage and distinction in every generation, often while confronting discrimination and barriers simply because of who they are. Even when our nation did not always afford them the dignity or recognition they deserved, they continued to serve and sacrifice. Their service, sacrifice, and stories are an essential part of American military history. We also recognize the families who have supported them and the importance of ensuring servicemembers, veterans, and their families have access to the care they need, including gender-affirming care. This resolution provides an important opportunity to recognize their contributions, acknowledge the harm caused by discriminatory policies, and honor and preserve their legacy for generations to come. MMAA is proud to stand with the LGBTQ+ military and veteran community in honoring their service, sacrifice, and enduring contributions to our nation,” said Hale Allegretti, Modern Military Chair of the Board of Directors, U.S. Coast Guard Cmdr. (ret.). “LGBTQ+ Americans have served our country from the founding of the Republic, including during decades when their government asked for their service while denying them equal treatment. National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day honors that service and sacrifice, recognizes the costs of exclusion, and affirms that everyone who raises their hand to serve deserves dignity, respect, and the benefits they have earned. We are grateful to Senator Merkley and Representative Randall for recognizing the generations of LGBTQ+ Americans who have worn the uniform,” said Lucas F. Schleusener, CEO of Out in National Security. “At a time of immense national security challenges, tens of thousands of LGBTQIA+ people are answering the call and proudly serving our nation through military service,” said Brian Dittmeier, Director of LGBTQI+ Equality at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund. “Their selfless service is undermined by the ongoing attacks by the Trump administration, which is forcing trans people out of military careers and ripping away the benefits they’ve earned through their service. LGBTQIA+ service members and veterans have had to overcome a long legacy of discrimination and exclusion in the military, but despite these challenges, they have continued to excel and rise through the ranks. Now, more than ever, we need leaders in Congress who are willing to stand with our service members and veterans as the administration senselessly undermines our military’s recruitment and readiness. This resolution, led by Sen. Merkley and Rep. Randall, is an important step in ensuring that anyone can put themselves forth to serve this country, regardless of who they are or who they love.” Full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-join-bipartisan-congressional-push-to-stop-proposed-yosemite-land-transfer-to-trump-donor/,"Merkley, Wyden Join Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, joined a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in urging DOI to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. In their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers condemned recent reporting that indicated the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite to facilitate access to private property owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose chief executive officer began making a series of donations to Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee in late 2024 — shortly after Kingsbarn acquired the Hazel Green Ranch property. “At its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans,” wrote the lawmakers. “Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.” The lawmakers also raised concerns about the Department’s proposal to use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate the exchange. The letter noted that the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward with the project due to congressional objections. “Public lands belong in public hands,” concluded the lawmakers. “Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.” The letter was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Full letter is available here and below: Dear Secretary Burgum: Yosemite National Park is a cornerstone of the National Park System and is one of California’s crown jewels. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that “nothing in the world is more beautiful than the Yosemite” and that our national parks should be “preserved” and “their majestic beauty all unmarred.” Yosemite is a national treasure preserved for the benefit of the American people. Its continued beauty, status as a wildlife sanctuary, and source of enjoyment is contingent upon preservation and proper maintenance of its land—not parts being sold off to enrich nearby private property owners. We are extremely concerned that the Department of the Interior is considering selling off portions of the park to private development and we strongly oppose the proposed land transfer. Recent reporting indicates that since early 2025, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park to facilitate access to an 83-acre privately owned ranch. This is not the first time this property has sought to have private access to Yosemite, with federal courts blocking this right to access in both 2007 and 2012. Now that the ranch has a new owner, they are once again seeking to acquire this land to enhance the value of their property, and the political leadership at DOI is pressuring career staff to approve the exchange. At its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans. This transaction does not seek to expand public access to Yosemite, improve visitor services, or address transportation deficiencies in park access. Rather, this land exchange seeks to merely cut down on driving time for a select few on private property. Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party. We were alarmed that the Department submitted to Congress a proposal to use money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate this exchange. That fund exists to acquire and protect public lands for the benefit of the American public—not sell them off to corporate developers. In response to the Department’s request to fund this exchange through the LWCF, the Senate Interior Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward on this project due to our objection. Further, in response to inquiries from Congress, the Department indicated that it has not identified any land to be exchanged for the parcel of Yosemite National Park that the Department is seeking to sell to the private developer. This gives further credence to the notion that this exchange is not being done in the public interest, but rather solely to benefit a private developer. In its justification for the LWCF proposal, the Department indicated that this exchange was a “priority,” while providing no compelling explanation for why it was in the interest of the United States to pursue this exchange. Instead, when explaining the need for the project, the Department simply stated that the private landowner requested an interest in federally owned property within the national park. Public lands belong in public hands. Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life. We oppose any effort to privatize, sell off, give away, or otherwise undermine the continued existence of public lands, in Yosemite or across the country. We ask that you honor congressional objections and abandon this effort to sell off a piece of Yosemite National Park. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-demand-investigation-into-trump-administration-voter-data-misconduct/,"Wyden, Merkley Demand Investigation into Trump Administration Voter Data Misconduct",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Oregon senators seek “thorough and objective” investigation into new whistleblower disclosure revealing DHS officers were directed to illegally access sensitive voter data and create law enforcement records based on unreliable data compiled with “supplemental magic” WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately and independently investigate wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower’s disclosure alleging DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as part of its effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.” “The DHS Office of Inspector General’s mission is ‘[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS,’” wrote Wyden, Merkley along with 16 other senators. “We urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.” The senators highlighted the whistleblower’s allegations and potential impacts on eligible voters and other lawfully present noncitizens, such as directing USCIS personnel to make false certifications to access sensitive voter information, create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as “TECS records,” require reckless performance quotas of reviewing 40 subjects per day, and rely on unreliable source data compiled with “supplemental magic.” In addition to opening an investigation, the senators urged the OIG to take immediate action to prevent additional wrongdoing, writing: “In addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.” “Given the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary,” the senators concluded. “Finally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary’s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.” The DHS whistleblower disclosure has also prompted outside watchdog organizations to conduct their own investigations into the Trump administration’s wrongdoings, including an investigation launched by American Oversight to obtain DHS and USCIS records under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the administration’s so-called “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and alleged DHS directives to violate state laws. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). The entire letter is here. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-join-bipartisan-congressional-push-to-stop-proposed-yosemite-land-transfer-to-trump-donor,"Merkley, Wyden Join Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, joined a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in urging DOI to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre parcel adjacent to the park known as Hazel Green Ranch. In their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers condemned recent reporting that indicated the Trump Administration is considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite to facilitate access to private property owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose chief executive officer began making a series of donations to Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee in late 2024 — shortly after Kingsbarn acquired the Hazel Green Ranch property. “At its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans,” wrote the lawmakers. “Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party.” The lawmakers also raised concerns about the Department’s proposal to use Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate the exchange. The letter noted that the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward with the project due to congressional objections. “Public lands belong in public hands,” concluded the lawmakers. “Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life.” The letter was led by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.), members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, along with U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (D-Calif.-21) and Jared Huffman (D-Calif.-02), Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Full letter is available here and below: Dear Secretary Burgum: Yosemite National Park is a cornerstone of the National Park System and is one of California’s crown jewels. President Theodore Roosevelt once said that “nothing in the world is more beautiful than the Yosemite” and that our national parks should be “preserved” and “their majestic beauty all unmarred.” Yosemite is a national treasure preserved for the benefit of the American people. Its continued beauty, status as a wildlife sanctuary, and source of enjoyment is contingent upon preservation and proper maintenance of its land—not parts being sold off to enrich nearby private property owners. We are extremely concerned that the Department of the Interior is considering selling off portions of the park to private development and we strongly oppose the proposed land transfer. Recent reporting indicates that since early 2025, the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service have been considering a proposal to exchange or convey an interest in an approximately quarter-mile strip of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park to facilitate access to an 83-acre privately owned ranch. This is not the first time this property has sought to have private access to Yosemite, with federal courts blocking this right to access in both 2007 and 2012. Now that the ranch has a new owner, they are once again seeking to acquire this land to enhance the value of their property, and the political leadership at DOI is pressuring career staff to approve the exchange. At its core, this proposal appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of land that belongs to all Americans. This transaction does not seek to expand public access to Yosemite, improve visitor services, or address transportation deficiencies in park access. Rather, this land exchange seeks to merely cut down on driving time for a select few on private property. Any decision to relinquish public land to private ownership should be supported by a clear and compelling public benefit, not merely the economic interests of a private party. We were alarmed that the Department submitted to Congress a proposal to use money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority to facilitate this exchange. That fund exists to acquire and protect public lands for the benefit of the American public—not sell them off to corporate developers. In response to the Department’s request to fund this exchange through the LWCF, the Senate Interior Environment Appropriations Subcommittee did not agree to move forward on this project due to our objection. Further, in response to inquiries from Congress, the Department indicated that it has not identified any land to be exchanged for the parcel of Yosemite National Park that the Department is seeking to sell to the private developer. This gives further credence to the notion that this exchange is not being done in the public interest, but rather solely to benefit a private developer. In its justification for the LWCF proposal, the Department indicated that this exchange was a “priority,” while providing no compelling explanation for why it was in the interest of the United States to pursue this exchange. Instead, when explaining the need for the project, the Department simply stated that the private landowner requested an interest in federally owned property within the national park. Public lands belong in public hands. Protection of public lands is a bipartisan issue, overwhelmingly supported by the American people from all walks of life. We oppose any effort to privatize, sell off, give away, or otherwise undermine the continued existence of public lands, in Yosemite or across the country. We ask that you honor congressional objections and abandon this effort to sell off a piece of Yosemite National Park. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-demand-investigation-into-trump-administration-voter-data-misconduct,"Wyden, Merkley Demand Investigation into Trump Administration Voter Data Misconduct",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Oregon senators seek “thorough and objective” investigation into new whistleblower disclosure revealing DHS officers were directed to illegally access sensitive voter data and create law enforcement records based on unreliable data compiled with “supplemental magic” WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately and independently investigate wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower’s disclosure alleging DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as part of its effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.” “The DHS Office of Inspector General’s mission is ‘[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS,’” wrote Wyden, Merkley along with 16 other senators.“We urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.” The senators highlighted the whistleblower’s allegations and potential impacts on eligible voters and other lawfully present noncitizens, such as directing USCIS personnel to make false certifications to access sensitive voter information, create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as “TECS records,” require reckless performance quotas of reviewing 40 subjects per day, and rely on unreliable source data compiled with “supplemental magic.” In addition to opening an investigation, the senators urged the OIG to take immediate action to prevent additional wrongdoing, writing: “In addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.” “Given the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary,” the senators concluded.“Finally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary’s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.” The DHS whistleblower disclosure has also prompted outside watchdog organizations to conduct their own investigations into the Trump administration’s wrongdoings, including an investigation launched by American Oversight to obtain DHS and USCIS records under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the administration’s so-called “Unlawful Voter Initiative” and alleged DHS directives to violate state laws. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-unveils-legislative-plan-transform-k-12-education,Bonamici Unveils Legislative Plan to Transform K-12 Education,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [9/17/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Transforming Education for the Future Act, comprehensive legislation to modernize the K-12 education system and create a better future for students and families. The American education system has experienced significant turbulence during the past decade, including the mismanagement and dismantling of the Department of Education, devastating effects of COVID-19, increased use of devices and social media, the rise of generative AI, and undermining of federal support for public schools. The Transforming Education for the Future Act provides the framework to address these critical issues and more. The legislation is the result of months of stakeholder outreach and member engagement. Bonamici outlined her plan on the House floor. The video can be found here. “For decades, public schools have been asked to do more with less. Add to that the fact that we have seen many new and complicated challenges over the past ten years,” Bonamici said on the House floor. “...Circumstances have changed, but the American system of public education has not yet adapted. We need a public education system that meets the moment for today’s students and tomorrow’s. We need an education system that prepares students not to pass a test, but to think critically and build a future. We need to support the educators who make that possible. And we need to remove those barriers that stand between children and opportunity. The Transforming Education for the Future Act is a blueprint for doing just that."" The full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The Transforming Education for the Future Act will: Emphasize a Well-Rounded Education for All Students Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so children with disabilities get the free and appropriate education and services they need and deserve. Promote hands-on project-based learning and inspire creativity and critical thinking by expanding access to career and technical education, arts, civics, humanities, and more. Reduce state and federal reliance on standardized test scores and expand the use of multiple high-quality measures to capture a more accurate picture of student achievement. Support Educators and Learning Enact policies to address discrimination and bias in K-12 schools, uphold civil rights, and address racial segregation. Strengthen the educator pipeline through historic investments in educator pay, improved working conditions, and ample resources for educators and staff. Fund high-quality education research and promote transformational, evidence-based practices for student success and wellbeing. Address Socioeconomic Barriers to Learning Triple funding for Title I to better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the schools that educate them. Establish free, universal preschool for all three- and four-year-old children through a federal-state partnership. Eliminate stigma and reduce bureaucracy by making school breakfasts and lunches free for all children, provide summer meals and summer EBT, and streamline and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Repeal the federal school voucher program, and restore funding and staff to the Department of Education so the federal government can effectively serve all students in all public schools. The Transforming Education for the Future Act is endorsed by: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), Glisten, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Principals Association, National PTA, and the School Social Work Association of America. “PTA firmly believes every child has a right to a high-quality, fair, equitable and well-rounded education as well as the tools and support to learn, succeed and thrive. Our association has long advocated for quality federal investments in our public education system, particularly for Title I, IDEA, Title IV-A, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program and universal free school meals,” said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA. “We applaud Representative Bonamici for introducing the Transforming Education for the Future Act and leading the charge to ensure investments are prioritized in critical education programs and that every child has the support, programs, resources and services they need to reach their full potential.” In addition to the new policy objectives, this legislation also includes the following bills (alphabetically by legislation): American Teacher Act (Rep. Frederica Wilson) Arts Education for All Act (Rep. Bonamici) Black History is American History Act (Rep. Beatty) Championing Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act (Rep. DeLauro) Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (Rep. DeLauro) Fentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act (Rep. Bonamici) Full-Service Community Schools Expansion Act (Rep. Susie Lee) Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act (Rep. Gottheimer) IDEA Full Funding Act (Rep. Huffman) Keep Public Funds in Public Schools Act (Rep. Moore) Keeping All Students Safe Act (Rep. Beyer) Mitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students (Rep. Bonamici) New Essential Education Discoveries Act (Rep. Bonamici) Preparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act (Rep. McBath) Protecting Our Students in Schools Act (Rep. Bonamici) Reading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act (Rep. McBath) Right to Read Act (Rep. Grijalva) Safe Schools Improvement Act (Rep. Sanchez) School Violence Prevention Act (Rep. Hayes) Supporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act (Rep. Bonamici) Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act (Rep. Meng) Universal School Meals Program Act (Rep. Omar) The Transforming Education for the Future Act is cosponsored by Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Nikki Budzinkski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Angie Craig (D-MN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Adeltia Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and, Andrea Salinas (D-OR), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA). ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-salinas-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde-land-transfer-act,"Merkley, Salinas, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area. “With the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,” said Merkley. “This is long-overdue, and I’ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.” “For too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,” said Salinas. “This legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe’s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.” “This bill takes a big step toward helping the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to support services and provide opportunities that will enhance quality of life in the surrounding community,” said Wyden. “I’m proud to support this legislation and will keep battling for all Tribes in Oregon to have the federal government working with them every step of the way as they exercise their sovereignty.” “Oregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,” said Bonamici. “This land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I'm grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.” “This bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,"" said Hoyle. “The Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.” “For generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,"" said Dexter. ""This legislation recognizes the Tribe’s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon’s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe’s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon’s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon’s tribal communities."" ""The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon's natural resources, and I'm proud to support this effort,"" said Bynum. ""This bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I'll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon's tribal communities."" The Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts. “We are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “The transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.” Full text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here. A map detailing the land transfer can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-comprehensive-legislation-protect-wildland,"Dexter Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters’ Health",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes first-of-its-kind respiratory protections, strengthens health monitoring and improves care for federal wildland firefighters. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (D-OR), Reps. Huffman (D-CA) and Gallagher (R-CA), and Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA), Curtis (R-UT), Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect wildland firefighters from the serious health risks associated with smoke, toxic substances and other hazards they encounter on the job. For nearly 30 years, federal agencies have had data documenting the serious health risks wildland firefighters face. Structural firefighters began using respiratory protection in the 1970s, yet wildland firefighters are still routinely sent into dangerous conditions without adequate respiratory protection. Developed in partnership with firefighters, unions and health experts, Dexter’s legislation would establish federal respiratory protection standards, strengthen long-term health monitoring, improve decontamination practices and ensure firefighters have better support when seeking federal workers’ compensation for job-related illnesses. “As a pulmonologist and critical care physician, I’ve cared for firefighters with acute smoke and burn injuries, as well as chronic lung disease and cancer caused by repeated smoke exposure,” Congresswoman Dexter said. “It is devastating, and it is preventable. Our wildland firefighters deserve more than our gratitude—they deserve a government that protects them as fiercely as they protect all of us. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is legislation that will finally close critical gaps in protecting wildland firefighter health. It is built upon a simple principle: protecting firefighters’ health must be an operational priority, not an afterthought.” “Every day, wildland firefighters face tremendous health risks at work, where they protect our communities, defend the environment, and save lives,” said Senator Padilla. “As California faces an increasing threat from devastating wildfires, we have a responsibility to make sure the heroes fighting these fires have the resources, safety equipment, and support needed to do their jobs safely. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act takes an important step toward closing longstanding gaps in health and safety protections, giving our wildland firefighters the equipment, resources, and support they need to stay healthy while they brave dangerous conditions to save lives.” “As climate chaos fuels an even more ferocious fire season, our wildland firefighters are on the front lines, battling deadly blazes to protect our communities,” said Senator Merkley. “These heroes deserve adequate resources and strong protections from the dangers posed by smoke exposure and other contaminants. Our bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is critical to ensuring these firefighters get the support they need because they put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it’s our job to step up to keep them safe.” “Our wildland firefighters are facing one of the worst fire seasons on record. Rep. Dexter and I have heard directly from these first responders on the dangers they face on the fire line and the health risks they take on every day as they fight these increasingly catastrophic fires. Young, healthy firefighters are developing cancer and lung disease at alarming rates, and some are paying with their lives,” said Ranking Member Huffman, House Natural Resources Committee - Democrats. “These folks keep our communities standing and our forests healthy. The least we owe them is the pay, the protective gear, and the health care to live long, healthy lives, and I am going to make sure Congress delivers.” “Wildland firefighters run toward danger battling some of the biggest blazes we have ever seen,” said Congressman Gallagher. “We must take the health risks that come with that job seriously. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act ensures that our firefighters have the right protocols, equipment, and working conditions to better protect them during and after a wildland fire.” “NFFE-IAM strongly supports the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act and its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of federal wildland firefighters who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and public lands,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “Wildland firefighters face extraordinary occupational hazards, including toxic smoke, extreme heat, injuries, fatigue, and mental health challenges. They deserve the best available prevention, treatment, and protective technologies. Investing in their long-term health will save lives, retain experienced firefighters, strengthen workforce readiness, and help ensure these dedicated public servants can enjoy long, healthy lives after their service.” “Wildland firefighters and fire support personnel are exposed to a variety of hazards, including wildfire smoke, on the job. Understanding the significant impacts of these hazards, the Commission called for investments in the physical and mental health of fire personnel as well as improved mitigation techniques for wildfire smoke exposure,” said Annie Schmidt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Partnerships for Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. “The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act’s creation of a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program makes an important and necessary investment in the health and safety of those who serve us all by responding to wildfires. We applaud Reps. Dexter and Gallagher as well as Senators Padilla, Merkley, Sheehy, and Curtis on their efforts to protect wildland fire personnel.” ""There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they've disengaged from the firelines,"" said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology. “Our firefighters put everything on the line to protect us, and they deserve the same commitment in return. This bill takes an important step toward ensuring firefighters get the healthcare, benefits, and long-term support they’ve earned,” said Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action. “Congresswoman Dexter is a leader on this issue and Megafire Action looks forward to advancing this long-overdue commitment to those who protect our communities.” The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act would: Establish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and Program Create an interagency Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate efforts to reduce harmful exposures, pilot respiratory technologies and develop an updated Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy every three years. Codify and fund the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program to support firefighters’ long-term health and safety. Establish Respiratory Protection Standards Permanently establish a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of Firefighter Health and Safety to develop criteria for new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and support long-term health surveillance. Establish a two-year pilot program to test respiratory protection technologies under real-world wildland firefighting conditions. Require OSHA to issue an interim final standard for wildland firefighter health protection, followed by a final standard within five years of the pilot program’s report. Protect Firefighters During and After the Job Require paid duty time during operations for firefighters to shower, decontaminate gear and clean vehicles following exposure to smoke or PFAS. Require fire facilities to provide commercial-grade washing machines for contaminated gear, designated decontamination areas and access to showers. Create a dedicated Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs claims unit with specialized training on firefighting exposures to reduce processing delays and improve coordination for firefighters seeking benefits. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is endorsed by the National Federation of Federal Employees, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire Protection Association, Megafire, Firefighters United for Safety, Read bill text here. Watch Rep. Dexter’s remarks here. Watch full Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act press conference here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation’s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat. “Thanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,” said Merkley. “Oregon’s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I’ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon’s ecosystems for generations to come.” “Salmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state’s natural wonders renowned around the world,” said Wyden. “This $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I’ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.” ""Salmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,"" said Hoyle. ""NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district."" “I’m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,” said Dexter. ""At a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.” The $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows: The Freshwater Trust – Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million Wild Salmon Center – Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million ""When we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn’t to put them on some sacred list and mourn—it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that’s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,” said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust. ""This investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,"" said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-91-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades,"Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties. “Every Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,” Wyden said. “This federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I’ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.” “This federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure – two critical needs that I’ve heard about time and time again from Oregon’s rural communities,” said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. “These funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.” ""It's a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,"" said Rep. Hoyle. ""This funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I'll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon."" “Oregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,” said Rep. Salinas. “We need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.” The $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows: $1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes. $5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units. $2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units. ""The preservation of these properties is really focused on the households. Not only are we extending the federal rent assistance long term, the scope of the rehab will bring the projects up to a ‘like new’ condition, and of course, we hope that this will be a home they will be proud to bring their friends and family to,” said Shelly Cullin, Director of Development for Chrisman Development, Inc. A web version of the release is here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/dexter-merkley-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-comprehensive-legislation-to-protect-wildland-firefighters-health/,"Dexter, Merkley Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Comprehensive Legislation to Protect Wildland Firefighters’ Health",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act establishes first-of-its-kind respiratory protections, strengthens health monitoring and improves care for federal wildland firefighters. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (D-OR), Reps. Huffman (D-CA) and Gallagher (R-CA), and Sens. Merkley (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA), Curtis (R-UT), Sheehy (R-Mont.) introduced the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect wildland firefighters from the serious health risks associated with smoke, toxic substances and other hazards they encounter on the job. For nearly 30 years, federal agencies have had data documenting the serious health risks wildland firefighters face. Structural firefighters began using respiratory protection in the 1970s, yet wildland firefighters are still routinely sent into dangerous conditions without adequate respiratory protection. Developed in partnership with firefighters, unions and health experts, Dexter’s legislation would establish federal respiratory protection standards, strengthen long-term health monitoring, improve decontamination practices and ensure firefighters have better support when seeking federal workers’ compensation for job-related illnesses. “As a pulmonologist and critical care physician, I’ve cared for firefighters with acute smoke and burn injuries, as well as chronic lung disease and cancer caused by repeated smoke exposure,” Congresswoman Dexter said. “It is devastating, and it is preventable. Our wildland firefighters deserve more than our gratitude—they deserve a government that protects them as fiercely as they protect all of us. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is legislation that will finally close critical gaps in protecting wildland firefighter health. It is built upon a simple principle: protecting firefighters’ health must be an operational priority, not an afterthought.” “As climate chaos fuels an even more ferocious fire season, our wildland firefighters are on the front lines, battling deadly blazes to protect our communities,” said Senator Merkley. “These heroes deserve adequate resources and strong protections from the dangers posed by smoke exposure and other contaminants. Our bipartisan Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is critical to ensuring these firefighters get the support they need because they put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and it’s our job to step up to keep them safe.” “Every day, wildland firefighters face tremendous health risks at work, where they protect our communities, defend the environment, and save lives,” said Senator Padilla. “As California faces an increasing threat from devastating wildfires, we have a responsibility to make sure the heroes fighting these fires have the resources, safety equipment, and support needed to do their jobs safely. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act takes an important step toward closing longstanding gaps in health and safety protections, giving our wildland firefighters the equipment, resources, and support they need to stay healthy while they brave dangerous conditions to save lives.” “Our wildland firefighters are facing one of the worst fire seasons on record. Rep. Dexter and I have heard directly from these first responders on the dangers they face on the fire line and the health risks they take on every day as they fight these increasingly catastrophic fires. Young, healthy firefighters are developing cancer and lung disease at alarming rates, and some are paying with their lives,” said Ranking Member Huffman, House Natural Resources Committee – Democrats. “These folks keep our communities standing and our forests healthy. The least we owe them is the pay, the protective gear, and the health care to live long, healthy lives, and I am going to make sure Congress delivers.” “Wildland firefighters run toward danger battling some of the biggest blazes we have ever seen,” said Congressman Gallagher. “We must take the health risks that come with that job seriously. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act ensures that our firefighters have the right protocols, equipment, and working conditions to better protect them during and after a wildland fire.” “NFFE-IAM strongly supports the Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act and its commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of federal wildland firefighters who put themselves in harm’s way to protect our communities and public lands,” said Randy Erwin, National President, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM). “Wildland firefighters face extraordinary occupational hazards, including toxic smoke, extreme heat, injuries, fatigue, and mental health challenges. They deserve the best available prevention, treatment, and protective technologies. Investing in their long-term health will save lives, retain experienced firefighters, strengthen workforce readiness, and help ensure these dedicated public servants can enjoy long, healthy lives after their service.” “Wildland firefighters and fire support personnel are exposed to a variety of hazards, including wildfire smoke, on the job. Understanding the significant impacts of these hazards, the Commission called for investments in the physical and mental health of fire personnel as well as improved mitigation techniques for wildfire smoke exposure,” said Annie Schmidt, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Partnerships for Alliance for Wildfire Resilience. “The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act’s creation of a Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program makes an important and necessary investment in the health and safety of those who serve us all by responding to wildfires. We applaud Reps. Dexter and Gallagher as well as Senators Padilla, Merkley, Sheehy, and Curtis on their efforts to protect wildland fire personnel.” “There is a huge gap between the safety risks and health hazards that wildland firefighters face, including risk of severe musculoskeletal damage and rare cancers, and the inadequate level of medical care they are provided. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act will go a long way towards narrowing this gap in their health care, providing support for crews whose work-related injuries and illnesses sometimes appear long after they’ve disengaged from the firelines,” said Timothy Ingalsbee, Executive Director of FUSEE: Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology. “Our firefighters put everything on the line to protect us, and they deserve the same commitment in return. This bill takes an important step toward ensuring firefighters get the healthcare, benefits, and long-term support they’ve earned,” said Matt Weiner, founder and CEO of Megafire Action. “Congresswoman Dexter is a leader on this issue and Megafire Action looks forward to advancing this long-overdue commitment to those who protect our communities.” The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act would: Establish a Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and Program Create an interagency Wildland Firefighter Health Task Force and an advisory panel of outside stakeholders to coordinate efforts to reduce harmful exposures, pilot respiratory technologies and develop an updated Wildland Firefighter Health Strategy every three years. Codify and fund the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program to support firefighters’ long-term health and safety. Establish Respiratory Protection Standards Permanently establish a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Office of Firefighter Health and Safety to develop criteria for new Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and support long-term health surveillance. Establish a two-year pilot program to test respiratory protection technologies under real-world wildland firefighting conditions. Require OSHA to issue an interim final standard for wildland firefighter health protection, followed by a final standard within five years of the pilot program’s report. Protect Firefighters During and After the Job Require paid duty time during operations for firefighters to shower, decontaminate gear and clean vehicles following exposure to smoke or PFAS. Require fire facilities to provide commercial-grade washing machines for contaminated gear, designated decontamination areas and access to showers. Create a dedicated Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs claims unit with specialized training on firefighting exposures to reduce processing delays and improve coordination for firefighters seeking benefits. The Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act is endorsed by the National Federation of Federal Employees, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, National Fire Protection Association, Megafire, and Firefighters United for Safety. Read bill text here. Watch Rep. Dexter’s remarks here. Watch full Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act press conference here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-salinas-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde-land-transfer-act/,"Merkley, Salinas, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area. “With the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,” said Merkley. “This is long-overdue, and I’ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.” “For too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,” said Salinas. “This legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe’s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.” “This bill takes a big step toward helping the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to support services and provide opportunities that will enhance quality of life in the surrounding community,” said Wyden. “I’m proud to support this legislation and will keep battling for all Tribes in Oregon to have the federal government working with them every step of the way as they exercise their sovereignty.” “Oregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,” said Bonamici. “This land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I’m grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.” “This bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,” said Hoyle. “The Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.” “For generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,” said Dexter. “This legislation recognizes the Tribe’s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon’s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe’s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon’s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon’s tribal communities.” “The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon’s natural resources, and I’m proud to support this effort,” said Bynum. “This bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I’ll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon’s tribal communities.” The Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts. “We are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “The transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.” Full text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here. A map detailing the land transfer can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects/,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation’s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat. “Thanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,” said Merkley. “Oregon’s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I’ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon’s ecosystems for generations to come.” “Salmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state’s natural wonders renowned around the world,” said Wyden. “This $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I’ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.” “Salmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,” said Hoyle. “NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district.” “I’m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,” said Dexter. “At a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.” The $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows: The Freshwater Trust – Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million Wild Salmon Center – Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million “When we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn’t to put them on some sacred list and mourn—it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that’s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,” said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust. “This investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,” said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-dexter-announce-12-million-to-oregon-for-habitat-restoration-projects,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects in coastal communities around the country. These projects will recover and sustain our nation’s fisheries by ensuring fish have access to high-quality habitat. “Thanks to the Community-based Restoration Program, $12 million in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help protect and improve critical habitat for native Oregon fish, including the iconic coho salmon,” said Merkley. “Oregon’s native fish are the lifeblood of our state, supporting the health and vitality of our communities, local economies, and Tribes who have been here since time immemorial. I’ll keep pushing for necessary federal investments to protect Oregon’s ecosystems for generations to come.” “Salmon and steelhead are a huge part of what makes Oregon recreation and our state’s natural wonders renowned around the world,” said Wyden. “This $12 million federal investment will help ensure those native fish keep flourishing along the coast and in the Sandy River Basin. I’ll always keep battling for resources just like these that are so vital for economic well-being and Tribal traditions.” ""Salmon sustain fishing jobs, support Tribes and help our local economies thrive,"" said Hoyle. ""NOAA's Community-based Restoration Program supports habitat preservation up and down the Oregon coast. This funding will support habitat restoration for Coho Salmon right here in the 4th Congressional district."" “I’m deeply grateful our community is receiving $6.1 million in NOAA funding to support habitat restoration for salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin,” said Dexter. ""At a time when these threatened species face constant threats from climate change, I will continue advocating for funding that helps protect this irreplaceable part of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem.” The $12 million in federal funds will be distributed in Oregon as follows: The Freshwater Trust – Restoring habitat to support salmon and steelhead in the Sandy River Basin: $6.1 million Wild Salmon Center – Restoring habitat for coho salmon across four Oregon Coast watersheds: $5.9 million ""When we helped secure Endangered Species Act protection for these fish decades ago, the goal wasn’t to put them on some sacred list and mourn—it was to recover them. The Sandy program shows what can happen when you work at the scale of the whole basin, put effort into projects that matter most, and measure success by outcomes: spring Chinook and winter steelhead returns are now consistently surpassing ESA delisting abundance targets. This basin is one of the only spots in America where that’s actually happening. This NOAA investment lets us keep doing what works until the job is done,” said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO, The Freshwater Trust. ""This investment in a unique Oregon partnership with a winning formula will help to further recover threatened Oregon Coast coho. By following science, building consensus across agencies and communities, and deploying local knowledge and workers, the Coast Coho Partnership is reconnecting the most important streams, wetlands, and estuaries for coho up and down the coast. Coho abundance is trending upward once again. Thanks to this funding and the leadership of the NOAA Restoration Center, we continue to recover a fish that is central to life on the Oregon Coast,"" said Mark Trenholm, Vice President for Conservation, Wild Salmon Center. ###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-schiff-press-flock-ceo-for-answers-on-troubling-abuse-of-technology-amid-surveillance-network-concerns-push-to-protect-americans-privacy,"Wyden, Schiff Press Flock CEO for Answers on Troubling Abuse of Technology Amid Surveillance Network Concerns, Push to Protect Americans’ Privacy",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said today they are pressing Flock for information regarding allegations of abuse of its surveillance platforms and whether its existing protocols are failing to protect Americans’ privacy. The inquiry follows increasingly troubling and documented reports of law enforcement officials abusing Flock’s nationwide license plate readers, camera network and sensors to carry out extensive, unauthorized surveillance. “Despite a professed public commitment to responsible governance, Flock has repeatedly failed to implement the safeguards necessary to protect Americans’ civil liberties,” Wyden and Schiff wrote Flock CEO Garrett Langley. Multiple organizations and news reporting have revealed alarming concerns of unauthorized surveillance by Flock cameras. Organizations have come forward to express concern that states restricting reproductive health care access are using Flock data to track down patients traveling to other states for care while other reports indicate Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are conducting immigration-related searches of Flock databases to pursue individuals without warrants. An analysis of police and court reports by The Washington Post revealed that at least 50 law enforcement officers have been charged or accused of misusing Flock’s surveillance system for unauthorized purposes. In their inquiry, the senators express concern over how Flock has repeatedly failed to implement the safeguards necessary to protect Americans’ civil liberties and demand answers on how the company is protecting against misuse by law enforcement and others, as well as its compliance with existing privacy laws. They also direct Flock to preserve all records between the company, employees, consultants, and state, local, and federal agents regarding Flock cameras. Wyden has been a staunch advocate for privacy rights and holding Flock accountable. In October 2025, Wyden questioned Flock regarding its massive license plate recognition network and data-sharing practices. He criticized the company for misleading local law enforcement customers and enabling the sharing of sensitive vehicle tracking data with federal immigration authorities or out-of-state agencies enforcing anti-abortion laws. Wyden also slammed the platform's ineffective safeguards, noting that officers could easily bypass accountability by sharing passwords or entering generic, meaningless reasons for data searches. Following his initial investigation, Wyden urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Flock and hold the company responsible for negligent cybersecurity practices such as failing to require multi-factor authentication leaving millions of Americans' personal data vulnerable to hackers.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-sen-jeff-merkley-oregon-lawmakers-introduce-grand-ronde,"Rep. Andrea Salinas, Sen. Jeff Merkley, Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led their Oregon Congressional Delegation colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—to introduce the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act. The bicameral bill would transfer 18,626 acres of federal land from the U.S. Forest Service into trust for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde. The Tribe will maintain all public and recreational access to the area. “For too long, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has faced historic injustices that stripped them of their ancestral lands,” said Salinas. “This legislation is a meaningful step towards righting those wrongs. By transferring these 18,626 acres to the Tribe’s stewardship, we honor their deep connection to this land and their leadership in strengthening forest health, wildfire resilience, and community safety for all Oregonians.” “With the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act, we will enable the Grand Ronde to enhance their self-determination and ability to sustainably steward ancestral lands, while boosting economic opportunity across the region,” said Merkley. “This is long-overdue, and I’ll keep pushing to ensure the federal government upholds its commitment to Tribal communities across Oregon.” “Oregonians know that responsible conservation and resource stewardship improve ecosystem health, reduce wildfire risks, and preserve healthy forests for future generations,” said Bonamici. “This land transfer will enhance long-term forest health, expand public access to outdoor recreation, and enhance reconciliation among the tribal, state, and federal governments. I’m grateful for the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s commitment to sustainable land management and will continue to advocate for tribal rights and justice.” “This bill rights a historic wrong for the Grand Ronde who have worked tirelessly to return a just fraction of its ancestral territory,” said Hoyle. “The Grand Ronde Tribe are experts in sustainable forestry management and Indigenous ecology. They are the best stewards of these federal forest lands, and will continue to do so for all Oregonians, as they have done since time immemorial.” “For generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have cared for the lands within their ancestral territory,” said Dexter. “This legislation recognizes the Tribe’s deep connection to these lands and its generations of experience protecting Oregon’s forests and natural resources. Placing these lands in the Tribe’s care will honor that connection and help keep Oregon’s forests healthy for future generations. I will continue working to deliver on our commitments to Oregon’s tribal communities.” “The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde has shown that it is a responsible steward of Oregon’s natural resources, and I’m proud to support this effort,” said Bynum. “This bill transfers over 18,000 acres of forest land in Tillamook and Yamhill Counties to the Tribe, strengthening tribal sovereignty and ensuring the land is managed for conservation, recreation, and sustainable harvest for generations to come. I’ll keep working to honor our commitments to Oregon’s tribal communities.” The Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act is supported by the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, Tillamook County, Yamhill County, Oregon Department of Forestry, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians, The Nature Conservancy, Sustainable Northwest, The Stewardship Project, Environmental Defense Fund, and the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts. “We are grateful to Senator Merkley for introducing this bill and standing with Grand Ronde,” said Grand Ronde Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. “The transfer of these lands helps us rebuild the reservation, community and economy we lost as a result of termination. We will care for these forests with the knowledge our people have carried for generations, the same way we care for the nearly 16,000 acres we manage today. Under our care, this land will stay healthy for generations to come.” Full text of the Grand Ronde Land Transfer Act can be found by clicking here.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-portland-area-airports,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX). “Portland’s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,” said Merkley. “As Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements—such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management—to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.” “These two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,” said Wyden. “Vital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.” “I'm grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,” said Bonamici. “These investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.” “PDX is the best airport in the country,” said Dexter. “I am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.” “From the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,” said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. “These federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I’m grateful for the Oregon delegation's continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.” The awards—totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—for the Port of Portland are as follows: $7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives. $600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/seec-members-highlight-strategies-build-thriving-economy,SEEC Members Highlight Strategies to Build a Thriving Economy,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), including Vice Chairs Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06) and Mike Levin (CA-49), as well as Members Reps. Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), and George Whitesides (CA-27), participated in a press conference to highlight the more than 800 policy ideas in the newly released Thriving Economy Project report that will address the unique set of challenges facing American families and businesses today and help usher in a cleaner, safer, and thriving American economy. “My district is one of the most productive farmland areas in the country. And while the reality is that while our farmers are producing more than ever, too many are struggling to stay in business. The time is now for a federal policy framework that reflects the realities of modern agriculture,” said Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski. “That's what the Thriving Economy Project is all about -- making sure the next generation has a real opportunity to farm, own land, and build a successful business. This is just one glimpse into the policy proposals we’ve put out in this project. I’m excited that once Democrats take back the House, we can begin to take real action. And this project gives us the tools we need to make that happen.” “The chapter on Thriving, Affordable, and Resilient Communities is deeply personal to me as Tampa Bay’s Congresswoman. Since 2020, Tampa has had 136 record-high temperatures and one record-low. That means higher electric bills for families running their AC, more dangerous conditions for our farm workers, and more people in the hospital,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “The Thriving, Affordable, Resilient Communities chapter offers a practical agenda to meet those challenges head-on. It focuses on aligning federal tools with local leadership – supporting safer housing, smarter infrastructure, lower energy costs, and stronger main streets. Thriving communities are the foundation of a strong American economy – and we’re providing a roadmap to help every family, in every zip code, share in a healthier and more secure future."" “The scale of capital that we need to address the climate crisis – from wildfires, to flooding, to the spread of tropical diseases, crop failures, and on and on down the list – that amount of money vastly exceeds the capacity of the federal government,” said Congressman Sean Casten. “What we really tried to address is, number one, to recognize that 25% of the U.S. economy is federal spending and 75% is not. We asked all our contributors to not limit your solution space to simply tax and spending policy for the federal government. How do we make sure that we unlock the capital in all of those climate change mitigating strategies, so that we can lever the private sector and bring that capital into all the other needs that we have.” “We have just come through the worst wildfire season ever on record in Oregon, with over two and a half million acres burned. And what I have learned in the last month is that every time we have these events, we are not just under-prepared for them, but we are under-acknowledging the impacts on our communities, the impact of smoke on children, on our elders, on our infrastructure, and our agriculture,” said Congresswoman Maxine Dexter. “This chapter is especially dear to my heart because of the benchmarks that we are centering on. Number one, that public health is strengthened through guaranteed access to clean air and clean water. As a mother, as a pulmonary and critical care doctor who has been practicing for 20 years, I can tell you that clean air is not just a human right; it is something that is foundational to our thriving economies.” “Right now, energy bills are rising faster than households can manage as America suffers through an energy affordability crisis that is forcing families to choose between paying for their electric bill or paying for other essentials like rent or groceries. Nationwide, roughly 17 percent of Americans are struggling to keep up with their electric bills, and energy costs are rising faster than inflation. It is clear from these skyrocketing costs that our current approach to energy policy simply is not working. The American people deserve better,” said Congressman Mike Levin. “This chapter, Chapter Five, provides solutions to our energy affordability crisis and lays out how we can modernize our electric sector to ensure that families can afford their bills and we can energize the industries of the future. Our proposed solutions and policy recommendations are all rooted in one central premise: Working families must be the focus of any plan for a thriving economy and that begins by addressing energy affordability.” “In my home state of North Carolina, we know just how urgent the work is. We’ve seen the devastating impact of extreme weather across our state, from homes falling into the ocean as sea levels rise along the Outer Banks, to record-breaking heat scorching rural farmland, to widespread devastation from Hurricane Helene and the landslides that follow,” said Congresswoman Deborah Ross. “In light of these tragedies, it makes what this project achieves remarkable. It addresses the environmental and infrastructure problems facing us today, while also building a roadmap for the future. Our country’s energy industry is at an inflection point. That is why it’s so important for the Thriving Economy Project’s chapter on next generation energy technology to make sure that it is researched, developed, and built in the United States.” “Right now, New Mexico is experiencing the most sustained drought that we have experienced in modern recorded history. And when you think about the long history of communities like those that I represent, not only is water life, water is sustaining, water is culture, water is necessary for thriving economies,” said Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury. “And that is really at the heart of this effort, which is how do we put together a policy proposal for the future of the United States that revitalizes our commitment as a nation to our rural and tribal communities and all of our diverse communities that each of us represent across the United States. I believe that we are on the precipice of a new New Deal for America.” “We must confront a fundamental and important reality: that is an energy policy that’s reliant on fossil fuels, even those produced in the United States, places Americans at risk of wild price swings. Transitioning to domestic, clean energy reduces our and our allies’ dependence on global geopolitical choke points. It is also a critical step in reducing the risk my and many other districts face from severe wildfires and other disasters associated with climate change,” said Congressman George Whitesides. “We are reminded daily of our vulnerability to global energy stocks and shocks. If we make the right investments and policy choices, we can build an energy system that is more resilient to wildfires and other disasters, more affordable, and less dependent on adversarial nations.” ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/200-days-and-40-billion-later,200 DAYS AND $40 BILLION LATER,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Rep. Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement in response to a new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finding that the war in Iran has directly cost the United States roughly $40 billion. “Today is the 200th day of the President’s illegal and immoral war with Iran. It isn’t just unpopular, it’s expensive,” said Rep. Hoyle. “As costs continue to rise the American people are footing the $40 billion bill. Despite this, House Republicans are calling it quits and sending us home today. It’s unconscionable that we are being sent home as the American people continue to pay the price.” BACKGROUND The war with Iran is increasing what families pay for gas, utilities, transportation and other goods and services. The CBO expects the war to add roughly 0.5 percentage points to inflation in the first quarter of 2027. Inflation has already spiked by 2.3% in the second quarter of 2026 .",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/warren-hoyle-wyden-merkley-ocasio-cortez-subramanyam-introduce-bill-to-ban-the-corporate-practice-of-medicine,"Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act would ban corporations and private equity from owning physicians. The bill is modeled on the landmark Oregon law that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers. Text of Bill (PDF)|One-Pager (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Today, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Val Hoyle (D-Ore.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), introduced the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to ban the corporate practice of medicine. Over 80 percent of doctors in the United States are employed by corporate entities—including private equity firms and insurers—up from 62 percent in 2019. Despite prohibitions on the corporate practice of medicine in over thirty states, private equity firms, insurers, and other corporate entities have exploited legal loopholes that allow them to circumvent these restrictions to the detriment of clinicians and patients. Management services organizations (MSOs) have become vehicles for exercising corporate control over physicians. MSOs contract with physician practices to handle ostensibly purely administrative tasks, but these actors often challenge the autonomy of acquired physicians once in control. For example, corporate entities often assume control over clinical operations, management and staffing decisions, and billing and coding practices—all of which can exert pressure on physicians to change care delivery. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act ensures health care decisions are made by physicians—not private equity firms, insurance companies, or other corporate actors. The legislation: Bans the corporate practice of medicine by making it illegal for private equity funds, insurance companies, and other for-profit corporations to own or control medical practices; Closes the “friendly physician” loophole that has allowed investor-backed corporations to evade state-level bans on the corporate practice of medicine and control medical practices through MSOs; Prohibits an MSO from controlling a medical practice through a “friendly” or “captive” physician, or by taking over business, administrative, and clinical functions such as hiring and firing, work schedules, compensation, disbursement of revenue or setting of revenue targets, billing practices, contracting, and other services; Ensures that physicians retain ultimate control of medical practices by requiring that physician owners are meaningfully engaged in providing medical care in the state in which their practice is located; and Protects physician independence by prohibiting corporate interference with clinical decisions and banning restrictive contract terms, such as non-compete agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and non-disparagement agreements. “Patients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,” said Senator Warren. “If we’re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.” “Billionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,” said Senator Merkley. “In Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It’s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,”said Senator Wyden. “I’m proud of Oregon’s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.” “80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,” said Representative Hoyle. “Healthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,”?said Representative Subramanyam. “Across the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “I’m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans’ doctors’ offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.” “With big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,” Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). “Oregon has shown that it’s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it’s time to take that fight nationwide.” The bill is modeled on a landmark law in Oregon that physicians have already used to successfully challenge corporate takeovers in the state. Most recently, Eugene Emergency Physicians beat back efforts by Peace Health to replace local physicians with a private equity-backed staffing company. This legislation is also supported by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-Az.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.), Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), Maxwell Frost (D-Fl.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and has been endorsed by the American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Coalition for Patient Centered Care, Bull Moose Project, OrthoForum, Alliance of Independent Dentists, Private Equity Stakeholder Project, Center for Health and Democracy, Association for Independent Medicine, OnCARE Alliance, Families USA, Committee to Protect Health Care, and Social Security Works. ""The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,” said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. “That’s why the AAEM strongly supports The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.” ""The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders,"" said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. ""It's an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business."" ""States established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care,""?said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care.?""We commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today’s legislation, which will enshrine our nation’s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly."" ""Across America, physician's private practices have been bought up by shadowy corporations and private equity groups with the sole goal of profit. Putting patients first is out — monopolizing local physician services, driving up fees, and shortening hours is in. This has made life worse for Americans across the country. The Bull Moose Project has long sounded the alarm about these shady practices, such as in cancer care. The ‘‘Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026"" can halt these appalling practices once and for all by making it illegal for big corporations to vacuum up private clinics,""said Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project. ""The Association for Independent Medicine strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, and we're grateful to Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for championing it. A prohibition is only as strong as its enforcement, and this bill backs its corporate practice of medicine prohibition with three enforcement paths: the FTC, state attorneys general suing on behalf of residents, and physicians themselves through a private right of action with treble damages. That layered enforcement, paired with mandatory divestment, is what gives this bill teeth that earlier CPOM laws have often lacked,"" said Dr. Marco Fernandez, President and Co-Founder, Association for Independent Medicine. “Patients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors,” says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. ""The threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill’s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine."" “Private equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,” said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. “For too long, private corporations have overridden physicians' clinical judgment, prioritizing shareholder returns and profits over patient care. This legislation would end that practice. Patients deserve care decisions made by clinicians, not by investors managing a portfolio. We thank Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for introducing this vital legislation and urge Congress to pass it without delay,” said Rachel Madley, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy ""Our health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins,"" said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. ""We strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients."" ""As doctors, we have a duty to put the needs of our patients first,"" said Hugh Bassewitz, M.D., the OrthoForum. ""That's much harder when a practice is run by corporate executives focused on increasing returns for their shareholders, not by physicians focused on helping people who need us. We're glad to see Congress acting to help doctors provide patient-centric care, and thank the sponsors for their work on this important legislation."" “This groundbreaking legislation is absolutely needed to give health providers and patients a fighting chance against corporate greed. Congress must stop private equity from ripping the copper wires out of American healthcare and put patients first. Social Security Works is proud to endorse this legislation,” said Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-following-war-powers-vote-1,Rep. Andrea Salinas’ Statement Following the War Powers Vote,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement following her vote in favor of the bipartisan war powers resolution. “We are more than six months into Trump’s war of choice with Iran, and over that time, Oregonians have been shouldering the economic hardship. The cost of this war drove up the price of a gallon of gas from $3.90 to $5.10 and has exacerbated Trump’s affordability crisis. “Today, I voted in favor of ending U.S. involvement in the war in Iran for the sixth time. “Republicans have made major cuts to programs that help families afford food and healthcare, including SNAP and Medicaid. Despite their handwringing over fiscal responsibility, they have no problem spending billions of dollars on military operations overseas. Those choices have painful consequences for Oregon families. “After more than six months of conflict, Americans have borne both human and economic costs. Republicans must join Democrats to end this war and ensure federal resources reflect the needs of the people we represent.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/curtis-merkley-wildfire-emissions-prevention-bill-unanimously-passes-committee/,"Curtis, Merkley Wildfire Emissions Prevention Bill Unanimously Passes Committee",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today applauded the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee’s unanimous passage of the Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act (WEPA), bipartisan legislation to streamline states’ use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfire emissions, protect ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and make American forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. The bill—led by Senator Curtis—is cosponsored by EPW Chair Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ). “Today’s unanimous approval by the Committee brings us one step closer to addressing the glaring irony in our current environmental regulations: They deter prescribed burns due to pollution concerns, practically guaranteeing catastrophic wildfires that emit far more carbon than proactive management ever would,” said Senator Curtis. “I thank my colleagues for their work and support and look forward to the bill’s passage by the full Senate.” “As climate chaos fuels longer, hotter, and more dangerous wildfire seasons, our communities need to have all the necessary resources to mitigate wildfire threats. Prescribed fire and cultural burning on the landscape are one such tool by reducing hazardous fuels,” said Senator Merkley. “This bipartisan bill would streamline the use of prescribed burns and establish the Smoke Ready Communities Program, which is based on provisions from my Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act. As our Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act moves closer to becoming law, we are on the way to supporting more prescribed fire on the landscape—an essential forest management activity—while giving our communities the resources to plan and prepare for smoke events, protecting public health and saving lives.” “The unanimous passage of the WEPA through the EPW Committee represents a key step toward implementing common-sense solutions that will help states more effectively prevent wildfires and protect their land and communities. I am grateful to Senator Curtis and Senator Merkley for their leadership on this bill, and I look forward to supporting its passage through the full Senate,” said Chair Capito. “Empowering states to proactively manage forests will reduce the frequency and devastation that wildfires increasingly inflict on communities. I am pleased the EPW Committee reached strong, bipartisan consensus around this commonsense solution and appreciate Sen. Curtis’ leadership on this critical issue,” said Senator Boozman. “Year after year, increasingly devastating wildfires ravage our public lands and communities, so it’s critical we act with urgency,” said Senator Padilla. “Today’s unanimous Committee vote to advance WEPA will allow more prescribed fire to be deployed on the landscape and help prevent or mitigate wildfires. I am proud to see our bill advance as we work to be proactive in responding to the wildfire crisis instead of waiting to respond after disaster strikes.” “In Arizona, we know just how catastrophic wildfires can be. One of the best tools we have to reduce wildfire risk and the damage it wreaks is prescribed fires. But right now, federal air quality rules can make it harder for states to use prescribed fire proactively,” said Senator Kelly. “The WEPA gives states greater certainty that they won’t be penalized under the Clean Air Act for responsibly using prescribed burns to reduce the risk of a much larger and more destructive wildfires. This is a commonsense change that will help us keep our communities safe and our forests healthy.” The Wildfire Emissions Prevention Act would: Make it easier for states and communities to use prescribed fire to prevent wildfire emissions; Protect ecosystems and wildlife habitat; Provide certainty that states won’t be penalized for taking action to prevent wildfires; Promote the efficient use of state air quality resources; and Make our forests and communities safer, healthier, and cleaner. A one-pager on the bill is available here, and the full bill text is available here. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-booker-grassley-hinson-and-adams-lead-bipartisan-push-for-stillbirth-prevention-and-awareness/,"Merkley, Booker, Grassley, Hinson, and Adams Lead Bipartisan Push for Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) partnered with U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day. With almost one-fourth of stillbirths being potentially preventable, this resolution stresses the importance of advancing evidence-based stillbirth prevention efforts in the United States. “Every parent who experiences a stillbirth deserves support and clear action. Stillbirth remains a heartbreaking and preventable public health crisis, with Black, Native, and Hispanic families facing disproportionately high rates of loss,” said Merkley. “Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we cannot let up. This National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we must keep pushing for necessary action to save lives and spare families this devastating loss.” “Every year, more than 20,000 families in the United States experience a stillbirth, and too many of these losses may be preventable,” said Booker. “Losing a baby to stillbirth is devastating, and on National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we stand with the families who have experienced this profound loss and recommit ourselves to preventing stillbirth wherever possible. By investing in research, improving data collection, raising awareness, and strengthening access to high-quality maternal health care, we can better understand the causes of stillbirth, reduce preventable losses, and support healthier pregnancies.” “No family should have to endure the heartbreak of a stillbirth. While states like Iowa have made progress at reducing stillbirths, there’s still much more to be done to strengthen maternal healthcare, especially in rural areas, to help prevent these tragedies. Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness and promotes research to help target contributing factors and save babies’ lives,” said Grassley. “Improving prenatal education and access to maternal care—especially in rural areas where women may travel over an hour to see a provider—is critical to protecting babies and reducing maternal deaths. Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was a major step, but more must be done to support expecting moms and prevent stillbirths. I’m proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day and will continue working across the aisle to end the tragedy of stillbirth,” said Hinson. “It has already taken way too long for Congress to wake up to the tragedy that is our country’s stillbirth crisis,” said Adams, co-founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “We have made some great progress, but there is so much more to be done. We already have many innovative solutions to reduce stillbirth — our country just hasn’t invested in them at a national scale. We can, and we must do better for our moms.” According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, one out of every 183 U.S. births—more than 20,000 per year—tragically results in a stillbirth, which is more stillbirths annually than the number of babies who pass away during their first year of life. Parents who experience stillbirth are also at an increased risk for severe maternal morbidity, depression, and mortality. In the Senate, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Gary Peters (D-MI), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). In the House, the resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01). The bipartisan, bicameral resolution is supported by 46 organizations, including Healthy Birth Day, Inc., March of Dimes, and the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here. “Nearly five thousand babies’ lives could be saved annually through greater focus on stillbirth prevention efforts. National Stillbirth Prevention & Awareness Day is an opportunity to address the urgent stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and share free resources and tools like Count the Kicks which are saving lives. Our message to the country: it doesn’t have to be this way,” said Emily Price, Healthy Birth Day, Inc. CEO. “The Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses applauds Senator Jeff Merkley for introducing the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and for elevating awareness of an issue that affects thousands of families across the United States each year. Stillbirth is a devastating loss with lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts on parents, families, and communities. While not all stillbirths can be prevented, research continues to demonstrate that increased awareness, equitable access to high-quality prenatal care, evidence-based clinical practices, and timely recognition of warning signs can help reduce the risk of preventable stillbirths. This resolution helps shine a spotlight on the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts, support families who have experienced loss, and address persistent disparities in maternal and infant health,” said Elizabeth A. McIntire, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, C-EFM, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses President. “Every year, thousands of families experience the devastating loss of a stillborn baby with lasting impacts on mom and her health,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs. “Yet, research shows that many stillbirths are potentially preventable. We must do more to support moms, protect babies, and care for their families. March of Dimes is proud to endorse the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and urges action to advance research, strengthen prevention, address maternal health risks, and ensure families have access to the care and resources they need.” In 2024, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act—led by Merkley in the Senate and Hinson and Adams in the House—was signed into law to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America. Senators Booker and Merkley also lead the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, which would improve data collection, research, education, and public awareness around stillbirth. Full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-markey-bipartisan-group-of-senators-trump-administration-must-release-all-documents-from-u-s-saudi-nuclear-deal/,"Merkley, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senators: Trump Administration Must Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey led a bipartisan group of Senators to press the Trump Administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a “123 agreement.” The Trump Administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress—as is required by law—but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them. “Congress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation’s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,” wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement ‘…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.’ Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.” They emphasized, “Transparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay.” Joining Merkley and Markey in signing the letter were U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), John Kennedy (R-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT). As co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, Merkley and Markey have raised concerns about the proposed details of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal. Merkley began his career in public service as a nuclear weapons policy analyst at the Pentagon and the Congressional Budget Office and, along with Markey, has advocated for strong nuclear arms control in Congress. Full text of the bipartisan letter can be found by clicking here and follows below: Dear Secretary Rubio and Secretary Wright: We write to urge you to immediately declassify and publicly release the two side letters associated with the Trump Administration’s proposed U.S.-Saudi 123 civil nuclear cooperation agreement. While the text of the agreement and the bilateral safeguards agreement are now publicly available in unclassified form, the two side letters remain classified at the lowest possible level. In previous 123 agreements, the Executive Branch publicly released the agreement along with side letters and related documents. Releasing the agreement text without the side letters here leaves that practice only half met. We are aware of no precedent for classifying and withholding the side letters, particularly when the stated purpose is peaceful nuclear cooperation. Congress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation’s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States. The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement “…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.” Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal. Transparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we call on you to declassify and release the two side letters without delay. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/sheehy-merkleys-air-traffic-situational-awareness-enhancement-act-advances-through-senate-commerce-committee/,"Sheehy, Merkley’s Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act Advances through Senate Commerce Committee",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"U.S. SENATE – Senator Tim Sheehy’s Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act today advanced out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill, co-led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), provides air traffic controllers more tools and training to keep American airspace safe. It now heads to the Senate floor for full consideration. “America has long set the gold standard in aviation, but a lack of resources and outdated technology puts public safety at risk. It’s crucial that we ensure our Air Traffic Controllers in airports across the country, including regional and rural airports, have the training and tools they need to enhance their situational awareness and keep our airspace safe. This practical, bipartisan legislation makes sure our technology is upgraded to meet our modern aviation safety needs, and I’m pleased to see it head to the Senate floor,” said Senator Sheehy. “Oregon’s small and regional airports are an important partner in keeping the flying public safe. Our simple bipartisan bill—which just cleared a key hurdle—will unlock resources for these airports to make critical safety upgrades if they need them, something we should all get behind,” said Senator Merkley. Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Sheehy and Merkley in introducing the Air Traffic Situational Awareness Enhancement Act in February. The bill is supported by the Regional Airline Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Airlines for America, and National Business Aviation Association. Background: Many airports, particularly smaller and rural ones under the Federal Contract Tower (FCT) program, still lack modern situational awareness technology such as Standard Terminal Automation Replacement Systems (STARS) or other radar-integrated displays. Of the 266 Federal Contract Towers, more than 90 lack any surveillance tools. In towers at these airports, controllers rely on visual observation and radio calls, tools that can become strained during periods of high traffic, complex mixed operations, or reduced visibility. This technology gap can contribute to missed traffic conflicts or delayed recognition of emerging hazards. As part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve technology to improve operational situational awareness at FCTs, after years of requests from airports asking for assistance in addressing this technological gap. Last summer, the FAA approved the first Airborne Position Reference Tool (APRT), which uses ADS-B data to present controllers with a real-time display of local airspace. Since then, APRTs have already been deployed at several airports around the country, and controllers and operators report that APRTs significantly enhance situational awareness and improve controller confidence, bolstering safety. Read the full text of the bill HERE. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/warren-hoyle-wyden-merkley-ocasio-cortez-subramanyam-introduce-bill-to-ban-the-corporate-practice-of-medicine/,"Warren, Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley, Ocasio-Cortez, Subramanyam Introduce Bill to Ban the Corporate Practice of Medicine",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Patients want to know that decisions about their health are being made by their doctors, not by Wall Street investors,” said Senator Warren. “If we’re going to lower costs and un-rig the health care system, we need to stop the corporate takeover of medicine.” “Billionaire corporations are using sick patients to turn healthy profits, and Americans are fed up,” said Senator Merkley. “In Oregon, we passed one of the most comprehensive corporate practice of medicine laws in the country, standing up for patients and health care providers. It’s time we take on corporate greed in health care at the federal level by passing our Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, cracking down on these takeovers that are destroying our health care system.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctor, not dictated by corporate actors and private equity firms focused on maximizing profits,” said Senator Wyden. “I’m proud of Oregon’s pioneering state law that has been used by doctors to protect their independence, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians.” “80% of doctors in the U.S. are employed by corporate entities, up from 62% in 2019,” said Representative Hoyle. “Healthcare should not be a line item in a spreadsheet. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will ensure proper protections are in place, so our healthcare systems serve the best interests of our patients, not corporations.” “Americans want medical decisions to stay between patients and their doctors, not dictated solely by the pursuit of maximizing profits. States have passed laws to protect the independence of physicians, and it’s time to take that model to the federal level. Corporate medicine is making health care more expensive for everyone, and safeguards must be put in place to ensure health care decisions stay in the hands of physicians,” said Representative Subramanyam. “Across the country, private equity firms and corporate conglomerates are buying up American physician offices. To increase shareholder profits, these entities often cut corners, leading to patients paying more for significantly worse care,” said Representative Ocasio-Cortez. “I’m proud to co-lead the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act to get Wall Street out of Americans’ doctors’ offices and ban predatory noncompete agreements for healthcare workers.” “With big bipartisan majorities, Oregon passed the strongest ban on the corporate practice of medicine in the country,” Oregon House Majority Leader Ben Bowman said, the author and chief sponsor of Oregon Senate Bill 951 (2025). “Oregon has shown that it’s possible to stand up to corporate profiteering in healthcare and win. Now it’s time to take that fight nationwide.” “The American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) believes that local physician ownership of their practice is the best arrangement for the physicians, the medical staff, the hospital and, most importantly, for the patient,” said Vicki Norton, MD, FAAEM, President of the AAEM. “That’s why the AAEM strongly supports The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026. The bill would prohibit the corporate practice of medicine and allow physicians to work unencumbered, focusing on patients. There is no greater policy imperative for AAEM than protecting patient safety and quality of care in emergency departments through efforts such as this bill.” “The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act will strengthen long-standing bans on the corporate practice of medicine, ensuring clinical decisions are made by licensed professionals sworn to care for patients, not corporations beholden to shareholders,” said Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Health Care at the American Economic Liberties Project. “It’s an essential step toward breaking up Big Medicine, which drives costs up, quality down, and independent practitioners out of business.” “States established prohibitions against the corporate practice of medicine a century ago for a simple reason: when corporations start making medical decisions instead of doctors, everyone loses. Care gets worse and more expensive for patients, working conditions get worse for doctors and their staff, and communities lose the unique benefits of high-quality, independent care,” said Joe Van Wye, Policy Director at Coalition for Patient-Centered Care. “We commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing today’s legislation, which will enshrine our nation’s strongest and most effective protections against the corporate practice of medicine into federal law for the benefit of all Americans, and hope it is enacted quickly.” “Across America, physician’s private practices have been bought up by shadowy corporations and private equity groups with the sole goal of profit. Putting patients first is out — monopolizing local physician services, driving up fees, and shortening hours is in. This has made life worse for Americans across the country. The Bull Moose Project has long sounded the alarm about these shady practices, such as in cancer care. The ‘‘Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act of 2026″ can halt these appalling practices once and for all by making it illegal for big corporations to vacuum up private clinics,” said Aiden Buzzetti, President, Bull Moose Project. “The Association for Independent Medicine strongly supports the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act, and we’re grateful to Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for championing it. A prohibition is only as strong as its enforcement, and this bill backs its corporate practice of medicine prohibition with three enforcement paths: the FTC, state attorneys general suing on behalf of residents, and physicians themselves through a private right of action with treble damages. That layered enforcement, paired with mandatory divestment, is what gives this bill teeth that earlier CPOM laws have often lacked,” said Dr. Marco Fernandez, President and Co-Founder, Association for Independent Medicine. “Patients are best served when clinical decisions and practice operations remain under the control of licensed healthcare professionals, not private equity firms or management companies whose primary obligation may be to investors,” says Dr. Jill Tanzi, President of the Alliance of Independent Dentists. “The threats posed by corporate consolidation are not unique to medicine; dentists and their patients deserve these same protections. This bill’s protections against corporate control and interference are critical safeguards for both clinicians and patients, and we commend its sponsors for working to protect independent medicine.” “Private equity firms and other corporate investors should not get to decide how doctors practice medicine. When investors dictate staffing levels or how much time doctors can spend with patients, they are directing patient care. Doctors need the authority to make those decisions based on what their patients need. We support the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act and urge Congress to put enforceable limits on corporate control of medical practices,” said Michael Fenne, Senior Policy Coordinator at the Private Equity Stakeholder Project. “For too long, private corporations have overridden physicians’ clinical judgment, prioritizing shareholder returns and profits over patient care. This legislation would end that practice. Patients deserve care decisions made by clinicians, not by investors managing a portfolio. We thank Senators Warren, Wyden, and Merkley and Representatives Hoyle, Subramanyam, and Ocasio-Cortez for introducing this vital legislation and urge Congress to pass it without delay,” said Rachel Madley, PhD, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy “Our health care system is perfectly designed to concentrate wealth and power into corporate entities and increasingly badly designed to actually care for patients. The Oncology Practices of ONCare Alliance are dedicated to helping oncologists remain independent of private equity and other corporate structures that pull needed resources away from patient care into their profit margins,” said Barbara McAneny, Co-Chair of the OnCARE Alliance. “We strongly oppose the corporate practice of medicine and commend the sponsors of the Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act for introducing this important bill that will help doctors design our practices to make the best treatment plans with our patients.” “As doctors, we have a duty to put the needs of our patients first,” said Hugh Bassewitz, M.D., the OrthoForum. “That’s much harder when a practice is run by corporate executives focused on increasing returns for their shareholders, not by physicians focused on helping people who need us. We’re glad to see Congress acting to help doctors provide patient-centric care, and thank the sponsors for their work on this important legislation.” “This groundbreaking legislation is absolutely needed to give health providers and patients a fighting chance against corporate greed. Congress must stop private equity from ripping the copper wires out of American healthcare and put patients first. Social Security Works is proud to endorse this legislation,” said Alex Lawson, Executive Director, Social Security Works.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-9-1-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades/,"Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties. “Every Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,” Wyden said. “This federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I’ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.” “This federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure – two critical needs that I’ve heard about time and time again from Oregon’s rural communities,” said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. “These funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.” “It’s a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I’ll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon.” “Oregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,” said Rep. Salinas. “We need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.” The $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows: $1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes. $5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units. $2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units. “The preservation of these properties is really focused on the households. Not only are we extending the federal rent assistance long term, the scope of the rehab will bring the projects up to a ‘like new’ condition, and of course, we hope that this will be a home they will be proud to bring their friends and family to,” said Shelly Cullin, Director of Development for Chrisman Development, Inc. ###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-salinas-announce-91-million-for-affordable-housing-and-water-infrastructure-upgrades,"Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties to benefit. Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties. “Every Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,” Wyden said. “This federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical water infrastructure in Brookings, and preserving affordable housing for working families and seniors in Newberg and La Grande. This is good news, and I’ll keep fighting to secure similar federal resources that improve everyday life for all Oregonians.” “This federal investment will help support both housing and water infrastructure – two critical needs that I’ve heard about time and time again from Oregon’s rural communities,” said Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds USDA. “These funds from USDA will help ensure seniors and families in rural Oregon have access to affordable housing and clean, safe drinking water.” ""It's a great day when we see strong investments on the ground in our communities,"" said Rep. Hoyle. ""This funding directly invests in our water infrastructure and expands affordable housing. In Congress, I'll continue fighting for funding that reinvests in our communities and brings taxpayer dollars back to Oregon."" “Oregon is already about 140,000 homes short of what we need. That shortage is driving up costs and making it harder for families to find a home they can afford,” said Rep. Salinas. “We need to build more housing while preserving the affordable homes we already have. I’m proud to have helped secure this funding to renovate these homes in Newberg that will improve living conditions for families and make sure rural Oregonians can continue to live with dignity in the communities they call home.” The $9.1 million in federal awards from the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program and will be distributed as follows: $1 million grant to the City of Brookings to support the replacement of a portion of its water distribution system along Easy Street that contains asbestos concrete and cast iron pipe. Fire hydrants along the route will also be replaced with new water services to the existing water meters and will include new touch read water meter boxes. $5.6 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in Newberg to renovate and maintain an affordable multifamily housing complex that supports 10 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units. $2.5 million loan to Cascade Peaks Apartments in La Grande to renovate and maintain an affordable senior housing complex that supports 39 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom units.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-williams-booker-lead-push-to-close-constitutional-loophole-allowing-for-slavery/,"Merkley, Williams, Booker Lead Push to Close Constitutional Loophole Allowing for Slavery",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Nikema Williams (GA-05) today teamed up with New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker to reintroduce the End the Exception Amendment. The bicameral resolution would strike the ‘Slavery Clause’ of the 13th Amendment, a constitutional loophole that allows slavery “as a punishment for crime” in the United States. “For over 160 years, the 13th Amendment has sought to ensure our democratic republic lives up to the principles of equality and justice that America was founded on, but our work still remains to fully confront the horrific legacies of slavery and white supremacy,” said Merkley. “For too long, the sinister Slavery Clause in our Constitution has denied the dream of a more perfect union, stripping millions of people—particularly people of color—of their most basic human rights and preventing true justice and equality for all. We must pass the End the Exception Amendment to eliminate the loophole that drove legal slavery long past passage of the 13th Amendment.” “Slavery was wrong from day one, and we should have abolished it when the 13th Amendment was ratified,” said Williams. “I will keep pushing, no matter how long it takes, for Congress to close the Slavery Loophole in the Constitution, finally ending slavery in America in every form, once and for all. It’s been one hundred sixty years since we passed the 13th Amendment. We’ve waited long enough. The time to pass the End the Exception Amendment is now.” “Over one hundred and sixty years after Congress passed the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery and involuntary servitude, the law has failed to fully fulfill its promise of freedom for all. A loophole in the Thirteenth Amendment allows individuals to be sentenced to forced labor as ‘punishment for a crime,’” said Booker. “We cannot claim to be a free country while allowing people to be enslaved—it is a violation of our founding principles that continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans. It is time we eliminate slavery in every form and pass the End the Exception Amendment so we can live up to our country’s foundational principles of liberty, justice, and equality for all.” Immediately following the 1865 ratification of the 13th Amendment—including the Slavery Clause—Southern jurisdictions passed what became known as “Black Codes,” laws that allowed the arrest of Black Americans in large numbers for minor crimes like loitering or vagrancy. The Slavery Clause was then used by sheriffs to lease out imprisoned Black individuals to work landowners’ fields, which in some cases included the very same plantations where the prisoners had previously been enslaved. The practice grew in prevalence and scope to the point that, for example, by 1898, 73 percent of Alabama’s state revenue came from renting out the forced labor of Black Americans. Throughout the Jim Crow era, the Slavery Clause continued to incentivize minor crime convictions and drove the over-incarceration of Black Americans on infamous prison plantations, like Parchman, in Mississippi, and Angola, in Louisiana. The End the Exception Amendment would finally correct this historic constitutional loophole and send a clear message: a ban on slavery cannot come with exceptions. While communities across the nation wait for federal action, nine states across the country—including Oregon—have banned slavery as a form of punishment. The bicameral resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D‑CT), Tammy Duckworth (D‑IL), Dick Durbin (D‑IL), Mazie Hirono (D‑HI), Edward J. Markey (D‑MA), Alex Padilla (D‑CA), Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD), Raphael Warnock (D‑GA), Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA), Peter Welch (D‑VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), and U.S. Representatives Gabe Amo (RI-01), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Ami Bera (CA-06), Donald S. Beyer Jr. (VA-08), Sanford Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Troy Carter (LA-02), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager‑Dove (CA-37), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Susie Lee (NV-03), Summer Lee (PA-12), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Scott Peters (CA-50), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Mark Takano (CA-39), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Ted W. Lieu (CA-36), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25). Merkley, Williams, and Booker’s End the Exception Amendment is supported by 90 organizations, including Worth Rises, Vera Institute of Justice, and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here. “Slavery is wrong under all circumstances. Yet more than 160 years after the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, an exception still allows governments and corporations to exploit incarcerated people for their labor. Congress has a moral obligation to finish the work of abolition by passing the End the Exception Amendment. No slavery, no exceptions,” said Celina Chapin, Chief Advocacy Officer, Worth Rises. A one-page summary of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here. Full text of the End the Exception Amendment can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-to-portland-area-airports-for-infrastructure-improvements/,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX). “Portland’s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,” said Merkley. “As Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements—such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management—to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.” “These two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,” said Wyden. “Vital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.” “I’m grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,” said Bonamici. “These investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.” “PDX is the best airport in the country,” said Dexter. “I am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.” “From the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,” said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. “These federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I’m grateful for the Oregon delegation’s continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.” The awards—totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—for the Port of Portland are as follows: $7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives. $600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/new-trumps-war-in-iran-cost-dod-nearly-40-billion-and-drove-nearly-half-of-inflation-according-to-cbo-report/,"NEW: Trump’s War in Iran Cost DoD Nearly $40 Billion and Drove Nearly Half of Inflation, According to CBO Report",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Text of Report (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Today, in response to an inquiry led by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, along with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new data on the cost of President Trump’s war in Iran. The major findings include: Trump’s war with Iran cost the Department of Defense (DoD) nearly $40 billion as of Aug 1 – without including the cost of damage to “hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases” in the region. The U.S. military will not be able to replace munitions destroyed in the war for at least five years. CBO estimates that more than 40% of inflation from the second quarter of 2026 is a consequence of Trump’s war. CBO estimates that inflation will be 0.5 percentage points higher in the first quarter of 2027 than it would have been without the war—ultimately driving interest rates higher and increasing borrowing costs for American families and businesses. CBO estimates that it will take “at least five years—even if production was increased” to replace the munitions destroyed. CBO’s estimate did not include $113 million in costs incurred by State, including $79.2 million “to respond to contingencies stemming from the Iran conflict.” Additionally, given that the macroeconomic projections were based on data through August 17, 2026, and global oil prices and futures have increased since then, it’s likely that these estimates do not capture the full extent of the war’s continued impact on inflation. “Trump’s illegal war with Iran is a one-two punch that’s burning a hole in Americans’ pockets and burning a hole in our munitions supply, hurting our military readiness,” said Senator Warren. “This war is a betrayal of the American people, and it needs to end.” “After months of the Trump Administration hiding the true cost of his illegal war of choice with Iran, the American people are finally getting independent and objective answers on the cost of the conflict,” said Senator Merkley. “As prices for everything from groceries to gas skyrocket, we must end this abuse of taxpayer dollars and double down on ending Trump’s illegal war. It has cost America dearly.” Senator Warren has fought to hold the Trump administration accountable for waging an illegal war in Iran: On July 30, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, led 11 members of Congress in opening an investigation into reports that the DoD failed to provide adequate medical care to service members injured in a March drone strike on a U.S. military post at Port Shuaiba in Kuwait. On April 22, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) pressed General Randall Reed, Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), on the Trump administration’s failures in evacuating Americans from the Middle East at the start of President Trump’s illegal war in Iran. On April 20, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Van Hollen (D-Md.) led nine senators in opening a new investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s role in weakening civilian harm prevention programs and the catastrophic civilian impacts of President Trump’s war in Iran. On April 7, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) released a new video condemning President Trump’s threat to wipe out the “whole civilization” of Iran and called for Majority Leader Thune to bring the Senate back into session immediately to vote to stop Trump’s war. On March 20, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, wrote to Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and other members of the Trump administration, raising concerns about the financial costs for American families from President Trump’s illegal and reckless war with Iran. On March 20, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) sounded the alarm about the Trump administration’s sidelining of the military’s Judge Advocate General Corps, who are responsible for providing independent legal advice to commanders. Senator Warren pressed the commanders of United States Northern Command and United States Southern Command about the impact the sidelining of JAGs has on civilian harm as the war against Iran continues. On March 11, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kaine (D-Va.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and 41 colleagues pressed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a full investigation into the airstrikes on a school in Minab, Iran, and other civilian casualties in the Trump administration’s war on Iran. On March 12, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) questioned the Director of the Congressional Budget Office on the financial implications of the Iran war and highlighted that the enormous financial cost could instead be used to lower the cost of health care. On March 5, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) led the entire Massachusetts delegation in pressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the Trump administration’s “complete failure” to evacuate U.S. citizens — including Massachusetts residents — from the Middle East following the administration’s starting a reckless war in Iran. On March 3, 2026, Senator Warren (D-Mass.) took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to call on Congress to end President Donald Trump’s reckless war in Iran and demand accountability. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-protect-agricultural-water-access-amid-worsening-drought-in-oregon/,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year’s record-low snowpack. “Water scarcity in the West isn’t a question of if, it’s when,” Wyden said. “The federal government needs to get serious about protecting water resources before it’s too late, and my legislation will help Oregon’s farmers and producers remain even more resilient against growing drought conditions.” “As climate chaos fuels hotter and drier summers, we must ensure that we have reliable, resilient water infrastructure that every farmer, Tribe, and community in our state can count on,” said Merkley, whose Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act is included in this bill. “Passing this bill will provide more opportunities for crucial investments and innovative solutions to support communities facing persistent drought conditions.” The Western Water Reinvestment Act would improve water access for agriculture and conservation by supporting projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users. Most regions of Oregon have just one-third of their average annual snowpack, and many parts of the state remain under extreme drought conditions. Legislative text is here. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-dexter-nearly-8-million-coming-to-portland-area-airports-for-infrastructure-improvements,"Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Dexter: Nearly $8 Million Coming to Portland-Area Airports for Infrastructure Improvements",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03), announced that the Port of Portland has been awarded $7,657,874 in federal funding for Hillsboro Airport and Portland International Airport (PDX). “Portland’s airports connect our communities, businesses, and travelers to the rest of the world,” said Merkley. “As Hillsboro Airport and PDX continue to grow, we must invest in critical airport improvements—such as runways, taxiways, and innovative groundwater management—to allow these hubs to keep driving our economy forward and growing local tourism.” “These two metro-area airports play an essential role in building an even stronger quality of life for Oregonians and for economic development statewide,” said Wyden. “Vital infrastructure such as Portland International Airport and Hillsboro Airport requires investments just like these that keep them safe for travelers and modern for years to come.” “I'm grateful for the federal funding going to the Portland and Hillsboro airports,” said Bonamici. “These investments will help maintain and update critical infrastructure and keep the runways safe.” “PDX is the best airport in the country,” said Dexter. “I am grateful to have fought for this funding to improve airport infrastructure and secure a transformative groundwater management system to keep our travelers, workers, and communities safe.” “From the terminal to the taxiways, we work to keep every inch of our airports safe and efficient,” said Curtis Robinhold, Executive Director of the Port of Portland. “These federal investments will fund essential runway and taxiway maintenance at Hillsboro Airport and support a pilot program for an innovative groundwater management system for construction projects at PDX. Projects like these are core to maintaining smooth airport operations, and I’m grateful for the Oregon delegation's continued commitment to keeping our critical infrastructure first-class.” The awards—totaling nearly $8 million from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)—for the Port of Portland are as follows: $7,057,474 for Hillsboro Airport to reconstruct 550 feet of existing paved Runway 13R/31L that has reached the end of its useful life. This project reconstructs 1,500 feet of existing paved Taxiway A, A8, A9, and B pavement that have reached the end of their useful lives. $600,400 for Portland International Airport (PDX) to help construct a portable groundwater PFAS treatment system for on-airport water quality mitigation as part of the Federal Aviation Administration environmental mitigation pilot program. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-protect-agricultural-water-access-amid-worsening-drought-in-oregon,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year’s record-low snowpack. “Water scarcity in the West isn’t a question of if, it’s when,” Wyden said. “The federal government needs to get serious about protecting water resources before it’s too late, and my legislation will help Oregon’s farmers and producers remain even more resilient against growing drought conditions.” “As climate chaos fuels hotter and drier summers, we must ensure that we have reliable, resilient water infrastructure that every farmer, Tribe, and community in our state can count on,” said Merkley, whose Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act is included in this bill. “Passing this bill will provide more opportunities for crucial investments and innovative solutions to support communities facing persistent drought conditions.” The Western Water Reinvestment Act would improve water access for agriculture and conservation by supporting projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users. Most regions of Oregon have just one-third of their average annual snowpack, and many parts of the state remain under extreme drought conditions.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-veasey-introduce-resolution-recognizing-september-as-national-voting-rights-month-ahead-of-midterm-elections,"Wyden, Veasey Introduce Resolution Recognizing September as National Voting Rights Month Ahead of Midterm Elections",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Resolution comes amid efforts by Donald Trump and Republicans to upend vote-by-mail and make voting harder for Americans Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced today they have introduced a bicameral resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.” “Trump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year’s midterms because he’s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,” Wyden said. “Access to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and Congressman Veasey and I will continue fighting to protect this fundamental right for all Americans.” “Over the past year, we’ve seen our fundamental right to vote eroded and access to critical information about the voting process worsen. In my home state alone, we’ve seen efforts to redistrict mid-decade, introduce restrictive voter ID laws, and reduce the number of polling locations available to voters,” said Representative Veasey. “Now more than ever, it is essential for Americans to understand their voting rights, stay informed about what is happening around them, and help to keep their communities informed. That’s why I’m proud to introduce a resolution alongside Sen. Wyden to designate September 2026 as National Voting Rights Month - a step towards raising awareness, encouraging civic participation, and ensuring that Americans have the information they need to exercise their right to vote and make their voices heard in November,” Representative Veasey continued. Since the start of his second term, Donald Trump has tried at every opportunity to undermine election systems nationwide. From appointing election deniers to key positions, to firing all members of the bipartisan Election Assistance Commission, and attempting to limit mail-in voting. Wyden and Veasey’s resolution encourages voter registration in the month of September and calls on Congress to preserve the right to vote by passing the Freedom to Vote Act and the Democracy Restoration Act, and by restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawai’i., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Angus King, I-Maine, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawai’i, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Mark Warner, D-Va. ,Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. “Donald Trump is attacking the freedom to vote on multiple fronts––from attempting to turn the postal service into a gatekeeper for voting to pushing red states into a mid-decade redistricting scheme, emboldened by a Supreme Court that gutted the Voting Rights Act. The stakes for our democracy couldn’t be higher, and we need champions in Congress to stand up for every American’s voice,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. “Senator Wyden and Representative Veasey have long been on the frontlines of the fight for the freedom to vote, and we’re grateful for their continued leadership when we need it most.” The text of the resolution is here. ###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting/,"Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump’s DOJ Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress challenging the legality of President Trump’s Executive Order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. “Millions of Americans cast their ballots with vote-by-mail, and Donald Trump is trying to make it harder for folks to vote just weeks before an election,” said Merkley. “At Trump’s bidding, this new USPS rule would upend procedures that states and voters rely on and create confusion about whether ballots will be delivered and counted. Trump doesn’t have unilateral authority to rewrite the rules for voting, and we’re urging the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional role of Congress and states in administering our free and fair elections.” “Donald Trump is plotting in plain sight to rig the upcoming election by weaponizing the Postal Service to undermine vote-by-mail in Oregon and nationwide,” said Wyden. “Vote-by-mail has long proven to be fair and effective, which of course means Trump hates it and is scheming to create confusion weeks before ballots go out. His actions are illegal, and our court brief asks the Supreme Court to follow the clear language of the Constitution and protect elections throughout America.” The coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the USPS. The court case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail. Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary. In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14399 and USPS’s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration. The amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are “substantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.” The lawmakers concluded by asserting States’ power to administer elections and Congress’s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an “override” authority. Trump’s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote. The amicus brief was led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Co-Chairs of the House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08). In addition to Merkley and Wyden, the brief was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, current Members of Congress, and former Members of Congress from both parties. Merkley and Wyden have consistently supported access to voting by mail and have previously urged USPS to follow federal law and protect voters’ ability to cast their ballots by mail. Full text of the amicus brief can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting,"Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"261 Members and former Members file bicameral, bipartisan brief as court order barring Postal Service rule limiting mail voting is being challenged by Trump’s DOJ Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress challenging the legality of President Trump’s Executive Order and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. “Millions of Americans cast their ballots with vote-by-mail, and Donald Trump is trying to make it harder for folks to vote just weeks before an election,” said Merkley. “At Trump’s bidding, this new USPS rule would upend procedures that states and voters rely on and create confusion about whether ballots will be delivered and counted. Trump doesn’t have unilateral authority to rewrite the rules for voting, and we’re urging the Supreme Court to protect the constitutional role of Congress and states in administering our free and fair elections.” “Donald Trump is plotting in plain sight to rig the upcoming election by weaponizing the Postal Service to undermine vote-by-mail in Oregon and nationwide,” said Wyden. “Vote-by-mail has long proven to be fair and effective, which of course means Trump hates it and is scheming to create confusion weeks before ballots go out. His actions are illegal, and our court brief asks the Supreme Court to follow the clear language of the Constitution and protect elections throughout America.” The coalition of 261 current and former Members of Congress filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the matter of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al., a lawsuit brought by a coalition of State Attorneys General against the USPS. The court case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail. Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary. In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14399 and USPS’s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration. The amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are “substantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.” The lawmakers concluded by asserting States’ power to administer elections and Congress’s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an “override” authority. Trump’s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote. The amicus brief was led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-Mich.), along with Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.-25), Ranking Member of the Committee on House Administration, and Co-Chairs of the House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Oversight Ranking Member Robert Garcia (D-Calif.-42), Assistant Leader Joe Neguse (D-Colo.-02), and Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.-08). In addition to Merkley and Wyden, the brief was joined by the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, current Members of Congress, and former Members of Congress from both parties. Merkley and Wyden have consistently supported access to voting by mail and have previously urged USPS to follow federal law and protect voters’ ability to cast their ballots by mail.",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-applauds-supreme-court-decision-blocking-trumps-voter-suppression,Rep. Salinas Applauds Supreme Court Decision Blocking Trump’s Voter Suppression Plan,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump Administration’s request to allow new U.S. Postal Service restrictions on mail-in ballots to take effect ahead of the November midterm elections. The Court’s action leaves in place a lower court order blocking the new requirements while the case continues. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is a major win for Oregonians and every American who wants to make their voice heard at the ballot box. The court blocked the Trump Administration’s vote-by-mail voter suppression plan, ensuring that every American who is eligible to vote can do so with confidence that the U.S. Postal Service won’t be the arbiter of their voter eligibility and their vote will count in this year’s midterm election. “While this ruling is a major victory, it is not a reason to be complacent. This will likely not be Trump’s final attempt to cast doubt on the results of this year’s midterm elections. No matter what Trump tries to do, voters still need to register and cast their ballot. Our democracy works when people participate, and every eligible voter deserves a fair and accessible opportunity to do exactly that. “Oregon has safely and securely voted by mail for decades. I will keep fighting to protect Oregonians’ right to vote and make sure every eligible voter can participate in our elections. If candidates are concerned that voters will reject their candidacy at the ballot box, the answer is not to make it harder for people to vote. The answer is to earn their votes.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-secures-extension-public-comment-period-trump-administrations,Rep. Salinas Secures Extension of Public Comment Period on Trump Administration’s Roadless Rule Repeal,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"SALEM, OR — Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry and Horticulture, celebrated the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to extend the public comment period on the Trump Administration’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule. The Forest Service announced that it will extend the comment deadline by 15 days, from September 21 to October 6, giving Americans additional time to weigh in on a proposal that would eliminate longstanding protections for 44 million acres of National Forest System lands. The extension comes just days after Rep. Salinas led a bipartisan coalition of 164 Members of Congress in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service to provide the public with more time to comment on the proposed rollback. In their September 3 letter, Salinas and her colleagues urged the Forest Service to extend the comment period from 30 days to 120 days, hold in-person public meetings, and conduct full Tribal consultation to allow Americans to have their voices heard. “When the Roadless Rule was first adopted 25 years ago, more than 1.6 million comments were submitted in favor of the rule. That’s more than any other rule in our nation’s history at the time it was adopted,” said Rep. Salinas. “Oregonians deserve a real opportunity to make their voices heard before the Trump Administration makes a decision that could fundamentally change 44 million acres of our public lands. I’m glad the agency listened to our demands to extend the comment period, and I urge them to listen to every American who demands that we protect our wilderness. “While 15 additional days still falls well short of the 120-day comment period we requested, this extension gives Oregonians and communities across the country more time to speak up for our forests, clean drinking water, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation economy. I will continue pushing the Administration to provide the robust and transparent public process that a decision of this magnitude demands.” The Roadless Rule has protected undeveloped areas of the National Forest System from most road construction and logging for more than 25 years. The original rule was developed following an extensive public process that included more than 600 public meetings and approximately 1.6 million public comments. By contrast, the Trump Administration initially provided only 30 days for the public to comment on its proposed rescission of the Roadless Rule and associated Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Rep. Salinas and her colleagues argued that such a short window was inadequate given the scope of the proposal and the significant consequences it could have for communities, drinking water, wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and forest management across the country. The new deadline for public comments is October 6, 2026.",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-statement-on-25th-anniversary-of-september-11-terrorist-attacks/,Merkley Statement on 25th Anniversary of September 11 Terrorist Attacks,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001: “I will never forget that day 25 years ago: the clear blue morning sky, the billowing black smoke, the clouds of white ash, and everywhere, the confusion and fear. Our nation watched in shock and horror as an unprecedented act of terrorism on Americans was carried out in cold blood. Nearly 3,000 people were taken from us, including courageous first responders who raced toward danger to save others. “But alongside the devastation, we witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and compassion. Police officers, firefighters, and rescue workers put their lives on the line for strangers. Passengers aboard Flight 93 fought back against the hijackers. Across the country, neighbors reached out to one another, gathering in communities and at candlelight vigils to share their grief and offer comfort. While facing unimaginable tragedy, Americans came together. The divisions that so often separate us fell away as people helped one another simply because help was needed. “September 11 will always be a solemn day of remembrance. We honor the irreplaceable lives lost, the families and loved ones who continue to carry those losses, and all those whose bravery and service offered hope amid darkness. “On this anniversary, we hold those memories close and renew our commitment to one another. The spirit of service, community, and common purpose we witnessed that day and the days that followed remains a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together. May we continue striving to build a country worthy of the sacrifice of those we lost, guided by the enduring values of freedom, equality, justice, and care for our fellow Americans.” ###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-davidson-to-uk-spy-court-let-apple-tell-congress-about-reported-uk-secret-demand-for-encryption-backdoor,Wyden and Davidson to UK Spy Court: Let Apple Tell Congress About Reported UK Secret Demand for Encryption Backdoor,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan Members of Congress Warn the Secret Order Threatens UK-US Relationship; Weakening Encryption Puts Americans’ Safety and US National Security at Risk WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, urged a U.K. court to lift the secrecy around a reported order from the U.K. government that Apple create a secret backdoor in its products to allow surveillance. Wyden and Davidson urged the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, which oversees government surveillance in the UK, to allow more transparency in the matter, in a letter sent today. “The U.K. government’s unprecedented demands for secrecy in this matter undermine democratic governance in both the United States and the U.K., and needlessly strain the relationship between our two nations,” Wyden and Davidson wrote. In their letter, Wyden and Davidson revealed that Apple informed Congress that it is challenging the U.K. government’s authority to issue surveillance directives and that it was denied permission to discuss the issue in detail with both the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. Apple informed congressional staff that the U.K. government granted the company permission to brief the U.S. Attorney General, the Vice President and key staffers, but blocked the company from discussing the issue in detail with Congress. The U.K. has reportedly sought to weaken security features of Apple’s iCloud service, which stores private messages, passwords, photos and other files, since last year. While the U.K. government’s first order would have impacted American Apple users, it reportedly revised its request in response to pushback from the U.S. government, including a letter by Wyden and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., that warned of the risks to privacy and national security. The full scope of the current request is unknown, both to the public and members of Congress, due to secrecy mandated by the U.K. government. Wyden and Davidson echoed a warning from the prior Director of National Intelligence that secretly undermining encryption would leave individual Americans and our country at risk of hacks. “Weakening encryption in consumer software introduces critical vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hostile foreign actors,” the lawmakers wrote. “Congress cannot fulfill its constitutional duty to evaluate and mitigate these national security threats if foreign non-disclosure orders are weaponized to prevent U.S. technology companies from answering inquiries from duly elected lawmakers.” Wyden and Biggs previously urged the Investigative Powers Tribunal to provide more transparency about its surveillance orders, which observers have credited with influencing the court to release more information about its proceedings last year. The full letter is available here. ###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-presses-trump-administration-on-lack-of-firefighting-resources-during-the-2026-wildfire-season,Wyden Presses Trump Administration on Lack of Firefighting Resources During the 2026 Wildfire Season,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he and four other senators are calling out the Trump administration’s failures to prepare and adequately respond to the ongoing 2026 fire season throughout the West. A record 2.5 million acres-plus have burned in Oregon so far this year, and temperatures for much of Oregon next week are forecast to be in the 80s. “[...] Record-breaking high temperatures and historic drought have led to catastrophic fires across the West, destroying thousands of homes, wreaking havoc on the economies of rural communities, stressing the budgets of local governments, and leading to the loss of four wildland firefighters and two pilots,” Wyden and the other senators wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. Between July 18 and September 4, 2026, the national firefighting force was at preparedness level 5 with federal resources fully committed to combating wildland fires across the country. So far this year, the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Wildland Fire Service has dedicated more than $6 billion to fire suppression budget authority, spending nearly the entire fire suppression budget as of September 2, 2026. The West is expected to remain in peak fire season with hot, dry, and windy conditions for at least the next two months, raising concerns that federal wildfire resources and suppression funds could run out entirely. “In light of these concerns, the capacity of the federal government to sustain operations is critical. We are concerned that the agencies simply do not have enough highly qualified personnel, Incident Management Teams, and supervisory staff to sustain operations,” the senators wrote. “Our offices have received reports that teams have worked more fires than is safe, using temporary supervisory structures because fully qualified personnel are not available. We have also heard that locally-led initial attack was affected by national mobilization, and that personnel have worked repeated or extended assignments. This is exceptionally concerning given that the worst of the fire season is likely yet to come and the high wildland firefighter fatality rate this season.” In addition to Wyden, other senators signing the letter led by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-requests-ai-camera-firm-explain-use-of-portland-footage-in-promotional-video,Wyden Requests AI Camera Firm Explain Use of Portland Footage In Promotional Video,2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked Portland technology firm Sightline Intelligence to answer questions raised by Oregonians about how it trains AI software it produces for use in high-resolution cameras, in a letter sent this week. Constituents raised privacy concerns about the firm’s actions after footage of Oregon Health and Science University was included in a promotional video posted by Sightline, without permission of the institution. Sightline representatives have said the company did not use the footage to train its AI models. Fostering high-tech jobs in Oregon that reduce dependence on foreign drone technology is beneficial to America’s economy and security, Wyden said, but companies need to ensure Americans’ privacy is protected. “Companies like yours are producing cutting-edge technologies to advance America’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industry and supply chain, which help the United States reduce its reliance on foreign sources for UAV technologies utilized in search-and-rescue missions and military operations,” Wyden wrote in his letter. “While the development of these technologies is beneficial to the United States, it is also ripe for abuse, and I have heard firsthand in my town halls that Oregonians are particularly concerned about the misuse of such technologies to surveil Americans, harm civilians, and enable human rights abuses. Wyden requested Sightline respond to the following questions in writing by no later than September 30: Will you confirm that footage retained by Sightline Intelligence of the OHSU tram, or any other footage filmed in Oregon, was not used in the development of any technologies, including in training, tuning, or testing models for object classification? Will you commit to permanently deleting the OHSU tram footage and any other footage that Sightline Intelligence retains of Oregonians who did not consent to filming? I recognize Sightline Intelligence creates AI-video processing software for target recognition, utilized in autonomous aircraft and other defense applications. Does Sightline Intelligence also collect its own video footage and images, in Oregon or elsewhere, to train, tune, or test its models and other technologies? Does Sightline Intelligence follow all applicable U.S. laws and regulatory frameworks associated with exporting its technologies to its customers overseas? Does Sightline Intelligence follow U.S. laws with regard to sanctioned entities? Related Files",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-ruiz-condemn-lack-due-process-imprisoned-palestinian-pediatrician-dr,"Dexter, Ruiz Condemn Lack of Due Process for Imprisoned Palestinian Pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and Demand His Release by Netanyahu’s Government",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Lawmakers: “We write with urgent concern about the life-threatening conditions facing Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician being badly mistreated in Israeli custody.” Netanyahu’s government has filed no formal charges against Dr. Abu Safiya, nor has he received a trial. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), and Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25), led 69 of their colleagues in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to engage his counterparts in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to secure the release of imprisoned Palestinian pediatrician Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya. The lawmakers emphasized the lack of due process afforded to Dr. Abu Safiya, who has yet to receive formal charges, and highlighted his worsening physical condition. “We write with urgent concern about the life-threatening conditions facing Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a Palestinian pediatrician being badly mistreated in Israeli custody,” the lawmakers wrote. “As recently as last month, Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer warned that his physical condition had deteriorated to the point of near-death.” Dr. Abu Safiya is the longtime director of Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza City. During the war in Gaza, he played a critical role in providing wounded civilians with vital medical care. Among his most notable contributions was the construction of a malnutrition unit that treated hundreds of children. On December 27, 2024, Dr. Abu Safiya was arrested while on duty at his hospital and remains in Israeli custody. No formal charges were ever presented against him, and to this day, he has yet to receive a trial. “For over 18 months, Dr. Abu Safiya has languished in Israeli jails, including an underground facility previously shut down due to the poor conditions its detainees faced,” the lawmakers continued. “According to his lawyer, authorities have repeatedly denied him adequate access to medical care, food and toiletries, causing him to lose significant weight.” On July 2, 2026, Dr. Abu Safiya’s lawyer visited him in jail and found that the severity of his injuries had rendered him nearly unrecognizable. His body bore fresh bruises, and he struggled to remain conscious. The lawmakers urged Secretary Rubio to do everything in the Trump Administration’s power to free Dr. Abu Safiya before he dies in custody. The letter is cosigned in the House by 66 Members. The letter is cosigned in the Senate by 3 Senators.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-calls-out-inaction-in-congress,REP. HOYLE CALLS OUT INACTION IN CONGRESS,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"EUGENE, OR – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement as House Republicans gather for their televised political circus in Texas: “Republican leadership has canceled nearly 25% of voting days. Instead of coming to the table to deliver for working families, they’d rather go home. Inflation is at a three-year high, and American households are spending over $3,800 extra on goods and services since the President took office. Meanwhile, my Republican colleagues are more focused on hosting a televised political circus in Texas than delivering for working families. Let’s get serious.” ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-joins-amicus-brief-to-protect-vote-by-mail,REP. HOYLE JOINS AMICUS BRIEF TO PROTECT VOTE-BY-MAIL,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), released the following statement after joining a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of over 250 lawmakers in a court filing challenging the legality of the President’s Executive Order attempting to control mail-in ballots ahead of the election. “The Constitution is clear: States have the authority over time, place and manner of our elections. Not the President,” said Rep. Hoyle. “This Administration must stop their unconstitutional attempts to limit vote-by-mail, create a 'citizenship verification list’ and attempt to take over our elections.” More information on the Amicus brief can be found here. This action comes just days after Rep. Hoyle joined nearly one hundred Members of Congress in calling on the U.S. Postal Service to not implement its rule restricting mail-in voting. ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-tout-nearly-10-million-for-oregon-tribes-affordable-housing-efforts/,"Merkley, Wyden Tout Nearly $10 Million For Oregon Tribes’ Affordable Housing Efforts",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding a combined nearly $9,917,680 to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Warm Springs Housing Authority to build more affordable housing for Tribal members. “It’s critical that Tribal families have affordable, safe places to live that will foster community and connect them to their land,” said Merkley. “This nearly $10 million in federal funding will help Tribes work to overcome their affordable housing shortage. I will keep working to deliver the necessary housing resources to ensure everyone in our state can thrive and live safe, healthy lives.” “Housing is a basic human right, and Tribal communities across Oregon urgently need safe, affordable places for families to live and grow,” Wyden said. “I applaud the Warm Springs Housing Authority and the Cow Creek Band for winning this federal investment that will support constructing new homes and building out essential infrastructure. I will keep fighting to ensure Tribal nations in Oregon and across the nation have the federal resources required to support their citizens and build strong futures.” The Warm Springs Housing authority is receiving $5 million for the new construction of seven three-bedroom homes for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is receiving $4,917,680 for the new construction of seven single-family homes and the infrastructure needed to support another new construction housing project. The nearly $10 million announced today comes from the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive Program, which provides federal funds to eligible Tribes and Tribally Designated Entities to support affordable housing projects in Tribal communities. Priority is given to new construction and housing rehabilitation projects. “We are grateful for HUD’s significant investment in our Nation that will help us provide new affordable housing for Warm Springs families who need safe, stable homes,” said Edward R. Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. “We appreciate Housing Director Danielle Wood’s effort to secure this award for our community.” “Affordable housing for our Cow Creek Umpqua Tribal citizens is such a crucial component of self-sufficiency,” said Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians Chair Carla Keene. “It helps families and individuals feel a sense of security, stability, traditions and provides a place for lasting, living memories. We are thrilled to receive this generous grant and look forward to the positive contributions it will make in Douglas County.” ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-harrigan-and-whitehouse-call-on-commerce-department-to-sanction-mercenary-foreign-hacking-firms,"Wyden, Harrigan and Whitehouse Call on Commerce Department to Sanction Mercenary Foreign Hacking Firms",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Bipartisan Members of Congress Urge Secretary Lutnick to Take Action Against Three Indian Companies Linked to Hacks of Thousands of Americans and U.S. Companies; Hacking Companies Silenced U.S. Journalists, News Outlets and Technology Companies In Foreign Courts To Censor Reporting WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D- R.I. and Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., called for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to take action against three companies based in India that have hacked and stolen data from thousands of Americans and U.S. companies. “Several India-based cyber-mercenary groups have spent more than fifteen years conducting targeted espionage against U.S. citizens, businesses and the lawyers representing them,” Wyden, Harrigan and Whitehouse wrote to Lutnick. “Compounding this security threat, these cyber mercenaries and their associates have engaged in an aggressive campaign of global lawfare to censor investigative reporting by prominent American media organizations. This coordinated effort effectively allows foreign entities to use foreign courts to keep the American public in the dark about cyber threats to their own country and undermines the fundamental constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.” According to investigations by Reuters and The Citizen Lab, these companies conducted widespread hacking campaigns targeting private equity firms, pharmaceutical companies, and more than 1,000 attorneys across major U.S. law firms to manipulate ongoing litigation. There is evidence that these groups have operated at the behest of the Qatari government, targeting opponents of Qatar’s World Cup bid and the family of a former Republican Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. These same companies also have attempted to censor reporting about their hacking campaigns by abusing foreign courts — at one point forcing a global takedown of Reuters’ investigation. The Indian companies have ongoing lawsuits against U.S. technology and media companies, including Google, Meta, Microsoft and The New Yorker to silence criticism and bury facts about their illegal hacking campaigns. The members called on the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security to add three companies identified by Reuters and Citizen Lab as the perpetrators of these major hacking operations— to the Entity List to cut off their access to American software, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity tools: Sunkissed Organic Farms Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as “Appin Technology Pvt. Ltd.”) and its subsidiaries, including: Adaptive Control Security Global Corporate Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as “Appin Software Security Pvt. Ltd.” or “Appin Security Group”) ABP Holdings Pvt. Ltd. (formerly known as “KGW Appin Knowledge Solutions Pvt. Ltd.”) BellTroX Pvt. Ltd. CyberRoot Pvt. Ltd. The full letter is available here. ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-tout-nearly-10-million-for-oregon-tribes-affordable-housing-efforts,"Merkley, Wyden Tout Nearly $10 Million For Oregon Tribes’ Affordable Housing Efforts",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding a combined nearly $9,917,680 to the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Warm Springs Housing Authority to build more affordable housing for Tribal members. “It’s critical that Tribal families have affordable, safe places to live that will foster community and connect them to their land,” said Merkley. “This nearly $10 million in federal funding will help Tribes work to overcome their affordable housing shortage. I will keep working to deliver the necessary housing resources to ensure everyone in our state can thrive and live safe, healthy lives.” “Housing is a basic human right, and Tribal communities across Oregon urgently need safe, affordable places for families to live and grow,” Wyden said. “I applaud the Warm Springs Housing Authority and the Cow Creek Band for winning this federal investment that will support constructing new homes and building out essential infrastructure. I will keep fighting to ensure Tribal nations in Oregon and across the nation have the federal resources required to support their citizens and build strong futures.” The Warm Springs Housing authority is receiving $5 million for the new construction of seven three-bedroom homes for low-income families. The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians is receiving $4,917,680 for the new construction of seven single-family homes and the infrastructure needed to support another new construction housing project. The nearly $10 million announced today comes from the Indian Housing Block Grant Competitive Program, which provides federal funds to eligible Tribes and Tribally Designated Entities to support affordable housing projects in Tribal communities. Priority is given to new construction and housing rehabilitation projects. ""We are grateful for HUD's significant investment in our Nation that will help us provide new affordable housing for Warm Springs families who need safe, stable homes,"" said Edward R. Henderson, Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Oregon. ""We appreciate Housing Director Danielle Wood's effort to secure this award for our community.""",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/america-in-jeopardy-puts-spotlight-on-trumps-corruption-chaos-and-costs-to-american-families/,"“America in Jeopardy” Puts Spotlight on Trump’s Corruption, Chaos, and Costs to American Families",2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Donald Trump has turned the White House into a cesspool of corruption. ‘America in Jeopardy’ names just a handful of ways that American families are paying the price while Donald Trump pads his own pockets,” said Senator Warren. “Donald Trump has turned the White House into a pay-to-play casino where the billionaire class profits and working Americans suffer. Trump’s corruption isn’t a game though and it’s on a scale we have never seen before. We must continue to shine a light on all of their schemes,” said Senator Van Hollen.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-statement-on-smithsonian-secretary-lonnie-g-bunch-iii/,Merkley Statement on Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“As Secretary of the Smithsonian, Lonnie Bunch sought to make the Institution more than a place for tourists to see artifacts, and he succeeded by ensuring the collections reflect the vastness of the American experience. As the first historian to serve as Secretary, Lonnie brought studied research and independence to extend the Institution’s mission to share America’s journey in all its dimensions with visitors across the country and the world. As his crown jewel, he brought the National Museum of African American History and Culture from an idea to an extraordinary addition to the National Mall, establishing an enduring institution to tell the story of the African-American experience as an integral part of the American experience. “Lonnie’s legacy will be standing up for the Smithsonian’s independence and dedication to telling the whole American story. I congratulate Lonnie on an incredible career – including nearly 40 years at the Smithsonian – and thank him for his leadership and wisdom in telling the complete American story.”",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-expresses-concern-around-proposed-rail-merger,REP. HOYLE EXPRESSES CONCERN AROUND PROPOSED RAIL MERGER,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), alongside over 100 Members of Congress and partners in labor, wrote to federal regulators demanding they consider the consequences of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Rail merger for workers: “The proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger would create the largest rail network in this country’s history. Railroad workers are the backbone of our supply chain, and their rights and security must come first. When workers do well, our economy thrives,” said Rep. Hoyle. “I’m leading 100 of my colleagues in demanding that the Surface Transportation Board fully evaluate what this merger could mean for jobs, safety and accountability.” ""This merger could cost thousands of jobs and deny our members their livelihoods, "" said TWU Rail Division Director John Feltz. ""Norfolk Southern is leaving its workers and everyone else in the dark. We appreciate the members of Congress who have our backs by demanding answers to basic questions about whether this merger will benefit all of us."" “BRS members are on the ground every day maintaining the signal systems and critical infrastructure that keep America’s rail network operating safely. We know firsthand that bigger does not automatically mean better or safer. The proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger would create an unprecedented level of consolidation in the freight rail industry, and we have serious concerns about what that could mean for safety, network reliability, competition, and the railroad workforce. Before a transaction of this magnitude is allowed to move forward, the railroads should be required to demonstrate that it will strengthen—not weaken—the safety and reliability of our nation’s rail system. BRS does not believe they have made that case,” said International President, Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen Michael Baldwin “The proposed $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger is the largest railroad merger in history and one of the largest recent corporate consolidations in memory. This merger will have profound impacts on every railroad worker across the railroad industry, including the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) members that construction, maintain, repair, and inspect our nation’s railroad tracks, bridges, catenary and other railroad structures. The letter sent to the Surface Transportation Board today by more than 100 Members of Congress highlights important labor considerations and concerns that must be carefully contemplated and satisfied by the Surface Transportation Board when it analyzes the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger. To date, Union Pacific has not made the labor commitments necessary to protect our membership and we will ask the STB to ensure that our members are protected. We want to thank Congresswoman Val Hoyle for leading this letter and her continued steadfast support for rail labor and our union and all the House members that signed this letter,” said Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED-IBT) President Tony Cardwell “We have seen what railroad mergers and consolidation have done to workers, customers, and communities. The proposed Union Pacific acquisition of Norfolk Southern would create the largest railroad in the country, but bigger does not mean better. These two railroads do not need to merge, and Union Pacific has not shown that this deal is in the public interest. BLET and BMWED did not rush to judgment. We were the first two rail unions to meet with UP CEO Jim Vena after the announcement, and we listened with an open mind. What we heard did not answer our concerns about jobs, service, safety, or the communities that depend on these railroads. UP calls its offer ‘Jobs for Life,’ but a slogan is not job protection. Their promise does not protect the jobs that exist today. It allows jobs to disappear through attrition, and it can force workers to move hundreds of miles or accept whatever work the company makes available. That may protect a person from the word ‘furlough,’ but it does not protect that worker’s job, home, or family. We have already seen the results of doing more with fewer people: limited personal leave, tighter attendance policies, fewer vacation opportunities, and increased discipline aimed at removing employees. If this merger is paid for by eliminating jobs and placing even more work on those who remain, the jobs left will not be the kind of jobs anyone would embrace for a lifetime. The Surface Transportation Board must look past the slogans and examine what this acquisition would actually mean for farmers, businesses, workers, rail service, safety, and the communities this massive railroad could choose to serve—or abandon. We thank Representative Val Hoyle for leading this letter and for standing with railroad workers and the customers who depend on reliable rail service. We also thank every member of Congress who signed it and called on the STB to closely examine the real consequences of the proposed UP-NS acquisition,” said Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET-IBT) National President and Teamsters Rail Conference President Mark Wallace Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here. ###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-harrigan-call-for-investigation-into-dod-efforts-to-protect-us-servicemembers-from-commercial-location-data-threats,Wyden and Harrigan Call for Investigation into DOD Efforts to Protect US Servicemembers from Commercial Location Data Threats,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Joint Investigation Reveals New Details About US Military Policies Intended to Stop Sales of Troop Data; Raises Questions About How Adversaries are Obtaining Location Data of American Personnel in Combat Zones WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., called for an investigation by the Inspector General into the Defense Department’s policies intended to protect U.S. servicemembers from being tracked and targeted by adversaries based on commercial location data collected from cell phones. Wyden, Harrigan and 12 other members of Congress revealed in May that adversaries targeted U.S. servicemembers in the Middle East using commercial location data, which can be harvested from phones and is sold by data brokers. The members released memos from multiple components of the U.S. military — the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command — revealing that they have all adopted a widely recommended anti-tracking defense, by disabling unique mobile advertising IDs assigned to each smartphone by the manufacturer, on government-issued smartphones. The members also provided the inspector general with a non-public report produced by a U.S. defense contractor demonstrating how commercial data can easily track movements from sensitive DOD facilities. “We commend these service branches for implementing this cybersecurity defensive best practice on government devices,” Wyden and Harrigan wrote. “However, recent reports regarding the continued availability of commercial location data originating from DoD facilities raise troubling questions.” The members asked the DOD inspector general to look into how location data from DOD personnel continues to be available for sale, in spite of DOD’s efforts. The members suggested data could continue to be available for several reasons, including that commercial data available originates from personal devices, not government phones, that are carried by servicemembers and government contractors. Wyden and Harrigan called on the DOD inspector general to examine commercial location data that DOD and other government agencies have already purchased to determine why existing policies have not prevented servicemembers location data from being sold online, and to recommend policy changes to better protect U.S. personnel. A copy of the full letter and responses from DOD components is available here. ###",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/kaine-bonamici-and-colleagues-demand-education-department-abandon-effort,"Kaine, Bonamici, and Colleagues Demand Education Department Abandon Effort to Rescind Guidelines That Prevent Discrimination in Career and Technical Education",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and former civil rights attorney, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 29 of their Democratic colleagues in both chambers of Congress in issuing a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon opposing the decision from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to end-run federal law and rescind federal guidelines in place for nearly half a century that are designed to proactively root out discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, and disability in career and technical education (CTE) programs. “We write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education’s … decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines,” wrote the members. “As proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.” “The 1979 Guidelines … established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints,” the members continued. “The Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people seeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.” They continued, “Despite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule.” “Furthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to ‘public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts,’ this exception does not apply in this case,” the group wrote. “Therefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight.” The bicameral group of Democratic members requested responses to the following questions by Secretary McMahon: What analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines? What legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines? Did the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who? What alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring? Was any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs? Will the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued? In addition to Kaine and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), André Carson (D-IN-07), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Jesús García (D-IL-04), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24). Full text of the letter can be found here and below: Dear Secretary McMahon: We write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education’s (Department, or ED) decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines. As proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy. Before 1979, the provisions of Title VI (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B), Section 504 (34 C.F.R. Part 104, Appendix B), and Title IX (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Appendix A) were not adequately enforced in CTE programs. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare was sued in 1973 for failing to enforce Title VI. As a result of injunctive orders from the U.S. District Court of D.C., the 1979 Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex and Handicap in Vocational Education Programs (Guidelines) established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints. The Guidelines require each state CTE agency to run a compliance program that collects and analyzes civil rights data, conducts periodic reviews of local programs, provides technical assistance, and reports findings to OCR. While Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 prohibit discrimination, the Guidelines turn those prohibitions into a working system of prevention, monitoring, and remedy, so that no student is steered into or shut out of a career path because of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people “seeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.” Career and technical education continues to grow nationwide, currently serving nearly 12 million students in K-12 and higher education. Congress annually recognizes the significant benefit CTE provides students in academic rigor, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness. Despite the overall benefits, it is vital that the enforcement of nondiscrimination protections remains in place to end occupational segregation. Although Black students enroll in CTE programs at rates that roughly match their share of the overall student population, they tend to cluster in service-focused fields that often have lower earning potential. Research shows that students with disabilities who take at least four CTE courses in high school have better academic and employment outcomes, yet there are significant gaps in enrollment. Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in male-dominated, higher-paying fields6 , and middle and high school girls make up one in three students in STEM CTE programs, one in four in manufacturing and construction-related programs, and one in four in transportation, distribution, and logistics programs. The Guidelines are also valuable to students who do not participate in CTE, as these programs are offered at 86% of public schools nationwide. For example, ensuring that facilities are accessible to CTE students with disabilities consequently ensures accessibility for all students with disabilities, regardless of their course enrollment. The Department’s argument is that it will continue to enforce federal civil rights laws. Yet ED announced, through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) in June 2026, that OCR would move to the Department of Justice. DOJ’s enforcement approach to civil rights differs significantly from ED’s, which raises concerns even if the Guidelines were still in effect. Prior to the announcement, OCR at ED had already been a target of this administration, with nearly half of its staff placed on administrative leave and seven of its 12 regional offices closing in March 2025. Meanwhile, the agency dismissed about 90 percent of the complaints it received over a seven-month period and reached zero resolution agreements involving seclusion and restraint, sexual harassment or violence, racial harassment, or discriminatory school discipline in all of 2025. This is occurring while the administration systematically strips away other sweeping civil rights protections. When the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, which oversees CTE programs, was transferred by IAA to the Department of Labor (DOL) last summer, the transfer was not officially announced by ED or DOL officials; it was only disclosed in court documents. The Department has now compounded that disruption to federal CTE oversight by rescinding the Guidelines that established the proactive civil rights compliance framework specifically applicable to CTE programs. Furthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to “public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts”, this exception does not apply in this case. Section 437 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), which governs ED programs, explicitly overrides this APA exception for ED programs and states that the exception only applies in two limited circumstances. The first circumstance is for regulations that “govern the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program authority,” which is not at issue here because no authority has been revised. The second circumstance is where the Secretary determines that following the APA procedures would “cause extreme hardship to the intended beneficiaries of the program affected by such regulations”. ED’s final rule does not make that claim under GEPA, includes no finding that grantees would be under “extreme hardship,” and, in fact, has no mention of GEPA at all. Therefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight. At the same time, the Department has implemented other measures that weaken civil rights protections for CTE students. These include eliminating longstanding disparate impact provisions from Title VI regulations and proposing to rescind the rules governing Equity Assistance Centers. These centers provide technical assistance to state and local educational agencies to address discrimination and desegregation challenges. Together, these actions weaken established systems of CTE oversight, civil rights enforcement, and technical assistance that have historically prevented discrimination that otherwise might have denied CTE students educational and career opportunities. Despite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule. We also respectfully request responses to the following questions by October 5, 2026. What analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines? What legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines? Did the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who? What alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring? Was any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs? Will the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued? Thank you for your attention to this important matter.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bill-expand-healthcare-coverage-young-americans-0,Bynum Introduces Bill to Expand Healthcare Coverage For Young Americans,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10) introduced theLaunching with Healthcare Act to allow young adults to remain on a parent’s health insurance plan through age 30. Under the Affordable Care Act, the current age cut-off is set at 26, assuming that most young adults would have settled into careers offering employer-sponsored insurance by 26. However, 15 percent of 26-year-old Americans are uninsured – the highest uninsured rate at any age. Just last year, Republicans cut roughly $1 billion in federal healthcare spending in their One Big Ugly Bill, which Rep. Bynum voted against. Nearly 7.5 million Americans will lose their health insurance because of these cuts, including roughly 200,000 Oregonians. They also refused to extend the ACA enhanced Premium Tax Credits, which has left Oregon marketplace enrollment down by 18%, while average premiums after financial assistance jumped from $272 to $426 per month. The Launching with Healthcare Act would amend the Public Health Service Act by increasing the maximum age for required dependent coverage from 26 to 31, meaning coverage would remain available for young adults through age 30, giving young people a more realistic path to transition to health insurance of their own. “Let’s be serious: In this economy, young people aren’t magically financially secure the day they turn 26,” said Rep. Bynum. “In Oregon, they’re getting crushed by rent, groceries, student loans, and healthcare costs. Young people are trying to build a stable future in an outdated system that no longer works. This bill gives the next generation a little more breathing room to build their careers, save money, and actually get ahead.” “Everything is more expensive right now—rent, groceries, healthcare, all of it—and young people are trying to find stable jobs while figuring out how to build a life,” said Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost. “At 26, most people are still getting their lives in order. We shouldn’t make them take on another burden by taking away their health insurance. The Launching with Healthcare Act gives young adults more time to get established and one less thing to worry about.” The bill is also cosponsored by Reps. Clarke (D-NY), Norton (D-DC), Wilson (D-FL), Dingell (D-MI), Johnson (D-GA), Dexter (D-OR), Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Carson (D-IN), Simon (D-CA), Latimer (D-NY), Deluzio (D-PA), Tokuda (D-HI), Green (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), and Carter (D-LA). This legislation is supported by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Young Invincibles, Mental Health America, Disability Rights Oregon, NAMI Oregon, and the Oregon Public Health Association. “Simply turning 26 should not mean losing access to mental health care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).“For young adults, this gap in insurance coverage can mean a gap in care, creating unnecessary barriers to mental health care at a time when many are already navigating major life transitions. The Launching with Healthcare Act would give young adults additional time to secure stable coverage and maintain access to the mental health care they need at a critical point in their life. NAMI thanks Rep. Bynum and Rep. Frost for their efforts to ensure that young people can prioritize their health without facing unnecessary barriers to coverage.” ""For young adults with disabilities, aging out of a parent's health plan at 26 can mean losing the providers and medications they depend on — and falling into medical debt just as they're trying to launch their careers. The Launching with Healthcare Act closes that gap and protects continuity of care. Disability Rights Oregon is proud to support it, and we thank Representative Bynum for her leadership,"" said Jake Cornett, Executive Director & CEO, Disability Rights Oregon. “At a time when young people are navigating an affordability crisis, it is cruel to also saddle them with the growing cost of health care. This important legislation gives young adults a way to keep their health insurance without robbing them of their financial futures. Young Invincibles was founded during the push to expand coverage for young adults, and we will never give up the fight for affordable health care. We are proud to support this legislation from Rep. Bynum, and look forward to working with her to keep young people covered for longer,” said Marilyn Cabrera, Young Invincibles Federal Policy & Advocacy Manager for Health Care. ""Access to mental health services is dependent on maintaining health insurance coverage. This legislation would ensure that young people in Oregon stay insured during a stage in life filled with transitions that put them at risk of losing coverage entirely,” said Chris Bouneff, Executive Director, NAMI Oregon. ""Young adults face the highest rates of mental health and substance use conditions of any age group, and are also facing record levels of unemployment. Mental Health America is happy to support the Launching With Healthcare Act, which would bridge lifesaving insurance coverage for young people during this critical period,"" said Caren Howard, senior director of policy and advocacy at Mental Health America. ""In addition, recent data indicates that many people on Medicaid work for large employers that do not offer health insurance. Allowing young people to remain on their parents' private insurance through age 30 could address this important gap, supporting their ability to work, build their career, or access higher education."" The Launching with Healthcare Act would: Allow young adults to remain covered under a parent’s health insurance plan through age 30. Help prevent disruptions in care and preserve access to existing doctors, specialists, medications, and mental health providers. Give young adults additional time to obtain stable employment and employer-sponsored insurance without facing a sudden gap in coverage. Reduce the risk that young adults will become uninsured, enroll in inadequate plans, delay necessary care, or incur unaffordable medical debt. Apply to health plan years beginning after December 31, 2026. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Bynum announced her K-30 agenda – a platform focused on supporting young Americans by strengthening our education system, ensuring a strong job market, and lowering the cost of housing. This legislation supports her K-30 agenda by giving the next generation more stable opportunities to get on their feet. The text of the bill is available HERE.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bill-lower-cost-school-supplies,Bynum Introduces Bill to Lower the Cost of School Supplies,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) introduced the Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act to lower the cost of school supplies for students and teachers. The legislation would exempt school supplies and educational materials from President Trump’s tariff taxes, which have raised prices for families across the country. “Between gas, groceries, and rent, our families are already struggling with rising costs,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “School supplies are the latest example of how Trump’s tariffs are pricing people out of the essentials. With costs up and school supply lists out, families are having to make hard financial decisions. This bill is about giving parents and teachers a break, while still setting our children up for success in the classroom.” “Like families across the country, my wife and I felt the sticker shock when we went back-to-school shopping this year,” said Congressman Boyle. “Families are already stretching every dollar, and they shouldn’t be forced to pay even more for basic school supplies because of President Trump’s reckless tariff taxes. I’m proud to help lead this bill to eliminate tariffs on back-to-school essentials and give parents, teachers, and students some much-needed relief.” According to Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation, the cost of school supplies has increased 8 percent this year, with many essential items facing even larger cost increases. Lunchbox prices have increased 27 percent, while notebooks have become 23 percent more expensive. The Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act would: Direct the Secretaries of Commerce and Education to work together to create a list of tariff-free school supplies, and specifically exempts: Office and school supplies Backpacks Notebooks, memorandum pads, and similar paper products Children’s picture, drawing, and coloring books Calendars Computer keyboards Hairbrushes Pencils, crayons, chalk, and other drawing materials Pens, markers, and related writing instruments The bill preserves congressional oversight by allowing Congress to disapprove the designation of specific items for tariff exemptions through a Joint Resolution of Disapproval. In the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Angie Craig (MN-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Sarah McBride (DE), Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08). This legislation is led in the Senate by Senator Angela Alsobrooks (MD). The bill is cosponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (MD), Chris Coons (DE), Andy Kim (NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Jacky Rosen (NV), and John Hickenlooper (CO). This year, to confront rising economic pressures on young Americans, Rep. Bynum launched her signature “K-30” agenda. This platform is focused on supporting young Americans by improving education, strengthening the job market, and lowering housing and everyday costs. The Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act is part of Rep. Bynum’s ongoing efforts to support Oregon’s children and young families. The text of the bill is available HERE. ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-maxine-dexter-md-takes-big-oil-three-bill-package-protect,"Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. Takes on Big Oil with Three-Bill Package to Protect Taxpayers",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) introduced a three-bill package to hold Big Oil accountable and stop these companies from passing their costs onto American taxpayers. While Americans struggle with rising costs for gas, groceries, and utility bills, major oil companies reported more than $40 billion in combined profits in the second quarter of 2026. For decades, Big Oil has taken advantage of outdated rules, weak penalties and careless oversight to shortchange taxpayers while they rake in record profits. Congresswoman Dexter’s legislation would close these loopholes, strengthen enforcement and require Big Oil, not hardworking taxpayers, to pay for the damage it leaves behind. “Big Oil has had a free pass for far too long, raking in billions in profits while taxpayers are left to foot the bill,” Congresswoman Dexter said. “We need a course correction; it’s time for oil and gas companies to play by the rules and pay their fair share. When they break the rules and leave our communities at risk, they should be held accountable. Taxpayers should not be stuck paying for Big Oil’s mess.” Taxpayer Relief from Big Oil Act The Taxpayer Relief from Big Oil Act would close outdated loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to reduce what they pay the American people for drilling on public lands and waters. The bill would: End outdated loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to pay less than they owe; Create clear and consistent rules for transportation costs companies deduct from their payments for drilling on federal lands; and Require annual public reports showing which companies request relief and how much those breaks cost taxpayers. Read bill text here. Penalties for Polluters Act The Penalties for Polluters Act would strengthen penalties for oil and gas companies that break the rules and make sure affected communities see the benefits. The bill would: Double outdated penalties so companies cannot simply write off fines as the cost of doing business; and Create a Penalty Revenue Reinvestment Fund to direct money from penalties toward communities impacted by violations. Read bill text here. Plug Offshore Wells Act The Plug Offshore Wells Act would increase oversight of offshore oil and gas wells and help prevent taxpayers from being stuck with cleanup costs. The bill would: Require annual reporting on offshore oil and gas well cleanup to track whether companies are meeting their responsibilities and identify potential costs to taxpayers. The three bills are backed by taxpayer watchdog, conservation and environmental organizations, including Taxpayers for Common Sense, Alaska Wilderness League, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Ocean Conservancy, Oceana, Earthjustice, Surfrider Foundation and the Center for Biological Diversity. “Currently, oil and gas interests have free rein to drill and exploit public lands, damaging ecosystems and ripping off taxpayers to extract public resources,” said Miranda Badgett, Senior Government Relations Representative at The Wilderness Society. “The Taxpayer Relief from Big Oil and Penalties for Polluters Acts take important steps to hold oil and gas companies accountable to the public and create a more transparent system that fossil fuel interests have taken advantage of for far too long. Thank you Congresswoman Dexter for these important bills to keep the lands we rely on safe and open for generations to come.” “Oil and gas companies profiting from public resources should pay what they owe, follow the rules, and clean up after themselves,” said Bobby McEnaney, Senior Policy Strategist at Natural Resources Defense Council. “This package brings some much-needed common sense and accountability to outdated policies that have too often left taxpayers with the short end of the stick.” Read bill text here. ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-statement-unidos-press-conference-newberg-resident-detained,Rep. Andrea Salinas’ Statement from Unidos Press Conference on Newberg Resident Detained by ICE,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"NEWBERG, OR — Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement at a press conference hosted by Unidos Bridging Community. The press conference featured the family of Juan Miguel Aldape-Palacios, a father of three and longtime Newberg resident, who was detained by ICE last week in McMinnville. In her statement, Rep. Salinas condemned the treatment of Aldape-Palacios and the toll his detention has taken on his family. After initially being held in Tacoma, Washington, Aldape-Palacios was transferred more than 2,000 miles away to Louisiana, creating new barriers to legal representation and communication with his wife and children. Salinas said her office is working with Unidos, ACLU Louisiana, and members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation to help connect him with legal support. Brandon Jordan, a representative for Congresswoman Salinas, read the statement on her behalf. See below for the statement: For the past twenty-two years, Juan Miguel Aldape has lived in Oregon, worked hard, and has had no trouble with the law — all to provide a better life for his family. Juan Miguel is a loving husband and father. He is a role model for his children, and he has shown them what it looks like to work hard every day to provide for the people you love. He is also a caregiver for one of his children, who has special needs. Without him, the Aldape family is not only coping with the absence of a father and husband. They have lost a caregiver and source of financial support. I’m furious that the Trump Administration arrested Juan Miguel, and my heart breaks for the Aldape family. Last week, ICE agents arrested Juan Miguel in McMinnville and took him to the detention center in Tacoma, Washington. According to Juan Miguel, in the middle of the night, detention staff corralled roughly 200 detainees, separated them from the rest of the people in the facility, and told them they would be placed on a flight to Louisiana. Juan Miguel told his family that he and others were intimidated and pressured into signing a document. The document was written in English, and he was not told the purpose of it. Nobody seems to know exactly what Juan Miguel signed. Then Juan Miguel disappeared from the ICE detainee locator that his family and attorney was using to track him. For hours, they did not know his location. He was no longer listed in the online detainee locator system, and his family and attorney received no clear information about where he had been taken. Eventually, they learned that Juan Miguel had been transferred more than two thousand miles away to Louisiana. That transfer created one barrier after another. The attorney who had been representing Juan Miguel could no longer represent him after he was transferred to Louisiana. His family was forced to begin searching for new legal representation in another state. Juan Miguel has repeatedly tried to call his wife and children, but according to his family, with every attempt, he is instructed that he has already reached his limit on calls, even though he has not successfully completed a single one. His family put money into his account so he could call home and purchase food and other basic necessities. He has been unable to access those funds. Money his family had already deposited while he was detained in Tacoma did not follow him when he was transferred. His sister had to travel across several states simply to see him in person. When she finally did, she said Juan Miguel’s mental health was declining. She reported that he appeared to be in shock and initially did not recognize her. Think about what we are asking this family to endure. Over the past year, I have conducted oversight visits of the ICE processing facility in Portland and the detention facility in Tacoma, Washington. From these visits, it’s clear that ICE is intentionally creating chaos and sowing confusion around immigration enforcement to carry out President Trump’s cruel and inhumane immigration agenda. Juan Miguel’s story is not unique. Despite promising on the campaign trail to only go after the worst of the worst, the Trump Administration has arrested more than 2,500 individuals across Oregon, many of whom have no criminal history. Every one of those 2,500 individuals represents a family and a community ripped apart. Across the country, Human Rights Watch reports that 52 people have died in ICE detention at the hands of the Trump Administration. I’m grateful to Juan Miguel’s family for coming forward to share their story. Every Oregonian deserves to understand exactly who is hurt by Trump’s cruel and inhumane immigration policies. Across our state, people are afraid to leave their homes. They are hesitant to buy groceries, and they are questioning whether to go to work and send their children to school. No one deserves to live in fear. My team and I will continue doing everything we can to support Juan Miguel and his family. We have been working with Unidos, ACLU Louisiana, and my Democratic colleagues from Louisiana to contact Juan Miguel and get him the legal support he deserves. We will continue doing everything we can to support Juan Miguel and his family. In Congress, I will keep demanding transparency from ICE, fighting to protect access to legal counsel and due process, and pushing for reforms that bring real accountability to ICE, CBP, and our immigration system. Juan Miguel’s family deserves answers, and Oregonians deserve a government that respects everyone’s rights and basic dignity.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-leads-164-lawmakers,Rep. Salinas Leads 164 Lawmakers Demanding the Trump Administration Halt Its Roadless Rule Rollback,2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) and Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Reuben Gallego (D-AZ) led a bipartisan coalition of 164 Members of Congress in urging the Trump Administration to abandon its proposal to rescind the Roadless Rule, a longstanding and successful conservation guardrail protecting 44 million acres of iconic landscapes and National Forest System lands. The letter underscores the Rule’s broad, bipartisan support, as well as its critical role in safeguarding clean drinking water, wildlife habitats, carbon storage, and outdoor recreation economies across 37 states. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, the lawmakers criticize their lack of meaningful public engagement, calling for the Department to extend the comment period, hold in-person public meetings, and conduct full Tribal consultation. The lawmakers also demanded the Trump Administration halt its rescission effort and instead focus on successful implementation of this bedrock policy. Click here or see below for the full letter. Dear Secretary Rollins and Chief Schultz, As Members of Congress representing a broad range of communities, stakeholders, and outdoor interests, we write in strong support of the U.S. Forest Service’s Roadless Area Conservation Rule (“Roadless Rule”) and in firm opposition to the Department of Agriculture’s proposal for rescission. We urge the Department to halt this effort and instead focus on effective implementation of this longstanding and successful policy. Since its adoption in 2001, the Roadless Rule has served as a cornerstone of public lands conservation, now protecting approximately 44 million acres of National Forest System lands across 37 states. These areas provide clean drinking water, critical wildlife habitat, carbon storage, and world-class recreation opportunities. Iconic landscapes such as the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, the Gila National Forest in New Mexico, and the George Washington National Forest in Virginia exemplify the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of these lands. The Roadless Rule was developed through one of the most robust public processes in federal rulemaking history. The Forest Service received 1.6 million public comments - approximately 95 percent in support - and held over 600 public meetings nationwide. In contrast, the current rescission effort has lacked meaningful public engagement. The Department provided just 21 days for public comment on the Notice of Intent in 2025 and has yet to hold any public meetings. Despite these limitations, more than 600,000 comments were submitted, with over 99 percent opposing rescission. This overwhelming and bipartisan public support underscores the continued popularity and importance of the Roadless Rule. Unsurprisingly, at just 30 days, the ongoing comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and proposed rule is equally insufficient, and we encourage the USFS to extend the comment period to 120 days for a fair and transparent process. Given the extraordinary public interest in the Roadless Rule and the significant consequences that its repeal would have for communities across the country, the Forest Service should also conduct a robust series of in-person public meetings before finalizing any rescission. Additionally, Tribes are entitled to the opportunity to engage in robust consultation, as the repeal of the Rule will have dramatic consequences on their way of life. When the Roadless Rule was originally developed, the aforementioned 600 public meetings ensured that affected communities, Tribes, local governments, industry, recreation interests, and conservation organizations had the opportunity to engage directly with the agency. The proposal to repeal the Rule warrants the same level of public engagement. Public meetings should be held in regions where National Forest System roadless areas are most affected, providing local communities with a meaningful opportunity to ask questions, provide testimony, and ensure the administrative record reflects the perspectives of those who will experience the greatest impacts. A transparent, accessible, and geographically representative public engagement process is essential to maintaining public confidence in the rulemaking process and ensuring the agency fully considers the consequences of such a consequential policy change. The enduring support for the Roadless Rule is rooted in its clear and measurable benefits. Over the past 25 years, the rule has helped protect watersheds, biodiversity, and ecosystem integrity by limiting road construction and large-scale logging in undeveloped areas. Forest Service data show that watersheds within roadless areas are far more likely to be in “properly functioning” condition compared to those outside of them, which are more often classified as “at risk” or “impaired.” These healthy ecosystems support a wide array of wildlife. Roadless areas provide habitat for hundreds of species listed or proposed for protection under the Endangered Species Act, including grizzly bears, lynx, and other sensitive species, and disproportionately support species of conservation concern. In addition, these areas play a vital role in climate resilience and carbon storage. For example, the Tongass National Forest alone stores over 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon and sequesters millions more annually. Claims that the Roadless Rule impedes wildfire management are not supported by the evidence. The rule explicitly allows for wildfire prevention, suppression, and hazardous fuels reduction. In fact, nearly 2 million acres of roadless areas have undergone fuel treatments in recent years. Forest Service data also show that roadless areas account for a significant share of fuel treatment activities relative to their forest coverage. Research further indicates that wildfire risk is comparable inside and outside of roadless areas and that roads are not necessary to maintain forest health. Moreover, scientific studies demonstrate that wildfire ignitions occur far more frequently in roaded areas due to human activity. By limiting road construction, the Roadless Rule helps reduce ignition risks from sources such as vehicles, campfires, and other human causes. Finally, the economic benefits of the Roadless Rule are substantial. By avoiding the construction and maintenance of new roads, the rule saves taxpayers billions of dollars. The Forest Service already faces a road maintenance backlog of nearly $6 billion across its existing system. Expanding road networks into remote and often economically unviable areas would only increase these costs. At the same time, protected roadless areas support recreation, tourism, and outdoor economies, while safeguarding clean water and subsistence resources that communities rely on. When it comes to outdoor recreation, roadless areas encompass more than 25,000 miles of trails, 8,500 climbing routes, 1,000 miles of whitewater, and more than 10,000 miles of mountain biking trails across the country, all of which support a $1.3 trillion outdoor recreation economy. Additionally, hunters and anglers across the nation access these public lands where backcountry provides ample fishing and hunting. The Roadless Rule protects drinking water in 354 municipal watersheds, saving downstream communities millions of dollars in water filtration costs. After 25 years of successful implementation, the conclusion is clear: the Roadless Rule is effective, widely supported, and essential to responsible forest management. Rescinding it would undermine decades of progress and impose unnecessary environmental and fiscal costs. We respectfully urge the Department to end its unjustified rescission of the Roadless Rule.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/warren-merkley-booker-van-hollen-question-ed-secretary-mcmahon-on-lack-of-transparency-guardrails-for-1-billion-student-loan-administration-fund/,"Warren, Merkley, Booker, Van Hollen Question ED Secretary McMahon on Lack of Transparency, Guardrails for $1 Billion Student Loan Administration Fund",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“(T)he agency has displayed a worrying lack of public transparency about what this vast sum of money has been spent on or will be spent on in the future.” Text of Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) raised their concerns in a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon about ED’s use of the $1 billion that Republicans’ One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) allocated to ED for student loan administration. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined the letter as well. Student loan borrowers are facing the largest default and delinquency crisis in recorded history. While OBBBA allocated $1 billion to be used to cover “administrative costs” of the federal student loan program, the law created no accountability, oversight, or transparency measures regarding how the money is spent. ED has reported that it spent approximately $216 million of this fund by the start of Fiscal Year 2026, but it has not disclosed to the public what it has spent this money on or its future plans for the fund, leaving borrowers, advocates, and lawmakers in the dark. “While ED has disclosed that it has already spent hundreds of millions of dollars from the fund, the agency has displayed a worrying lack of public transparency about what this vast sum of money has been spent on or will be spent on in the future,” wrote the senators. In addition to pushing for increased transparency regarding the student loan administration fund, the senators urged Secretary McMahon to use the money to address the ongoing student loan default crisis, such as by expanding outreach to borrowers at risk of defaulting or who have already defaulted, improving Federal Student Aid customer service, and rehiring ED’s servicer oversight team to ensure that servicer errors do not raise the risk of default. “ED should spend the money on whatever measures are necessary to address the default crisis by bringing borrowers out of default and preventing additional borrowers from defaulting,” wrote the senators. The senators asked McMahon to provide answers to their questions regarding how ED has used — and intends to use — this $1 billion fund no later than September 16, 2026. Senator Warren has led the fight to make our higher education system more affordable, cancel student loan debt, and hold student loan servicers accountable for incompetence and malfeasance. She launched the Save Our Schools campaign in a coordinated effort to fight back against President Trump’s attempts to abolish the Department of Education: On August 27, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of senators in investigating federal student loan servicer MOHELA on the company’s plans to address the false delinquency notices that it reportedly sent to numerous student loan borrowers. On July 30, 2026, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s bipartisan 21-1 vote to advance Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bill Cassidy’s (R-La.) College Transparency Act out of committee, Senator Warren released the following statement. On July 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2026 (AREAA). The legislation would take steps to reduce student debt and protect students and taxpayers by reforming higher education accreditation and centering student outcomes and consumer protection. On July 16, 2026, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) pressed Francis Brooke, nominee to be Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Treasury, to answer basic questions about the largest student loan default crisis in recorded history, which the Treasury Department has now inherited as part of President Trump’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Mr. Brooke was unable to answer questions about the size of the default crisis and potential effects on Social Security benefits for seniors with defaulted loans. On July 6, 2026, in response to a May 2026 request from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed it would investigate whether the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED’s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds. On June 8, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Merkley (D-Ore.), along with Representatives Pressley (D-Mass.) and Carson (D-Ind.), led 62 members of Congress in pressing the Department of Education to immediately address the largest student loan default and delinquency crisis on record, which has been made worse by the Trump administration’s policies. On May 28, 2026, in response to a request from Senator Warren (D-Mass.), the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an independent government watchdog, confirmed the expansion of its investigation into the Department of Education’s (ED) transfer of critical programs to other agencies through interagency agreements (IAAs), including the transfer of student loan default collections to the Department of the Treasury. GAO previously confirmed it had initiated an investigation into ED’s transfer of grant programs for career and technical education and adult education to the Department of Labor. On May 21, 2026, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to open a new investigation into whether the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) is harming ED’s ability to root out waste, fraud, and abuse of Title IV financial aid funds. On May 4, 2026, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) released new responses from the Department of Education and the Treasury Department demonstrating that the agencies cannot articulate a clear purpose or plan for implementing their illegal interagency agreement (IAA) transferring the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury. On April 28, 2026, Senators Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pressed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s new Student Loan Ombudsman, Geoffrey Gradler, on his plan to protect student loan borrowers, especially given his past censorship of a key student loan report at the CFPB and his background as a lobbyist for lenders. The senators also asked him to recuse himself from past clients’ matters that might come before his office at the CFPB. On April 2, 2026, Senators Warren, Sanders, Wyden, Murray, and Baldwin—all top Democrats on influential education committees—pressed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to rescind their plans to move the administration of federal student loans to the Treasury Department, the latest move in the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle the Department of Education. On February 23, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, along with Representative Ayanna Pressley, released a response from the Department of Education to their November letter regarding a potential sale of the federal student debt portfolio. In the response, ED confirms for the first time publicly that they are weighing a sale of the federal student loan portfolio. On February 19, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) pushed Education Secretary Linda McMahon on concerns that the U.S. Department of Education is apparently obstructing Congressional efforts to hold federal student loan servicers accountable for underperformance. On February 2, 2026, Senator Warren released a new report revealing the findings of their investigation into how private student loan lenders will reap the benefits from cuts to federal student loan access enacted in Republicans’ Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBBA). The report is the first Congressional analysis of the impacts of the OBBBA’s student loan restrictions on the private lending market. On January 22, 2026, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) led their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Trump Education Secretary Linda McMahon about the Trump Administration’s proposal to eliminate affordable student loan repayment options for millions of Americans. On December 8, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in writing to the federal student loan servicers to ensure they are providing borrowers with the customer service they deserve in the wake of the Trump administration’s student loan policy whiplash. The senators sent letters to MOHELA, Nelnet, EdFinancial, Maximus, and CRI. On December 1, 2025, Senator Warren published an op-ed in USA Today calling for Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to resign following the recent news that President Trump and Secretary McMahon plan to further dismantle the Department of Education (ED). On November 17, 2025, Senator Warren led over 40 of her colleagues in a letter urging Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent to immediately end any plans to sell or transfer the federal student loan portfolio to the private market. On November 10, 2025, Senator Warren led her colleagues in a letter urging the Trump administration to use the IRS’s existing legal authorities to stop the looming “tax bomb” facing borrowers who obtain income-driven repayment (IDR) discharges of their student loan debt. On October 15, 2025, Senator Warren and Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) led 70 members of Congress in a letter calling on the Trump administration to address the ongoing and unprecedented wave of student loan delinquencies and defaults, which threatens the financial stability of millions of people and could have disastrous effects on the American economy. On September 19, 2025, following a push by Senator Warren and nine other senators, the Acting Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Education agreed to open an investigation into DOGE’s infiltration of internal systems, including the scope of its access to sensitive student loan borrower information and its impact on borrowers’ rights and privacy. On August 26, 2025, Senator Warren led colleagues in sending a follow-up letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon condemning the Department of Education for deliberately hiding the “Submit a Complaint” button on the Office of Federal Student Aid’s website, firing employees responsible for providing customer service to borrowers and families and misleading Congress about the scope of these firings. On August 4, 2025, Senator Warren led eight Senators in pressing major private student loan lenders on their plans to serve the incoming surge of borrowers who will be pushed to the industry because of Republicans’ recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill.” On July 17, 2025, Senator Warren released a new 23-page report, “Education At Risk: Frontline Impacts of Trump’s War on Students,” highlighting warnings from 11 major national education and civil rights organizations on the impact of the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the Department of Education (ED) and slashing support to millions of American students, primary and secondary school teachers, administrators, parents, and student loan borrowers. On July 15, 2025, Senators Warren and Sanders, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging her to reverse the interest hike on student loan borrowers in the SAVE forbearance. ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-announce-650000-loan-for-improvements-at-anthony-lakes-ski-area-to-enhance-safety-and-support-local-economy/,"Wyden, Merkley Announce $650,000 Loan for Improvements at Anthony Lakes Ski Area to Enhance Safety and Support Local Economy",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal loan of $650,000 for the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association (ALORA) to build a new rental shop to support ski programs and the local economy. “Anthony Lakes is a crown jewel of Eastern Oregon drawing skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor enthusiasts whose visits directly fuel the local economy in Baker and Union counties,” Wyden said. “Investing in this new rental shop ensures ALORA can continue expanding its community ski programs and welcoming visitors with top-tier facilities. I will keep pushing for federal investments like these that protect Oregon’s outdoor recreation opportunities and keep our rural economies moving forward.” “Anthony Lakes is a treasured part of Eastern Oregon, bringing people together to enjoy the outdoors and supporting the small businesses in surrounding rural communities,” said Merkley. “This federal loan will help Anthony Lakes continue welcoming visitors from across the region and providing affordable skiing opportunities for Baker County youth and veterans—ensuring this special place can serve Eastern Oregon for generations to come.” This $650,000 investment to ALORA is from the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program in partnership with Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has been in operation for more than 85 years and is owned and operated by the nonprofit. This investment along with funds from additional community contributors and donations will replace the current 70-year-old structure with a new two-story facility capable of holding retail space, the repair shop, and seasonal staff accommodations. “OTEC and the USDA have helped make this very important project possible. The Rural Economic Development Loan program will allow Anthony Lakes to continue offering current programs as we see the building project through. The new building is an investment in the future of outdoor recreation in our region and provides an amazing space to create more opportunities for our local youth. ALORA is beyond grateful for the support from OTEC, the USDA, almost 200 community members and businesses, and the grant funds received to make this project a reality,” said Chelsea Judy, Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association Marketing Director. ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-650000-loan-for-improvements-at-anthony-lakes-ski-area-to-enhance-safety-and-support-local-economy,"Wyden, Merkley Announce $650,000 Loan for Improvements at Anthony Lakes Ski Area to Enhance Safety and Support Local Economy",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal loan of $650,000 for the Anthony Lakes Outdoor Recreation Association (ALORA) to build a new rental shop to support ski programs and the local economy. “Anthony Lakes is a crown jewel of Eastern Oregon drawing skiers, snowshoers, and outdoor enthusiasts whose visits directly fuel the local economy in Baker and Union counties,” Wyden said. “Investing in this new rental shop ensures ALORA can continue expanding its community ski programs and welcoming visitors with top-tier facilities. I will keep pushing for federal investments like these that protect Oregon's outdoor recreation opportunities and keep our rural economies moving forward.” “Anthony Lakes is a treasured part of Eastern Oregon, bringing people together to enjoy the outdoors and supporting the small businesses in surrounding rural communities,” said Merkley. “This federal loan will help Anthony Lakes continue welcoming visitors from across the region and providing affordable skiing opportunities for Baker County youth and veterans—ensuring this special place can serve Eastern Oregon for generations to come.” This $650,000 investment to ALORA is from the USDA’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program in partnership with Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative. Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest has been in operation for more than 85 years and is owned and operated by the nonprofit. This investment along with funds from additional community contributors and donations will replace the current 70-year-old structure with a new two-story facility capable of holding retail space, the repair shop, and seasonal staff accommodations.",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.merkley.senate.gov/khanna-moolenaar-merkley-mcgovern-smith-and-thompson-request-homeland-security-briefing-on-uyghur-forced-labor-prevention-act-uflpa-implementation/,"Khanna, Moolenaar, Merkley, McGovern, Smith, and Thompson Request Homeland Security Briefing on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Implementation",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), alongside Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC) Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ), CECC Ranking Members Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), House Committee on Homeland Security Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and Select Committee Members Young Kim (R-CA) and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin requesting a briefing on the Department’s implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). The lawmakers also request information on the enforcement of additional U.S. trade laws preventing the influx of illegally traded goods originating from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that harm American industries and workers. “Congress enacted these laws to ensure that illegally traded goods, particularly those made with forced labor, do not enter U.S. commerce and do not make American consumers complicit in atrocities, including genocide, in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR),” the lawmakers write. “Strong enforcement protects human rights, supports American workers, and helps ensure that U.S. businesses are not undercut by illegal and unfair trade practices.” “Publicly available information raises concerns about recent enforcement trends,” the lawmakers continue. “Reports of substantially declining detention activity in key high-risk sectors, combined with continued imports from known transshipment hubs and PRC-linked supply chains, make it important for Congress to understand how DHS is setting enforcement priorities, measuring results, and identifying gaps in enforcement capacity.” The lawmakers request a briefing within 30 days addressing the following: Current DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force enforcement priorities across high-risk and priority enforcement sectors, including consumer goods, seafood, textiles and apparel, steel and aluminum, polysilicon, silane gas, silicon-carbon materials, critical minerals, and other advanced materials; Enforcement measures addressing forced labor exposure in seafood supply chains, including vessel-based labor abuses, transshipment practices, and coordination with other federal agencies; The status of efforts to update and expand the UFLPA Entity List and any barriers or resource constraints to the listing of additional entities; Data on shipments detained, released, excluded, or seized under UFLPA and Section 307 authorities, including trends over the past year, sector-specific data, and country-of-shipment data; Current evidentiary standards required for importers to rebut the UFLPA presumption, including the types of supply-chain tracing, documentation, and verification CBP currently requires; Staffing levels and resources at CBP and DHS dedicated to UFLPA enforcement and FLETF duties, including any changes since 2024; How DHS is evaluating emerging supply chains, including silicon-carbon battery anodes, critical minerals, and other advanced materials, for forced-labor exposure; DHS’s efforts to investigate forced labor violations and other trade-related crimes, including in partnership with the Department of Justice’s Trade Fraud Task Force launched in August 2025 and other relevant federal agencies; DHS’s bilateral and multilateral engagements with foreign governments to promote enforceable forced-labor import bans, reduce diversion and transshipment, and strengthen international supply-chain accountability; and How DHS is leveraging artificial intelligence to validate shipment country-of-origin and supply-chain documentation to identify potential UFLPA violations or other inconsistencies in shipment data. Full text of the letter is available here. ###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-legislation-prevent-student-loan-default,Bonamici Introduces Legislation to Prevent Student Loan Default,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [9/2/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to help student loan borrowers avoid default. The Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act would help student loan borrowers avoid delinquency by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in income-driven repayment (IDR) plans to make repayment more affordable. This process will remove unnecessary paperwork requirements and use existing taxpayer information to automatically connect borrowers with protections. “Bureaucratic hurdles should not keep student loan borrowers from more affordable repayment plans,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The SIMPLE Act is commonsense legislation to use existing taxpayer information to automatically place people in plans that better meet their financial needs and provide protection from harmful default."" Student loan default can lead to wage garnishment and the withholding of tax refunds and Social Security benefits. It also can harm credit ratings, making it difficult for borrowers to purchase a car or a home. These consequences disproportionately affect low-income borrowers and borrowers with up to $10,000 in debt and no degree, who are most vulnerable to default. “Problems arise for many student loan borrowers not due to an inability or unwillingness to pay, but rather due to needless complexity within the system. Many are simply unaware of generous income-driven repayment plans that can lower their monthly payments. The SIMPLE Act would expand access to affordable income-driven repayment options by automatically enrolling struggling borrowers in those plans before they experience the punitive consequences of default. The financial aid community stands in support of this bill,” said Karen McCarthy, Vice President of Public Policy & Federal Relations, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). “We applaud Rep. Bonamici for leading the SIMPLE Act, which makes common-sense improvements to help student loan borrowers access more affordable repayment options and avoid the devastating consequences of loan default,” said Michele Zampini, Associate Vice President of Federal Policy & Advocacy, for The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS). You can read the full text of the SIMPLE Act here. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Lucy McBath, Seth Moulton, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Takano, and Frederica Wilson. ###",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z