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://www.merkley.senate.gov/ranking-member-shaheen-senators-tillis-rosen-barrasso-coons-king-moran-merkley-van-hollen-statement-on-russias-christmas-bombing-of-ukraine/,"Ranking Member Shaheen, Senators Tillis, Rosen, Barrasso, Coons, King, Moran, Merkley, Van Hollen Statement on Russia’s Christmas Bombing of Ukraine",2025-12-25,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“We condemn Russia’s brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer.

“It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianity’s holiest days.

“Even for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I. Today’s decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.

“We stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians’ faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/blumenthal-murkowski-merkley-lead-call-for-inspector-general-audit-following-dojs-failure-to-release-the-full-epstein-files-as-demanded-by-survivors-required-by-law/,"BLUMENTHAL, MURKOWSKI & MERKLEY LEAD CALL FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL AUDIT FOLLOWING DOJ’S FAILURE TO RELEASE THE FULL EPSTEIN FILES AS DEMANDED BY SURVIVORS, REQUIRED BY LAW",2025-12-24,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC] – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) led a bipartisan group of senators in writing Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume requesting the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (DOJ OIG) perform an audit of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation requiring the release of all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein.

“Given the Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. “As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (“DOJ OIG”) perform an audit of the Department’s compliance with the statute.”

In addition to Blumenthal, Murkowski, and Merkley, today’s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Gary Peters (D-MI).

“Full transparency—as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors—is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes,” the senators concluded. “Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department’s compliance.”

The full text of today’s letter is available here and copied below.

Dear Acting Inspector General Berthiaume:

We write to you following the December 19 deadline imposed by the Epstein Files Transparency Act for the Department of Justice (“DOJ” or “the Department”) to release all records and documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. By the Department’s own admission, it is in violation of the law—before DOJ had even begun to release the files, Deputy Attorney General Blanche admitted that it would not disclose them all by the December 19 deadline. And DOJ has lived up to that promise, failing to fully disclose the files in violation of the Act.

Not only has DOJ withheld files, but those records that were disclosed are largely information that was already public. Even those records are so heavily redacted that there are serious questions as to whether the Department is properly applying the limited exceptions for redaction that are permitted under the Act. Moreover, several records appear to have been removed, without explanation, from the files the Department did release.

Given the Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential. As such, we request that the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (“DOJ OIG”) perform an audit of the Department’s compliance with the statute.

In passing the Epstein Files Transparency Act with overwhelming margins in both the House and the Senate, Congress demonstrated a clear, bipartisan mandate for public transparency in the Epstein case. The legislation expressly enumerates the limited circumstances in which withholding or redaction is permitted. Any withholding or redaction beyond those specified circumstances is against the law. But because Congress and the public do not have complete access to the Epstein documents, we are not able to fully assess for ourselves whether records were inappropriately withheld or redacted. DOJ OIG—with access to the full Epstein files and with independence from the larger Department—is ideally positioned to do a complete and independent assessment of the Administration’s compliance with the Act.

Despite calls from Epstein survivors for complete release of the documents, this Administration has shown consistent hostility towards transparency and a perceived willingness to weaponize the case for political ends. In February, Attorney General (“A.G.”) Bondi gave binders of supposedly newly declassified Epstein files—not to survivors, but to reported “right-wing influencers.” She also claimed that Epstein’s so-called “client list” was “sitting on [her] desk right now to review.” Yet, in July, DOJ and FBI released an unsigned memo directly contradicting her, and claiming it had found no evidence of Epstein having kept a client list. In August, Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower security prison after two days of meetings with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. In November, President Trump expressly and publicly urged A.G. Bondi to investigate prominent Democrats and banks connected to Epstein. Just days later, A.G. Bondi announced she would follow the President’s command. These actions, including inconsistent public statements about the contents of the files, have raised fundamental questions about the Department’s willingness to faithfully and impartially comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These questions have only grown in volume since the incomplete release of files on December 19.

Given DOJ OIG’s ability to access the full set of Epstein files and its independence from the Department, it is ideally placed to perform an audit to ensure the Department’s compliance with the law. Such an audit is essential not only to ensure the Department has acted as the law requires, but also to maintain the public’s trust in the disclosure of the files and in the Department’s handling of the case. Specifically, DOJ OIG should ensure that: (1) redactions were properly applied to protect all survivors; (2) redactions were not used to shield abusers, perpetrators, or enablers; (3) records were not withheld for any reason other than those enumerated in the statute; (4) all withholding of records was appropriate under the statute and narrowly tailored; and (5) the Department did not consider politics in deciding whether or how to release documents.

We appreciate your attention to this important request. Full transparency—as called for bravely and repeatedly by survivors—is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes. Survivors deserve full disclosure. They also deserve the peace of mind that would be afforded by an independent audit of the Department’s compliance.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon/,"Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon",2025-12-24,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans’ budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they’ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.

“We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill,” the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. “As you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.”

“In Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties,” the lawmakers continued. “Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.”

The senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:

How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?

What determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?

What circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?

“We recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,” Wyden and Merkley wrote. “Republicans’ Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.”

The entire letter is below.

Ann Ford

Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.

3729 Klindt Dr.

The Dalles, OR 97058

Sean Jessup

Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization

601 SW Second Ave

Portland, OR 97204

Dear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,

We write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.

We know that Oregon’s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.

In Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.

We recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans’ Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.

As you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:

According to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?

What is GOHBI’s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?

Please describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.

You represent the best of our nation’s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-pause-discriminatory-national-park-entry-fees,"Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Pause Discriminatory National Park Entry Fees",2025-12-24,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senators express concerns over January 1 implementation — without proper notice — of $250 America the Beautiful non-resident annual passes and $100 non-resident fee for highly visited national parks

Washington, DC — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to pause its expensive new national park entry fees and annual passes for non-residents scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Wyden and the other senators emphasized these new passes and fees were not properly noticed in accordance with the law, will slow park entry, and will further limit international visitation. In late November, the federal Department of Interior announced a new fee structure for access to public lands. Beginning next year, the annual pass will cost $80 for U.S. citizens and residents and $250 for non-residents, the first time the United States has required proof of residency to have access to public lands. Non-residents age 16 and up who don’t have an annual pass will be forced to pay a $100 per person fee to enter 11 of the country’s most visited national parks.

“America’s national parks serve as destinations for visitors both domestically and internationally to experience our country’s natural beauty, cultural heritage, and history,” the senators wrote Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. “While we understand that entrance and recreation fees are vital to enhancing the visitor experience, we want to ensure all feel welcome to enjoy all national treasures. Since these new fees are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, we strongly believe these fees are being implemented too quickly, without public input, and will be a barrier for both residents and non-residents alike.”

“We request that you stop implementation of the new non-resident passes and fees until the public has an opportunity to weigh in, impacts to visitation are studied, and clarity on implementation is provided to Congress, NPS employees, and impacted stakeholders,” the senators wrote.

The National Park Service is permitted to collect and retain entrance and recreation fees under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. These fees play an important role in making sure these parks can provide a positive visitor experience for citizens and non-residents alike. However, the law requires the Secretary of the Interior to allow the public the chance weigh in on the development of or changes to recreation fees, and it mandates advanced notice to affected communities in local publications. The senators criticized the administration for failing to provide this legally required opportunity for public input.

In addition to Wyden, the letter led by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was also signed by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

The senators also warned that this plan would further strain the understaffed Park Service workforce, as the Trump administration has cut 24% of permanent Park Service employees since January, including positions like fee collectors and information technology specialists. These staffing shortages will likely further compound entry delays, especially at the highly visited parks charging an extra $100 for non-residents.

With overseas visitation to national parks already down over 3% (and down 25% for visitors from Canada), the senators expressed concerns that these numbers could fall even further with the steep price of non-resident passes, hurting the U.S. economy.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-raise-alarm-over-loss-of-mental-health-access-in-eastern-oregon,"Wyden, Merkley Raise Alarm Over Loss of Mental Health Access in Eastern Oregon",2025-12-24,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senators: Trump and congressional Republicans’ budget bill threatens essential mental care for nearly 800 Malheur County residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote health care providers serving Malheur County to ask how they’ll ensure nearly 800 residents keep access to the mental health services they need in the wake of new coordinated care organization (CCO) coverage changes brought on by the devastating cuts by Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to Medicaid.

“We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill,” the lawmakers wrote to Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. CEO Ann Ford and Eastern Oregon CCO CEO Sean Jessup. “As you manage through this calamity, We ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.”

“In Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties,” the lawmakers continued. “Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.”

The senators asked Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOBHI), which distributes Medicaid dollars for mental health in eastern Oregon, to answer the following questions no later than January 9, 2026:

How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?

What determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?

What circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?

“We recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task,” Wyden and Merkley wrote. “Republicans’ Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.”

The entire letter is below.

Ann Ford

Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc.

3729 Klindt Dr.

The Dalles, OR 97058

Sean Jessup

Eastern Oregon Coordinated Care Organization

601 SW Second Ave

Portland, OR 97204

Dear Ms. Ford & Mr. Jessup,

We write with deep concern about recent reporting that nearly 800 residents of Malheur County enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan will not be able to see the mental health providers they rely on starting next year. We understand your organization faces unprecedented financial strain as Oregon braces for nearly $4 billion in Medicaid cuts to rural communities alone signed into law by Donald Trump as part of Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill. As you manage through this calamity, we ask that you do everything in your power to maximize access to a wide range of providers, ease patient transitions, and ensure continuity of care.

We know that Oregon’s families and health care providers are staring down the largest cuts to health care in U.S. history. Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill cuts federal funding for the U.S. health care system by over $1 trillion, raising health care costs for everyone while kicking 15 million Americans off of their health insurance. States, Medicaid managed care organizations, and health care providers will need to make impossibly hard choices. Already, the effects of these catastrophic cuts are harming rural communities like Malheur County. Hospitals are closing. Mental health counselors, nurses, doctors, and other essential health care workers are losing their jobs. Service access, especially care for new mothers and babies, is dwindling.

In Oregon, Malheur County stands to lose most of all. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties. Among those enrolled, the vast majority (almost 80%) are children, nearly 25% have a disability, nearly 50% are Hispanic or Latino, and more than 25% speak Spanish as their primary language. We voted against these devastating cuts to protect these very residents and providers like yourselves.

We recognize your organizations are presented with an unworkable task. Republicans’ Medicaid cuts will force health care providers throughout Oregon to do more with less. We will keep fighting to repeal these devastating cuts to health care for Malheur County and the countless other communities for which the Oregon Health Plan is a lifeline.

As you navigate this challenging landscape, we ask that you limit life-threatening disruptions for patients and their families and ensure the residents of Malheur County have ample access to a sufficient network of health care providers.We are hearing from members of the community who are deeply concerned about their ability to continue to see the doctor of their choice, and ask that you share answers to the following questions:

According to reports, the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. (GOHBI) is offering a transition period, permitting patients to complete a current episode of treatment after January 1, 2026 with an out-of-network provider and allowing extension requests for medically-necessary care. How will GOHBI manage this process to limit disruption for patients and their health care providers?

What is GOHBI’s process for granting medically-necessary extensions?

Please describe appeals processes and other patient protections available to patients related to provider access.

Reports suggest GOHBI’s changes to the Malheur County provider network will reduce the number of available mental health and substance use disorder providers from four to just one, representing a dramatic downward shift. What determination did GOHBI make to ensure network adequacy and sufficient access for patients?

Does GOHBI have plans to monitor patient access throughout 2026?

What circumstances led GOHBI to make these changes to its provider network in 2026?

Were anticipated cuts to the Oregon Health Plan a factor? Thank you.

You represent the best of our nation’s health care system, and we know you seek to do right by the patients with mental health and substance use disorders who you tirelessly serve. Please provide the requested information to Andrew Cutler at Andrew_Cutler@wyden.senate.gov no later than January 9th, 2026. Thank you for providing a prompt response to this inquiry.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-concludes-first-year-senate-passage-legislation-support-veterans,Dexter Concludes First Year with Senate Passage of Legislation to Support Veterans,2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PORTLAND, OR — Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) announced that her bipartisan legislation, the Focused Assistance and Skills Training for Veterans’ Employment and Transition Success (FAST VETS) Act passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation passed out of the House in the fall and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“As someone who worked at the VA, I have seen firsthand how critical it is for veterans to have access to timely, outcomes-based support as they transition to civilian life,” said Dexter. “The FAST VETS Act ensures we are meeting veterans where they are and more efficiently connecting them with the career resources they need to succeed in civilian life. I’m grateful that in a historically divided Congress, the Senate has passed this legislation and moved it one step closer to becoming law.”

""I'm thrilled to see the FAST VETS Act pass the Senate with bipartisan support,"" said Ranking Member Mark Takano. ""This legislation represents our continued commitment to ensuring veterans receive the employment support and career counseling they've earned through their service. Strengthening the VR&E program will make a lasting difference in veterans' lives as they transition to civilian careers. I look forward to working with my colleagues and Representative Maxine Dexter to pass more legislation that safeguards the benefits and services our veterans depend on.""

FAST VETS Act strengthens the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program to better connect veterans with meaningful employment opportunities. If signed into law, this bill will improve outcomes for individual veterans in the VR&E program, while expanding the number of veterans who can access its critical supports.

Congresswoman Dexter serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and is one of only three physicians in Congress who provided care to veterans at the VA. She serves on both the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Disability and Memorial Affairs.

For a one-page fact sheet on this legislation, click here. For full bill text, click here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-960881-coming-to-wasco-county-for-distance-learning,"Merkley, Wyden Announce $960,881 Coming to Wasco County for Distance Learning",2025-12-23,2025,2025-12,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 announced a federal investment of $960,881 for the Dufur School District 29 to support distance learning in Wasco County. With this funding, instructors at Portland Community College in Multnomah County, Baker Technical Institute in Baker County, Columbia Gorge Community College in Wasco County, and the Oregon Veterans Home in Wasco County will deliver technical training, STEM coursework, and certified nurse assistant training courses to three locations benefiting 655 Dufur School District 29 students.

“As I hold a town hall in each of Oregon’s 36 counties every year, I frequently hear from folks about the challenges they are facing, especially in rural communities that have unique hurdles in accessing education and health care services,” said Merkley. “This critical investment will ensure that working families living in more remote communities will have better access to the tools and services they need to thrive.”

“Distance to a city should not determine whether or not hard-working students are able to access a quality education,” said Wyden. “This grant closes that gap and ensures students in Wasco County can gain the technical skills required to expand the healthcare workforce. I applaud this federal award to Dufur School District, and I will fight for more programs like this that provide opportunities for students living in Oregon’s rural communities.”

This federal funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants, which help rural communities access advanced telecommunications technology.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-janelle-bynums-first-year-office,Congresswoman Janelle Bynum’s First Year in Office,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"December 22, 2025

Image

2025 Video Recap

Congresswoman Bynum took office at a critical point for our country, with the nation preparing to swear-in Donald Trump for the second time, our politics facing a deep partisan divide, and Americans dealing with skyrocketing costs. Through it all, her laser-focus on working across the aisle to deliver real results and to show up for her constituents has shown that she’s the right person to fight for Oregonians in Congress. As Senator Merkley put it: “From working together to lead bipartisan legislation to protect the environment to always putting Oregonians and our communities first, Rep. Bynum has been listening and securing wins during her first year in Congress. I look forward to partnering with her in 2026 and beyond to make sure Oregonians and all Americans have strong foundations to thrive.”

Showing Up and Delivering for Oregon

Congresswoman Bynum hosted 94,000 Oregonians at 21 town halls across Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District.

She made it a top priority to ensure all of her constituents could make their voices heard, so she hosted town halls in Clackamas, Deschutes, Linn, and Marion Counties, as well as over the phone.

This summer, Congresswoman Bynum traveledacross the district on her 10-stop “Give ‘Em Hell Tour”, which turned out over 42,000 constituents, in response to the Trump Administration’s cruelty and chaos.

According to one constituent, “Bynum showed up and made it clear she was committed to employing every tool to fight back during these unprecedented times.”

When the City of Portland became a target for the Trump Administration’s unwanted deployment of the National Guard, Rep. Bynum stood up for Oregon and called out the overreach.

Immediately following the announcement, she held a town hall with over 13,000 participants to answer questions and show her support for the community.

She also took the fight to national TV and social media, emphasizing that Portland didn’t ask for, need, or want troops in the city, and calling on the president to stop using them as “toy soldiers.”

During Congresswoman Bynum’s first year in office, she helped the district earn over $160 million in federal funding. She also fought for over $34 million to fund investments in clean drinking water, public safety, child care, affordable housing, and more in OR-05.

Congresswoman Bynum hosted 189 district events and meetings, including 35 roundtables. As a leader committed to showing up for her communities, she held over 200 constituent meetings, where she heard Oregonians' concerns and top priorities and consistently made herself available.

Visits have been wide-ranging and tailored to the diverse communities she represents, from meeting with constituents at a brewery in Bend to talking with high school seniors about public service in Portland to riding along with a local Fire Chief in Colton.

She’s made clear that showing up and hearing her constituents is a top priority for her: “Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, had a promise for the crowd of dozens she faced on a coffee shop patio Saturday afternoon: She would go wherever her constituents wanted her to be.”

Congresswoman Bynum’s office has responded to over 89,000 constituent messages and has successfully casework requests, returning over $806,029 to her constituents’ pockets. Success stories include helping deal with the Social Security issues and getting money back from the IRS.

Congresswoman Bynum was a vocal opponent to Republicans’ cuts to healthcare and has continually stood up to protect her constituents’ access to healthcare.

Legislative Wins

Congresswoman Bynum was appointed to the powerful Financial Services Committee in her first term, becoming the first Oregon freshman named to the committee in 28 years.

As part of her commitment to lowering the cost of housing, she fought to be named to the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she has introduced 3 bipartisan bills to address the housing crisis.

She made an early impression on the Committee’s Ranking Member, Rep. Maxine Waters, who said, “Congresswoman Bynum has a strong track record of fighting to address the affordable housing crisis… I have no doubt she will draw on her background and expertise to continue this important effort…”.

Congresswoman Bynum has already established herself as a bipartisan, results-driven legislator, passing 3 bipartisan bills through the House to help small businesses during an otherwise historically unproductive Congress.

In total, Congresswoman Bynum has led or co-led 21 pieces of legislation, – 16 of which are bipartisan – including bills to lower costs, protect Oregon’s environment, support students, keep Oregonians healthy, support wildfire response efforts, and more.

She also quickly proved herself as a leader in Congress by leading 32 of her 33 Freshman colleagues in calling on Speaker Johnson to start focusing on lowering costs.

Congresswoman Bynum has notched several local wins by successfully calling on the Trump Administration to change course. She called on the rehiring of laid off federal firefighters, which later happened, and advocated for communities impacted by the Detroit Lake drawdown proposal, by calling on the comment period to be extended, which it was.

Congresswoman Bynum has delivered 25 speeches on the House floor, advocating for Oregonians’ healthcare, reproductive freedom, and lower costs.

Communicating Effectively and Establishing a Herself as a Rising Star

Congresswoman Bynum quickly established herself as a rising star in the party, speaking at the Democratic Caucus Leadership’s press conference within her first month in Congress.

Congresswoman Bynum has employed an aggressive “go everywhere” media strategy, meeting people where they are, bringing her message from traditional and new media to social media.

She has made over 51 local and national television appearances, including on CNN, MSNBC, and NewsNation, and authored 2 op-eds.

She has made multiple new media appearances, including on MeidasTouch (5.7M YouTube subscribers), the Don Lemon Show (1M YouTube subscribers), and Hopium (150,000 subscribers on Substack).

She has also amassed over 51,000 followers on social media and generated several viral moments, garnering millions of views across platforms and coverage from the Oregonian.

Congresswoman Bynum was a recipient of one of the awards in the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee’s (DPCC) Digital All Stars Competition for creatively and effectively communicating to digital audiences.

Congresswoman Bynum also successfully launched a newsletter program with over 72,000 subscribers, the most of any Democratic Freshman and more than most established offices, as part of her effort to inform constituents about results she is delivering at home.

As Democrats nationally have wrestled with how to engage younger Americans, Congresswoman Bynum was elected as a Co-Chair of the Future Forum Caucus, which focuses on prioritizing and giving voices to young Americans on issues important to them.

Looking to the second half of her first term, Congresswoman Bynum will continue showing up and delivering for Oregonians. She’s already established herself as one of the party’s strongest communicators and one of Congress’ most effective bipartisan lawmakers. Her impressive accomplishments during her short time in Congress – and in the current political climate – have Congresswoman Bynum well positioned to emerge as a leader in Congress in the year ahead.

###

Issues: Congress",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-led-bipartisan-resolution-recognizing-30-years-of-u-s-vietnam-relationship-passes-senate/,Merkley-led Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing 30 Years of U.S.-Vietnam Relationship Passes Senate,2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,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—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—announced that his bipartisan resolution marking the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam unanimously passed the Senate. Merkley led the resolution alongside U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT).

“Vietnam is a critical partner to the United States, and only together will we be able to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our two nations,” said Merkley.“The unanimous passage of our bipartisan resolution reaffirms the Senate’s commitment to sustaining a productive bilateral relationship, ongoing support of war legacy programs to bring closure to all who suffered in the Vietnam War, and our determination to work together to promote peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy, Merkley has long advocated for the United States’ strategic partnerships in the region, including with Vietnam. In 2023, he led a bicameral congressional delegation to Vietnam, meeting with senior Vietnamese government officials, examining the painful wartime legacy of the Vietnam conflict, and traveling to a town on the Mekong River experiencing rising sea levels due to climate chaos.

Full text of the bipartisan resolution can be found by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-announce-960881-coming-to-wasco-county-for-distance-learning/,"Merkley, Wyden Announce $960,881 Coming to Wasco County for Distance Learning",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,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 announced a federal investment of $960,881 for the Dufur School District 29 to support distance learning in Wasco County. With this funding, instructors at Portland Community College in Multnomah County, Baker Technical Institute in Baker County, Columbia Gorge Community College in Wasco County, and the Oregon Veterans Home in Wasco County will deliver technical training, STEM coursework, and certified nurse assistant training courses to three locations benefiting 655 Dufur School District 29 students.

“As I hold a town hall in each of Oregon’s 36 counties every year, I frequently hear from folks about the challenges they are facing, especially in rural communities that have unique hurdles in accessing education and health care services,” said Merkley. “This critical investment will ensure that working families living in more remote communities will have better access to the tools and services they need to thrive.”

“Distance to a city should not determine whether or not hard-working students are able to access a quality education,” said Wyden. “This grant closes that gap and ensures students in Wasco County can gain the technical skills required to expand the healthcare workforce. I applaud this federal award to Dufur School District, and I will fight for more programs like this that provide opportunities for students living in Oregon’s rural communities.”

This federal funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development’s Distance Learning & Telemedicine Grants, which help rural communities access advanced telecommunications technology.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-end-staffing-crisis-at-fish-and-wildlife-service-warn-of-devastating-impacts-to-ecosystems-and-public-lands/,"Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to End Staffing Crisis at Fish and Wildlife Service, Warn of Devastating Impacts to Ecosystems and Public Lands",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,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)—the top Democrat overseeing funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)—and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)—former chairman and current senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources—joined their colleagues in urging the administration to immediately address and reverse the staffing crisis at the FWS, which has lost the capacity to properly manage most of America’s wildlife refuges, putting in jeopardy the ability to protect endangered wildlife species under the Service’s care.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and FWS Director Brian Nesvik, the Senators highlight the direct impacts cuts in staffing are having on the 573 national wildlife refuges across the country—with almost 60 percent of them lacking the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions. According to public reports, Oregon and Washington have lost a combined 50 senior level scientists and staff.

“Americans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats,” the Senators wrote.

“This downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem—it has made the situation far worse. The President’s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS’s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies,” the Senators continued.

The Senators also emphasized that operating with few or no employees has also hurt disaster resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, and was also signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai’i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik:

We write to sound the alarm on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) staffing crisis, which is causing particular harm to the National Wildlife Refuge System. A startling amount of staff and expertise needed to manage the Refuge System and protect America’s wildlife have been lost due to the administration’s firings, early retirement programs, and other efforts to push staff out of FWS. The agency is losing the capacity to manage America’s wildlife refuges and struggling to even keep them open. We ask that you provide Congress with your plan to address FWS’s staffing crisis and immediately act to ensure that FWS and the Refuge System have the staff and resources needed to guarantee a safe, quality experience for visitors to the Refuge System and to protect the invaluable wildlife species under the agency’s care.

Americans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats. There are 573 national wildlife refuges across the country, with a footprint in every state. The Refuge System also utilizes a unique conservation approach through community-based initiatives that provide recreational and sporting opportunities and other localized needs. According to FWS, wildlife refuge recreation generates $3.2 billion in local economic activity each year. Every dollar that is invested in the Refuge System generates $3.12 in U.S. economic activity, a tremendous return on investment for the American taxpayer.

However, according to recently released internal agency documents, almost 60 percent of the nation’s wildlife refuges lack the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions. FWS has experienced a staggering 29 percent loss of employees who work for the Refuge System. This downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem—it has made the situation far worse. The President’s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS’s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies.

Staffing reductions have negatively impacted national wildlife refuges across the country, forcing multiple wildlife refuges to operate with few or no employees. FWS’s internal estimates indicate that 9 percent of wildlife refuges are now classified as “shuttered.” It appears that FWS has abandoned these refuges, as there may not be a single employee on the ground to manage the refuge.

The consequences of slashing the FWS workforce are already being felt across the nation. The collapse of staffing capacity within the Refuge System leaves refuges open to damage, vandalism, flooding, fire, and loss of protection and conservation measures for threatened and endangered wildlife species who rely on these refuges for survival. FWS staffing losses also hurt resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.

It has also become more difficult for the agency to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, an already challenging but essential obligation. This delay in work pushes endangered species closer to extinction and prevents infrastructure projects from moving forward, as they may encounter difficulties with acquiring needed permits amid such regulatory uncertainty.

Considering the alarming scale of FWS’s staffing crisis, we request answers to the following by January 2, 2026:

Will you commit to reversing the staffing losses at FWS? What is your plan to address FWS’s debilitating loss in capacity?

Has the Administration considered the impact of decimating the FWS workforce on the economics of gateway communities?

Does the Administration still plan on moving forward with firing more FWS employees, even as those firings are being stopped by federal courts?

How is FWS planning to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act?

Protecting natural resources for Americans has always been a bipartisan effort and it is important that FWS has the workforce required to meet its core mandates. Thank you, and we look forward to your response.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-end-staffing-crisis-at-fish-and-wildlife-service-warn-of-devastating-impacts-to-ecosystems-and-public-lands,"Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to End Staffing Crisis at Fish and Wildlife Service, Warn of Devastating Impacts to Ecosystems and Public Lands",2025-12-22,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)—the top Democrat overseeing funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)—and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)—former chairman and current senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources—joined their colleagues in urging the administration to immediately address and reverse the staffing crisis at the FWS, which has lost the capacity to properly manage most of America’s wildlife refuges, putting in jeopardy the ability to protect endangered wildlife species under the Service’s care.

In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and FWS Director Brian Nesvik, the Senators highlight the direct impacts cuts in staffing are having on the 573 national wildlife refuges across the country—with almost 60 percent of them lacking the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions. According to public reports, Oregon and Washington have lost a combined 50 senior level scientists and staff.

“Americans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats,” the Senators wrote.

“This downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem—it has made the situation far worse. The President’s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS’s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies,” the Senators continued.

The Senators also emphasized that operating with few or no employees has also hurt disaster resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife, and was also signed by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Director Nesvik:

We write to sound the alarm on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) staffing crisis, which is causing particular harm to the National Wildlife Refuge System. A startling amount of staff and expertise needed to manage the Refuge System and protect America’s wildlife have been lost due to the administration’s firings, early retirement programs, and other efforts to push staff out of FWS. The agency is losing the capacity to manage America’s wildlife refuges and struggling to even keep them open. We ask that you provide Congress with your plan to address FWS’s staffing crisis and immediately act to ensure that FWS and the Refuge System have the staff and resources needed to guarantee a safe, quality experience for visitors to the Refuge System and to protect the invaluable wildlife species under the agency’s care.

Americans of all backgrounds love their public lands, and protecting wildlife refuges is a bipartisan cause that brings together environmentalists, sportsmen, and all who enjoy the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by America’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge System is the only federal network of public lands that is primarily dedicated to the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plant species and their habitats. There are 573 national wildlife refuges across the country, with a footprint in every state. The Refuge System also utilizes a unique conservation approach through community-based initiatives that provide recreational and sporting opportunities and other localized needs. According to FWS, wildlife refuge recreation generates $3.2 billion in local economic activity each year. Every dollar that is invested in the Refuge System generates $3.12 in U.S. economic activity, a tremendous return on investment for the American taxpayer.

However, according to recently released internal agency documents, almost 60 percent of the nation’s wildlife refuges lack the resources and staff needed to fulfill their missions. FWS has experienced a staggering 29 percent loss of employees who work for the Refuge System. This downward trend did not begin under the Trump administration. Yet the current administration has not only shown an unwillingness to address the problem—it has made the situation far worse. The President’s Fiscal Year 26 budget request slashed funding for FWS’s overall Resource Management account, which included a proposed 22 percent cut to the National Wildlife Refuge System. Moreover, the administration has indicated that it is planning more firings for public land agencies.

Staffing reductions have negatively impacted national wildlife refuges across the country, forcing multiple wildlife refuges to operate with few or no employees. FWS’s internal estimates indicate that 9 percent of wildlife refuges are now classified as “shuttered.” It appears that FWS has abandoned these refuges, as there may not be a single employee on the ground to manage the refuge.

The consequences of slashing the FWS workforce are already being felt across the nation. The collapse of staffing capacity within the Refuge System leaves refuges open to damage, vandalism, flooding, fire, and loss of protection and conservation measures for threatened and endangered wildlife species who rely on these refuges for survival. FWS staffing losses also hurt resilience because FWS employees carry out projects to control flooding and prevent catastrophic wildfires.

It has also become more difficult for the agency to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, an already challenging but essential obligation. This delay in work pushes endangered species closer to extinction and prevents infrastructure projects from moving forward, as they may encounter difficulties with acquiring needed permits amid such regulatory uncertainty.

Considering the alarming scale of FWS’s staffing crisis, we request answers to the following by January 2, 2026:

Will you commit to reversing the staffing losses at FWS? What is your plan to address FWS’s debilitating loss in capacity?

Has the Administration considered the impact of decimating the FWS workforce on the economics of gateway communities?

Does the Administration still plan on moving forward with firing more FWS employees, even as those firings are being stopped by federal courts?

How is FWS planning to meet deadlines to list species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act?

Protecting natural resources for Americans has always been a bipartisan effort and it is important that FWS has the workforce required to meet its core mandates. Thank you, and we look forward to your response.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-applauds-the-advancement-to-delist-the-gray-wolf,Congressman Bentz Applauds the Advancement to Delist the Gray Wolf,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Following Congressman Bentz (R-OR) House floor speech last week outlining the dangers posed by the unchecked growth of gray wolf populations, the U.S. House of Representatives voted in favor of delisting the gray wolf. The passage of H.R. 845, The Pet and Livestock Protection Act is an important step toward restoring common sense wildlife management and returning authority to state agencies.

“Today’s vote is a long-overdue acknowledgment that the federal government’s approach to gray wolf management has failed,” said Congressman Bentz. “From my first days in Congress, I have pushed to delist the gray wolf because the consequences of inaction are being felt every day in Oregon’s Second Congressional District. Ranching families are paying the price for policies made in Washington that ignore conditions on the ground. Delisting the gray wolf is a necessary first step toward restoring balance, protecting livestock, driving down the cost of beef prices, and returning wildlife management to the state agencies best equipped to do the job. I strongly urge the Senators of Oregon and the rest of their chamber to pass this legislation.”

“Oregon’s livestock producers have been hard hit economically due to predator activity. It is for this reason, the Oregon Cattleman’s Association supports the passage of HR845, The Pet and Livestock Protection Act, by the house of representatives which is the first step toward the delisting of the wolf. In Oregon, delisting will be a welcome relief to producers in ¾ of the state allowing for long overdue management options under the Oregon Wolf Conservation and Management Plan. The assurances this bill offers will allow for quality wolf management and protection of private property,” said Oregon Cattleman’s Association, Tammy Dennee.

“Our most basic human and American rights are denied when we can’t legally take action to protect our own livestock from being harassed and killed right in front of our eyes. The current law is a form of entrapment that turns law abiding citizens into felons just for following their innate instinct to protect their home, family and livelihood. Humans and wolves are both apex predators, so protection laws must go both ways to maintain balance,” said Dr. Elise Flynn, Valley Falls, OR.

The House action follows Bentz’s recent floor remarks, where he highlighted the devastating impacts wolf depredation has had on livestock producers and rural economies, as well as the inability of states to effectively manage wolf populations under rigid federal control.",1,2026-04-12T05:43:33Z,2026-04-12T05:44:50Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-leads-15-colleagues-urging-usda-fairly-include-specialty-crops,Rep. Salinas Leads 15 Colleagues in Urging USDA to Fairly Include Specialty Crops in Farm Aid Package,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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) led 15 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins expressing concern that their farm aid package fails to provide adequate support for specialty crops and other agriculture sectors.

The lawmakers expressed that any farm aid package must treat specialty crops with the same urgency, dignity, and commitment as row-crop producers. They continue to state that equitable assistance for all farmers and producers is essential to preserving the diversity, resilience, and sustainability of American agriculture.

Click here or see below for the full letter:

Dear Secretary Rollins,

We write to express our concerns that the Trump Administration’s recently announced farm aid package fails to provide adequate support for specialty crops and other sectors of the agricultural economy. While we recognize the need for the $11 billion dedicated to the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program, the remaining $1 billion that may or may not go towards specialty crops, coupled with the lack of clarity surrounding eligibility, distribution, and timing, falls far short of the relief these farmers need. This level of uncertainty and the disproportionate allocation itself are unacceptable for an industry already under significant strain.

Over the past year, specialty crop producers have endured severe economic hardship. Many operations have faced supply-chain disruptions, rising input costs, labor shortages, and unstable market conditions. Specialty growers also continue to operate without the same depth of risk-management tools, crop-insurance coverage, and market-stabilization support available to other sectors, leaving many more vulnerable when markets shift or disasters strike. These challenges have been severely exacerbated by the instability and uncertainty created under the Trump Administration, whose irrational tariffs and erratic behavior have disrupted foreign markets and reduced revenues for specialty crop growers.

By setting aside only $1 billion for specialty crops and others excluded from FBA and failing to provide any level of clarity surrounding this funding, the Administration is effectively choosing winners and losers in the farm economy. USDA’s own data shows that specialty crop exports totaled $24.6 billion in FY23, almost 14% of our nation’s total agricultural exports. Reserving just $1 billion for specialty crops, in addition to other producers excluded from the FBA program, severely underestimates both need and the role that specialty crops and other sectors play in the nation’s food system.

Further, this farm aid package is particularly concerning given that its total pales in comparison to the Trump Administration’s bailout for Argentina, raising questions about why American producers are being asked to settle for far less relief than what has been provided foreign nations. Such an approach risks leaving specialty crop producers as an afterthought rather than recognizing them as a core component of a healthy, diverse U.S. food system.

Without meaningful support, specialty crop producers and others excluded from FBA will continue to face severe economic instability without an economic backstop. President Trump must also consider the long-term harm his tariffs are doing to the American agricultural economy. If he does not reverse course, farm aid will continue to be necessary for years to come, and as we have heard from farmers time and time again: they do not want bailouts, they want robust markets to sell their products.

As USDA works to implement this farm relief package, we respectfully request that you provide the following information and commitment as soon as possible:

A detailed breakdown of how the $1 billion will be allocated, including timelines, payment formulas or criteria, eligibility thresholds, and how funds will be distributed by crop types and sectors.

An explanation of what data USDA has collected, or plans to collect, to assess the economic losses for specialty crop producers, and how that data will inform disbursement decisions.

Clarification on whether payments for specialty crops will require acreage reporting or other administrative steps similar to the row-crop program and how these requirements would be communicated to farmers, as well as a transparent timetable for rolling out payments to specialty crop producers, and clear public guidance on application procedures, eligibility, and oversight to ensure equitable distribution.

A commitment to consider expanding funding for specialty crops beyond the initial $1 billion, given the breadth of losses, the number of crops and producers affected, and the long-term value of specialty crops to U.S. food security and rural economies.

As USDA continues working to implement this farm aid package, we urge you to treat specialty crop producers, and others excluded from FBA, with the same urgency, dignity, and commitment as row-crop producers included in FBA. Now is not the time to divide the agricultural economy, it is a time to recognize the critical role all of American agriculture plays for our country. Equitable assistance is not only fair, it is essential to preserving the diversity, resilience, and sustainability of American agriculture.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter, and we stand ready to work with you and our colleagues to ensure that specialty crop farmers and other sectors excluded from FBA receive the relief they deserve from this Administration’s harmful trade policies.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-trump-administration-breaking-the-law-by-failing-to-comply-with-epstein-files-transparency-act/,Merkley: Trump Administration Breaking the Law by Failing to Comply with Epstein Files Transparency Act,2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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—the lead Senate sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act—issued the following statement after the Trump Administration indicated it would only release part of the Epstein Files, a violation of the law he championed:

“The Trump Administration has had almost one year since Trump returned to office to appropriately redact the Epstein Files to prepare them for release. Instead of meeting the legally required deadline today to release all of the files, they have chosen to illegally disregard the law I led the fight in the Senate to pass. By failing to comply, the Administration is openly denying ‘equal justice under the law’ to all of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.

“It is beyond unacceptable that Donald Trump would side with the rich and powerful to help cover up the abuse of our most vulnerable. I’ll keep fighting to release all the Epstein Files and am exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency for the American people.”

Earlier this month, Merkley led a bipartisan group of lawmakers to demand a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi on the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and fully release the Epstein Files by December 19, 2025. In response to the Trump Administration’s failure to provide said briefing, he teamed up with New Mexico’s U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján—who co-led the Senate introduction of the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Merkley—to block over 90 pending civilian nominations before the Senate from being carried over to the new session of Congress.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-announce-2-2-million-in-federal-support-for-coastal-erosion-work-in-lincoln-county/,"Merkley, Wyden Announce $2.2 Million in Federal Support for Coastal Erosion Work in Lincoln County",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Funds will support MidCoast Watersheds Council’s work in Siletz and Yaquina Estuaries

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is awarding $2,210,835 to the MidCoast Watersheds Council to restore 125 acres of tidal wetlands and 6.2 miles of stream channels across Oregon’s Siletz and Yaquina estuaries in Lincoln County to enhance habitat for salmonids and buffer communities from storm surge.

Tidal wetlands on Oregon’s central coast are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, flooding, drought, and degraded water quality. The project will reduce flood risk and enhance sediment retention for local communities through floodplain reconnection, fish passage improvements, native plant and tidal channel restoration, large wood placement, and native Olympia oyster reef reestablishment.

“The health of Oregon’s estuaries is vital to our state’s ecosystems and communities,” said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the spending subcommittee that oversees funding for NFWF. “This critical federal funding along with strong matching support will leverage MidCoast Watersheds Council’s work in restoring tidal wetlands and reducing risk to the community at the same time.”

“As extreme weather continues to disrupt fragile coastal ecosystems, Oregon’s coastal communities suffer,” said Wyden. “I applaud this federal award to the MidCoast Watersheds Council that improves the resilience of Oregon’s Siletz and Yaquina estuaries, and I will continue to support programs that protect communities from the worsening effects of the climate crisis.”

“The degradation of tidal wetlands has not only negatively affected our beloved and economically important fish and wildlife species, including our resident Chinook, coho, and chum salmon, but it has made coastal residents more vulnerable to storms, sea level rise, and coastal flooding. Restoring and protecting tidal wetlands not only helps all these critters, but everyone who lives, visits, or loves the Oregon coast,” said Evan Hayduk, Executive Director of the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC).

“I would like to congratulate Evan and Staff at MCWC for receiving this grant and look forward to seeing their restoration projects in the Siletz and Yaquina estuaries. I also want to acknowledge the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for their funding of these projects in Lincoln County,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Walter Chuck.

The grant for MidCoast Watersheds Council comes from NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In addition to the $2.2 million in federal funding, the project has secured $1,803,423 in matching funds, bringing the total project funds to $4,014,258.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-colleagues-celebrate-srs-reauthorization-for-rural-oregon-counties/,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Celebrate SRS Reauthorization for Rural Oregon Counties",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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 celebrated the signing of their bipartisan Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act into law, reauthorizing funding for the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through FY 2026 and providing lapsed payments to counties in Oregon and nationwide for FY 2024 and 2025.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon and nationwide since I originally authored the program back in 2000. I’m grateful we were able to get our legislation over the finish line to restore funding for communities that need it the most,” Wyden said. “This lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the support they need to not just survive, but thrive.”

“With our bipartisan bill now law, the federal government has finally taken action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” Merkley said. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.”

SRS expired in FY 2023, and the last payment from the program went out in calendar year 2024. As a result of the expiration, counties have reverted back to the 1908 and 1937 revenue sharing laws. This has meant counties have only received 25% from the Forest Service and 50% from the Bureau of Land Management of all revenue generated on federal lands in those counties since 2024, resulting in diminished funding for critical resources like law enforcement, schools, roads, and more.

The reauthorization means an estimated $75 million for the 33 Oregon counties that receive SRS payments.

SRS was authored by Wyden and enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes. Earlier in December, Wyden and Merkley led a bipartisan coalition of 85 lawmakers urging House leadership to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Self Determination Act.

“We are grateful to the Oregon federal delegation for their unremitting support of this program — a lifeline for our counties and schools,” said Gina Nikkel, Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Counties. “Rural counties rely on SRS payments to provide numerous critical services for their communities, such as rural county roads, education, conservation projects, search and rescue missions, and wildfire prevention programs. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners for a permanent funding source for rural counties.”

In addition to Senators Wyden and Merkley, the legislation was also led by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Jim Risch, R-Idaho.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-22-million-in-federal-support-for-coastal-erosion-work-in-lincoln-county,"Merkley, Wyden Announce $2.2 Million in Federal Support for Coastal Erosion Work in Lincoln County",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Funds will support MidCoast Watersheds Council’s work in Siletz and Yaquina Estuaries

Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is awarding $2,210,835 to the MidCoast Watersheds Council to restore 125 acres of tidal wetlands and 6.2 miles of stream channels across Oregon's Siletz and Yaquina estuaries in Lincoln County to enhance habitat for salmonids and buffer communities from storm surge.

Tidal wetlands on Oregon's central coast are increasingly threatened by coastal erosion, flooding, drought, and degraded water quality. The project will reduce flood risk and enhance sediment retention for local communities through floodplain reconnection, fish passage improvements, native plant and tidal channel restoration, large wood placement, and native Olympia oyster reef reestablishment.

“The health of Oregon’s estuaries is vital to our state’s ecosystems and communities,” said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the spending subcommittee that oversees funding for NFWF. “This critical federal funding along with strong matching support will leverage MidCoast Watersheds Council’s work in restoring tidal wetlands and reducing risk to the community at the same time.”

“As extreme weather continues to disrupt fragile coastal ecosystems, Oregon’s coastal communities suffer,” said Wyden. “I applaud this federal award to the MidCoast Watersheds Council that improves the resilience of Oregon’s Siletz and Yaquina estuaries, and I will continue to support programs that protect communities from the worsening effects of the climate crisis.”

“The degradation of tidal wetlands has not only negatively affected our beloved and economically important fish and wildlife species, including our resident Chinook, coho, and chum salmon, but it has made coastal residents more vulnerable to storms, sea level rise, and coastal flooding. Restoring and protecting tidal wetlands not only helps all these critters, but everyone who lives, visits, or loves the Oregon coast,” said Evan Hayduk, Executive Director of the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC).

""I would like to congratulate Evan and Staff at MCWC for receiving this grant and look forward to seeing their restoration projects in the Siletz and Yaquina estuaries. I also want to acknowledge the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for their funding of these projects in Lincoln County,” said Lincoln County Commissioner Walter Chuck.

The grant for MidCoast Watersheds Council comes from NFWF’s National Coastal Resilience Fund, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In addition to the $2.2 million in federal funding, the project has secured $1,803,423 in matching funds, bringing the total project funds to $4,014,258.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-colleagues-celebrate-srs-reauthorization-for-rural-oregon-counties,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Celebrate SRS Reauthorization for Rural Oregon Counties",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,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 celebrated the signing of their bipartisan Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act into law, reauthorizing funding for the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through FY 2026 and providing lapsed payments to counties in Oregon and nationwide for FY 2024 and 2025.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon and nationwide since I originally authored the program back in 2000. I’m grateful we were able to get our legislation over the finish line to restore funding for communities that need it the most,” Wyden said. “This lapse in funding is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the support they need to not just survive, but thrive.”

“With our bipartisan bill now law, the federal government has finally taken action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” Merkley said. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources.”

SRS expired in FY 2023, and the last payment from the program went out in calendar year 2024. As a result of the expiration, counties have reverted back to the 1908 and 1937 revenue sharing laws. This has meant counties have only received 25% from the Forest Service and 50% from the Bureau of Land Management of all revenue generated on federal lands in those counties since 2024, resulting in diminished funding for critical resources like law enforcement, schools, roads, and more.

The reauthorization means an estimated $75 million for the 33 Oregon counties that receive SRS payments.

SRS was authored by Wyden and enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. The U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management administer the funds. The totals are based on a formula including economic activity, timber harvest levels and other considerations that vary from county to county. SRS payments are critical to maintain education programs for many rural counties that contain federal lands exempt from property taxes. Earlier in December, Wyden and Merkley led a bipartisan coalition of 85 lawmakers urging House leadership to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Self Determination Act.

""We are grateful to the Oregon federal delegation for their unremitting support of this program — a lifeline for our counties and schools,"" said Gina Nikkel, Executive Director of the Association of Oregon Counties. ""Rural counties rely on SRS payments to provide numerous critical services for their communities, such as rural county roads, education, conservation projects, search and rescue missions, and wildfire prevention programs. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners for a permanent funding source for rural counties.""

In addition to Senators Wyden and Merkley, the legislation was also led by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Jim Risch, R-Idaho.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-warren-press-trump-administration-over-compass-anywhere-real-estate-merger-sound-alarm-on-impact-to-housing-costs,"Wyden, Warren Press Trump Administration Over Compass-Anywhere Real Estate Merger, Sound Alarm on Impact to Housing Costs",2025-12-19,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"As Americans face a housing affordability crisis, key Democratic Senators warn that merger could increase housing costs

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., today sent a series of letters to the Trump administration, pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to closely scrutinize the proposed $1.6 billion merger between real estate brokerage giants Compass, Inc. (“Compass”) and Anywhere Real Estate, Inc. (“Anywhere”), over concerns the merger could drive up housing costs.

""The Compass-Anywhere merger threatens to stifle consumer choice and fair industry competition while entrenching existing antitrust and price manipulation concerns that have been at the center of mounting litigation. These risks demand close scrutiny under federal antitrust laws,” the lawmakers wrote to Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Abigail Slater and Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson.

The senators also highlighted housing discrimination concerns. Compass has driven an industry shift towards private listing practices, also known as pocket listings, that are not made available to every agent or consumer. Experts find that pocket listings may perpetuate housing discrimination prohibited under the federal Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and make potential discrimination harder to detect. These practices also hurt homeowners by limiting the pool of potential buyers and diminishing their earnings on home equity.

“Allowing Compass and Anywhere to merge is likely to significantly expand the use of these private exclusives, posing both antitrust and civil rights concerns,” the lawmakers continued. “[I]t is clear that a Compass-Anywhere merger, which comes on the coattails of the Rocket-Redfin merger announcement, will only perpetuate the industry’s race to the bottom and further consolidate market control that weakens consumers’ fair and open access to real estate listings.”

Additionally, the merger could weaken smaller firms and new entrants’ ability to compete on equal footing, placing pressure on mom-and-pop agents and independent brokerages that play a vital role in serving local communities and offering lower-cost, consumer-friendly alternatives.

“The Compass-Anywhere merger threatens to stifle consumer choice and fair industry competition while entrenching existing antitrust and price manipulation concerns that have been at the center of mounting litigation,” the senators concluded. “These risks demand close scrutiny under federal antitrust laws.”

Wyden has been a champion for driving down housing costs and ending housing discrimination. In 2023, Wyden introduced the Algorithmic Accountability Act to create new protections for people affected by AI systems that are already impacting decisions affecting housing, credit, education and other high-impact uses. In February, Wyden introduced the Preventing Algorithmic Collusion Act which would prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. In November, Wyden reintroduced the End Rent Fixing Act of 2025 to crack down on companies that would help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-schrier-introduce-bill-improve-food-bank-storage,"Bonamici, Schrier Introduce Bill to Improve Food Bank Storage",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/18/25] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) introduced legislation to help food banks and other emergency food organizations make needed infrastructure updates to better serve their communities.

The Supporting Transportation Organization and Refrigeration Expansion (STORE) Act would update The Emergency Food Assistance Program’s (TEFAP) Infrastructure Grant program to provide additional infrastructure and outreach resources to food banks, soup kitchens, and food pantries serving rural and underserved populations.

“For years food banks have provided a lifeline for individuals, families, and children facing hunger,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I have heard from food banks in NW Oregon that sometimes they have to limit the number of people they can serve because of insufficient storage. I’m introducing the STORE Act to provide emergency food organizations with the resources they need to upgrade infrastructure, including refrigerators and freezers, so they can serve more people.”

""Meeting the infrastructure needs of local food banks is essential to ensuring that members of our community have access to the nutrition they need,"" said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. ""This legislation strengthens TEFAP by making a much-needed and long-overdue investment in its infrastructure grant program and will be a huge win for our communities' battle against food insecurity and a win for our farmers.""

To combat hunger and address overdue infrastructure needs, the STORE Act would:

Update the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program through Fiscal Year 2030 and increase annual funding by $10 million;

Include mobile and home delivery options and assessments of outreach activities as allowable activities;

Align the structure of the TEFAP Infrastructure Grants program with the TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Initiative by distributing funds through state TEFAP agencies;

Direct USDA to issue a report on cold storage needs for all emergency food organizations nationally; and,

Guarantee that Tribal, remote, and low-income communities are given preference in distributing this funding.

The bill text is available here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyle-lawler-dingell-fitzpatrick-introduce-saw-act-to-ban-snowmobile-based-wolf-hunting-on-federal-lands,"Hoyle, Lawler, Dingell and Fitzpatrick Introduce SAW Act to Ban Snowmobile-based Wolf Hunting on Federal Lands",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) introduced the Snowmobiles Aren’t Weapons (SAW) Act, bipartisan legislation that would make it plainly illegal to use a motor vehicle to intentionally hurt or kill wolves and other species on federal land. The SAW Act establishes clear federal penalties for using vehicles as weapons against wildlife, while preserving an exception for situations involving imminent danger to human life.

“At a time when the House is taking up problematic legislation to remove federal protections for gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act, it’s more important than ever to stand up for responsible stewardship of our public lands and wildlife,” said Congresswoman Hoyle. “This bipartisan legislation shows we can work through thoughtful policy debates on conservation and wildlife management without condoning cruel and dangerous practices that threaten animals and public safety.”

“Using motor vehicles as weapons against wildlife has no place on our federal lands. This legislation makes clear that intentionally harassing, hunting, or killing animals with motor vehicles is unacceptable and will be met with serious consequences. The SAW Act protects both public safety and wildlife while allowing for common-sense exceptions for self-defense,” said Congressman Lawler.

“Our public lands are places where wildlife, especially endangered species like wolves, are federally protected. Anyone who uses a motor vehicle to intentionally harm or kill wildlife on public lands must be held accountable. I’m proud to co-lead this commonsense bipartisan legislation to uphold protections for wildlife to live safely on public lands,” said Congresswoman Dingell.

“As Co-Chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I take seriously our responsibility to ensure wildlife on federal lands is protected under clear and enforceable law. The SAW Act clarifies federal standards by prohibiting the intentional use of motor vehicles to harm or kill wildlife, closes an enforcement gap, and strengthens public safety. I will always champion responsible wildlife protection policies that respect federal stewardship and the rule of law,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyle-secures-passage-of-columbia-river-clean-up-act-in-committee,Hoyle Secures Passage of Columbia River Clean-Up Act in Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) today announced the successful passage of the Columbia River Clean-Up Act in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, marking an important step forward in the effort to protect the health, economy and communities of the Pacific Northwest.

“I am grateful that this bill passed with bipartisan support and is moving forward from the committee,” Rep. Hoyle said. “It is crucial that we reauthorize this program to ensure stable funding for community partners to make meaningful progress on the rehabilitation of the Columbia River, and I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill to the House floor for a full vote.”

The Columbia River Clean Up Act would reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, which was created by U.S. Senator Merkley in 2016 to focus federal attention on reducing toxics and pollution through voluntary efforts in the Columbia River Basin. However, funding for the program is set to expire next year. The Columbia River Clean-Up Act would ensure the program can be funded for another five years, through 2030.

Senator Merkley introduced the Senate version of this legislation, and it is co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.)

Background

The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program:",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-delivers-remarks-condemning-legislation-will-jeopardize,Rep. Andrea Salinas Delivers Remarks Condemning Legislation that will Jeopardize LGBTQ+ Youth Access to Health Care,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered remarks on the House Floor in opposition of the Protect Children’s Innocence Act. During her remarks, Rep. Salinas highlighted the detrimental effects that this will have on the youth mental health crisis. Rep. Salinas voted in opposition to the legislation.

Image

Click here to watch Rep. Salinas’ full remarks.

A transcript of Salinas’ floor speech is available below:

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this disgusting bill that does nothing to protect children's innocence.

It endangers parents, health care providers, and children. It allows health care providers and parents to be fined and possibly jailed if they help a minor access lifesaving care, and it permits federal law enforcement to act as the “national gender police”, allowing them to invade children's private medical records.

This bill puts even more children in harm's way and exacerbates the mental health crisis that our young people are facing, because it stops them from actually receiving the care that they need right now.

Madam Speaker, why is our focus on this when what I'm hearing from constituents is that Republicans are falling short in addressing the cost of groceries, health care, and housing?

To my Republican colleagues, why not focus on the issues that will impact millions of families who are just one paycheck away from homelessness or losing their health care, instead of waging a war on children's genitals? What is this unhealthy obsession?

Let's end it today by voting no on H.R. 3492.

I yield back.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/alsobrooks-cramer-merkley-curtis-introduce-legislation-to-reauthorize-wildlife-crossings-program/,"ALSOBROOKS, CRAMER, MERKLEY, CURTIS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO REAUTHORIZE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS PROGRAM",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“The Wildlife Crossings Program at the Federal Highway Administration provides a unique opportunity to protect both our wildlife and our drivers – it is a true win-win. I am proud of the ongoing work in Maryland to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions across our state and look forward to supporting Maryland’s efforts by reauthorizing this important program. I want to thank Senators Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for their partnership on this legislation,” said Senator Alsobrooks.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created the Wildlife Crossings Program to better protect people and animals from the dangers of vehicle collisions, especially in rural states like North Dakota where the two frequently cross paths,” said Senator Cramer. “Our bill reauthorizes and expands the program to support infrastructure projects directly aimed at improving roadway safety. I’m grateful to Senator Alsobrooks for her leadership of this bipartisan effort, which will benefit critters and communities across the nation.”

“Wildlife crossings safeguard wildlife and protect drivers from dangerous collisions and costly damages to their vehicles,” said Senator Merkley. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Congress made a once-in-a-generation investment in these crossings, supercharging projects such as the I-5 wildlife crossing in Southern Oregon. Federal investments like this ensure we can continue to build on this progress for years to come.”

“In Utah, we’ve long understood that protecting our natural heritage and keeping people safe go hand in hand,” said Senator Curtis. “The Wildlife Crossings Program is a smart, science-backed solution that reflects those values, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in the effort to reauthorize this important program.”

“The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) is excited to see Senators Alsobrooks, Cramer, Curtis, and Merkley introduce the bipartisan Wildlife Crossings Program Reauthorization Act. There are an estimated 1 to 2 million wildlife vehicle collisions annually, which are not only a threat to wildlife but are also a threat to human safety,” said CSF Senior Vice President Taylor Schmitz. “Given the widespread success and overwhelming demand for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program first established in 2021, it is critical to reauthorize this effort to sustain wildlife populations and increase human safety on our nation’s roads. We look forward to working closely with Senators Alsobrooks, Cramer, Curtis, and Merkley to see this effort become law.”

“National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) supports this solutions-focused policy that would benefit public safety and national park wildlife alike,” said National Parks Conservation Association Legislative Director Christina Hazard. “From elk herds at Theodore Roosevelt to black bears in Catoctin Mountain, our national parks provide habitat for an incredible range of wildlife, which also supports strong tourism and outdoor recreation economies. In a time where common ground is hard to come by, polling results found that 87% of Americans support restoring or preserving wildlife habitat connectivity and improving migration corridors on lands and waters within and beyond park borders. NPCA urges Congress to support and advance this incredible investment in America’s national parks.”

“Wildlife crossings on America’s highways increase motorist safety, ensure habitat connectivity, and save countless dollars by preventing vehicle-wildlife collisions,” said Joel Pedersen, President and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP thanks Senator Alsobrooks, Senator Cramer, Senator Merkley and Senator Curtis for their foresight and leadership to introduce legislation that would increase public safety while supporting the wildlife populations that American sportsmen and women depend upon.”

“Reauthorizing the Wildlife Crossings Program is a priority for state fish and wildlife agencies to enhance the movement of wildlife and ensure safer roads,” said Paul Johansen, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “Every year, more than 1 million wildlife-vehicle collisions are reported across the United States, resulting in human and wildlife fatalities and costing billions of dollars in damages. We know there are proven solutions – such as culverts, bridges and tunnels that allow animals to migrate safely – to reduce these incidents and save lives. We applaud Senators Alsobrooks, Cramer, Merkley, and Curtis for the bipartisan introduction of this important bill.”

“The wildlife crossings program created by Congress in 2021 has proven to be one of the most effective, popular, and bipartisan actions Congress has taken on wildlife in recent decades. It has delivered real results on the ground by saving lives, creating jobs, improving outdoor recreation, and maintaining magnificent wildlife migrations. We are glad so many Senators from both parties are working hard to reauthorize the wildlife crossings program and find more ways for Tribes and other communities to participate,” said Mike Leahy, senior director for wildlife, hunting, and fishing policy for the National Wildlife Federation. “Thank you to the bill’s sponsors for their work to reauthorize and increase funding for the national wildlife crossings program.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/cantwell-and-merkley-lead-senate-democrats-in-demanding-answers-on-nists-unauthorized-dismantling-of-the-manufacturing-extension-partnership-program/,Cantwell and Merkley Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding Answers on NIST’s Unauthorized Dismantling of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Senators call on NIST to reverse course and fund MEP Centers nationwide, which provide critical services to over 600,000 American manufacturers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Budget, led 27 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter demanding Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology Craig Burkhardt provide clear answers to why the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been withholding and delaying congressionally-approved funds to the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program’s Centers and why the Administration has repeatedly insisted MEP is inconsistent with their priorities. The MEP Program is a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.

“On April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Burkhardt. “Since then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress’s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.”

These actions come despite longstanding broad, bipartisan support from Congress, and the fact that both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP.

The Administration has also claimed that the goal of the MEP – to support American manufacturers – was not aligned with the Administration’s priorities. President Trump has promised an “American manufacturing boom,” but the latest jobs report indicates 67,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since April 2025.

“It is perplexing why the Administration appears to believe a program specifically designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing would be at odds with its priorities,” concluded the Senators. “We should not be undermining or eliminating a long-standing program that strengthens innovation, enhances global competitiveness, and creates jobs in U.S. manufacturing.”

Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Sens. Cantwell and Merkley in sending the letter.

The full letter to Acting Under Secretary Burkhardt is below and HERE.

December 18, 2025

Craig Burkhardt

Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899

Dear Acting Under Secretary Burkhardt,

We write to seek clarity and information on what appears to be the unauthorized dismantling of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. If the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) continues its current trajectory of refusing to provide MEP Centers their congressionally mandated funding, 65,000 American manufacturers will lose critical services and resources after December 31, 2025. This is an unacceptable and completely avoidable outcome, and we call on you to rectify this immediately.

On April 1, 2025, the Administration began withholding and delaying funds Congress already enacted and appropriated for MEP Centers. Since then, NIST and the Administration have put the future of the MEP Program in deep uncertainty with its ever-shifting chronology of statements and actions. This uncertainty has already caused roughly 90% of MEP Centers to conduct layoffs or freeze hiring, with some at risk of entirely shutting down. Our offices are also deeply troubled by reports that the Administration has issued Reduction in Force (RIF) and possible separation notices to every MEP employee. These actions disregard Congress’s explicit statutory direction to fully fund the MEP Program and its Centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The MEP Program under the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NIST has long enjoyed broad bipartisan, bicameral support for its success as a national network of go-to experts that help small and medium-sized manufacturers enhance productivity and adopt advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence. Congress first authorized MEP in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act and of 1988 and reauthorized the program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. Recent legislation demonstrates Congress’s ongoing support for MEP Centers, as both the House and Senate Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bills provide $175 million for MEP. The House report specifically supports “continuation of current State awards that bolster the local manufacturing economy.” Additionally, the Senate report clearly directs that “no funds are provided to execute or plan for a program that reduces the number of active MEP Centers” and that “any revamp, including the one outlined in the June 2025 renewal documents, should not proceed without consultation and approval from the Committee.”

Without consulting with Congress, NIST sent brief letters to ten MEP Centers on April 1, 2025, informing them that their funding would not be renewed. The only justification the Administration provided these Centers was the conclusory assertion that “funding of MEP centers is no longer in alignment with advancing the priorities of NIST.” The letter stated that NIST was instead “reprioritizing its funding and staff” to support efforts in “critical and emerging technologies – such as artificial intelligence, quantum information science.” On April 8, 2025, Senator Cantwell and a number of our Senate Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urging him to protect the MEP program and the small and medium-sized manufacturers who rely on it. The letter highlighted how NIST found that eliminating federal support would undermine decades of domestic manufacturing resilience.

On April 15, 2025, the Administration claimed to reverse course when Congressional offices were notified that NIST had “determined to renew the funding for these 10 Centers through the end of the fiscal year” after “further review and consideration.” This claim was reiterated on May 8, 2025, in a letter to an MEP manufacturing client stating NIST would “renew the funding” for the impacted MEP Centers, emphasizing that “Bringing manufacturing back to this country is one of this Administration’s highest priorities.” However, it appears the Administration soon reversed course yet again—back to the original one—with Secretary Lutnick signaling his intent to discontinue the MEP program during a June 4, 2025 Senate Appropriations Committee hearing. While testifying, Secretary Lutnick claimed the MEP program was “outdated” and said the “new technology is AI driven, automated.” When asked about how to best support manufacturers with accessing technology, he suggested “reexamine[ing] and retool[ing]” programs instead of “continuing a program that’s decades and decades old.”

Three weeks after Secretary Lutnick’s testimony, NIST notified 11 MEP Centers with a July 1, 2025 start date that their funding would come with new, mandatory conditions, which included sunsetting their program the following fiscal year because “NIST does not expect to receive additional appropriated funding for MEP beyond what is currently available.” The Centers were told they could spend only one-twelfth (one month) of their award until they revised and signed agreements that included the Administration’s new demands. Although multiple Centers did attempt to submit these agreements, NIST has yet to approve any of them, which has left these Centers without federal funding for several months. NIST also failed to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a subsequent tranche of Centers until December 4, 2025, which has put the Centers more than six months behind schedule and guarantees a gap in their federal funding after their planned January 1, 2026 start date.

Compounding matters, on October 10, 2025, during the federal government shutdown, you sent messages to MEP employees eliminating their positions due to a supposed lack of funding. You wrote the MEP program “is not consistent with the Secretary’s priorities” and that employees would “no longer be in [their] current position.” Furthermore, you informed employees it was possible they would be “separat[ed] from Federal Service” going forward, and you asked them to “submit an updated resume” to determine if they would soon be fired.

Most recently, on November 25, 2025, the Administration informed five states with a January 1, 2026, start date that NIST would “provide your NIST MEP Center with one year of eligible renewal funding” while NIST and the Department “evaluates plans for the MEP program overall.” While this would be a positive development for those states if and when they receive their overdue funding, you also told the remaining eight states with a January 1 start date “there’s no clarity from the Secretary for what they want to do” with their MEP Centers. All the other states with MEP Centers apparently share this lack of clarity or concrete information about their future. Earlier this month, the Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report that specifically highlighted the initial announcement in April to end funding and concluded: “Although funding was later restored through the end of FY25, uncertainty about the program’s future still exists.” This ongoing uncertainty about MEP’s future is entirely unnecessary, and could be swiftly addressed if the Administration chose to do so.

It is perplexing why the Administration appears to believe a program specifically designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing would be at odds with its priorities. MEP serves over 600,000 small or medium manufacturers, representing 98% of all U.S. manufacturing firms. Although President Trump has promised a “manufacturing boom,” the United States lost 12,000 manufacturing jobs in August 2025 alone, which nonpartisan analysts have attributed to the Administration’s policies. We should not be undermining or eliminating a long-standing program that strengthens innovation, enhances global competitiveness, and creates jobs in U.S. manufacturing.

To provide clarity and certainty about the Administration’s intentions for the MEP program, please provide the following information no later than January 5, 2026.

A list of all MEP Centers with current funding expiration dates and renewal status.

The amount and timing of federal disbursements to each MEP Center for FY 2025 and FY 2026.

The Department’s justification for any planned RIF or staff separation notices within the MEP network.

The current organizational structure of the MEP Program, including reporting lines and responsible officials.

A timeline for release of the NOFO for the January 2026 and March 2026 renewal cohorts.

Additionally, please provide a briefing to our staff on the status of the MEP Program and the Department’s plans for program continuity no later than January 5, 2026.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-baldwin-booker-41-senators-no-new-anti-lgbtq-anti-abortion-provisions-in-must-pass-government-funding-bills/,"Merkley, Baldwin, Booker, 41 Senators: No New Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Abortion Provisions in Must-Pass Government Funding Bills",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills”

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and New Jersey’s U.S. Senator Cory Booker led a group of over 40 Senators to urge Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) to keep any new dangerous, hyper-partisan policy provisions that would curtail the freedoms of women and LGBTQ+ individuals out of must-pass government funding legislation.

House Republicans have inserted more than 65 so-called ‘poison pill’ provisions targeting abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, which would otherwise fail the scrutiny of congressional debate, into critical government funding bills that require broad, bipartisan consensus to pass. Over the last two years, Merkley, Baldwin, and Booker have continuously and successfully led the Senate Democratic Caucus to keep any new anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion policy provisions from being included in must-pass government funding legislation.

Merkley, Baldwin, Booker, and 41 Senators write, “Dangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY26 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress’ ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the remaining final FY26 appropriations bills.”

In addition to Merkley, Baldwin, and Booker, the letter was also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The Senators’ letter is endorsed by the ACLU, Advocates for Trans Equality, Guttmacher Institute, Human Rights Campaign, National Council of Jewish Women, National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Network of Abortion Funds, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Power to Decide, and Reproductive Freedom for All.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Chair Collins and Vice Chair Murray:

We write to urge you to keep the FY26 appropriations bills free of any new poison pill policy riders. Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills. In the recent past, the Senate has had success passing bipartisan bills in committee because these bills did not contain new poison pill riders. Unfortunately, in FY26, the House has included more than 65 new anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ riders in its appropriations bills, which we urge you to reject from any remaining final FY26 appropriations bills.

In the more than three years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, our country has experienced a reproductive health care crisis. As of December 1, 2025, 13 states have banned abortion entirely, and 7 states have banned abortion anywhere from 6 to 18 weeks. Republicans have also attempted to ban medication abortion, which accounts for nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States. These bans leave 1 in 3 women, as well as transgender and nonbinary people, without access to abortion and disproportionately impact people of color, people with disabilities, young people, people living in rural areas, and people with low incomes.

Despite the dangerous consequences of the bans and the overwhelming support for access to abortion, House Republicans have continued to propose extremist anti-abortion policy riders in their appropriations bills. These new riders include a measure to defund Planned Parenthood, a provision to codify the Trump administration’s global gag rule, a provision that would interfere with essential postgraduate medical training in abortion care, and a provision that would restrict access to abortion and fertility care for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. If adopted, these provisions would dramatically undermine people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives, and futures and providers’ ability to deliver necessary reproductive health care.

House Republicans have also used the FY26 appropriations process to push extremist and unpopular anti- LGBTQ+ measures, which threaten the lives and fundamental dignity of LGBTQ+ communities. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is being introduced across the country; in 2025 alone, more than 600 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across 49 state legislatures.

Against this backdrop, House Republicans have introduced more than 50 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions across all 12 appropriations bills. This includes provisions in almost every appropriations bill that would allow people and organizations, including those that receive taxpayer funds, to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people. More than half of the House’s appropriations bills also contain dangerous riders that severely restrict access to gender- affirming care, which would deprive transgender people of critical, medically necessary, evidence-based, and often life-saving health care. Among those who would be impacted by these riders are the more than 134,000 transgender veterans who rely on the Veterans’ Affairs Administration for their health care.

Dangerous poison pill provisions like those included in the FY26 House appropriations bills will severely undermine Congress’ ability to push forward must-pass legislation and keep the government open and working for the American people. As such, we urge you to reject these extremist riders from the remaining final FY26 appropriations bills.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-leads-senate-resolution-denouncing-horrors-of-authoritarianism/,Merkley Leads Senate Resolution Denouncing ‘Horrors of Authoritarianism’,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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 introduced a new resolution condemning authoritarianism in all its forms and opposing the implementation of authoritarian policies in the United States of America.

The resolution continues Merkley’s work to sound the alarm bells over what he has called the “authoritarian slide” both here in the U.S. and around the world. His effort highlights how authoritarian governments—including Russia and Venezuela—have consolidated executive power at the expense of individual freedom. Merkley’s resolution emphasizes that “most modern democracies do not die at the hands of armed militias, but instead at the hands of elected officials who erode the separation of powers to tighten their authoritarian grip.”

“The authoritarian takeover of the United States of America is not around the corner—it is here right now,” said Merkley. “We have all three ingredients for a strongman state: a rubber-stamp Congress doing the President’s bidding, a deferential Supreme Court delivering more and more power to the Executive Branch, and a power-hungry President behaving like a king. Authoritarians are not new—they’ve been following this playbook to weaken democracies around the world, and now, Donald Trump is using this playbook here to dismantle our democratic institutions right before our eyes. We will keep ringing the alarm bells.”

Merkley’s resolution follows his speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate earlier this year to speak directly to the American people and ring the alarm bells about the Trump Administration’s authoritarian takeover of the country. He spoke for 22 hours 37 minutes—the third longest speech in Senate history.

Merkley’s resolution is also cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-now-is-the-time-for-bipartisan-action-on-commonsense-cannabis-reforms/,Merkley: Now is the Time for Bipartisan Action on Commonsense Cannabis Reforms,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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—the lead sponsor of the bipartisan SAFER Banking Act—issued the following statement in response to President Trump announcing that he has signed an Executive Order directing the U.S. Department of Justice to complete the process of moving cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, a change that would open the door to medical research and treatment:

“Cannabis rescheduling is a step in the right direction, allowing medical research and legal cannabis businesses to be appropriately taxed on their net profits. But this change from Schedule I to Schedule III still leaves these cannabis businesses in violation of criminal law because the production and use of cannabis for non-medical purposes remain a federal crime. As such, these legal businesses are still prevented from accessing the banking system.

“That remains a huge problem, encouraging all sorts of criminal activities, including robberies of cannabis businesses operating in all cash, false accounting, money laundering, and organized crime. That’s why we still need to pass the bipartisan SAFER Banking Act, which during his campaign, President Trump urged Congress to send to his desk.

“I will continue to push for fully descheduled cannabis—which is essential to addressing the harms perpetuated by the War on Drugs and the criminalization of cannabis on communities of color—and work with both Republicans and Democrats to advance common-sense cannabis reforms for banking services and medical treatment.”

Merkley has been a fierce and longtime leader advocating for sensible cannabis reform and cannabis business laws. He is the lead sponsor of the SAFER Banking Act, which would ensure that state-legal cannabis businesses would have access to critical banking and financial services.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, he has also led the fight for over a decade for veterans to be able to discuss medical cannabis programs with their doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in states with medical cannabis programs. With Trump’s executive action and language that Merkley secured in the FY26 MilConVA funding bill, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is encouraged to develop and issue guidance for VHA doctors and other personnel to discuss, recommend, and facilitate access to medical cannabis in states with such programs.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-blast-trump-fcc-for-weakening-consumer-broadband-protections-raising-costs,"Wyden, Colleagues Blast Trump FCC for Weakening Consumer Broadband Protections, Raising Costs",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"A new FCC rule gives internet providers the green light to charge hidden fees

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to reverse its decision to weaken broadband pricing labeling rules that inform consumers about the types of internet services they are buying before committing to a provider.

“The broadband label framework was designed to work like nutrition labels, giving consumers a clear, consistent way to understand what services they are buying before they commit,” the senators wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. “The entire purpose of the broadband label is to show consumers the real, total cost of service so that they can make informed choices. Allowing providers to bundle these fees into vague line items recreates exactly the kind of billing opaqueness that Congress sought to end. Families need to see what they are being charged and why.”

These broadband consumer label requirements were unanimously adopted in 2022. Congress gave the FCC explicit instructions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to create these labels showing speeds, costs, and data allowances of internet plans.

This FCC proposal reduces broadband consumer transparency by allowing internet service providers to remove the price listed of active plans in customer accounts, cut off phone support on pricing, and limit labels in various languages.

Wyden has been a longtime advocate in making broadband accessible and affordable. In October 2025, Wyden signed onto a similar letter on the FCC’s vote to advance these changes that would weaken consumer broadband protections. As a result of Wyden’s advocacy to correct inaccuracies in the National Broadband Map, the Department of Commerce under the Biden administration in 2023 announced $689 million to expand access to broadband internet to Oregon’s rural and underserved communities. In August 2025, Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced more than $2.2 million for rural broadband technical assistance across Oregon.

The letter was led by Senators Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Senator Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M. In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by Senators Brian Schatz, D- Hawai’i, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Mark Warner, D-Va.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-increase-transparency-of-supreme-court-shadow-docket-decisions,"Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Transparency of Supreme Court Shadow Docket Decisions",2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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 has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation to increase transparency of decisions on the Supreme Court’s emergency docket, also known as the “shadow docket,”a backdoor way for the Supreme Court to hand down consequential rulings with limited public argument or transparency.

“Trump’s hand-picked Supreme Court is increasingly relying on the shadow docket to legislate from the bench to push a far-right agenda,” Wyden said. “As the Trump administration has pushed the boundaries of institutions and trampled on due process, the court has relied on these covert rulings to hand down some of its most consequential decisions with real world impacts, leaving the American people entirely in the dark about how the rulings came to be. This legislation would help restore much-needed transparency and accountability to the most powerful court in our nation.”

The Shadow Docket Sunlight Act requires the Supreme Court to provide a written explanation for shadow docket decisions and a vote count detailing how each Justice voted on the decision, promoting public understanding and consistency in judicial decision making.

The Supreme Court has increasingly relied on the shadow docket—making decisions on short notice without oral argument or any legal explanation of the Court’s reasoning. The Court has utilized the shadow docket to make decisions on a number of wide-ranging, highly consequential cases, including the September 8, 2025 decision in Noem v. Vasquez Perdomo. The decision allows ICE agents to stop and arrest individuals based on their appearance, the language they speak, where they live, and what they do for work.

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross, D-N.C. In addition to Wyden, the bill was also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-cannabis-rescheduling,Wyden Statement on Cannabis Rescheduling,2025-12-18,2025,2025-12,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., today issued the following statement on Donald Trump’s executive order to reschedule cannabis from a schedule I drug to a schedule III:

“This is just a half step that doesn't include legalization, doesn't put the nascent industry on stronger footing, and doesn't do anything for the many Black and Latino Americans who are behind bars for the kind of cannabis use that millions of Americans engage in freely every day,” Wyden said. “I'll continue pushing to pass my Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act into law, which would legalize cannabis at the federal level and right the wrongs of the failed War on Drugs.”

Wyden’s Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act would end the federal prohibition of cannabis while implementing strong consumer protections. The legislation was co-authored by Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Cory Booker, D-N.J.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-winner-oregons-first-congressional-districts-2025,Bonamici Announces Winner of Oregon’s First Congressional District’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"BEAVERTON, OR [12/17/25] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici announced that Dhruv Singh, a Junior at Westview High School, won the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Oregon’s First Congressional District.

His app, ReinforceLearn, teaches people the basics of reinforcement learning, an AI method where systems learn by trial and error using rewards. This approach helps machines make smart, independent decisions and is changing how technology is built.

“The Congressional App Challenge empowers students to identify challenges and then use creative and tech skills to solve them,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “It was inspiring to see the variety of thoughtfully executed apps responsive to issues facing society today. Congratulations to Dhruv, whose work on educating his peers about reinforcement learning is an important step in giving young people the tools they need to successfully use emerging technologies.”

“Through my own personal learning struggles and experience, I created ReinforceLearn to aid young students in their pursuit of the future of AI, Reinforcement Learning,” said Dhruv Singh. “Much of learning AI and Reinforcement Learning is difficult to grasp due to all the complex formulas, concepts, and coding involved. My platform aims to remove these barriers and provide students with an interactive and simplified way of learning. Through ReinforceLearn, I hope to fuel curiosity and inspire the next generation with the essential expertise to shape and innovate the future of intelligence systems.”

You can view a video presentation of the app here.

Judges gave an honorable mention to Lincoln High School juniors Brian Wei & Siddharth Modha. Their app, Preparedness & Response for Emergency Planning (PREP), helps people prepare for natural disasters and stay safe by showing real-time weather and wildfire alerts and nearby hospitals and shelters on a map. It also provides directions and real-time weather and wildfire alerts to keep users safe.

A panel of expert judges from Northwest Oregon selected the winner and honorable mention for Oregon’s First Congressional District. The judges evaluated submissions based on creativity, technical quality, demonstrated excellence of programming skill, and potential community contribution. The three judges were:

Cara Turano, President & Director of Oregon Entrepreneurs Network

Claudia Rizo Mendoza, Workforce Development Manager for the City of Hillsboro

Kathy Bishop, Senior Director of Human Resources and Public Relations for Jireh Semiconductor, Inc.

Bonamici recognized Singh, Wei, and Modha in a virtual roundtable discussion with other participants from Oregon's First District. The winning app, ReinforceLearn, will be featured in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House of Representatives website.

Bonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into science, technology, engineering, and math to encourage creative thinking and engage more students. By supporting and recognizing young programmers, Congress is acknowledging the importance of these fields. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-advances-bipartisan-housing-bill-out-financial-services-committee,Bynum Advances Bipartisan Housing Bill Out of Financial Services Committee,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) advanced the bipartisan, bicameral Accelerating Home Building Act, as part of a broader package, through the Financial Services Committee, marking a key step on the process to becoming law. The bill will help build more and lower the cost of housing in Oregon and across the country. This bill is co-led by Congressmen Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and is the fourth bipartisan bill Rep. Bynum has advanced through the committee.

“Housing has been a day-one priority for me,” said Rep. Bynum. “I’m proud that this bill to build more housing and lower costs is one step closer to becoming law. I’ll partner with anyone to get it done for Oregon’s Fifth, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results for our small businesses.”

Background:

In a recent study of housing affordability and homebuilding, Oregon earned an ‘F,’ ranking 45th out of the 50 states. It is estimated that Oregon will likely need to build over 140,000 single-family homes by 2030 to meet demand. Moreover, delays caused by complex and restrictive permitting processes and other regulatory burdens have resulted in a nationwide housing shortage of nearly 5 million homes.

Nationwide, communities are investing in a process called pattern zoning, in which architects and local governments develop pattern books full of pre-approved, standardized plans and designs. This bipartisan bill would establish a grant program to fund the creation of these pattern books, speeding up the permitting and home building process and lowering costs for home-buyers.

Specifically, this legislation would:

Establish a pilot HUD-administered grant program to fund the creation of pattern books with a focus on missing middle and infill construction; and

Provide set-asides for rural communities and prioritize high-opportunity areas and localities working to reduce barriers to housing development.

This legislation was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

This legislation is endorsed by the American Planning Association, Congress for the New Urbanism, Up for Growth Action, National Apartment Association, Smart Growth America, Main Street America, and the National Association of REALTORS.

“NAR is grateful that Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President. “NAR recognizes that reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining approval processes are essential steps toward addressing the housing shortage affecting communities across the country. We support this legislation as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability.”

You can view a one-pager on the legislation here and the full text of the bill here.

In Congress, Rep. Bynum is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she works to address the housing shortage and make life more affordable for Oregon families.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/dexter-speaker-johnson-get-out-way-and-call-vote-today,Dexter to Speaker Johnson: “Get out of the way and call a vote today.”,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, at a press conference with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), called on Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits before sending Congress home for the year. This comes as four House Republicans joined Democrats in using a procedural move known as a discharge petition to force a vote on the House floor within seven legislative days.

“I did not spend 20 years saving lives in the intensive care unit to come to Congress and sit back while Republicans strip healthcare coverage from millions,” said Dexter.“Despite a majority of the House supporting a clean extension of the Affordable Care Act tax credits, Mike Johnson is standing in the way of the will of the people. My message is simple: get out of the way and call a vote today.”

Watch Dexter’s remarks from this morning’s press conference here.

If Speaker Johnson refuses to extend ACA tax credits before the end of the year, health insurance costs will skyrocket for at least 22 million Americans, including 111,000 Oregonians. This comes just months after Republicans cut federal Medicaid funding by $1 trillion to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salinas-harshbarger-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-mental-health,"Reps. Salinas, Harshbarger Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health Telehealth Services for Rural Americans",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) reintroduced the bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act. Their legislation would expand access to telehealth services, including mental health and substance use care, for rural Americans who continue to face barriers to in-person care, especially for individuals working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries.

“In Oregon and across the country, rural communities are facing the same impossible math: too many needs and too few providers,” said Rep. Salinas. “Telehealth is already transforming care for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. Our bipartisan bill would extend these tools to farmers, ranchers, and fishers. This is a common-sense investment to help more Oregonians get the health care they need, where and when they need it.”

“As someone who has spent more than 30 years caring for patients in one of the most rural districts in America, I know the barriers they face and how transformational home-based care can be,” said Rep. Harshbarger. “By reintroducing this bipartisan bill, we are reaffirming a simple promise: rural patients — including those working in the farming, fishing and forestry industries should be able to access high-quality mental health and substance abuse services right from their own home. This legislation will help close the care gap, strengthen rural communities, and deliver real support to those who are struggling.”

The bipartisan legislation establishes a new grant program to help public and nonprofit telemental health provider networks deliver mental health and substance use care remotely to people in rural and medically underserved communities. The program prioritizes individuals living in rural Health Professional Shortage Areas and people working in farming, fishing, and forestry, with grants awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services in consultation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Funding may be used to provide home-based telemental health services, expand access through broadband, devices, and telehealth technology, and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of care compared to in-person services. The bill authorizes $10 million annually from fiscal years 2025 through 2029 and requires HHS to report to Congress on program outcomes.

“The Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, as a non-profit trade association with a wide representation of rural and frontier providers, greatly appreciates and supports the Home-Based Telemental Health Act of 2025,” said Heather Jefferis, M.A., Executive Director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health. “This bill will help expand access for communities and individuals who have significant barriers to care, including geographic distance, stigma, and a lack of providers in their community. We extend our gratitude to Congress for their attention to our rural and frontier communities’ needs. Thank you for helping local providers save lives.”

“People living in rural and medically underserved communities, especially people working in farming, fishing, and forestry, face some of the highest risks for mental health challenges while often having the fewest options for care,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “Distance, workforce shortages, and stigma too often prevent people from getting help when they need it most. The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act would expand access to care by delivering mental health and substance use services directly to people in their homes. NAMI is proud to support this legislation to help close the rural mental health access.”

“The National Rural Health Association applauds Congresswoman Salinas and Congresswoman Harshbarger for their introduction of the Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act. This important legislation creates a telemental health grant program designed to address specific rural behavioral health and substance use needs for folks in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. This bill will increase access to behavioral health and substance use services for our most rural and medically underserved populations,"" said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association.

The legislation is endorsed by the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health (OCBH), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the National Alliance on Mental Illness–Oregon (NAMI-OR), the National Rural Health Association, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-closure-of-ashland-community-hospitals-birthing-center-and-inpatient-care-will-negatively-impact-southwestern-oregonians/,Merkley: Closure of Ashland Community Hospital’s Birthing Center and Inpatient Care Will Negatively Impact Southwestern Oregonians,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 said today he is concerned about the planned closure of labor and delivery services and inpatient care at Ashland Community Hospital and called on Asante Health System to support families and clinicians affected by the decision.

Earlier this month, Asante announced it was planning to close the hospital’s birthing center and convert it into a satellite campus of Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, as well as ending inpatient care.

“I anticipate that this decision will hurt the health and safety of individuals seeking inpatient care, as well as expectant mothers and newborns, who will no longer have local access to care,” Merkley cautioned in his letter to Asante President & CEO Tom Gessel.

While Merkley deeply understands the numerous economic challenges facing rural labor and delivery units across Oregon—including low volumes of births, workforce shortages, challenging reimbursement rates, and the changing health care landscape brought on by the passage of Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly’ betrayal of a budget bill—he has also seen the negative impacts of closing labor and delivery units and the shuttering of inpatient care have on Oregon families. During this transition time, he is calling for Asante to support the families, clinicians, and communities it serves.

“Ashland Community Hospital has served Southwest Oregon for almost 120 years, and the closure of its birthing center and inpatient hospital could force patients to travel long distances to receive routine and emergency obstetric care as well as treatment for severe conditions and major surgeries. In addition, this closure would likely create an undue burden for many families, especially those with limited funds, limited transportation, or complex medical needs, and it may cause them to bypass necessary care,” he continued.

Previously, Merkley led his Oregon congressional delegation colleagues to oppose the closure of labor and delivery services by Providence Health & Services and Samaritan Health Services at hospitals along the Oregon coast.

“I expect these challenges will only get worse given the Republican reconciliation bill that gutted the health care system by $1 trillion, thereby making it harder for rural and community hospitals to survive. As a result of these cuts, rural and community hospitals will be forced into impossible choices and unpopular operational decisions, like cutting labor and delivery services and inpatient care, in order to keep their doors open,” he concluded.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and below:

Dear Mr. Gessel:

I write today to express concerns regarding Asante’s plan to close the birthing center and stop inpatient care at Ashland Community Hospital by May 2026. I anticipate that this decision will hurt the health and safety of individuals seeking inpatient care, as well as expectant mothers and newborns, who will no longer have local access to care.

Ashland Community Hospital has served Southwest Oregon for almost 120 years, and the closure of its birthing center and inpatient hospital could force patients to travel long distances to receive routine and emergency obstetric care as well as treatment for severe conditions and major surgeries. In addition, this closure would likely create an undue burden for many families, especially those with limited funds, limited transportation, or complex medical needs, and it may cause them to bypass necessary care.

I am aware of the economic challenges that are squeezing the finances of labor and delivery units across Oregon. Low birth volumes and challenging reimbursement rates driven by inflation, workforce shortages, and rising supply costs make it difficult for hospitals to continue offering birthing services. In addition, I recognize the financial difficulties surrounding inpatient care, including a decrease in Medicare inpatient payment rates and delays in discharging patients to post-acute facilities, which are driven by prior authorization requirements and can contribute to longer and more expensive inpatient stays.

I expect these challenges will only get worse given the Republican reconciliation bill that gutted the health care system by $1 trillion, thereby making it harder for rural and community hospitals to survive. As a result of these cuts, rural and community hospitals will be forced into impossible choices and unpopular operational decisions, like cutting labor and delivery services and inpatient care, in order to keep their doors open.

However, I have also seen the negative impacts of hospitals closing their birthing centers and shuttering inpatient care on Oregon patients, particularly in rural communities. Minutes matter for parents and newborns, and health care providers across Oregon have reported seeing more patients than ever before who are sicker and more complex. These cuts will harm caregivers and the health and safety of communities in Southwestern Oregon, leaving patients and families with fewer choices, longer waits, and worse healthcare.

As Asante closes down the birthing center and stops providing inpatient care at Ashland Community Hospital, I urge you to assist expectant families who need to find alternative options for safe maternal health care and patients who are seeking inpatient care. In addition, I urge you to continue to provide meaningful support to the physicians, nurses, and other clinicians whose jobs will be affected by the halt in obstetrics care and inpatient surgery at Ashland Community Hospital. Finally, I urge Asante to engage in a transparent process with the community it serves as it winds down local obstetrics care and inpatient surgery.

Thank you for your attention to this letter and for your commitment to serving the health care needs of Oregon families.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-puts-support-behind-expanding-workplace-rights-for-domestic-workers/,Merkley Puts Support Behind Expanding Workplace Rights for Domestic Workers,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Bill by Sens. Gillibrand, Luján Would Guarantee Domestic Workers Basic Rights Such as Overtime Pay, Time Off, Sick Leave, Meal and Rest Breaks, and Legal Protections from Harassment and Unsafe Working Conditions

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced his continued support for the reintroduced Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act, commonsense legislation that would extend common workplace rights to the 2.2 million domestic workers in the United States.

Under current law, domestic workers—including home health aides, nannies, cleaners, and live-in caretakers—are excluded from many of the labor, harassment, and discrimination protections guaranteed to other workers under federal law. As a result, severe financial insecurity and lack of workplace benefits are all too common in these professions. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act—led by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07)—would patch these gaps in existing labor law and also create new protections for domestic workers.

“Receiving respect and dignity at work shouldn’t depend on where you work,” said Merkley. “And the millions of domestic workers who provide care and life-saving support in our homes should be entitled to strong protections from harassment and discrimination. There is dignity in all work, and I stand with Oregon’s domestic workers.”

“Caretakers, cleaners, nannies, and other domestic workers play a vital role in the economy and in American life. However, they’ve too often been overlooked in the fight for workers’ rights, leaving many working long hours, earning low wages, and struggling to make ends meet. This is unacceptable,” said Senator Gillibrand. “By closing loopholes that exclude domestic workers from federal labor and civil rights laws, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act would afford these workers the safety, stability, and dignity that they deserve. I am honored to introduce this bill, and I will fight tooth and nail to get it passed.”

“Domestic workers in New Mexico and across the country are essential members of our workforce and deserve dignity and respect. I’m proud to reintroduce legislation to require employers to establish clear standards for wages, responsibilities, schedules, and time-off policies to help protect the rights of the people who care for our families and support our communities,” said Senator Luján. “This legislation is critical to ensuring workplace protections and rights for domestic workers who have been left out for far too long.”

“Domestic workers are too often called essential, but treated as expendable. These workers, who are predominantly women of color and immigrants, make all other work possible,” said Representative Jayapal. “This landmark legislation ensures that domestic workers are finally included in our existing labor laws, giving them access to the basic protections they deserve in the workplace, including overtime pay, guaranteed rest and meal breaks, time off, and legal protections from unsafe working conditions and harassment. It will finally give our domestic workers the dignity and respect they deserve. This legislation is more important now than ever as the Trump Administration works to strip many of the programs domestic workers rely on to survive, like Medicaid and food assistance.”

Domestic workers have historically been excluded from worker protections and, as a result, often have no benefits, few protections, and little recourse to fight harassment and unsafe working conditions. A 2021 National Domestic Workers Alliance survey of domestic workers reported that:

Only 16% of domestic workers have a written agreement with their employer laying out their job responsibilities and the terms of their employment.

Over one-third of domestic workers do not get meal and rest breaks, and of those who do, only 34% are paid for those breaks.

81% of domestic workers receive no pay if their employer cancels on them with less than three days’ notice, and 76% receive no pay if their employer cancels on them after they show up for work.

23% of domestic workers do not feel safe at work.

If passed, the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act would, among other things:

Entitle domestic workers to overtime pay for hours worked above 40 hours per week.

Ensure domestic workers have paid sick leave to take care of themselves or their families.

Extend civil rights protections, including against workplace harassment and discrimination, to domestic workers.

Afford domestic workers the right to meal and rest breaks.

Require employers to provide domestic workers with written agreements detailing agreed-upon hourly pay rates, scheduling requirements, and termination procedures.

It is endorsed by the National Domestic Workers Alliance, as well as 44 other organizations.

“Domestic workers across the country do the work that makes all other work possible by caring for our children, keeping our households running, and ensuring our loved ones can live with dignity and independence,” said Ai-Jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. “Yet, for over 400 years, this workforce, made up of predominantly women of color, has been largely excluded from basic labor protections. Today, they are facing an unprecedented crisis fueled by nearly one trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts, low wages, and widespread immigration raids that are creating a climate of fear. The Domestic Workers Bill of Rights will work to address these historical injustices, protect the dignity and financial security of these workers, and strengthen our care economy.”

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-colleagues-demand-answers-from-ice-on-racial-profiling-of-tribal-members-refusal-to-accept-tribal-ids/,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Answers from ICE on Racial Profiling of Tribal Members, Refusal to Accept Tribal IDs",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,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 joined Senate colleagues to demand answers regarding the outrageous mistreatment of Tribal citizens by ICE in a number of recent incidents.

In their letter, the lawmakers called out reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance, and urged Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem to develop policy and trainings to ensure all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands.

“We write to share our alarm over the completely unacceptable treatment of U.S.-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes, who have been stopped and questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on suspicion of being undocumented,” the senators wrote to Noem. “In February, several Senators wrote to you following reports of ICE agents improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens. In June, you replied with a letter in which you failed to respond to the majority of the questions raised in the letter.”

“Over the past month, we have heard additional alarming reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance,” the senators wrote. “The disrespect and harassment of U.S.-born Tribal citizens by ICE is outrageous and inexcusable, and we request that you take immediate steps to put an end to it.”

In November, Elaine Miles, an Indigenous actor, was approached by four men who identified themselves as ICE agents while waiting for a bus in Redmond, Washington. When she handed them her Tribal ID issued by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, the immigration agents reportedly claimed her ID was “fake” and that “anyone can make that.” When she tried to call the Umatilla Tribal enrollment office phone number to verify her ID to the officers, an officer tried unsuccessfully to pry her phone out of her hands, then departed with his counterparts in unmarked vehicles. Miles alleges her son and uncle were also both detained by ICE agents who initially did not accept their Tribal IDs before eventually releasing them. In response, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin—a frequent liar—said in an emailed statement that allegations that DHS law enforcement officers engage in racial profiling is “categorically FALSE.”

The senators referenced this incident in their letter, noting that ICE had previously told Members of Congress that “The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Academy does not train ERO officers to require any specific document to prove U.S. citizenship.”

“The experience of these Tribal citizens in Washington suggests that this is false: ICE agents are demanding certain documents to prove citizenship and are unaware of different forms of Tribal ID,” the lawmakers wrote.

In another recent incident, a member of Arizona’s Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Leticia Jacobo, was nearly deported after an Iowa jail mistakenly issued an ICE detainer for another inmate. Despite the fact Jacobo was in possession of her Tribal ID and had her Social Security number on file with the jail, her family had to scramble to prove her identity and Tribal citizenship to the jail staff, who released her just hours before she would have been transferred into federal custody. At least 15 Indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico reported being questioned or detained by ICE agents in January of 2025. Harassment of Navajo Nation citizens by ICE has been so widespread that Navajo President Buu Nygren took to the airwaves to advise his members to carry identification, driver’s licenses and their Certificate of Indian Blood on their person at all times.

“You have an obligation to uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribes and to treat Tribal citizens with respect—this is not optional. In light of recent incidents, we urge you to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands,” lawmakers wrote.

The senators concluded by requesting answers no later than January 11, 2026 to their questions about DHS policies regarding interactions with Tribal citizens and Tribal ID, and how the Department is working with its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to review and investigate allegations of civil rights violations.

Wyden and Merkley have been strong advocates for congressional oversight, transparency and respect for due process. In November, Wyden and Merkley joined Senate and House colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act which would ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. Wyden also has pressed the Department of Homeland Security about obstruction of congressional access to detention facilities. Wyden and Merkley, along with Oregon Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, demanded the Trump administration answer questions about reports that DHS had relocated an essential Coast Guard helicopter away from Newport, Oregon and is planning to build an ICE detention facility in the Oregon Coast town. In October, Wyden and Merkley fiercely opposed the administration’s deployment of ICE agents and National Guard troops to the Portland ICE facility.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D- Wash. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Tina Smith, D-Minn.

The full letter is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-applauds-passage-of-prescribed-fire-legislation-through-key-senate-committee,Wyden Applauds Passage of Prescribed Fire Legislation Through Key Senate Committee,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Senator’s bipartisan legislation would support hazardous fuels cleanup to reduce wildfire risk

Watch Wyden deliver remarks at today’s Committee meeting here

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the passage of his bipartisan legislation through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee that would increase funding and resources for prescribed fires during colder, wetter months, to reduce wildfire risk during the hotter, drier months of fire season.

“I’ve long believed that the federal government needs to be in the business of wildfire prevention, not just after-the-fact recovery,” Wyden said. “My legislation will make much-needed investments in smart, science-backed prevention tools that reduce the risk of infernos that grow more dangerous and destructive each year. I’ll be working as hard as I can to get this legislation passed into law ahead of the next fire season to protect communities across Oregon and the nation.”

The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025 would invest in hazardous fuels management to reduce the risk of blistering infernos by increasing the pace and scale of prescribed burns during cooler, wetter months. The legislation would boost a prescribed fire workforce and provide new tools to aid in smoke management and prescribed fire permitting during cooler, wetter months to reduce catastrophic fires and smoke in the summer.

Passage of Wyden’s legislation through the ENR Committee comes amid reports that current hazardous fuels reduction levels are lagging behind previous years due to the longest government shutdown in history, coupled with staffing shortages and funding cuts.

More information about Wyden’s bill can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-colleagues-demand-answers-from-ice-on-racial-profiling-of-tribal-members-refusal-to-accept-tribal-ids,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Answers from ICE on Racial Profiling of Tribal Members, Refusal to Accept Tribal IDs",2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Letter cites reported abuses of Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation member

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand answers regarding the outrageous mistreatment of Tribal citizens by ICE in a number of recent incidents.

In their letter, the lawmakers called out reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance, and urged Department of Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem to develop policy and trainings to ensure all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands.

“We write to share our alarm over the completely unacceptable treatment of U.S.-born citizens of federally recognized Tribes, who have been stopped and questioned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on suspicion of being undocumented,” the senators wrote to Noem. “In February, several Senators wrote to you following reports of ICE agents improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens. In June, you replied with a letter in which you failed to respond to the majority of the questions raised in the letter.”

“Over the past month, we have heard additional alarming reports of ICE improperly stopping or detaining Tribal citizens for no apparent reason aside from their physical appearance,” the senators wrote. “The disrespect and harassment of U.S.-born Tribal citizens by ICE is outrageous and inexcusable, and we request that you take immediate steps to put an end to it.”

In November, Elaine Miles, an Indigenous actor, was approached by four men who identified themselves as ICE agents while waiting for a bus in Redmond, Washington. When she handed them her Tribal ID issued by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon, the immigration agents reportedly claimed her ID was “fake” and that “anyone can make that.” When she tried to call the Umatilla Tribal enrollment office phone number to verify her ID to the officers, an officer tried unsuccessfully to pry her phone out of her hands, then departed with his counterparts in unmarked vehicles. Miles alleges her son and uncle were also both detained by ICE agents who initially did not accept their Tribal IDs before eventually releasing them. In response, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin—a frequent liar—said in an emailed statement that allegations that DHS law enforcement officers engage in racial profiling is “categorically FALSE.”

The senators referenced this incident in their letter, noting that ICE had previously told Members of Congress that “The ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Academy does not train ERO officers to require any specific document to prove U.S. citizenship.”

“The experience of these Tribal citizens in Washington suggests that this is false: ICE agents are demanding certain documents to prove citizenship and are unaware of different forms of Tribal ID,” the lawmakers wrote.

In another recent incident, a member of Arizona’s Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Leticia Jacobo, was nearly deported after an Iowa jail mistakenly issued an ICE detainer for another inmate. Despite the fact Jacobo was in possession of her Tribal ID and had her Social Security number on file with the jail, her family had to scramble to prove her identity and Tribal citizenship to the jail staff, who released her just hours before she would have been transferred into federal custody. At least 15 Indigenous people in Arizona and New Mexico reported being questioned or detained by ICE agents in January of 2025. Harassment of Navajo Nation citizens by ICE has been so widespread that Navajo President Buu Nygren took to the airwaves to advise his members to carry identification, driver’s licenses and their Certificate of Indian Blood on their person at all times.

“You have an obligation to uphold the federal government’s trust and treaty obligations to Tribes and to treat Tribal citizens with respect—this is not optional. In light of recent incidents, we urge you to develop policy and trainings to ensure that all ICE agents are trained to recognize Tribal IDs, regardless of whether they are working on Tribal lands,” lawmakers wrote.

The senators concluded by requesting answers no later than January 11, 2026 to their questions about DHS policies regarding interactions with Tribal citizens and Tribal ID, and how the Department is working with its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to review and investigate allegations of civil rights violations.

Wyden and Merkley have been strong advocates for congressional oversight, transparency and respect for due process. In November, Wyden and Merkley joined Senate and House colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act which would ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. Wyden also has pressed the Department of Homeland Security about obstruction of congressional access to detention facilities. Wyden and Merkley, along with Oregon Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Val Hoyle, demanded the Trump administration answer questions about reports that DHS had relocated an essential Coast Guard helicopter away from Newport, Oregon and is planning to build an ICE detention facility in the Oregon Coast town. In October, Wyden and Merkley fiercely opposed the administration’s deployment of ICE agents and National Guard troops to the Portland ICE facility.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray, D- Wash. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Tina Smith, D-Minn.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-votes-no-on-bloated-military-authorization-bill,Wyden Votes No on Bloated Military Authorization Bill,2025-12-17,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"NDAA Increases Military Spending by Billions; Lacks Guardrails Against Deploying Troops to U.S. Cities, Purging Military Leaders Without Cause and Other Trump Abuses

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“I cannot support a bill that increases military spending by tens of billions of dollars and fails to include guardrails against Donald Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s authoritarian abuses.

“Donald Trump has repeatedly used the military to occupy major U.S. cities, including Portland—endangering our servicemembers, disrupting our economy, and eroding trust in our communities.

“He has also shown that he will use the Department of Defense to conduct deadly military operations without congressional authorization to intimidate political opponents and immigrants through the military, to purge senior military leaders without cause, to funnel billions of dollars in contracts to his personal supporters, and to waste billions of taxpayer dollars.

“I do support parts of this bill, such as giving our military servicemembers a needed raise, repealing the deeply flawed 2002 authorization for use of military force against Iraq, and increasing support for our Indo-Pacific allies and Ukraine.

“And while this bill includes the Intelligence Authorization Act, it lacks important oversight guardrails as well as critical Intelligence Community whistleblower protections passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee. The bill does include a provision I added to declassify information on whether foreign governments have helped their nationals accused of crimes in the United States flee the country to avoid justice, however, the bill’s faults far outweigh its benefits.

“For these reasons, among many other flaws in this bill, I voted ‘no.’”

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-no-new-ice-facilities-oregon,Oregon Delegation: No New ICE Facilities in Oregon,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today the Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation—Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)— demanded urgent answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about any plans to expand ICE’s footprint in Oregon.

“We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation,” wrote the Oregon delegation to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.”

The lawmakers raised serious concerns about increased ICE detentions of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, regardless of criminal history, and illegally denying due process.

They emphasized, “The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets. This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.”

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation. We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.

ICE has been increasingly using dragnet practices to detain groups of people with little attention to citizenship or criminal history. Despite near constant claims and reassurances that ICE is pursuing dangerous criminal noncitizens, a recent review of immigration detentions in Oregon from January through October 2025 shows that less than 10 percent of those arrested had been convicted of a violent crime. In Oregon and nationally, the vast majority of people arrested have never been convicted of any crime whatsoever. In addition to not prioritizing public threats, ICE has been detaining U.S. citizens in record numbers. One recent report found more than 170 detentions of U.S. citizens in the first nine months of 2025.

The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets. This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.

Another significant concern requiring your attention is access to counsel. Oregonians in ICE detention are often moved from one location to another in a manner that effectively denies timely access to legal counsel. Recent legal filings from Oregon nonprofits show that current detention sites in Oregon do not have sufficient space for lawyers to physically meet with their clients. Denying due process to detained individuals in this fashion is a moral stain that demands immediate action, and must not be replicated in any new detention site under consideration.

We reiterate our steadfast opposition to any new or expanded ICE detention facilities in Oregon. Please submit a written response detailing any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon as soon as possible, and not later than Friday December 19, 2025.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/stansbury-davids-bonamici-and-senators-kim-and-merkley-introduce-talents-act,"Stansbury, Davids, Bonamici and Senators Kim and Merkley Introduce TALENTS Act to Protect and Strengthen Federal Leadership Pipeline",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Sharice Davids (D-KS), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today announced the introduction of the Training Aspiring Leaders Emerging Now to Serve (TALENTS) Act, to codify and strengthen the Presidential Management Fellowship (PMF) Program—one of the federal government’s premier leadership development initiatives.

Since 1977, the PMF Program has served as a cornerstone of federal workforce development, placing a highly accomplished cohort of emerging leaders into government agencies each year. The program has been a vital pipeline to strengthen public service and elevate the next generation of civil service leaders. However, in February, President Trump terminated the program through executive order after more than four decades of existence.

“Without the Presidential Management Fellows Program, I likely would not have ended up in federal service,” said Congresswoman Stansbury. ""The PMF Program has long served as a pipeline for the next generation of federal leaders, bringing highly qualified talent from across the country to serve our nation. I am proud to colead this legislation to restore and build upon this program at a time when we need America’s best and brightest to address the challenges we face.”

“Programs like the Presidential Management Fellows are how we bring the next generation of talented public servants into government,” said Rep. Davids (D-KS). “It also gives federal agencies a pool of highly qualified, pre-vetted candidates, saving them time and resources in hiring. Gutting this pipeline doesn’t make government work better for everyday Americans — it makes it weaker and harder to navigate. This bill keeps that pipeline intact so we can continue bringing top talent into public service, and I’m glad to support it.”

""Creating more pathways for post-graduate students to enter into public service will benefit our country for generations to come,” said Rep. Bonamici (D-OR). “The late President Carter created the Presidential Management Fellowship Program more than four decades ago to encourage and support talented young professionals from all walks of life who want to pursue a career in public service. I enthusiastically join Congresswoman Stansbury and our Senate counterparts on this legislation to put the PMF program into law so these opportunities continue for future generations.”

The companion legislation is led in the Senate by Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

“I’m a proud alumnus of the PMF program. I’ve seen the impact it can have on young people who just want to give back to their community,” said Senator Kim. “Creating these pathways to serve is bigger than politics, it helps ensure the next generation is working to build a better future for us all, and that’s why we need this program codified into the law. I’m grateful to see this effort now in the House thanks to Representatives Stansbury, Bonamici, and Davids so we can have a bicameral push to get this done.”

The legislation is endorsed by the Partnership for Public Service, The Volcker Alliance, and the Presidential Management Alumni Association (PMAA).

“For almost fifty years, the PMF was the government’s premier early-career on ramp program, launching the careers of thousands of our most decorated public servants,” said Sara Mogulescu, President, The Volcker Alliance. “Its cancellation earlier this year undermines our nation’s proud legacy of service and chokes off a key source of skilled professionals that agencies need to meet their commitments to Americans. The TALENTS Act is an important step toward restoring the PMF program and investing in the next generation of government leaders.”

“Congresswoman Stansbury’s initiative restarts a professional development program for future public service leaders to prepare to address the nation’s daunting public management challenges that are headed our way. This forward looking legislation will effectively reestablish the American tradition to select future public service leaders based on merit and experience to a professional calling inspired by motivation to serve the nation’s citizens as the primary aspiration,"" said Former NASA Administrator and Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe. O'Keefe was a member of the 1978 inaugural class of the Presidential Management Intern Program, and has since retired from federal service after several public management experiences.

“Our country faces significant challenges, and our federal government will need the talents of future federal leaders to solve them,” said The Partnership for Public Service. “The Partnership for Public Service applauds the introduction of the TALENTS Act and thanks Rep. Melanie Stansbury for championing a path to service for the next generation of federal workers.”

The PMF Program has long been a flagship leadership development initiative, placing a cohort of a few hundred individuals into government agencies each year following a competitive and rigorous selection process. At the end of their two-year fellowship, many Fellows go on to become high-ranking federal officials. The TALENTS Act would codify the regulations that structured the PMF Program for over four decades, prevent it from being eliminated by presidential executive orders, make targeted improvements to the program, and strengthen Congress’s role in supporting and protecting it.

The TALENTS Act would place the PMF Program into statute to prevent its elimination by executive action, reinforce congressional oversight, and implement targeted improvements to ensure the federal government continues to attract and retain top public service talent.

The bill text can be found here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-andrea-salinas-advocates-student-mental-health-bill,Rep. Andrea Salinas Advocates for Student Mental Health Bill at House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Image

Click here to watch Rep. Salinas’ full remarks.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) spoke to the House Energy and Commerce Committee to advocate for her bipartisan bill, the Mental Health Services for Students Act. The bill, which passed the House in the 117th Congress, would bring critical, on-site mental health services to students in public schools across the country and provide $300 million in federal funding for school-based mental health programs to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis.

A transcript of Salinas’ floor speech is available below:

Thank you, Chair Guthrie and members of the committee for holding this Member Day.

I am here to present my bipartisan bill, H.R. 5557, the Mental Health Services for Students Act.

Our children and young people are really struggling today. The United States is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and our youth are really bearing the brunt of this.

Last year, over 20 percent of children aged 12-17 reported at least one major depressive episode in the preceding year. And 15 percent of youth who experienced a major depressive episode reported that their ability to function at work, school, and home was impacted.

In 2023, more than 20 percent of high school students seriously considered attempting suicide. That’s one in five. That is not okay, and I know that’s not okay to every single member of this committee.

As co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Mental Health Caucus, I have spent a lot of time engaging with families, children, and providers to understand exactly what it is that our children need to thrive. This past May, the Mental Health Caucus hosted a roundtable with children and young people from across the country to hear their frustrations with mental health services that don’t truly meet their needs. And they were very articulate. They knew the ins and outs of our system.

There’s no great mystery about what it takes to help these children. It’s quite simple. They need resources. And they need those resources to meet them where they are—in their schools.

Currently, over half of our public schools nationwide report struggling to provide adequate mental health services to their students, and things will likely only get worse.

The next decade will bring half a trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts as well as cuts to the Department of Education and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). We’re going in the wrong direction toward meeting the needs of our students and children.

The Mental Health Services for Students Act helps move us in the right direction. It will help get providers into schools proactively, help students build resiliency, and equip them with the tools they need to thrive throughout their life, putting us on the right path to meet this mental health crisis head on—and hopefully also reduce the next generation of substance abuse and mental health crises.

More specifically, my legislation expands SAMHSA’s Project AWARE Program. Project AWARE, or Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education program, develops sustainable infrastructure for school-based mental health programs and services.

Project AWARE focuses on three tiers of mental health funding. First, the program prioritizes universal prevention and mental health promotion to keep kids healthy and give them the tools to manage life’s ups and downs. This is no different than how we promote healthy eating and exercise to mitigate chronic disease—so for those who are already well.

Second, Project AWARE devotes funding to intervention services through school-based screenings to identify those who are at-risk and provide services to youth experiencing distress, trauma, bereavement, or other issues.

And finally, the program focuses on children who are already exhibiting mental and substance use disorder issues, so it ensures that they have the right supports to get on the path of recovery.

We know that Project AWARE is effective. In fact, my friend, Rep. Grace Napolitano advocated for nationalizing and expanding Project AWARE during her time here in Congress because this program has been working in Los Angeles and in her district since 2001.

The Youth Suicide Prevention program serves 35 schools in the L.A. area and has proved tremendously successful in helping students overcome mental health issues.

In Oregon, we’ve invested $5.4 million into the Community Care Development Project, and we’ve seen similar success. It’s time to expand on the success programs so students can benefit and families can, too.

Investing in our children is the healthy and fiscally right choice. That’s why, so far, this bill has garnered over 60 bipartisan cosponsors and counting.

In the 118th Congress, Congresswoman Napolitano introduced this legislation with 130 bipartisan cosponsors.

And in the 117th Congress this bill actually passed the House floor twice—once as a standalone bill and once as part of the Restoring Hope for Mental Wellbeing Act. This bill also enjoys support from countless mental health and education associations.

It’s clear that healthy children who have the tools to care for their mental and physical health become high-functioning, independent adults and lead the next generation in similar behaviors.. This bill gives them these tools, which is why I ask that this committee to work with me to advance this bill.

Thank you so much for your time.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-lujan-no-business-as-usual-until-justice-delivered-for-jeffrey-epsteins-victims/,"Merkley, Luján: No Business as Usual Until Justice Delivered for Jeffrey Epstein’s Victims",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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 New Mexico’s U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján—the lead Senate sponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act—announced they would block any pending civilian nominations before the Senate from being carried over to the new session of Congress in response to the Trump Administration’s failure to provide a briefing to lawmakers on the release of the Epstein Files. Merkley and Luján issued this statement announcing their hold:

“There can be no business as usual until justice is delivered for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s horrific crimes. The Trump Administration’s lack of transparency about its plans to release the Epstein Files signals it is gearing up to disregard the law we led the fight in the Senate to pass, which overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Congress. Without full transparency and accountability, there can be no ‘equal justice under the law.’ Until the administration reverses course and provides a common-sense briefing, which lawmakers from both parties requested, we are blocking the Senate from carrying over any outstanding civilian nominations into next year.”

Earlier this month, Merkley teamed up with Luján and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to demand a briefing from Attorney General Pam Bondi on the U.S. Department of Justice’s efforts to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and fully release the Epstein Files by December 19, 2025—as required by the law Merkley and Luján championed.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-marshall-launch-new-bipartisan-effort-to-unlock-federal-support-for-hazardous-cleanup-following-wildfires/,"Merkley, Marshall Launch New Bipartisan Effort to Unlock Federal Support for Hazardous Cleanup Following Wildfires",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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 Kansas’ U.S. Senator Roger Marshall introduced the brand-new Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act. The bipartisan bill provides a straightforward solution for communities in Oregon and across the nation to access federal aid for hazardous material cleanup following a wildfire.

“Fighting wildfires requires strong, commonsense policies to support both prevention and recovery efforts,” said Merkley. “Our bipartisan bill comes after Oregonians were left with nothing to help clean up hazardous materials following a devastating wildfire. We can and should fix this to ensure all communities can safely clean up following a fire by unlocking federal assistance for state and local governments to clean up hazardous substances and materials that are too often left behind.”

“When a fast-moving wildfire tore through Yates Center and destroyed its nursing home, community members and first responders heroically evacuated every resident to safety. But the danger didn’t end when the flames were extinguished. Wildfires leave behind hazardous debris, contaminated sites, and serious long-term health risks that small communities are often not equipped to manage on their own,” said Marshall. “I am proud to partner with Senator Merkley to ensure local governments have the tools and support they need to respond to wildfires, safely clean up hazardous debris, and protect the health and safety of their communities.”

In June 2025, the Rowena Fire in Wasco County Oregon tore up the Historic Columbia River Highway and destroyed 56 homes. The fire was granted approval for Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG), but the damage did not meet the threshold for a Major Disaster declaration – which would have unlocked federal aid for the cleanup of hazardous material debris – including toxic exposure from asbestos and heavy metals from burned structures, and contaminated wells and septic systems.

Learning from this disaster, Merkley wrote the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act based on outreach from impacted communities who are struggling to navigate the cleanup of hazardous material debris following the fire. His bipartisan bill would enable the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to offer relevant expertise and technical assistance to state and local governments, helping mitigate long-term risks to human health and the environment.

The bipartisan Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act is supported by the following organizations and individuals: Wasco County Emergency Manager Sheridan McClellan, Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Oregon Environmental Council (OEC), Union County Emergency Manager Nick Vora, the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), Western Fire Chiefs Association, Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Hood River County Board of Commissioners, Sisters Mayor Jennifer Letz, Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch, Redmond City Councilor John Nielsen, Ashland Fire & Rescue, Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, Jackson County Community Long-Term Recovery Group, Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative, FireGeneration Collaborative, Harney County Emergency Manager, Grant County Emergency Manager, and Umatilla County Board of Commissioners.

“Delaying or not performing hazardous debris cleanup after a wildfire could cause irreversible environmental damage and escalating health crises. This bill delivers the urgent resources we need to protect our land, water, food, cultural heritage, and the healthy future our children deserve,” said Wasco County Emergency Manager Sheridan McClellan.

“Timely removal of hazardous wildfire debris is essential for any community’s recovery,” said Erin McMahon, Director of the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM). “Across the country, families are unable to begin rebuilding because toxic debris remains long after the flames are out. This legislation strengthens federal support so survivors can return home sooner and recover more safely.”

“The Rowena and Burdoin fires destroyed over seventy residences in the Gorge this summer. With no current federal aid to deal with the toxic aftermath, the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act fills a critical gap in disaster recovery to help Gorge families rebuild their lives,” said Friends of Columbia Gorge Executive Director Kevin Gorman.

“When wildfire hits a community, we know that money can’t replace all that’s lost. But without the necessary funds, communities are left trying to manage a separate disaster in the aftermath of a wildfire,” said Jana Gastellum, Executive Director of the Oregon Environmental Council. “Cleaning up toxic materials is vitally important in helping wildfire-impacted communities prevent further harm to the health and safety of their residents as they focus on recovering. Simply put: this funding will save lives.”

“Fire is a natural force we have to live with and prepare for, but sometimes even the best preparation cannot stop destruction from extreme fire events,” said Nick Vora, Union County Emergency Manager. “When the smoke clears, communities are often left with substantial debris – including hazardous materials – that need to be cleaned-up as a first step in recovery. For uninsured or underinsured properties, the financial consequence can be abandonment and even tax foreclosure not to mention homelessness for the residents. Legislation to facilitate federal assistance to local communities with post-fire clean-up will be a large step to help communities across the United States be resilient to destructive fires.”

Merkley has been a long-time leader in the fight to prepare for and mitigate the worst impacts of wildfires. He leads a series of bipartisan bills to support mills processing hazardous fuels coming off public lands, train the new generation of wildland firefighters, and promote collaborative forest management.

A one-page summary of the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act can be found by clicking here.

Full text of the Post-Wildfire Environmental Assistance Act can be found by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-oregon-delegation-no-new-ice-facilities-in-oregon/,"Merkley, Oregon Delegation: No New ICE Facilities in Oregon",2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,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 his Democratic colleagues in the Oregon congressional delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—in demanding urgent answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about any plans to expand ICE’s footprint in Oregon.

“We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation,” wrote the Oregon delegation to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.”

The lawmakers raised serious concerns about increased ICE detentions of U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, regardless of criminal history, and illegally denying due process.

They emphasized, “The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets. This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.”

Merkley has led the charge to oppose the escalating ICE presence throughout the state, partnering with the Oregon delegation to speak out against ICE activities in Portland and Newport. He urged Portland protestors to “not take the bait” in response to the Trump Administration’s aggression toward the city and pushed for the release of Jackie Merlos, a mother of four who was illegally held in ICE custody for over 100 days.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons,

We write to request a full and detailed description of any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon. Recent public job postings in the Portland and Newport areas suggest that planning is well underway to contract for a new or expanded detention facility, but no formal notice has been provided to local or state leaders, or to Oregon’s congressional delegation. We strongly and unequivocally reject the need for any new detention capacity and urge you to honor the public’s right to be informed and review your plans before any contracts are signed or facilities are opened. Oregonians deserve far better from the Trump administration than this shabby track record of absolute secrecy and total disdain for their communities’ viewpoints.

ICE has been increasingly using dragnet practices to detain groups of people with little attention to citizenship or criminal history. Despite near constant claims and reassurances that ICE is pursuing dangerous criminal noncitizens, a recent review of immigration detentions in Oregon from January through October 2025 shows that less than 10 percent of those arrested had been convicted of a violent crime. In Oregon and nationally, the vast majority of people arrested have never been convicted of any crime whatsoever. In addition to not prioritizing public threats, ICE has been detaining U.S. citizens in record numbers. One recent report found more than 170 detentions of U.S. citizens in the first nine months of 2025.

The information we require is critical to support Congress’s responsibility to protect detainees’ bedrock human and legal rights. As witnessed in the disastrous setup of Florida’s Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades, hastily assembled detention centers invite horrific abuse and fail to effectively support efforts to detain dangerous criminals who pose a genuine threat to community safety. One recent report from Amnesty International found that people detained in Alligator Alcatraz are living in inhumane and unsanitary conditions. These conditions include overflowing toilets, limited access to showers, exposure to insects without protection, lights on 24-hours-a-day, and lack of privacy – including cameras above the toilets. This record of abuse demands deep skepticism and scrutiny of any plan to open detention facilities in Oregon.

Another significant concern requiring your attention is access to counsel. Oregonians in ICE detention are often moved from one location to another in a manner that effectively denies timely access to legal counsel. Recent legal filings from Oregon nonprofits show that current detention sites in Oregon do not have sufficient space for lawyers to physically meet with their clients. Denying due process to detained individuals in this fashion is a moral stain that demands immediate action, and must not be replicated in any new detention site under consideration.

We reiterate our steadfast opposition to any new or expanded ICE detention facilities in Oregon. Please submit a written response detailing any plans to open or expand Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities in Oregon as soon as possible, and not later than Friday December 19, 2025.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-leads-colleagues-calling-on-trump-administration-to-crack-down-on-growing-threat-of-synthetic-opioids,Wyden Leads Colleagues Calling on Trump Administration to Crack Down on Growing Threat of Synthetic Opioids,2025-12-16,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Letter comes as Trump administration reduces funding and workforce to counter ongoing fentanyl crisis

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today led his colleagues in pressing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on how it is prioritizing a federal response to the growing threat of synthetic opioids, specifically a class of drugs known as “nitazenes.”

Although nitazenes were originally developed as pain relievers in the 1950s, these synthetic opioids are now illicitly manufactured abroad and then trafficked across the United States. Illicitly-manufactured nitazenes have been shown to be more than ten times more powerful than fentanyl. Nitazenes frequently go undetected in toxicology screenings, so the full extent of its role in overdoses and addiction remains unknown. Despite the growing threat, the federal response to the growing crisis has remained insufficient.

“Without swift intervention, nitazenes will drive a new wave of addiction and overdose deaths,” the senators wrote to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “There is an urgent need for a coordinated federal response that prioritizes prevention, early detection, treatment, and expanded access to harm reduction tools like naloxone, especially as law enforcement agencies like the DEA have classified nitazenes as an emerging threat. We urge the Department of Health and Human Services to formulate a strategy to address the rising threat of nitazenes before it escalates into a full-scale public health crisis.”

“We certainly support the efforts of Sen. Wyden to keep dangerous drugs off our streets and we appreciate his efforts specifically to attack the flow of Nitazenes,” said Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez.

“Synthetic opioids continue to pose a serious and growing threat to Eastern Oregon communities, placing increased demands on law enforcement, first responders, and local health systems.,"" said La Grande Police chief Gary Bell. ""Strong federal coordination and improved detection capabilities are critical to help communities identify emerging substances before they become widespread and to support effective response efforts. Expanded access to naloxone and other evidence-based harm reduction tools would save lives, enhance responder safety, and create more opportunities to connect individuals with treatment and recovery services.”

""Our officers in the field are at risk (daily) of exposure from the onset of the call through the processing of any evidence collected at the end of the incident,"" said Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston. ""Local agencies in Oregon are forced to cut or reduce other programming to protect our employees by purchasing preventative technologies. Prioritizing first responders with the dissemination of naloxone and other drug detection equipment can only happen with the assistance of the federal government and will allow us to dedicate limited resources to other areas that benefit the community we serve.""

“Nitazenes pose an unprecedented threat to Oregonians,"" said State Senator Anthony Broadman (D-Bend), Public Safety budget co-chair for the Oregon State Senate. ""I commend Senator Wyden's leadership in demanding swift federal action to combat these dangerous these synthetic opioids before they escalate into a full-scale public health crisis. His call for enhanced detection, prevention, and harm reduction is exactly what Oregon needs. These ultra-potent synthetic opioids are driving a new wave of addiction and overdose deaths, and we need the coordinated federal strategy Senator Wyden is demanding.""

Earlier this year, the Trump administration terminated more than 100 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) employees, reducing its staff to less than 50 percent capacity. SAMHSA, under Health and Human Services, provides key addiction and mental health treatment services. Wyden led his colleagues in slamming the Trump administration for purging the HHS of staff on the frontlines of the opioid epidemic.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has classified nitazenes as a growing threat, but there remains an urgent need for a coordinated federal response that prioritizes prevention, early detection, and expanded access to harm reduction tools like naloxone. The senators emphasized the need for a plan that includes investing in research to develop resources which could reverse overdoses.

Wyden is joined in the letter by Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Given the alarming threat of nitazenes, the senators request answers from HHS on how it would monitor, mitigate, and respond to this emerging threat, specifically:

What steps is HHS taking to improve detection and reporting of nitazene-related overdoses and deaths across states?

Does CDC plan to expand routine toxicology screening protocols to include nitazenes in state and local medical examiner systems?

How is HHS coordinating with DEA and state health departments to ensure timely identification of new nitazene analogs?

What resources or technical assistance is HHS providing to laboratories to increase their capacity to detect nitazenes?

Has HHS issued, or does it plan to issue, national guidance or alerts to clinicians, first responders, and harm-reduction organizations about nitazene risks and detection challenges?

What efforts are underway to ensure that harm-reduction organizations and people who use drugs receive timely information about nitazene-contaminated supplies?

Are there plans to integrate nitazene awareness into existing opioid-response campaigns or naloxone distribution programs?

What evidence does HHS have regarding naloxone’s effectiveness against nitazene-involved overdoses at current recommended doses?

If higher or repeated doses of naloxone are required, is HHS providing updated training or guidance to local health departments and first responders?

How is HHS ensuring that medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) programs are equipped to address patients exposed to ultra-potent synthetic opioids?",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-press-lutnick-on-administrations-decision-to-sell-out-national-and-economic-security-by-greenlighting-the-sale-of-advanced-chips-to-china,"Wyden, Colleagues Press Lutnick on Administration’s Decision to Sell Out National and Economic Security by Greenlighting the Sale of Advanced Chips to China",2025-12-15,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"The lawmakers highlight concerns from Department of Justice law enforcement officials about letting advanced AI chips fall into China’s hands; Question if Justice Department officials were involved in the decision

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to raise concerns over the Trump Administration’s decision to disregard warnings from its own Department of Justice and allow NVIDIA to export its advanced H200 AI chips to China.

“The President’s dangerous decision to give away critical national security controls represents a significant departure from longstanding bipartisan efforts to ensure that U.S. technology does not turbocharge China’s military and technological capabilities,” the lawmakers wrote to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik. “The PRC seeks NVIDIA’s H200s chips to develop and deploy AI systems, including for military and cyber operations.”

“The Department confirmed that these advanced chips are the ‘building blocks of AI superiority’ that ‘are integral to modern military applications.’ The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas underscored that ‘(t)he country that controls these chips will control AI technology; the country that controls AI technology will control the future,’” the lawmakers continued.

“During your confirmation hearing, you advocated for stronger export controls, saying ‘if they are going to compete with us, let them compete, but stop using our tools to compete with us.’ Unfortunately, under your tenure, the Department of Commerce appears to be handing out key favors that undermine our national security based on which corporate CEOs can do the best job of wooing President Trump,” the lawmakers continued.

The senators concluded by requesting answers no later than December 19, 2025 to their questions on the decision to allow H200 AI chips to be sold to China.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. In addition to Wyden, the letter was also signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and U.S. Senators Andy Kim, D-N.J., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-addresses-the-nation-on-the-dangers-and-costs-of-wolves,Congressman Bentz Addresses the Nation on the Dangers and Costs of Wolves,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.– Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) delivered remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives addressing the growing gray wolf populations across the Western United States and the serious threats they pose to ranchers, farmers, and outdoorsmen. Here is what he said:

WATCH: Congressman Bentz Remarks on the Dangers of the Gray Wolf

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call out the injury and injustice being inflicted upon my state and my constituents by the inappropriate and unfair enforcement of the Endangered Species Act as it has been and is being applied in the reintroduction of the Grey Wolf.

This injustice is apparent in the federal government’s inability to manage and control the killing and maiming of livestock and in the failure of the government to properly pay for the costs of its decision to reintroduce the wolf.

I will address the lack of management first.

Let me begin my discussion of failed management by showing several pictures which are graphic illustrations of the reality that my ranching families all too often have to face: As you can see, there is nothing refined about how a wolf goes about feeding itself. You can imagine the feelings of the rancher when he or she finds livestock torn apart and dying. You can try to imagine the anger that they feel knowing that they are legally prevented from stopping the wolf that caused this pain and horror to their cattle and calves from doing this again. And again. And again.

I have held meeting after meeting across my district listening over and over to stories about wolves attacking herds, scattering cattle, and ignoring the ineffective “hazing” efforts that owners of these cattle are allowed to use under the law to try to protect their livelihoods. The anger that they feel, their intense frustration, is totally understandable and is why I’m on this floor today sharing their pain with you.

If we are to protect those who are trying their best to feed this country, to make a living, to keep their communities alive, to put out range fires, to pay their taxes, and to continue to be productive parts of this nation, we need to delist the wolf and move management of these animals back to the states.

Let me turn to the actual cost of the reintroduction of the wolf and the need for those that have created this cost to be responsible for paying it.

The actual annual cost of the wolf to cattle businesses, as of a few years ago, is estimated to be 128 million dollars. Again, this is the annual cost. This number is far higher now that cattle prices are higher. Many think that the only cost of the wolf is the killing of livestock, but the impact of primal fear that cattle understandably feel when a wolf is near has dramatic and serious impacts on weight gain and on pregnancy rates. These losses are real and they are serious. In a time when even the President is concerned about beef prices, these losses affect everyone by reducing the size of cattle herds and herd productivity.

There has been legislation enacted, both in the big beautiful Bill and at the state level, to try to bring some reimbursement equity into play by providing at least some payment for the death of cattle caused by wolves, but these programs, although welcome, come nowhere close to making those damaged by wolves whole. In addition I can assure you that the rancher would absolutely be happier if he or she could completely avoid the losses that lead to asking for justice under these programs.

If we are to properly and fairly and logically manage the wolf, we must pass Congresswoman Boebert's and Tom Tiffany’s bill, HR 845, the Pet and livestock Protection Act. This would delist the wolf and allow states to manage those populations.

And if we are to properly allocate responsibility for the monetary cost of wolf reintroduction, those millions of dollars in cost unjustly imposed upon ranchers and farmers. Each and every year must be paid back. If society wants the world, society must pay for the wolf.

Thank you Mr. Speaker, I yield back.”",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-s-safe-social-media-act-passes-out-of-the-energy-and-commerce-subcommittee-on-commerce-manufacturing-and-trade,"Congressman Bentz’s “Safe Social Media Act” Passes out of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C.– Congressman Bentz (R-OR), one of the lead sponsors of H.R. 6290, the Safe Social Media Act, is pleased to announce that this bill passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade (CMT) on Thursday, December 14th. This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a comprehensive study on social media among individuals under the age of 17.

Said Congressman Bentz: “Every day, millions of young Americans log onto platforms that are collecting their information, shaping what they see and influencing how they think. I have heard from parents, teachers, and mental health professionals all of whom are increasingly worried about what these platforms are doing to our kids. This Act will require a study that will gather the data necessary to learn how and what social media is impacting our children. My bill is a necessary step toward real accountability.”",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-bill-update-federal-work-study-program,Bonamici Introduces Bill to Update Federal Work Study Program,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/12/25] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced legislation to modernize the Federal Work Study Program.

The Opportunities for Success Act, HR 6606, would update and improve the Federal Work Study Program by expanding access to employment opportunities aligned with students’ career goals. It would also increase program funding and provide a long-overdue update to the Federal Work Study formula so funding goes to students with the greatest need.

“For decades the Federal Work Study program has helped thousands of students afford higher education, but the program is overdue for updates to better reach those who need it most,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Additionally, this legislation will provide more students with work experience that is relevant to their interests and field of study. I benefited from Work Study when I was in college and know how it can help students throughout their careers. I’m pleased to introduce the Opportunities for Success Act to improve this program and open doors of opportunity for more students.”

The Opportunities for Success Act will:

Invest in low-income students and increase the five-year budget for FWS to $2.5 billion.

Reform the FWS anddistribution formula to allocate FWS funds based on the total Pell Grant funding an institution receives relative to other participating institutions, in addition to their share of total undergraduate and graduate student need across all institutions.

Direct FWS to low-income students by rewarding institutions that enroll and graduate high numbers of students with Pell Grants.

Promote career readiness by increasing funding for Job Location and Development programs and mandating that institutions prioritize placing low-income students and FWS students in work-based learning positions.

Improve access to career-related work experience by allowing students to earn FWS wages during periods of non-enrollment and requiring institutions to use at least 7 percent of FWS funds for work-based learning opportunities.

Create pathways from college to career by creating a $30 million work-based pilot program to help connect low-income students to high-quality internships.

Enhance student success by directing the Department of Education to survey FWS and inform Congress on areas of further program improvements.

The full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wicker-kiggans-bonamici-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-effort-oppose-new,"Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, Bonamici Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Oppose New Limits on Student Loans for Nurses",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led over 140 bipartisan lawmakers to sound the alarm over a proposed framework by the U.S. Department of Education to declassify nursing degrees as “professional” and undermining the entire future of the nursing workforce.

Their letter follows a recently released proposed framework from the Education Department’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee that omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree,” meaning they would be classified as a “graduate degree.” If this framework is adopted during the upcoming rulemaking, the proposed definition threatens more debt for post-baccalaureate nursing students, as student loans are currently capped for new borrowers at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in the aggregate for “graduate” programs and $50,000 annually and $200,000 in the aggregate for “professional” programs.

“At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,” the bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers wrote to the Education Department. “According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a ‘professional degree.’”

“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees,” the lawmakers stressed.

As leaders of the Senate and House Nursing Caucuses, Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici have long championed legislation to support the more than 5 million registered nurses across the United States and address the challenges facing the nursing workforce. Merkley is the husband of a nurse, and Kiggans is one of three nurses currently serving in Congress.

The bipartisan letter is supported by over 65 organizations including, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League of Nursing. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.

In addition to Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Donald Beyer (D-VA-08), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA-31), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Donald Davis (D-NC-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), David Joyce (R-OH-14), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), George Whitesides (D-CA-27), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Full text of their bipartisan letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Under Secretary Kent:

We write regarding the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee’s ongoing rulemaking to implement the student financial aid provisions under Public Law 119–21. As Members of Congress who have championed legislation to strengthen the nursing workforce, we write with concerns over the RISE Committee’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree” in its recently released proposed framework.

Nurses are central to our health care system. They comprise the largest health care workforce in the United States, with more than 5 million registered nurses nationwide. Nurses provide high-quality care to patients in all communities, including rural and urban areas, yet we are in the midst of a nursing workforce crisis in this country. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement. This study also outlined predictions that by 2029, almost 40 percent of nurses intend to leave the workforce. Given this trend, we have a strong interest in bolstering the nursing workforce and supporting legislation that will make it easier for nurses to enter the field.

The RISE Committee’s proposed definition will make it more difficult for nurses to join the health care workforce because post-baccalaureate nursing degrees are excluded from the list of health care degrees in the definition of a “professional degree.” This list includes Pharmacy (PharmD), Dentistry (DDS or DMD), Medicine (MD), and Clinical Psychology (PsyD or PhD), but it omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and a PhD in nursing. However, the proposed definition describes a professional degree as a degree that “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.” The definition also states that a professional degree “generally requires professional licensure to begin practice.” Post-baccalaureate nursing degrees satisfy these criteria, as all registered nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to enter the profession. Similarly, all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) must have a graduate degree, such as an MSN or a DNP, and require national certification and state licensure to practice.

Post-baccalaureate nursing students also have a demonstrated need to access the higher borrowing limits for professional degrees set in Public Law 119–21. The law states that students earning professional degrees may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate, in contrast to students earning graduate degrees, whose borrowing limits are capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. The current graduate level loan cap would not meet the need of most Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs, which can cost over $200,000, thereby restricting the pipeline of CRNAs and further limiting an anesthesia workforce that is suffering from shortages across all provider types. CRNA programs have shown to be a critical return on investment, with default rates near zero percent, and a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher cost physicians do not practice.

In addition, many post-baccalaureate nursing programs hit the annual limit of $20,500, including some programs that may be under the aggregate limit. For instance, many nurse practitioner and other APRN academic programs operate year-round across three full-time semesters, as opposed to the traditional two-semester academic calendar, and thus cost more than $20,500 per year. Classifying these programs as graduate programs would result in these students having to take out additional student loans to cover the remainder of their tuition, which will limit the ability for students to complete their advanced degree.

At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs. According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a “professional degree.”

Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we hope to work with you to improve and expand the nursing workforce across the country.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-successfully-defends-community-engagement-detroit-lake-drawdown-proposal,Bynum Successfully Defends Community Engagement on Detroit Lake Drawdown Proposal,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – On December 1st, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) led Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in requesting additional time for community engagement on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proposed drawdown of Detroit Lake.

Earlier this week, on December 10th, USACE announced that it would be extending the comment period until January 13, 2026 for the project’s draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. Rep. Bynum’s successful advocacy will allow her constituents in impacted communities additional time to robustly engage with this drawdown proposal. In their letter, the Members expressed concern that the overlaps of the comment period with the holidays would inhibit engagement.

“When a proposal as impactful as the Detroit Lake drawdown is being evaluated, community input is critical,” said Rep. Bynum. “The original comment window – and its overlap with the holiday season – left people without enough time to meaningfully engage on the issue. I’m proud and encouraged that our efforts will allow communities around Detroit Lake the time they need to make their voices heard.”

For reference, you can find the letter sent on December 1st by clicking here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases/seec-lands-waters-and-nature-task-force-endorses-bills-protect-americas,"SEEC Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force Endorses Bills to Protect America’s Natural Treasures",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Maxine Dexter,D000635,dexter.house.gov,dexter,https://dexter.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force, led by Co-Chairs Reps. Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Doris Matsui (CA-07), announced the endorsement of ten bills that work to protect and preserve America’s natural treasures for generations to come.

“Today, the SEEC Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force endorsed federal policy priorities that will ensure future generations of Americans can continue to enjoy the great American outdoors and all of our country’s natural treasures,” said the Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Maxine Dexter, Don Beyer, and Doris Matsui. “Regardless of political stripe, our public lands and waters are a fundamental part of our national identity and an inherent part of America’s heritage.

“Yet, from day one of the Trump Administration, the American people have witnessed just how far President Trump will go to fulfill his corrupt promise to sell off our public lands to the highest bidder. The bills this Task Force is endorsing today will protect our nation’s lands and waters, defending vulnerable wildlife and protecting delicate ecosystems for current and future generations of Americans. In the face of the Trump Administration’s un-American attacks on our lands, waters, and nature, we are upholding our commitment to a more prosperous, resilient, and healthy future for us all.”

Today, the Task Force endorsed ten bills:

H.R. 3930 - Roadless Area Conservation Act, Rep. Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

H.R. 3067 - Arctic Refuge Protection Act, Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02)

H.R. 2848 - Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act, Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02)

H.R. 470 - West Coast Protection Act, Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02)

H.R. 2865 - New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025, Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02)

H.R. 2886 - Defend our Coast Act, Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02)

H.R. 3071 - Increasing Penalties for Offshore Polluters Act, Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36)

H.R. 3604 - Reducing Waste in National Parks Act, Rep. Mike Quigley (IL-05)

H.R. 1918 - Farewell to Foam Act, Rep. Lloyd Doggett (TX-37)

H.R. 6078 - Wildlife Road Crossings Program Reauthorization Act, Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08)

Background

In the 119th Congress, SEEC’s Lands, Waters, and Nature Task Force will focus on actions that prioritize public lands and waters protections, habitat conservation, coastal resilience, and nature-based solutions as a means to mitigate and adapt to our rapidly changing climate and environment. Our families, communities, and economy rely on healthy ecosystems for clean air and water. Promoting the conservation and restoration of natural habitats, while also addressing the worsening biodiversity crisis, will be key to delivering critical ecosystem services to our communities. The Task Force will develop a forward-looking policy agenda to harness the power of our lands and waters to ensure that future generations of Americans are left with a planet that is healthier and cleaner than we found it.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyle-wyden-and-merkley-secure-written-commitment-from-coast-guard-acting-commandant-lunday-that-newport-helicopter-will-remain,"Hoyle, Wyden and Merkley Secure Written Commitment from Coast Guard Acting Commandant Lunday that Newport Helicopter Will Remain",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle, along with Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, announced that they secured written commitments from Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to ensure the rescue helicopter located at the Newport Air Facility remains in the community, as well as a pledge from Lunday to visit the Newport area within one year.

""I want to thank Acting Commandant Lunday for his letter today committing to us to keep the Coast Guard helicopter in Newport,"" said Hoyle. ""It is a huge win for our coastal community, and it wouldn’t have happened without the collective effort of Senators Wyden and Merkley and every Oregonian who raised their voice. When our community stands together, we get results.”

“After hearing from countless Oregonians about the importance of the search and rescue helicopter in Newport, I led the charge to secure written confirmation from the Coast Guard that the helicopter would remain in the community, consistent with the law I wrote in 2014. For fishermen and coastal communities, this is a huge win, especially during winter crab season and in the face of cold-water conditions,” said Merkley. “I am lifting my hold on Admiral Lunday’s nomination and look forward to his forthcoming visit to Newport and to a productive working relationship going forward.”

“I’m gratified that Acting Commandant Lunday today wrote in plain English the verbal commitment he made last week to Senator Merkley and me over the phone – namely that the Coast Guard helicopter will remain right where it belongs in Newport,” said Wyden. “This is great news for fishermen and both residents of -- and visitors to -- the central Oregon Coast. Thanks to the Newport Fishermen’s Wives and all the local officials who worked with Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Hoyle and me to achieve this victory for public safety, the law and common sense.”

Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle worked together to keep the rescue helicopter in Newport, leading a coordinated series of efforts that ultimately succeeded.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-salinas-urges-nih-continue-funding-landmark-menopause-study,Rep. Salinas Urges NIH to Continue Funding Landmark Menopause Study,2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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) led thirty-three of her colleagues in sending a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya urging continued funding for the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), a long-running, federally funded research study examining women’s health during midlife and menopause.

The lawmakers emphasized that SWAN has followed participants for more than 25 years and has produced critical findings on menopause’s impacts on mental health, cognitive function, bone health, cardiovascular risk, and sleep. In the letter, they stressed that menopause affects roughly half the population but remains significantly underfunded in federal research, and urged NIH to prioritize sustained support for SWAN to advance women’s health research and improve long-term health outcomes.

Click here or see below for the full letter:

Dear Director Bhattacharya:

As you evaluate the National Institutes of Health (NIH) budget, we urge you to continue funding the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). As you may know, SWAN is a foundational longitudinal, epidemiologic study that examines the health of women during their middle years, and specifically how the biological, psychological, and social changes women experience in midlife affect their overall health and long-term outcomes.

Funding for SWAN is especially important because menopause impacts about half of the population, and many women who experience moderate to severe menopause symptoms do not receive the care they need. This emphasizes the need for more NIH funding for menopause research, which totaled only $56 million in 2023.

Because SWAN researchers have followed participants for over 25 years, this study is a uniquely rich resource that is poised to make major breakthroughs in understanding how menopause and midlife changes impact women’s health as they age. In particular, SWAN has provided a wealth of information about the menopause transition (perimenopause and menopause) and its effects on women’s health. Key findings from SWAN include:

Depression: Women experience a four-fold increase in depressive episodes during the menopause transition relative to premenopause. Women with a prior history of depression and those with a high burden of menopausal symptoms are most at risk.

Cognitive Function: Forty percent of women report trouble with forgetfulness during perimenopause. Cognitive testing shows declines in processing speed and verbal memory during this period.

Bone Health: Bone loss, particularly in the spine and hips, begins in perimenopause and accelerates during late perimenopause and early postmenopause, linked to declining estrogen levels.

Vascular Risk: Women experience accelerated declines in vascular health during menopause, including increases in LDL cholesterol. Hot flashes are also linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Sleep Problems: There is a two-to-three-fold increase in sleep problems during menopause, which can have major long-term health implications, including doubling the risk of stroke later in life.

Despite these important findings affecting roughly half of the U.S. population, additional research is still needed to better understand how menopause affects women’s health at midlife and beyond—research that SWAN is uniquely positioned to deliver. Areas in need of further study include the long-term impacts of menopause on heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease; the effectiveness and safety of treatment options; the need for individualized care approaches; educational gaps among patients and health care providers; the understudied perimenopausal period; and strategies to promote prevention and healthy aging through lifestyle interventions.

Maintaining funding for SWAN will ensure continued progress in these critical areas and strengthen our understanding of women’s health for generations to come. We strongly urge you to prioritize continued funding for SWAN.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wicker-kiggans-bonamici-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-effort-to-oppose-new-limits-on-student-loans-for-nurses/,"Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, Bonamici Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Oppose New Limits on Student Loans for Nurses",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led over 140 bipartisan lawmakers to sound the alarm over a proposed framework by the U.S. Department of Education to declassify nursing degrees as “professional” and undermining the entire future of the nursing workforce.

Their letter follows a recently released proposed framework from the Education Department’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee that omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree,” meaning they would be classified as a “graduate degree.” If this framework is adopted during the upcoming rulemaking, the proposed definition threatens more debt for post-baccalaureate nursing students, as student loans are currently capped for new borrowers at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in the aggregate for “graduate” programs and $50,000 annually and $200,000 in the aggregate for “professional” programs.

“At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs,” the bipartisan group of over 140 lawmakers wrote to the Education Department. “According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a ‘professional degree.’”

“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees,” the lawmakers stressed.

As leaders of the Senate and House Nursing Caucuses, Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici have long championed legislation to support the more than 5 million registered nurses across the United States and address the challenges facing the nursing workforce. Merkley is the husband of a nurse, and Kiggans is one of three nurses currently serving in Congress.

The bipartisan letter is supported by over 65 organizations including, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League of Nursing. A full list of supporting organizations can be found by clicking here.

In addition to Merkley, Wicker, Kiggans, and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Donald Beyer (D-VA-08), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Robert Bresnahan (R-PA-08), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Julia Brownley (D-CA-26), Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Kathy Castor (D-FL-14), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Gilbert Cisneros (D-CA-31), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Donald Davis (D-NC-01), Madeleine Dean (D-PA-04), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Christopher Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Cleo Fields (D-LA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Valerie Foushee (D-NC-04), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), David Joyce (R-OH-14), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), George Latimer (D-NY-16), Michael Lawler (R-NY-17), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-03), Mike Levin (D-CA-49), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA-07), Sarah McBride (D-DE-AL), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI-08), James McGovern (D-MA-02), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25), Kelly Morrison (D-MN-03), James Moylan (R-GU-AL), Kevin Mullin (D-CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA-03), Scott Peters (D-CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Emily Randall (D-WA-06), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Josh Riley (D-NY-19), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY-03), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12), George Whitesides (D-CA-27), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Full text of their bipartisan letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Under Secretary Kent:

We write regarding the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee’s ongoing rulemaking to implement the student financial aid provisions under Public Law 119–21. As Members of Congress who have championed legislation to strengthen the nursing workforce, we write with concerns over the RISE Committee’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of “professional degree” in its recently released proposed framework.

Nurses are central to our health care system. They comprise the largest health care workforce in the United States, with more than 5 million registered nurses nationwide. Nurses provide high-quality care to patients in all communities, including rural and urban areas, yet we are in the midst of a nursing workforce crisis in this country. According to the 2024 National Nursing Workforce Study, more than 138,000 nurses have left the workforce since 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement. This study also outlined predictions that by 2029, almost 40 percent of nurses intend to leave the workforce. Given this trend, we have a strong interest in bolstering the nursing workforce and supporting legislation that will make it easier for nurses to enter the field.

The RISE Committee’s proposed definition will make it more difficult for nurses to join the health care workforce because post-baccalaureate nursing degrees are excluded from the list of health care degrees in the definition of a “professional degree.” This list includes Pharmacy (PharmD), Dentistry (DDS or DMD), Medicine (MD), and Clinical Psychology (PsyD or PhD), but it omits post-baccalaureate nursing degrees such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), and a PhD in nursing. However, the proposed definition describes a professional degree as a degree that “signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree.” The definition also states that a professional degree “generally requires professional licensure to begin practice.” Post-baccalaureate nursing degrees satisfy these criteria, as all registered nurses must pass the National Council Licensure Examination to enter the profession. Similarly, all Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) must have a graduate degree, such as an MSN or a DNP, and require national certification and state licensure to practice.

Post-baccalaureate nursing students also have a demonstrated need to access the higher borrowing limits for professional degrees set in Public Law 119–21. The law states that students earning professional degrees may borrow up to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregate, in contrast to students earning graduate degrees, whose borrowing limits are capped at $20,500 annually and $100,000 aggregate. The current graduate level loan cap would not meet the need of most Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) programs, which can cost over $200,000, thereby restricting the pipeline of CRNAs and further limiting an anesthesia workforce that is suffering from shortages across all provider types. CRNA programs have shown to be a critical return on investment, with default rates near zero percent, and a workforce that overwhelmingly provides anesthesia to rural and underserved communities where higher cost physicians do not practice.

In addition, many post-baccalaureate nursing programs hit the annual limit of $20,500, including some programs that may be under the aggregate limit. For instance, many nurse practitioner and other APRN academic programs operate year-round across three full-time semesters, as opposed to the traditional two-semester academic calendar, and thus cost more than $20,500 per year. Classifying these programs as graduate programs would result in these students having to take out additional student loans to cover the remainder of their tuition, which will limit the ability for students to complete their advanced degree.

At a time when our nation is facing a health care shortage, especially in primary care, now is not the time to cut off the student pipeline to these programs. According to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), fifty-seven percent of Medicare beneficiaries received a primary care service from an NP or physician associate (PA), and sixty-six percent of rural Medicare patients received a primary care service from an NP or PA. Consequently, we believe that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be included in the department’s definition of a “professional degree.”

Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes, with a recent study from the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity showing that nursing was one of the top three master’s degrees for return on investment. As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we hope to work with you to improve and expand the nursing workforce across the country.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wyden-hoyle-secure-written-commitment-from-coast-guard-acting-commandant-lunday-that-newport-helicopter-will-remain/,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Secure Written Commitment from Coast Guard Acting Commandant Lunday that Newport Helicopter Will Remain",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“After hearing from countless Oregonians about the importance of the search and rescue helicopter in Newport, I led the charge to secure written confirmation from the Coast Guard that the helicopter would remain in the community, consistent with the law I wrote in 2014. For fishermen and coastal communities, this is a huge win, especially during winter crab season and in the face of cold-water conditions,” said Merkley. “I am lifting my hold on Admiral Lunday’s nomination and look forward to his forthcoming visit to Newport and to a productive working relationship going forward.”

“I’m gratified that Acting Commandant Lunday today wrote in plain English the verbal commitment he made last week to Senator Merkley and me over the phone – namely that the Coast Guard helicopter will remain right where it belongs in Newport,” said Wyden. “This is great news for fishermen and both residents of — and visitors to — the central Oregon Coast. Thanks to the Newport Fishermen’s Wives and all the local officials who worked with Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Hoyle and me to achieve this victory for public safety, the law and common sense.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-colleagues-raise-alarm-over-trump-administration-siphoning-at-least-2-billion-from-military-budget-for-immigration-enforcement/,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Siphoning At Least $2 Billion from Military Budget for Immigration Enforcement",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 said today they have joined Senate and House colleagues to release a new report detailing the Trump administration’s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement, and its impact on readiness and morale of U.S. troops.

“The investigation found that the Department of Defense (DoD) has obligated over $2 billion in support of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration enforcement in 2025, diverting it from the intended use – our national security and military servicemembers,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. “This is a baffling waste of military resources considering the appropriation of $170 billion to DHS to fund immigration enforcement earlier this year. We are particularly concerned that DHS may not be reimbursing DoD for these funds. Allowing DHS to continue to pick DoD’s pockets puts our military readiness at risk.“

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. military has become heavily involved in immigration enforcement. The report is the first detailed review of the Pentagon’s spending on immigration, and found that DoD has committed at least $2 billion to support immigration enforcement through mobilizing and deploying troops to U.S. cities and the Southern border, deporting and transporting immigrants on military aircrafts, detaining individuals on U.S. military installations and more.

Despite an unprecedented $170 billion budget allocated to DHS, it’s unclear how much DoD has received in reimbursement for any of its spending on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the military is funding these efforts with money allocated for other DoD projects including updates to barracks, maintenance hangers, and military construction projects in the Pacific. Concerningly, the Pentagon has requested an additional $5 billion for further immigration support in its budget request for 2026.

“Diverting the military from its existing missions and thrusting it into immigration enforcement does not make Americans safer. This multi-billion-dollar political stunt is an overt waste of taxpayer resources and undermines national security, military readiness, and resources for our servicemembers,” the lawmakers continued.

The lawmakers’ report found that, in 2025, the Pentagon has committed:

At least $1.3 billion for the deployment of troops and resources to the border;

At least $258 million to support Trump’s orders to deploy troops to Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges;

At least $420.9 million for detaining immigrants at domestic military installations and overseas bases like Guantánamo and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti; and

At least $40.3 million for military flights to deport and transport noncitizen detainees.

The report raised concerns that, in addition to the cost of the DoD immigration efforts, it has resulted in “servicemembers…being pulled from their homes, families, and civilian jobs for indefinite periods of time to support legally questionable political stunts,” the lawmakers wrote. The deployments also unnecessarily put our servicemembers in harm’s way: in November, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, was killed while her West Virginia National Guard unit was deployed to Washington, D.C, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured.

The deployment of troops for immigration enforcement has also weakened the military’s ability to respond to emergencies. For example, the 101st Airborne Division — the U.S. Army’s only air assault division — deployed to the border instead of standing ready for national security missions. Additionally, leading into peak fire season, the California National Guard firefighting unit was “understaffed because roughly half its members (were) deployed to Los Angeles.” These deployments may also require units to miss key training exercises necessary to ensure combat readiness, as the Government Accountability Office found occurred during the first Trump administration.

The diversion of DoD funds is having a devastating effect on the military’s ability to improve services for troops and their families. Among the projects impacted by the prioritization of border operations is a $1 billion renovation of military barracks. Secretary Hegseth also diverted funding from elementary schools at Fort Knox and a U.S. military installation in Germany, an ambulatory care center and dental clinic to service Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, a jet-training facility in Mississippi, and Marine barracks in Japan.

During the first Trump administration, the DoD stopped deploying troops to the border after determining the deployments were hurting military readiness and morale. The border mission appeared to contribute to alcohol and drug abuse among service members, and may have even contributed to a number of tragic suicides among Texas National Guardsmen. The members raised concerns about similar issues arising again, particularly given the lack of clarity around how long deployments will last.

“The Trump administration’s secrecy leaves many questions unanswered. The administration has failed to provide clarity on basic questions about DoD’s role in supporting DHS,” the lawmakers wrote.

The coalition directed follow-up questions to Secretary Hegseth about the number of troops currently supporting immigration enforcement, how long military units will be supporting DHS, and whether DHS will reimburse the military.

Wyden and Merkley have been continuous advocates for government transparency and accountability. In October, both Oregon senators called on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of the Trump Administration’s brazen decision to deploy National Guard personnel to U.S. cities.

In November, after the Coast Guard announced the 90-mile relocation of a search-and-rescue helicopter from Newport and the possible installation of a new ICE facility, Wyden and Merkley demanded answers from DHS on the changes. After receiving no answer, Wyden called on the Coast Guard to meet ahead of his Lincoln County town hall to explain the helicopter’s departure. In December, Merkley, Wyden and Representative Val Hoyle announced that Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, committed to keeping the helicopter in Newport.

The report on the diversion of military resources was led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Representative John Garamendi, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the report was co-authored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.

The full letter is here.

The full report is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-secure-written-commitment-from-coast-guard-acting-commandant-lunday-that-newport-helicopter-will-remain,"Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Secure Written Commitment from Coast Guard Acting Commandant Lunday that Newport Helicopter Will Remain",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Follows Merkley placing his hold on Lunday’s nomination to lead Coast Guard, joint efforts to advocate for this essential rescue helicopter

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senator Ron Wyden and Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced that they secured written commitments from Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, to ensure the rescue helicopter located at the Newport Air Facility remains in the community, as well as a pledge from Lunday to visit the Newport area within one year.

“After hearing from countless Oregonians about the importance of the search and rescue helicopter in Newport, I led the charge to secure written confirmation from the Coast Guard that the helicopter would remain in the community, consistent with the law I wrote in 2014. For fishermen and coastal communities, this is a huge win, especially during winter crab season and in the face of cold-water conditions,” said Merkley. “I am lifting my hold on Admiral Lunday’s nomination and look forward to his forthcoming visit to Newport and to a productive working relationship going forward.”

“I’m gratified that Acting Commandant Lunday today wrote in plain English the verbal commitment he made last week to Senator Merkley and me over the phone – namely that the Coast Guard helicopter will remain right where it belongs in Newport,” said Wyden. “This is great news for fishermen and both residents of -- and visitors to -- the central Oregon Coast. Thanks to the Newport Fishermen’s Wives and all the local officials who worked with Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Hoyle and me to achieve this victory for public safety, the law and common sense.”

""I want to thank Acting Commandant Lunday for his letter today committing to us to keep the Coast Guard helicopter in Newport,"" said Hoyle. ""It is a huge win for our coastal community, and it wouldn’t have happened without the collective effort of Senators Wyden and Merkley and every Oregonian who raised their voice. When our community stands together, we get results.”

Merkley, Wyden, and Hoyle worked together to keep the rescue helicopter in Newport, leading a coordinated series of efforts that ultimately succeeded.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-answers-from-usfs-on-stalled-hazardous-fuel-reduction-projects,"Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from USFS on Stalled Hazardous Fuel Reduction Projects",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Lawmakers’ letter notes that wildfire prevention work under Trump is down nearly 40 percent from previous years

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to demand information from the Trump administration on the number of hazardous fuels projects that have completed environmental reviews pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, but have not yet been implemented – commonly referred to as “shelf stock.”

“Recent reports indicate that the U.S. Forest Service’s (USFS) work to reduce hazardous fuels across the national forest system in Fiscal Year 2025 was down nearly 40% from its previous four-year average. In a letter to Congress on August 6, 2025, you attributed your constrained “capacity to treat additional acres” in part to “significant resource and personnel” needs elsewhere at the agency,” the lawmakers wrote to USFS Chief Tom Schultz. “Given these issues, and the Trump administration’s reduction of nearly 5,000 USFS staff, we are concerned that the decline in hazardous fuels projects stems from insufficient staffing needed to implement already-approved projects, including for mechanical thinning and prescribed fire.”

The lawmakers highlight that the Trump administration has failed to complete hazardous fuels reduction projects at the same pace and scale as in prior years or at the rate needed in their communities.

“As you know, the best measures to protect lives and property from wildfire is preparedness – reducing fire risks before a conflagration ignites,” the lawmakers concluded.

The letter was led by U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo. In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-codify-fee-free-days-of-public-service-on-federal-lands,"Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Codify Fee-Free Days of Public Service on Federal Lands",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Trump Removed MLK Day and Juneteenth from List of Fee-Free Days, Included His Birthday Instead

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate and House colleagues to introduce legislation that would guarantee that visitors can enter National Parks and other federal lands free-of-charge six days a year.

The Encouraging Public Service in Our National Parks and Public Land Act would direct the Secretary of the Interior to officially designate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, the first day of National Park Week, Juneteenth, Great American Outdoors Day, National Public Lands Day, and Veterans Day as fee-free entry days.

“It is practically embedded in the DNA of all Oregonians to be good stewards for our beautiful natural spaces,” Wyden said. “With this legislation, I hope to export Oregonians’ rich history of forest stewardship and support for outdoor economies, and I will continue to advocate for solutions that protect and expand access to our nation’s scenic public lands.”

Since the National Park System and other land management agencies began collecting entry and recreation fees, the Department of the Interior has offered fee-free days to promote America’s public lands and encourage visitors to volunteer in the National Parks, especially on select federal holidays where many Americans already have the day off. Last week, the Trump Administration cut Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday and Juneteenth, two holidays honoring Black history, from its list of free entrance days next year and replaced them with Trump’s birthday.

The legislation would restore these two holidays to the list of free entrance days and make a list of public service days permanently fee-free. Additional free entry days would be possible at the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior. The dates are as follows:

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, the third Monday in January

The first day of National Park Week in April

Juneteenth, June 19

Great American Outdoors Day, August 4

National Public Lands Day, the fourth Saturday in September

Veterans Day, November 11

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. In addition to Wyden, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-colleagues-raise-alarm-over-trump-administration-siphoning-at-least-2-billion-from-military-budget-for-immigration-enforcement,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Siphoning At Least $2 Billion from Military Budget for Immigration Enforcement",2025-12-12,2025,2025-12,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 said today they have joined Senate and House colleagues to release a new report detailing the Trump administration’s diversion of funds and resources from the Department of Defense to the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement, and its impact on readiness and morale of U.S. troops.

“The investigation found that the Department of Defense (DoD) has obligated over $2 billion in support of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and immigration enforcement in 2025, diverting it from the intended use – our national security and military servicemembers,” the lawmakers wrote to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. “This is a baffling waste of military resources considering the appropriation of $170 billion to DHS to fund immigration enforcement earlier this year. We are particularly concerned that DHS may not be reimbursing DoD for these funds. Allowing DHS to continue to pick DoD’s pockets puts our military readiness at risk.“

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. military has become heavily involved in immigration enforcement. The report is the first detailed review of the Pentagon’s spending on immigration, and found that DoD has committed at least $2 billion to support immigration enforcement through mobilizing and deploying troops to U.S. cities and the Southern border, deporting and transporting immigrants on military aircrafts, detaining individuals on U.S. military installations and more.

Despite an unprecedented $170 billion budget allocated to DHS, it’s unclear how much DoD has received in reimbursement for any of its spending on immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, the military is funding these efforts with money allocated for other DoD projects including updates to barracks, maintenance hangers, and military construction projects in the Pacific. Concerningly, the Pentagon has requested an additional $5 billion for further immigration support in its budget request for 2026.

“Diverting the military from its existing missions and thrusting it into immigration enforcement does not make Americans safer. This multi-billion-dollar political stunt is an overt waste of taxpayer resources and undermines national security, military readiness, and resources for our servicemembers,” the lawmakers continued.

The lawmakers’ report found that, in 2025, the Pentagon has committed:

At least $1.3 billion for the deployment of troops and resources to the border;

At least $258 million to support Trump’s orders to deploy troops to Portland, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Memphis, along with plans to reassign 600 Judge Advocates (JAGs) as immigration judges;

At least $420.9 million for detaining immigrants at domestic military installations and overseas bases like Guantánamo and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti; and

At least $40.3 million for military flights to deport and transport noncitizen detainees.

The report raised concerns that, in addition to the cost of the DoD immigration efforts, it has resulted in “servicemembers…being pulled from their homes, families, and civilian jobs for indefinite periods of time to support legally questionable political stunts,” the lawmakers wrote. The deployments also unnecessarily put our servicemembers in harm's way: in November, Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, was killed while her West Virginia National Guard unit was deployed to Washington, D.C, and Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe was critically injured.

The deployment of troops for immigration enforcement has also weakened the military’s ability to respond to emergencies. For example, the 101st Airborne Division — the U.S. Army’s only air assault division — deployed to the border instead of standing ready for national security missions. Additionally, leading into peak fire season, the California National Guard firefighting unit was “understaffed because roughly half its members (were) deployed to Los Angeles.” These deployments may also require units to miss key training exercises necessary to ensure combat readiness, as the Government Accountability Office found occurred during the first Trump administration.

The diversion of DoD funds is having a devastating effect on the military’s ability to improve services for troops and their families. Among the projects impacted by the prioritization of border operations is a $1 billion renovation of military barracks. Secretary Hegseth also diverted funding from elementary schools at Fort Knox and a U.S. military installation in Germany, an ambulatory care center and dental clinic to service Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, a jet-training facility in Mississippi, and Marine barracks in Japan.

During the first Trump administration, the DoD stopped deploying troops to the border after determining the deployments were hurting military readiness and morale. The border mission appeared to contribute to alcohol and drug abuse among service members, and may have even contributed to a number of tragic suicides among Texas National Guardsmen. The members raised concerns about similar issues arising again, particularly given the lack of clarity around how long deployments will last.

“The Trump administration’s secrecy leaves many questions unanswered. The administration has failed to provide clarity on basic questions about DoD’s role in supporting DHS,” the lawmakers wrote.

The coalition directed follow-up questions to Secretary Hegseth about the number of troops currently supporting immigration enforcement, how long military units will be supporting DHS, and whether DHS will reimburse the military.

Wyden and Merkley have been continuous advocates for government transparency and accountability. In October, both Oregon senators called on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of the Trump Administration’s brazen decision to deploy National Guard personnel to U.S. cities.

In November, after the Coast Guard announced the 90-mile relocation of a search-and-rescue helicopter from Newport and the possible installation of a new ICE facility, Wyden and Merkley demanded answers from DHS on the changes. After receiving no answer, Wyden called on the Coast Guard to meet ahead of his Lincoln County town hall to explain the helicopter’s departure. In December, Merkley, Wyden and Representative Val Hoyle announced that Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, committed to keeping the helicopter in Newport.

The report on the diversion of military resources was led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Representative John Garamendi, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the report was co-authored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Adam Schiff, D- Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Sara Jacobs, D-Calif.

The full letter is here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bipartisan-bill-help-firefighters-combat-wildfires,Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Firefighters Combat Wildfires,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressmen Eli Crane (AZ-02), Joe Neguse (CO-02), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) introduced the bipartisan Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act to support wildfire response operations by addressing the impact of unauthorized drones flying in restricted airspace during a wildfire.

When an unauthorized drone enters restricted airspace during a wildfire, fire response agencies are often required to ground their aircraft to avoid the risk of a collision. In Oregon, and across the country, there have been several instances of this happening, including during the Flat Fires in 2025, which caused delays to wildfire response efforts.

The bill would require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to conduct a study on the impact of drone incursions on wildfire suppression and explore available techniques to address unauthorized drone activity.

""Earlier this year, a drone delayed the aerial fire response to the Flat Fire in Central Oregon,” said Rep. Bynum. “We know all too well that wildfires are challenging enough to get controlled without any additional obstacles. The last thing we need is recreational drones getting in the way of our firefighters’ critical work to save lives and property. That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to ensure fire crews can do their work without interference.”

""I'm proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation to address the growing issue of drones interfering with aerial fire suppression efforts. Arizona is prone to devastating wildfires, and it's imperative that we minimize obstruction and delays,"" said Rep. Crane. ""With our bill, Congress would have the necessary information to craft policies that help our firefighters combat wildfires before they get out of control. I urge my colleagues to support our approach.”

“Fires in Colorado and across the West now rage year-round, growing both in duration and intensity, which is why our bill, the Wildfire Aerial Response Safety Act, is so necessary,” said Rep. Neguse. “This bill ensures our firefighters can protect communities and operate without unnecessary risks from unauthorized drones. It is a common-sense proposal that if enacted will bolster worker and public safety.”

“Unauthorized drones are putting lives at risk and hampering wildfire response efforts across the West — including right here in Arizona,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “I’m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort to build on the 2020 study and examine real, on-the-ground tools that first responders can use to neutralize these incursions. As wildfire seasons grow longer and more dangerous, we must give our crews every possible advantage to protect our communities and keep response operations safe and effective.”

The Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), which is responsible for wildland fire protection across more than 16 million acres in Oregon, submitted the following statement about the growing and urgent threat posed by unauthorized Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations within active wildfire airspace:

“Unauthorized UAS flights near wildfires create an immediate and serious safety hazard. When a UAS enters the airspace, our firefighting aircraft are forced to disengage, pilots lose the ability to operate safely, and ground crews lose vital aerial support at the most critical moments of suppression. These interruptions give fires time to grow and place firefighters, pilots, and nearby communities at increased risk. This is a real and recurring operational threat we now face on active incidents,” said Sarah Prout, ODF UAS Program Lead.

You can find a one-pager on the bill here and the full text of it here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-statement-on-december-2025-vote-to-not-table-impeachment,REP. HOYLE STATEMENT ON TODAY’S VOTE TO NOT TABLE IMPEACHMENT,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement after she voted against tabling the impeachment resolution:

“It is undeniable that this administration has abused its power and acted unconstitutionally. It is also true that any serious effort to impeach requires bipartisan support and we do not have that. In previous and successful efforts to impeach federal officials, the Judiciary Committee first held hearings and completed investigative reports to develop a broader consensus before moving forward on a full vote on the House floor. We are fortunate to have Congressman Jamie Raskin, one of the nation’s foremost constitutional lawyers, leading Democrats on the Judiciary Committee. Congressman Raskin also led the effort to impeach President Trump for his role in the January 6 insurrection. It was his strong recommendation to not table this resolution and instead refer this matter to the Judiciary Committee, and that was my intention with this vote.”

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-statement-on-voting-against-2026-ndaa,REP. HOYLE STATEMENT ON VOTING AGAINST IRRESPONSIBLE MILITARY SPENDING,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement after she voted against allowing more unchecked Pentagon spending in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) yesterday evening:

“I voted no on the NDAA as this legislation enables more irresponsible military spending, adding a staggering $8 billion on top of the almost $900 billion in funding initially requested by President Trump. I will not vote to fund an agency that has failed the last 7 audits while shoveling money to private contractors with little oversight. The American taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability, and this bill offers neither.”

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salinas-ciscomani-budzinski-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-legislation,"Reps. Salinas, Ciscomani, Budzinski, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen America’s Mental Health Workforce",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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) introduced bipartisan legislation with Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) to strengthen the mental and behavioral health workforce to better support rural and underserved communities that lack access to these essential providers. The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would establish a loan repayment program to help more people obtain degrees in mental and behavioral health to address the workforce crisis.

“Where you live shouldn’t determine the mental health care you receive. But too often, folks in rural and underserved corners of Oregon struggle because there aren’t enough providers nearby, and the wait for care is too long,” said Rep. Salinas. “Our bill helps change that by making degrees in mental and behavioral health more affordable and by helping new clinicians build their careers in the communities that need them most. I’m grateful to my colleagues for standing with me to make sure every Oregonian, regardless of where they live, can access the care they deserve.”

“Mental health care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. But when half the country lives in a provider shortage area, necessity becomes impossibility, and far too many are left waiting for care they urgently need,” said Rep. Fitzpatrick, Co-Chair of the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. “With this legislation, we are correcting that imbalance: breaking down the debt barriers that keep clinicians out of the field, placing providers in the communities where help is hardest to find, and building a workforce strong enough to confront this crisis. Every American deserves timely, qualified treatment, and we must ensure they receive it.”

“Access to mental health care is a growing challenge in rural communities, including many across Arizona’s Sixth District,” said Rep. Ciscomani. “At a time when we’re seeing a rise in suicides, I’m proud to cosponsor this bill, which takes a practical, bipartisan step toward strengthening our mental health workforce. By helping repay student loans for those who commit to serving in high-need areas, we can recruit and retain more providers and ensure that more Americans have access to timely, quality care.”

“Mental health challenges touch every community, yet a shortage of providers means too many people struggle to access the care they need — especially in our rural areas,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Our bill will tackle this challenge head on by incentivizing mental health professionals to work in underserved areas. I’m proud to champion this effort to strengthen the mental health workforce and get support to those who need it most.”

Across the United States, nearly 60 million adults live with a mental illness, and over half of American youths who reported experiencing a mental health illness or issue in 2024 did not receive treatment. Across the country, there is only one mental health provider for every 340 people.

Nationwide, over half the country lives in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area (MHPSA), and for people living in rural areas, the problem is even worse. By 2037, the U.S. is projected to have a mental health provider shortage of over 400,000 professionals. Despite this, mental health providers do not have access to dedicated loan forgiveness programs through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) like other clinicians.

The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would:

Establish a loan repayment program within HRSA for mental health providers;

Require participants to practice in a MHPSA;

For each year of service repay 1/6 of student loans for up to six years;

Repay loans up to $250,000;

Authorize $25,000,000 for years 2026-2035.

""There is currently a critical shortage of mental health providers in this nation. This shortage is preventing individuals from getting timely access to mental health care,"" said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). ""Representative Salinas' Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act will encourage more individuals to pursue careers in the mental health field by offering them desperately needed loan relief. NAMI is proud to support this bill.""

“With demand for critical mental health and substance use disorder care still alarmingly high, this much-needed investment in resources to build our behavioral health workforce represents a literal life-saver for people across the country, particularly in rural and other shortage areas,” National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said. “We applaud Rep. Salinas and Rep. Budzinski for reintroducing this important legislation, which will greatly enhance our ability to attract and train a stronger workforce across the country.”

“The U.S. continues to face a shortage of mental health professionals, including psychologists, with nearly every county and district having a federally designated mental health professionals shortage area. As a nation, we must do everything possible to incentivize more qualified behavioral health providers to work with underserved populations, including in rural communities. The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would authorize a program to serve as a recruitment tool, setting us on a path to close these gaps in access to behavioral health services. The American Psychological Association applauds Representatives Salinas and Ciscomani on their leadership in introducing this bill,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, CEO of the American Psychological Association.

“SEAT is so proud to support the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. As a student-led organization, we care very deeply about young people having access to adequate, affordable, and quality mental health care. Many young people live in areas where access to mental health isn’t available for miles and miles, often being unaffordable as well. Coming from a state like Texas, we rank almost dead last in access to mental health care and we are seeing increased suicide rates and mental health struggles among various minority communities and young people. We want to live in a world where our mental health and that of our most vulnerable peers is prioritized and we urge Congress to advance this bipartisan legislation to rapidly address the growing mental health crisis. We are extremely grateful to Congresswoman Salinas for her leadership in this space overall and for supporting youth voices, and we hope her colleagues follow suit,” said Ayaan Moledina, Federal Policy Director, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).

""Too often, people forego necessary mental health care due to lack of access. The American Psychiatric Association applauds Rep. Salinas for introducing the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act, important legislation to mitigate severe mental health workforce shortages and help Americans get access to critical care,” saidMarketa Wills, MD, MBA, FAPA / CEO and Medical Director American Psychiatric Association.

""The American Counseling Association proudly endorses the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. This legislation will expand access to mental health care in underserved communities and ease the financial burden of graduate education for licensed professional counselors—strengthening the workforce at a critical time for our nation,” said Guila Todd, ACA’s Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy.

“On behalf of the National Board for Certified Counselors & Affiliates, I extend heartfelt thanks to Rep. Salinas, Rep. Fitzpatrick, Rep. Budzinski, and Rep. Ciscomani for their bipartisan support in re-introducing the Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act. Supporting these dedicated professionals is essential as they will help build a strong mental health workforce and drive increased access to care across this great nation. This bill prioritizes some of the most underserved and vulnerable areas that are in dire need of support from mental health professionals. It is our honor to endorse this legislation that is vital to the overall health of our nation,” saidBrian D. Banks, Executive Director, NBCC Policy Advocacy Research in Counseling Center.

""With demand for mental health services increasing and a shortage of providers nationwide, it is critical to develop both interim and long-term solutions. The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would address this issue by providing robust loan reimbursement to a broad array of providers serving in areas with the most acute shortages,” said Jonah C. Cunningham, President/CEO, NACBHDD.

“In 2022, an estimated 13.2 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 1.6 million attempted suicide, and millions more experienced mental health challenges. Despite the immense need for access to timely mental health care, more than 160 million people across the county live in designated mental health professional shortage areas,” saidLaurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act creates a critical loan repayment program to attract and retain mental health providers in these underserved communities. We thank Rep. Salinas, Rep. Budzinski, Rep. Fitzpatrick, and Rep. Ciscomani for leading on this important bipartisan legislation to provide greater access to mental health care and help save lives.”

This legislation is also endorsed by American Counseling Association (ACA), American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Psychological Association Services, Inc. (APA), Children's Hospital Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Association for Rural Mental Health (NARMH), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors (NACBHDD), National Behavioral Health Association of Providers (NBHAP), National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), National Council for Mental Wellbeing, NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN), and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT).

To read the full text of this legislation, click here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-schiff-underwood-lead-push-to-increase-nursing-education-and-workforce-support/,"Merkley, Schiff, Underwood Lead Push to Increase Nursing Education and Workforce Support",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"“Nurses continue to find themselves on the front lines of our major public health battles, often without the full support they need,” said Merkley. “As the husband of a nurse, I know the sacrifices nurses make to care for patients. We must do everything we can to support our nursing workforce, just as they support each and every one of us, and the FAAN Act is one way we can help achieve this commitment by invigorating nursing education.”

“Nurses and health care workers are heroes in our communities, and it’s crucial that the federal government makes the proper investments to support this workforce,” said Schiff. “I am proud to join Senator Merkley and my colleagues in introducing this legislation which would help strengthen our health care system and address the nursing shortage that our country is grappling with.”

“Nurses provide critically important care that keeps our families and communities healthy. As one of just three nurses serving in Congress, I’ve always been committed to advancing policies that strengthen our nursing workforce,” said Underwood. “By making a critical $1 billion investment in schools of nursing, my FAAN Act would grow the nursing workforce and expand and diversify the pipeline of nurses in underserved and rural areas. I look forward to working with Senators Merkley and Schiff to pass the FAAN Act and provide the investments we need to create a stronger health care system that addresses nursing shortages and meets the needs of our families and communities.”

“Federal support for nursing education is crucial to ensuring that our nursing workforce is prepared to meet the healthcare needs of all communities,” said Dr. Jean Giddens, Board Chair for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “The FAAN Act is a crucial step forward as we work to recruit and retain nursing students and faculty amid ongoing shortages, support our schools of nursing, facilitate academic-practice partnerships, and ensure the educational pathways remain strong as we work to serve America’s patients.”

“AACN applauds Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Lauren Underwood for reintroducing the FAAN Act, which would put forward a historic investment in nursing education, enabling today’s nursing students to become tomorrow’s frontline providers and faculty,” said Dr. Deborah Trautman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. “We look forward to working with federal legislators to advance and pass the FAAN Act this Congress.”

“The Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act represents a bold and necessary investment in the future of our profession,” said ANA President Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “By strengthening nursing education and supporting the recruitment and retention of faculty, this legislation addresses one of the root causes of today’s workforce shortage. Nurses cannot meet the nation’s growing demand for care without the ability to educate and prepare the next generation. The American Nurses Association is proud to support this bill and urges Congress to act swiftly to secure the nursing workforce our patients and communities depend on. We thank Representative Underwood and Senator Merkley for their work on this and for representing our nation’s nurses in Congress.”

“The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) is proud to support the FAAN Act and the critical resources it would provide to schools of nursing to help increase the pipeline of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other nurses that our nation desperately needs,” said AANA President Jeffrey Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA. “We thank Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Underwood for their leadership on this issue as we work to increase access to quality affordable healthcare that CRNAs and other nurses provide, particularly in rural and underserved communities. This legislation is an important part of making that happen.”

“Our country’s healthcare workforce is on the front line, taking care of our communities every day, but there are enormous challenges – extreme burnout, heavy patient loads, and a shortage of professionals in the pipeline who are willing to do this work, on top of the exodus of people leaving the job altogether. It’s well past time to invest in building a more robust system to educate, train and prepare nurses. Senator Merkley and Rep. Underwood’s bill will help to produce the next generation of nurses, particularly for communities that have been underserved, by expanding nursing education programs and hiring and training diverse professionals to join the healthcare profession. On behalf of the 250,000 nurses and healthcare professionals of the AFT, I am pleased to endorse the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.

“AACN is grateful to Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Lauren Underwood for advocating for nurses and championing legislation to address nursing shortages by re-introducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act, which seeks to provide resources to increase the numbers of nursing students and faculty and modernize nursing education,” said Vicki Good, DNP, RN, CENP, CPPS, FAAN, Chief Clinical Officer, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

“AAHFN endorses the FAAN Act because it directly strengthens the nursing workforce, protects patient care quality, and advances the professions long-term stability,” said Heidi Roschinger, DNP, American Association of Heart Failure Nurses (AAHFN) Advocacy Chair.

“Nursing faculty are in significant shortage, so much so that about 65,000 applicants to nursing schools who were qualified to attend nursing school had to be turned away, in large part because there were not enough faculty to train them. This legislation will direct grants to go towards hiring nursing school faculty, modernizing technological and educational infrastructure, and enrolling and retaining students. The AHA thanks Senator Merkley and Rep. Underwood for their strong leadership to support nursing education,” said Lisa Kidder Hrobsky, American Hospital Association’s Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Political Affairs.

“Many emergency departments face staffing shortages, and the investment in nurses and nurse education the FAAN Act calls for would provide substantial help in addressing this crisis,” said Emergency Nurses Association President Ryan Oglesby, PhD, MHA, RN, CEN, CFRN, NEA-BC. “We need a comprehensive approach to increasing the capacity for more students in nursing schools, more faculty and more clinical education sites, which are crucial to ensuring our nurses are prepared with the specialized skills they need.”

“The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) strongly supports the reintroduction of the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (S.3770/H.R. 7266, 118th Congress), essential legislation that will strengthen the nursing profession and help ensure a robust, well-prepared healthcare workforce. OADN represents more than 1,100 community-based colleges offering the associate degree in nursing, serving over 40,000 students each year, with programs located across the United States, including in education deserts and rural regions where access to nursing education is especially critical. As the national voice for associate degree nursing education, OADN is a pivotal resource for community-based colleges that prepare the majority of the nation’s registered nurse workforce—contributing nearly half (43.5%) of all new RNs annually, as reported in the Journal of Nursing Regulation. The Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act directly supports OADN’s 2025 to 2028 Strategic Direction, which focuses on Advocacy, Education, Leadership, and Community. The bill promotes meaningful federal investment in the nursing workforce, aligns with OADN’s advocacy priorities, and strengthens educational pathways that advance both students and emerging faculty. By supporting academic progression, building faculty capacity, strengthening clinical partnerships, and enhancing workforce sustainability, the FAAN Act contributes to a robust nursing ecosystem that benefits learners, educators, and the communities they serve. OADN is proud to endorse the reintroduced Future Advancement of Academic Nursing Act and urges swift consideration and passage of this legislation to help ensure a strong, well-prepared nursing workforce and improved health outcomes nationwide,” said Rick García, Ph.D., RN, CCM, FAAOHN, FAADN, FAAN, Chief Executive Officer, Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN), and OADN Foundation.

“I fully endorse the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. It strengthens the academic nursing infrastructure, enabling us to prepare a diverse, highly skilled nursing workforce. This legislation invests directly in the future of nursing and, ultimately, in the health of our nation,” said Teri Murray, PhD, RN, Dean Emerita, Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing, Saint Louis University.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-applauds-house-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program,Wyden Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program,2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,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., today applauded the House passage of his bipartisan legislation introduced with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho, to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and ensure rural, forested communities across Oregon and the country receive funding for roads, schools, law enforcement and other critical services.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon since I originally authored the program back in 2000,” Wyden said. “I’m relieved the House has finally done its job with the long-overdue passage of my bill to return the safety net for critical services to communities that need it the most. This is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the resources they need to not only survive, but grow and thrive.”

“By passing our bipartisan bill, Congress has finally taken critical action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” said Merkley. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources, and I look forward to President Trump swiftly signing our bill into law.”

Wyden first authored the SRS program in 2000. Funding for the program lapsed in September 2023, and counties have not received payments since early 2024. Wyden’s bill to reauthorize the program had previously passed the Senate, but stalled in the House, delaying crucial funding for rural schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.

Last week, 83 bipartisan, bicameral members, led by Wyden and Crapo, called on House leadership to take up the reauthorization bill for final passage.

""SRS is a lifeline for hundreds of rural school districts and counties across 43 states. These communities are proud to be home to our National Forests, but the reality is they suffer financially because these public lands are removed from the local tax rolls and off-limits for development. The National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition was organized more than 25 years ago to seek a remedy for this problem. SRS was that that remedy, and we are so appreciative that Senator Wyden has steadfastly led the effort in Congress for these many years to continue to support Rural America through honoring the federal government’s 1908 commitment by continuation of this vital SRS program."" said Lonnie Hunt, President of the National Forest Counties & Schools Coalition.

“I want to thank Senator Wyden for his relentless efforts to ensure Oregon receives this critical funding. Advocating on behalf of our citizens, I have traveled to Washington DC five times this year to work with Senator Wyden and many other members of Congress to achieve this victory. Restoration of this funding ensures Klamath County’s roads will continue to be patrolled through the Sheriff’s office for the next two years keeping the citizens of Klamath County safe.” said Derrick DeGroot, Klamath County Commissioner.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-slam-trump-administration-over-plans-to-slash-social-security-field-office-visits,"Wyden, Colleagues Slam Trump Administration Over Plans to Slash Social Security Field Office Visits",2025-12-11,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Lawmakers raise alarm about whether Trump administration is seeking to “quietly kill field offices,” implement backdoor benefits cuts

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is joining his Senate colleagues in pressing the head of Social Security on reports about a new goal of slashing nearly 15 million field office visits every year in Oregon and nationwide.

“We are concerned that these efforts are in fact part of a plan to ‘quietly kill[] field offices,’ implementing a back-door cut in benefits by making it harder for Americans to access the Social Security customer services they need,” the senators wrote in their letter to Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “Once again, you seem to have adopted a slash-first, think-later approach to ""modernizing"" SSA, and beneficiaries will pay the price.”

The Trump administration has relentlessly attacked Social Security. Under Bisignano, the administration has made it harder for Americans to get their benefits, including implementing burdensome in-person and bug-prone identification processes that force millions of Americans to visit field offices each year. The administration is also slashing SSA’s workforce by around 6,000 people and closing regional offices. Instead of staffing up to meet these needs, SSA’s field office capacity has significantly declined. Beneficiaries are being forced to wait hours to get help, only to be told they must call to schedule an appointment. Recent reports now indicate SSA plans to slash field office visitors in half, making it even harder for seniors and people with disabilities to access their earned benefits.

Wyden and his colleagues requested critical details by January 6, 2026 on SSA’s plans to reduce the number of field office visits, including which services SSA will be deployed for online users and individuals calling the National 1-800 number, whether beneficiaries will receive assistance in field offices without an appointment, what the current average wait time is to schedule a field office appointment, among other pressing questions.

In addition to Wyden, the letter was led by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernie Sanders, I-V.t.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases/bynum-introduces-bipartisan-bill-expand-access-youth-homeless-services,Bynum Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Youth Homeless Services,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Janelle S. Bynum,B001326,bynum.house.gov,bynum,https://bynum.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC – Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Homeless Children and Youth Act to help millions of children and young people experiencing homelessness access support.

The current definition of homelessness used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) excludes children and youth in particular living situations from accessing services, often leaving them in unstable and unsafe situations. This legislation would expand the definition of homelessness to ensure all eligible young people can access the services they need to help them exit homelessness.

""Oregon has one of the highest rates of youth and teen homelessness in the country, and too many of these children are unable to access support they need because of red tape,” said Rep. Bynum. “We know that teen homelessness is the strongest predictor of homelessness as an adult, and that expanding access to support can be life-changing for these kids. That’s why I’m proud to be leading this bipartisan bill to cut through the red tape and offer young Oregonians – and Americans – a pathway out of homelessness.”

""Schools identify about 1.4 million children and youth as homeless, yet most can’t access HUD resources because they don’t fit its narrow definition. Ignoring these hidden but serious cases strains families and local communities, which sets many kids on a path toward adult homelessness. Updating the definition is a necessary step to break that cycle and ease economic strain on our local communities,” said Rep. Lawler.

The Senate version of the bill has been introduced by Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Senator Katie Britt (D-AL).

Read the full text of the legislation here.

This legislation is endorsed by SchoolHouse Connection, National Network for Youth, New Avenues for Youth, Jackson Street Youth Services, the Maslow Project, and Family Promise’s national organization, as well as their affiliates serving communities in the Mid-Willamette Valley and Tualatin Valley.

“Every day, early childhood programs, schools, and child-serving agencies see the serious harm caused by hidden homelessness – precarious, unstable, often unsafe situations that force families and youth to move again and again. Federal housing policy currently ignores this reality, using a restrictive definition of homelessness that keeps these children and youth from even being considered for help,” said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection. “The Homeless Children and Youth Act fixes this by bringing HUD in line with other federal agencies so that infants, toddlers, school-age children, and young people can be assessed for the housing they need to avoid homelessness as adults. SchoolHouse Connection is grateful to Representatives Bynum and Lawler for their bipartisan leadership to ensure that children and youth of all ages are no longer invisible in our nation’s response to homelessness.”

“Far too many children, youth, and families are denied housing and services simply because the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) clings to an outdated definition of homelessness that fails to reflect the realities these young people face today. This isn’t a mere technical issue—it is a failure that forces young people to stay in unsafe, unstable situations and keeps them from getting help,” said Darla Bardine, Executive Director, National Network for Youth. “The Homeless Children and Youth Act ends this injustice by aligning HUD’s definition with the more accurate definition already used by other federal agencies, allowing children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness to finally be seen, counted, and served. The National Network for Youth applauds Representatives Lawler and Bynum for their bipartisan leadership to ensure children, youth, and families are no longer excluded from the housing and support they urgently need.”

""As a national nonprofit working to prevent and end family homelessness across the United States, Family Promise sees firsthand that children and families experiencing homelessness are often less visible in their communities and therefore overlooked in policy decisions,” said Cheryl Schuch, CEO, Family Promise. “We are grateful to Representatives Bynum and Lawler for coming together to champion the Homeless Children and YouthAct, ensuring that our most vulnerable children are a priority. By reducing barriers to homelessness assistance for children and families, the Homeless Children and Youth Act would make sure that more homeless children get help before they reach adulthood, supporting the future success of our next generation.”

“As more children, youth, and families experience housing instability and homelessness, they are forced to rely on precarious strategies like doubling or tripling up, couch surfing, and constantly cycling through short term, often unsafe arrangements. Yet the current HUD definition of homelessness excludes many of these young people from accessing critical supports,” said Sean Suib, Executive Director, New Avenues for Youth. “Aligning HUD’s definition with other federal program definitions will open the door to earlier intervention and help prevent today’s vulnerable youth from becoming tomorrow’s chronically homeless adults”.

""Too many children are ignored by current policies and are forced to bounce between shelters, motels, couches, or their parents’ car. Homelessness doesn’t look just one way, and neither should their access to services. HYCA makes sure children and their families are seen, counted, and supported,"" said T.J. Putman, Executive Director, Family Promise of the Mid-Willamette Valley.

Too many children and young people experiencing homelessness are rendered invisible by outdated federal definitions that exclude those without a safe or stable place to stay. Whether they are couch-surfing, doubled up, or relying on unsafe temporary arrangements, these youth deserve to be recognized and supported — not turned away because they don’t fit a narrow definition,” said Kendra Phillips, Executive Director, Jackson Street Youth Services. “The Homeless Children and Youth Act is a critical step toward aligning federal policy with the lived realities we see every day and ensuring that all young people can be assessed for the housing assistance they need. We are grateful to Rep. Bynum and Rep. Lawler for championing legislation that brings dignity, accuracy, and equity to how we support vulnerable youth and families.

""Every child deserves a stable foundation to build their future. The Homeless Children and Youth Act isn't just about providing shelter—it's about ensuring equal access to education, support services, and the opportunity for every young person to reach their potential regardless of housing status. When we invest in homeless youth today, we prevent lifetimes of housing instability tomorrow,” said Mary Ferrell, Executive Director, Maslow Project.

“Family Promise of Tualatin Valley commends Rep. Bynum for championing the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA). Too often, families experiencing homelessness remain hidden—doubling up or staying in motels to keep their children safe. These families face the same instability and trauma, yet current policies often exclude them from critical services. HCYA ensures that every child is seen, counted, and supported, regardless of where they sleep,” said Elise Schaff Laubach, ED, Family Promise of Tualatin Valley.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-baldwin-collins-van-orden-introduce-bill-support-organic-farmers-and,"Salinas, Baldwin, Collins, Van Orden Introduce Bill to Support Organic Farmers and Producers",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), introduced legislation to give organic producers tools to increase capacity, modernize their operations, and expand their businesses to meet growing demand. The Domestic Organic Investment Act would make a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) program permanent that helps solve supply chain gaps for the organic market by providing grants to farmers and businesses. While certified organic sales have grown to over $71.4 billion in 2024, domestic organic acreage has not kept pace with demand for organic products.

“Oregon has long been a national leader in organic agriculture, yet too many of our growers still face hurdles when it comes to getting their crops onto grocery store shelves,” said Representative Salinas. “Whether it’s the lack of modern processing facilities, storage capacity, or the technology needed to stay competitive, these gaps stop family farms across Oregon from reaching their full potential. This bill will invest in our organic growers, supporting local jobs, reducing reliance on imports, and ensuring Oregon farmers remain at the forefront of a resilient, innovative organic economy. I’m grateful to my colleagues for their work to support organic farmers in Oregon and across the country.”

“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and to keep that legacy, we need to support our farmers and make sure they can meet the demands of families. With the demand for organic foods continuing to skyrocket, we need to make sure that any farmer who wants to grow their business, has the tools and resources to do it,” said Senator Baldwin. “I’m working with Democrats and Republicans so more organic farmers can expand their operations, support good paying jobs, and continue to be the beating heart of our rural communities.”

“Maine’s organic agriculture industry continues to grow at a rapid pace with the support of federal investments and strong market demand. However, many organic producers still face challenges in expanding their operations and accessing new markets,” said Senator Collins. “This bipartisan legislation would make permanent the USDA’s Organic Market Development program and help organic food producers in Maine and across the country modernize their operations, expand their capacity, and better compete in today’s global marketplace.”

“I’ve heard directly from Wisconsin’s organic farmers about the challenges they face getting their products to market, and this bill delivers real solutions. By making this program permanent, we’re helping family farmers modernize, expand, and stay competitive in a rapidly growing industry. I am proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the people who feed our nation,” said Representative Van Orden.

The Domestic Organic Investment Act will codify the Organic Market Development Grant program administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service. The development program will:

Increase the capacity of the domestic organic product supply chain for producers, handlers, suppliers, and processors of certified organic products;

Modernize manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;

Improve the capacity of eligible entities to comply with applicable regulatory requirements or quality standards required to access markets;

Expand capacity for processing, aggregation, and distribution of certified organic products to create more and better markets for producers of certified organic products; facilitate market development for domestically produced certified organic products;

Conduct feasibility studies and market viability assessments to inform organic transition strategies and opportunities;

Address barriers to entry to organic product certification for historically underserved entities; and

Support market and promotional activities that help build commercial markets for certified organic products in the United States.

The Domestic Organic Investment Act is endorsed by Organic Valley and the Organic Trade Association.

“We are deeply grateful to the sponsoring lawmakers for introducing this important and timely DOIA legislation,” said Matthew Dillon, Co-CEO of Organic Trade Association. “These infrastructure investments will remove long-standing barriers to give organic producers and manufacturers the capacity and resources they need to meet the rapidly growing consumer demand for the benefits of organic.”

“The U.S. organic marketplace is poised for significant growth, but right-sized processing and distribution capacity remains a notable challenge. Over the past year, we’ve seen disruptions in our co-manufacturing network and the loss of fluid dairy processing, underscoring the need for strategic investments. This infrastructure bill is a step toward leveraging more processing capacity, ensuring more organic food reach American families, and delivering greater opportunities for U.S. farmers. The leadership provided by Senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins as well as Representative Derrick Van Orden and Andrea Salinas are greatly appreciated – it is encouraging to see both bipartisan and bicameral support for organic agriculture in America,” said Shawna Nelson, Organic Valley, CEO.

“Among our membership, IFPA has numerous organic fruit and vegetable producers across the nation and the bipartisan legislation brought by Reps. Salinas and Van Orden provides exactly the kind of strategic investment the fresh produce industry needs to strengthen our supply chain. The Domestic Organic Investment Act invests in modern infrastructure, reduces long-standing supply chain bottlenecks, and most importantly, ensures that U.S. producers can meet rising consumer demand while keeping more economic opportunity in our rural communities. We’re proud to champion legislation that supports growers, expands markets, and builds a stronger, more resilient organic supply chain for the future. We are grateful to Senator Baldwin and Collins for their commitment to advancing this bill,” said Cathy Burns, International Fresh Produce Association, CEO.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/following-republican-hemp-ban-wyden-merkley-reintroduce-bill-to-keep-hemp-on-market-with-strong-consumer-protections/,"Following Republican Hemp Ban, Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Bill to Keep Hemp on Market with Strong Consumer Protections",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 reintroduced legislation that would return hemp to the market and create national safety standards for hemp-derived products, keep these products out of the hands of children, and ban unsafe, untested hemp products.

Reintroduction of the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) follows passage of last month’s government funding bill containing a provision to outlaw hemp products nationwide. Wyden has long pressed for common-sense consumer regulations and protections instead of a one-size-fits-all approach that does nothing to protect kids or consumers from unsafe or untested hemp products.

“There’s no question that more needs to be done to protect kids and consumers from unsafe, untested hemp products,” Wyden said. “We learned from the failed war on drugs that a one-size-fits all approach banning hemp products from the market outright does nothing to protect kids and consumers, and will be a gut-punch to thousands of jobs and small businesses across the country. My legislation takes the thoughtful and measured approach necessary to implement strong consumer protection regulations while fostering growth and innovation in this growing industry.”

“A blanket ban on hemp harms research and the entire industry. That’s why I spearheaded a bipartisan effort to remove such a ban from recently becoming law,” said Merkley. “Instead, the FDA must establish clear, commonsense guidelines—as it does for other foods, drinks, and products—to protect the health of all Americans and prevent children from purchasing these hemp products.”

The bill would mandate a minimum age of 21 to buy and set a serving size limit for intoxicating content in hemp-derived products where states do not have limits in place. The legislation would require that all hemp-derived products be tested for safety and manufactured using clean and safe processes. The CSRA would require truth in labeling, and would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall or ban any hemp-derived products that contain too much THC, dangerous chemicals, byproducts or additives.

Following the legalization of hemp production and hemp-derived consumer products under the 2018 Farm Bill, the FDA failed repeatedly to regulate these products despite pressure from Wyden and other members of the Senate to do so. Wyden has long maintained that the FDA must do its part in monitoring the industry.

While individual states have tried to regulate testing, labeling and processing of hemp products, there is still no national health and safety standard for producers. This legislation would explicitly allow states to prohibit, limit or otherwise regulate hemp-derived products beyond the bill’s provisions.

The bill is endorsed by the U.S. Hemp Roundtable and the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America.

“The hemp industry stands firmly behind Senator Wyden’s effort to replace confusion with clarity and prohibition with practical regulation,” said Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable. “From the beginning, Senator Wyden has been one of hemp’s greatest champions, and this legislation reflects his commitment to responsible reform. It takes important steps to protect consumers, ensure products are safe and kept out of the hands of children, while preserving access to the hemp-derived products that millions of Americans rely on for their health and wellness. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden to improve upon this bill and secure its passage, creating a fair and lasting framework for this vital American industry.”

“The CSRA would take steps to establish an effective framework to regulate the hemp market by requiring products to be tested and properly labeled and outlawing synthetic derived products. This legislation would allow states to continue implementing their own standards while setting important baseline public safety standards and ensuring that these products are not readily available to children. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden to craft a comprehensive regulatory solution for intoxicating hemp products,” said Dawson Hobbs, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America.

“Hemp beverages are part of a major cultural shift toward healthier alternatives, and consumer preference is undeniable. However, we need a federal framework that treats these products with the same seriousness as alcohol. Responsible brands want clear guardrails: strict 21+ access, certified lab testing, uniform serving sizes, and a ban on synthetics. These standards will protect public health and allow legitimate operators to build a safe, long-term industry alongside beer and wine distributors,” said Ryan Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Shift Naturals

“At Ablis, we’ve spent more than a decade building hemp beverages from the ground up, and we’ve watched this once-niche category grow into a major American industry supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses. To secure the future of hemp beverages, we need a federal framework that treats these products with the same seriousness and structure long established for alcohol. These aren’t burdens, they are essential standards that protect public health while safeguarding the businesses, employees, and farmers who helped build this all-American industry. With clear rules in place, legitimate operators can continue to grow alongside beer and wine distributors and ensure this category thrives for decades to come.” said Max Bendis, Co-Founder, Albis Functional Infusions.

“The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA)applauds Senator Wyden for championing sensible regulations that keep products away from children, provide robust product testing and transparent packaging information, and provide a pathway for the hemp beverage industry to continue to thrive. Since our founding in 2023, the HBA has advocated for testing, proper labeling, sensible THC milligram levels, and age-gating of products. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden and other legislators to promote this legislation and ensure a thriving hemp beverage category in 2026 and beyond.” said Christopher Lackner, President of the Hemp Beverage Alliance.

Text of the bill is here.

A one-page summary of the bill is here. A section-by-section breakdown of the bill is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senate-republicans-block-merkleys-bill-to-prevent-war-with-venezuela/,Senate Republicans Block Merkley’s Bill to Prevent War with Venezuela,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 consideration of his Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, which would block federal funds from being used for military actions in Venezuela:

“As the Constitution so clearly says, Congress has the power to declare war—not the President. We must not stand by while Donald Trump prepares to wage war without authorization. Yet, Senate Republicans once again chose to rubber-stamp Trump’s agenda, trampling our Constitution in the process.

“Certainly, Nicolás Maduro is a brutal dictator, but that does not give Trump a blank check for launching a war. Congress must reassert its constitutional responsibility. I’ll keep fighting for this body to exercise its authority over the decision to go to war, regardless of who is in the White House.”

On Wednesday, Merkley took to the Senate Floor in an attempt to pass his Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, legislation he leads with Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, that would prohibit the use of federal funds for any use of military force in or against Venezuela without explicit Congressional authorization. Merkley’s bill does not prevent the United States from acting to defend itself or its citizens from an armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack, pursue lawful counternarcotics operations, or provide humanitarian assistance to the Venezuelan people.

The Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025 is also co-sponsored by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Peter Welch (D-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

Full text of the Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025 can be found by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/senators-blunt-rochester-merkley-warnock-introduce-bill-to-repair-infrastructure-bridge-communities/,"Senators Blunt Rochester, Merkley, Warnock Introduce Bill to Repair Infrastructure, Bridge Communities",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) today introduced the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient (REPAIR) Infrastructure Program Act. The bill would reauthorize and expand the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Program as the REPAIR Infrastructure Program, building on the groundwork laid by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bridge communities separated by ill-conceived transportation and infrastructure barriers. This would ensure more neighborhoods are vibrant and safe, contributing to healthier lives and creating more opportunities for American families. Senators Blunt Rochester, Merkley, and Warnock all championed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. This bill is led in the House by U.S. Representatives Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.-18) and Shomari Figures (D-Ala.-2).

“When my colleagues and I were shaping what would become the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021, I made sure it included significant funding for communities to correct historic injustices that resulted from past infrastructure policies. Now, the time has come to reauthorize and expand that program,” said Senator Blunt Rochester, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Over the last four years, the Reconnecting Communities Program has proven successful, including critical work done in Delaware. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance the REPAIR Infrastructure Act and invest more of this critical funding into communities across our nation.”

“The federal government must uphold its commitment to righting the historical wrongs associated with infrastructure projects in our communities, like Portland’s I-5 Rose Quarter project,” said Senator Merkley, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “The Trump Administration has spent the last year relentlessly undermining once-in-a-generation investments and critical federal funding for infrastructure projects. I’ll keep fighting to protect the billions of dollars I have helped secure for Oregon and ensure that all communities across the nation have an opportunity to thrive.”

“Physical mobility and economic mobility are inextricably linked,” said Senator Reverend Warnock. “Ensuring Georgians aren’t cut off from accessing jobs and economic opportunity also helps restore the cultural fabric of communities divided by legacy infrastructure. I’m proud to partner with my colleagues on this important legislation and look forward to better connected communities across our state.”

“Hudson Valley families and commuters deserve cohesive, safe neighborhoods, connected to good schools, high-paying jobs, and local businesses. That’s exactly what my bill does,” said Congressman Ryan. “Whether it’s improving the safety of a dangerous highway crossing, like the 9-W in Kingston, working to prevent pedestrian and cyclist deaths at roadway intersections, or making access to our community spaces easier for everyone, the REPAIR Infrastructure Act is going to deliver the safer, more accessible Hudson Valley all of our families deserve.”

“As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, it is important to me that we prioritize making investments in enhancing and modernizing transportation infrastructure in our communities,” said Congressman Figures. “The Trump Administration recently cancelled a 36.6 million dollar Reconnecting Communities Grant in Montgomery. I am committed to seeing that funding restored, and I’m proud to join my Democratic colleagues in the Senate to make sure other communities in Alabama have the opportunity to access this same funding.”

“We applaud Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Raphael Warnock, and Representative Pat Ryan for stepping up to continue the work of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program to heal historic harms caused by divisive infrastructure,” said Beth Osborne, President and CEO of Smart Growth America. “The work of reconnecting communities has brought significant economic and community benefits to the places that have pursued it. By providing additional funding and greater flexibility, the REPAIR Infrastructure Act would allow more communities, from our most rural towns to urban centers, to build transportation systems that better serve the people who live there. Moreover, this legislation is crucial to help set the tone in Congress for what the upcoming surface reauthorization must prioritize: safety, connectivity, and rethinking how, why, and for whom we build transportation infrastructure.”

“We applaud Senator Blunt Rochester’s focus on connecting our communities divided by transportation infrastructure and her commitment to establishing safe walking and biking routes as essential to make American communities work better for everyone,” said Kevin Mills, Sr., Vice President of Policy at Rails to Trails Conservancy.

Between fiscal years 2022 and 2024, there was an average of $4.6 billion in unmet funding requests for the Reconnecting Communities Program. During the same period, there were nearly 1,500 applications from communities in all 50 states for projects eligible under the REPAIR Infrastructure Act, demonstrating a desire for this funding across the nation.

Ultimately, DOT has funded 257 projects in 47 states. Those projects have helped communities redesign streets, spur economic development, address outdated highways, improve multimodal access, and enhance transit options.

The REPAIR Infrastructure Act would:

Reauthorize the REPAIR Infrastructure program out of the Highway Trust Fund at $3B per fiscal year from 2027 through 2031.

Codify language to ensure REPAIR Infrastructure projects promote economic development, increase access to daily destinations, prioritize community involvement, and prevent displacement.

Add explicit eligibility for REPAIR Infrastructure projects to existing highway formula programs.

The REPAIR Infrastructure Act is endorsed by Smart Growth America, the National League of Cities, the American Society of Landscape Architects, America Walks, the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), the Environmental Law & Policy Center, the League of American Bicyclists, the Living Streets Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Rails to Trails Conservancy, Safe Routes Partnership, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and a national coalition of 74 additional organizations.

A one pager on the bill is available here. A section-by-section summary is here. Full text is available here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/van-hollen-merkley-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-aid-workers-in-conflict-zones/,"Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Aid Workers in Conflict Zones",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON – Today, on Human Rights Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The lawmakers’ legislation, the Commitment to Aid Workers Act, would strengthen U.S. efforts to safeguard those who risk their lives to deliver humanitarian assistance. The bill creates new oversight and enforcement mechanisms to hold foreign militaries accountable for actions that endanger humanitarian workers as they deliver American aid. U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) has previously introduced companion legislation in the House.

“Humanitarian workers do some of the most vital but dangerous jobs in the world as they come to the aid of civilians caught in the middle of armed conflict. After two extremely deadly years for these workers, we must do more to protect them. This bill will employ U.S. leverage to help ensure the safety of humanitarian workers as they conduct their lifesaving missions,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“When conflict or disaster strikes, humanitarian aid workers are the first line to deliver food, water, medicine, and shelter,” said Senator Merkley. “Our top priority must be to support and protect those who serve on the frontlines of crisis, and the Commitment to Aid Workers Act does just that.”

“Humanitarian aid workers put their lives on the line to deliver food, water, medicine, and shelter to civilians caught in the crossfire of conflict. Their work is guided by a basic principle: that even in war, human dignity must be preserved,” Representative Pingree said. “Tragically, we are seeing aid workers targeted like never before. This year, 326 have been killed—and last year was the deadliest on record, with over 370 killed across the globe. These are attacks on the very foundation of humanitarian law. The United States cannot stand by while those delivering life-saving assistance are treated as collateral damage. The Commitment to Aid Workers Act ensures accountability, advocacy, and limits U.S. military assistance to countries found to be targeting aid workers deliberately. We must support those who serve on the frontlines of humanitarian crises.”

The Commitment to Aid Workers Act:

Establishes a Special Envoy to investigate deaths, injuries, or detentions of aid workers; advocate for improved interagency and international coordination; promote best practices; and submit annual reports to Congress on security risks and UN coordination effectiveness.

Strengthens accountability by amending the Foreign Assistance Act to bar military aid and arms sales subject to the Arms Export Control Act to countries that repeatedly target aid workers and obstruct U.S. inquiries, with assistance resuming only after certified safeguards are in place.

Creates an Aid Worker Independent Inquiry Group, led by the Special Envoy, to investigate any aid worker death during U.S.-supported missions and report to Congress on circumstances, any use of U.S.-origin munitions, and legal assessments under U.S. and international law.

Text of the Commitment to Aid Workers Act can be viewed here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-extend-tax-relief-for-wildfire-victims,"Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Extend Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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 has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would permanently ensure wildfire survivors in Oregon and nationwide are not taxed on compensation they receive for losses and damages suffered during a wildfire.

“The last thing Oregonians need when they’re rebuilding after a wildfire is to get clobbered by a big tax bill on their financial settlements,” Wyden said. “This bill will make it possible for wildfire survivors to use every settlement dollar they receive to repair their homes and businesses. It’s also a smart way to pump more resources back into devastated communities that need all the help they can get. My colleagues and I are going to fight to get this passed as soon as possible, because making this tax relief permanent is a no-brainer.”

The Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Extension Act would extend and make permanent the protections signed into law last year within the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act, which excluded wildfire-related settlement payments from federal income tax calculations. This includes payments that cover living expenses, lost wages, or compensation for injury, death, or emotional distress.

However, this exclusion is set to expire at the end of 2025. Failure to extend this provision means any wildfire-related settlement payments beginning in 2026 will again be subject to federal income tax obligations. More and more states have qualifying settlements or active litigation related to wildfires. This bill would allow wildfire survivors to put the full amount of their settlement money toward recovering from devastating losses.

Additionally, the bill would allow victims to claim the exemption in the year they receive payments rather than to amend prior tax returns for a refund.

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden, the bipartisan bill was also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Tim Sheehy, R-Mont. The bill was led in the House by U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-airline-passengers-from-flight-cancellation-and-delay-fees,"Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Airline Passengers from Flight Cancellation and Delay Fees",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Legislation follows the Trump administration’s move to roll back a Biden-era rule that protected consumers and held airlines accountable

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would protect travelers by requiring airlines to provide cash compensation and free rebooking for passengers facing significant delays or cancellations caused by the airline.

Introduction of the Flight Delay and Cancellation Compensation Act follows the decision by the Trump administration earlier this year to rescind a Biden-era rule that protected travelers against these fees and costs. The legislation would also direct the federal Department of Transportation to mandate airlines reimburse passengers for hotels, meals, and transportation to lodging incurred by canceled or delayed flights.

“The biggest winners under Donald Trump’s presidency are corporations and the ultra-rich, and airlines are no exception,” Wyden said. “On top of his costly government shutdown that left travelers hamstrung and airports woefully understaffed by safety and air traffic controllers, now Trump is going out of his way to make flying more expensive for travelers. This legislation would restore much-needed consumer protections and financial relief during one of the busiest holiday travel seasons on record.”

The bill was introduced by Senators Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. In addition to Wyden, the bill is also cosponsored by Senators Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Peter Welch, D-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.

The legislation would require the Transportation Department to issue regulations that would:

Establish an Aviation Rulemaking Committee that includes consumer protection groups to develop recommendations to support consumers experiencing significant flight disruptions;

Require the Aviation Rulemaking Committee to develop recommendations for passenger compensation in alignment with foreign standards;

Set a baseline standard of compensation that is at least $300 for a delay of more than three hours but less than six hours, and at least $600 for a delay of six hours or more;

Undertake a rulemaking to implement the Aviation Rulemaking Committee recommendations within 90 days after the report is submitted; and

Establish a stricter interim final rule that would go into effect 18 months after the bill is enacted.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-objects-to-bill-that-would-threaten-encryption-calls-for-new-resources-to-crack-down-on-predators-online,"Wyden Objects to Bill That Would Threaten Encryption, Calls for New Resources to Crack Down on Predators Online",2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"As prepared for delivery

I don’t often disagree with my colleague from Illinois, and I very much share the stated goals of the STOP CSAM Act. Child sexual abuse material is a toxic plague on the internet. There are real victims who need support, and criminals who need to be hunted down and locked up. I don’t take a backseat to anyone when it comes to helping kids and punishing predators.

Last Congress, Senator Durbin and I compromised on a different version of this bill and agreed to let that version pass by unanimous consent. Let me say that again, last Congress we reached agreement on a version of this bill that could have passed unanimously. Today, the sponsors have chosen to abandon those negotiations and instead seek to advance a dangerous bill that would make internet users unsafe.

This bill would weaken the single strongest technology protecting children and families online - strong encryption. It will make it easier to punish sites that use encryption to secure private conversations and personal devices. While STOP CSAM’s sponsors claim that their bill does not target encryption, the bill explicitly allows courts to punish companies that offer strong encryption. It also would encourage scanning of content on users’ phones or computers, before information is sent over the internet, which has the same consequences as breaking encryption.

Weakening encryption and other security technologies is the single biggest gift you could give to the predators and creeps who want to stalk and spy on children. Sexual predators will have a far easier time stealing and extorting photographs of children, tracking their phones and spying on their private messages once encryption is breached. Doing so threatens the privacy and security of every single law-abiding American.

Let’s look at who supports this bill. Big Tech - Google and X - have endorsed it. It’s the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union who oppose it.

This is really about who you’re for. I’m here for women who depend on encryption to seek reproductive healthcare information. I’m here for journalists reporting on sensitive stories in places where their messages could be intercepted and used against them. I’m here for children and teenagers seeking information about immigration laws as Trump continues his brutal crackdown.

The key to better protecting kids online is to do what IS effective, not what only SOUNDS effective.

Congress should focus our energy on giving law enforcement officials the tools they need to find and prosecute criminals responsible for exploiting children and spreading vile abuse materials online, and to help prevent children from becoming victims in the first place.

I remain open to revisiting conversations with this bill’s sponsors to get back to a version that doesn’t make the Internet less safe. We found a compromise in the last Congress, and I’m ready to find one again.

I also urge members to support my bipartisan Invest in Child Safety Act, which I will shortly be reintroducing. The bill would direct $5 billion in mandatory funding to do three things:

1. Give law enforcement agencies the tools and personnel they need to catch the predators who are creating and spreading CSAM;

2. Fund community based programs to prevent at-risk kids from becoming victims in the first place and

3. Invest in programs to support survivors of abuse.

Any legislation that doesn’t include these pieces is missing the point.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-reintroduces-bill-to-keep-hemp-on-the-market-with-strong-consumer-protections,Wyden Reintroduces Bill to Keep Hemp on the Market with Strong Consumer Protections,2025-12-10,2025,2025-12,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., today reintroduced legislation that would return hemp to the market and create national safety standards for hemp-derived products, keep these products out of the hands of children, and ban unsafe, untested hemp products.

Reintroduction of the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) follows passage of last month’s government funding bill containing a provision to outlaw hemp products nationwide. Wyden has long pressed for common-sense consumer regulations and protections instead of a one-size-fits-all approach that does nothing to protect kids or consumers from unsafe or untested hemp products.

“There’s no question that more needs to be done to protect kids and consumers from unsafe, untested hemp products,” Wyden said. “We learned from the failed war on drugs that a one-size-fits all approach banning hemp products from the market outright does nothing to protect kids and consumers, and will be a gut-punch to thousands of jobs and small businesses across the country. My legislation takes the thoughtful and measured approach necessary to implement strong consumer protection regulations while fostering growth and innovation in this growing industry.”

The bill would mandate a minimum age of 21 to buy and set a serving size limit for intoxicating content in hemp-derived products where states do not have limits in place. The legislation would require that all hemp-derived products be tested for safety and manufactured using clean and safe processes. The CSRA would require truth in labeling, and would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recall or ban any hemp-derived products that contain too much THC, dangerous chemicals, byproducts or additives.

Following the legalization of hemp production and hemp-derived consumer products under the 2018 Farm Bill, the FDA failed repeatedly to regulate these products despite pressure from Wyden and other members of the Senate to do so. Wyden has long maintained that the FDA must do its part in monitoring the industry.

While individual states have tried to regulate testing, labeling and processing of hemp products, there is still no national health and safety standard for producers. This legislation would explicitly allow states to prohibit, limit or otherwise regulate hemp-derived products beyond the bill’s provisions.

The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.

Statements of support for the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act:

“The hemp industry stands firmly behind Senator Wyden’s effort to replace confusion with clarity and prohibition with practical regulation. From the beginning, Senator Wyden has been one of hemp’s greatest champions, and this legislation reflects his commitment to responsible reform. It takes important steps to protect consumers, ensure products are safe and kept out of the hands of children, while preserving access to the hemp-derived products that millions of Americans rely on for their health and wellness. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden to improve upon this bill and secure its passage, creating a fair and lasting framework for this vital American industry,” said Jonathan Miller, General Counsel of the U.S. Hemp Roundtable.

“The CSRA would take steps to establish an effective framework to regulate the hemp market by requiring products to be tested and properly labeled and outlawing synthetic derived products. This legislation would allow states to continue implementing their own standards while setting important baseline public safety standards and ensuring that these products are not readily available to children. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden to craft a comprehensive regulatory solution for intoxicating hemp products,” said Dawson Hobbs, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs for the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America.

“Hemp beverages are part of a major cultural shift toward healthier alternatives, and consumer preference is undeniable. However, we need a federal framework that treats these products with the same seriousness as alcohol. Responsible brands want clear guardrails: strict 21+ access, certified lab testing, uniform serving sizes, and a ban on synthetics. These standards will protect public health and allow legitimate operators to build a safe, long-term industry alongside beer and wine distributors,” said Ryan Evans, Co-Founder and CEO of Shift Naturals

“At Ablis, we’ve spent more than a decade building hemp beverages from the ground up, and we’ve watched this once-niche category grow into a major American industry supporting thousands of jobs and small businesses. To secure the future of hemp beverages, we need a federal framework that treats these products with the same seriousness and structure long established for alcohol. These aren’t burdens, they are essential standards that protect public health while safeguarding the businesses, employees, and farmers who helped build this all-American industry. With clear rules in place, legitimate operators can continue to grow alongside beer and wine distributors and ensure this category thrives for decades to come,” said Max Bendis, Co-Founder of Albis Functional Infusions.

“The Hemp Beverage Alliance (HBA)applauds Senator Wyden for championing sensible regulations that keep products away from children, provide robust product testing and transparent packaging information, and provide a pathway for the hemp beverage industry to continue to thrive. Since our founding in 2023, the HBA has advocated for testing, proper labeling, sensible THC milligram levels, and age-gating of products. We look forward to working with Senator Wyden and other legislators to promote this legislation and ensure a thriving hemp beverage category in 2026 and beyond,” said Christopher Lackner, President of the Hemp Beverage Alliance.

Text of the bill is here.

A one-page summary of the bill is here. A section-by-section breakdown of the bill is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-s-bill-to-expand-the-city-of-the-dalles-water-passed-in-us-house-of-representatives,Congressman Bentz's Bill to Expand the City of The Dalles Water Passed in U.S. House of Representatives,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR2) voted YES and the U.S. House of Representatives PASSED his bill, H.R. 655: “The City of the Dalles Watershed Development Act”, paving the way for Senate consideration. This legislation, if enacted, would transfer ownership of 150 acres of U.S. Forest Service land within The Dalles’ municipal watershed to the City of The Dalles.

The City relies on its municipal watershed for 80% of its annual water supply. Expanding the size of the reservoir is essential if the city is to meet future demand.

“This transfer will help the City of The Dalles expand its potable water resources.” said Congressman Cliff Bentz. “A reliable and secure water supply for the City is one of my highest priorities. When this legislation is passed by the Senate and signed by the President, The Dalles will have the ability to better manage its watershed, expand its reservoir and support the Cities’ long-term growth. I am happy to see this bill advance and I thank my colleagues in the House and local leaders in the City who helped move it forward.”

“With 85% of our drinking water coming from this watershed, consolidating ownership of the land around the Crow Creek Dam and Reservoir is a tremendous step forward for our community,” said The City of The Dalles Mayor, Richard Mays. “This transfer will strengthen our ability to protect water quality, improve system management, and ensure a reliable water supply for the 16,000 residents of The Dalles. We’re excited about what this means for our future. Thank you to Congressman Bentz and the House Natural Resources Committee for advancing this critical legislation.”

""I am very excited to hear that The Dalles will have the property needed to address future water development needs with the passage of H.R. 655—The Dalles Watershed Development Act. This measure ensures that The Dalles will be able to collect surface water for the future of our community. Thank you to Congressman Bentz and his staff for ""carrying the water"" on this important issue.', said Wasco County Commissioner, Mr. Scott Hege.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-bentz-supports-house-passage-of-the-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act,Congressman Bentz Supports House Passage of the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) voted YES on Senate Bill 356, the “Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Reauthorization Act”, which will bring some 50 million dollars, for each of three years, to Oregon’s timber dependent counties.

Said Congressman Bentz: “In 1990 the Spotted Owl was listed under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. Almost immediately timber production from federal forests in the Western United States plummeted by 80%. The economic and societal cost to timber dependent states and their timber reliant counties was appalling. Demand for SNAP and Medicaid shot up, alcoholism and meth addiction became routine. County tax revenues were decimated. A belated but needed response was the Secure Rural Schools Act first passed in 2000, ten years after the listing of the Owl. This law, and the funding it provides, was designed to partially offset the massive decline in federal timber revenue. It provides a modest amount of funding for critical services including infrastructure maintenance (roads), wildfire mitigation, conservation projects, search and rescue operations, fire prevention initiatives, and most importantly, money for children’s education.”

“When society enacts socially attractive laws that seemingly benefit the broader public but end up harming small communities, society must mitigate that harm. This is what the SRS bill does. It mitigates at least a part of the billions in damage done to small communities by the implementation of social goals such as, in this case, the Endangered Species Act. I thank my colleagues and Speaker Johnson for supporting this essential bill and the funding that my counties so desperately need.”

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-accelerate-education,"Bonamici, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation  to Accelerate Education Research",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Suzanne Bonamici,B001278,bonamici.house.gov,bonamici,https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC [12/9/25] –Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to spur innovation in teaching and learning techniques.

The New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act of 2025 would improve student learning by creating a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) to promote informed-risk, high-reward education research. The new national center would focus on developing and disseminating effective practices and tools to improve students’ academic performance and close longstanding achievement gaps. The NCADE would be the fifth center under the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and follow a successful model similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

“Strengthening education is the best way to improve lives and sustain the economy,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Technology is evolving rapidly and there are many ways it can help students learn and close opportunity gaps. The NEED Act will empower researchers to develop new educational strategies and technologies that are based in science.”

“To prepare every student to thrive in a rapidly changing world, we must pursue innovation with both ambition and accountability,” said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. “The NEED Act builds a smarter bridge between research and the classroom—accelerating evidence-based breakthroughs, strengthening data transparency, and empowering educators with tools that deliver real results. This bipartisan effort is about stronger outcomes for students, greater opportunity for families, and a more competitive workforce for America.”

“Everyone should have the information they need to make informed decisions about their own education and workforce pathways, support individuals navigating these pathways, and create policies that might help others navigate smoother pathways,” said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, president and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. “Data Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to reimagine statewide longitudinal data systems as tools for providing better support, transparency, and high-quality data to individuals navigating their journeys through education and the workforce.”

""Teachers across the country are constantly looking for ways to innovate given the ever evolving demands they face in their classrooms,"" said Kira Orange Jones, CEO of Teach Plus. ""The NEED Act bolsters those efforts as it improves the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems to gather accurate data that will inform the field of the challenges we see in classrooms and identify opportunities to advance innovative practices to better serve our students. We applaud the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to bring forth meaningful investments that innovate and advance teaching and learning.""

The NEED Act would also modernize Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and help states better track the progress and outcomes of students through K-12 and into the workforce.

The legislation is endorsed by: AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, Accelerate - The National Collaborative for Accelerated Learning, AERDF (Advanced Education Research and Development Fund), All4Ed, Alliance for Learning Innovation, America Forward, American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association Services, Applied Learning Insights, Beyond100K, Buck Institute Education/PBLWorks, CAST, Committee for Children, Common Cents Education Consulting, Consortium for State Education Support, Dan Lips (Senior Fellow, Foundation for American Innovation), Data Quality Campaign, Digital Promise Global, EDGE Partners, The Education Trust, Education Knowledge Broker Network, Education Reform Now Advocacy, Education Reimagined, Educators for Excellence, EdVenture Lab, ExcelinEd in Action, Federation of American Scientists, Foundation for Deeper Learning, FullScale, High Tech High Graduate School of Education, InnovateEDU, Institute for Educational Leadership, jeffweldLLC, John Bailey (Former White House Domestic Policy Advisor), KB Stack Consulting LLC, Knowledge Alliance, Kumar Garg (Renaissance Philanthropy), Laura Holian (Research Director, AnLar) and Kristin Gagnier (Senior Research Scientist, AnLar), Learner-Centered Collaborative, LearnerStudio, The Learning Agency, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Learning Heroes, LearningForge LLC, Mark Schneider (Former Director of the Institute of Education Sciences), National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Council on Teacher Quality, National Girls Collaborative, National Parents Union, New Classrooms, New Leaders, reDesign, Reinvention Lab at Teach For America, Results for America, SETDA, SRI, Teach For America, Teach Plus, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD), The Study Group, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, TNTP, Transcend, the University of Oregon, and Zarek Drozda (Executive Director, Data Science 4 Everyone).

A summary of the legislation can be found here, and the full text of the legislation can be found here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-announces-tele-town-hall-for-monday-december-15th,"Rep. Hoyle Announces Tele-Town Hall for Monday, December 15th",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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) announced she will host a telephone town hall on Monday, December 15th at 5:30 PM Pacific Time (PT). Rep. Hoyle will share end of year updates about what's going on in Congress and how it's impacting communities in the district. It is also an opportunity to ask Rep. Hoyle questions and get answers directly from her.

How to Join

To join the tele-town hall, constituents of Oregon’s 4th district should fill out the form linked here. The form will close on Monday, December 15th at 10:00 AM PT.

What’s a telephone town hall?

A tele-townhall is a town hall meeting done over the telephone with Rep. Hoyle and other constituents in the district. It's a way for her to be in conversation with as many people as possible and provide direct updates while she is in Washington, D.C. for votes. After filling out the form above, you will receive a call from her at the designated start time and be invited to stay on the line to join. After joining the call, attendees will receive instructions on how to ask a question.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-hoyle-delivers-for-rural-oregon-with-passage-of-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act-of-2025,Rep. Hoyle Delivers for Rural Oregon with Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025,2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) today joined in celebrating House passage of S. 356, the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation she helped lead to ensure rural counties can continue funding critical public services.

The bill reauthorizes the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which helps rural, timber-dependent counties to be able to fund their schools, maintain their roads and deliver emergency services. During remarks on the floor of the House earlier today, Rep. Hoyle emphasized why rural communities need this support.

“When the timber industry collapsed, Congress made a commitment to support rural communities and their critical infrastructure to make sure they did not get left behind,” said Rep. Hoyle. “The Secure Rural Schools program, SRS, has been a lifeline.”

Earlier this year, the Republican Budget Bill made matters worse by taking away the standard county revenue shares for timber harvest on federal lands. Rep. Hoyle stressed that this makes it even more important for Congress to honor its commitment to rural America by reauthorizing SRS.

“We still have a long way to go to deliver on the investments and job opportunities that rural America needs and deserves, which is one of my top priorities in Congress,” Rep. Hoyle noted. “But letting this program expire and pulling the rug out from under rural counties is simply not an option.”

In Fiscal Year 2023, the last time SRS was authorized, counties in Oregon’s Fourth Congressional District received over $31.5 million through the program. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act now goes to the President’s desk for signature.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-cortez-masto-lead-new-bill-to-block-donald-trump-from-putting-his-face-on-dollar-coin/,"Merkley, Cortez Masto Lead New Bill to Block Donald Trump from Putting His Face on Dollar Coin",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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 Nevada’s U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto introduced new legislation to prevent any living or sitting U.S. President from being featured on any U.S. currency.

The Change Corruption Act would ensure President Trump cannot be featured on an upcoming one-dollar coin in celebration of the Semiquincentennial, America’s 250th birthday. Public reporting and draft designs suggest the U.S. Mint is considering a dollar coin featuring Trump, despite the historical precedent of America not featuring a living or sitting President on a circulating coin. A final decision on the design could come as soon as this week.

“President Trump’s self-celebrating maneuvers are authoritarian actions worthy of dictators like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, not the United States of America,” said Merkley. “We must reject his efforts to dismantle our ‘We, The People’ republic and replace it with a strongman state by demanding strong accountability to prevent further abuse of taxpayer dollars. As we look ahead to America’s 250th birthday, I’ll keep fighting back against Trump’s corruption and partisan propaganda.”

“While monarchs put their faces on coins, America has never had and never will have a king,” said Cortez Masto. “Our legislation would codify this country’s long-standing tradition of not putting living Presidents on American coins. Congress must pass it without delay.”

The Change Corruption Act is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

“Donald Trump will stop at nothing to steal the spotlight, and that includes putting an image of himself on a U.S. coin,” said Wyden. “While kings insist on immortalizing their image on shiny objects, real leaders care about focusing on the issues of today. I’m proud to support this bill that ensures our country does not worship its leaders like kings.”

“President Trump seeks to disobey the law and betray our American values by having his portrait minted on U.S. currency,” said Blumenthal. “A long-standing tradition and rejection of monarchy, our nation has never allowed the image of a living or sitting president to be used on circulating currency. Our Change Corruption Act reaffirms this tradition and prohibits currency from being used to honor or promote the current President of the United States.”

Previously, Merkley and Cortez Masto led seven Senate Democrats—including Wyden—in a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent calling on him to reject the proposed designs for the Semiquincentennial dollar coin featuring the likeness of President Trump.

Merkley has been a long-time leader in the push to end public corruption, including leading a bipartisan bill that would prevent lawmakers from trading stocks and legislation to crack down on cryptocurrency-related corruption by elected officials at the highest levels of the federal government. He has also championed efforts to crack down on dark money in politics.

Full text of the Change Corruption Act can be found by clicking here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-applaud-house-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program/,"Wyden, Merkley Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the House passage of his bipartisan legislation introduced with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho, to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and ensure rural, forested communities across Oregon and the country receive funding for roads, schools, law enforcement and other critical services.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon since I originally authored the program back in 2000,” Wyden said. “I’m relieved the House has finally done its job with the long-overdue passage of my bill to return the safety net for critical services to communities that need it the most. This is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the resources they need to not only survive, but grow and thrive.”

“By passing our bipartisan bill, Congress has finally taken critical action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” said Merkley. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources, and I look forward to President Trump swiftly signing our bill into law.”

Wyden first authored the SRS program in 2000. Funding for the program lapsed in September 2023, and counties have not received payments since early 2024. Wyden’s bill to reauthorize the program had previously passed the Senate, but stalled in the House, delaying crucial funding for rural schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.

Last week, 83 bipartisan, bicameral members, led by Wyden and Crapo, called on House leadership to take up the reauthorization bill for final passage.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-stop-trump-administration-replacing-immigration-judges-with-inexperienced-attorneys/,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Stop Trump Administration Replacing Immigration Judges with Inexperienced Attorneys",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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 said today they are joining their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Donald Trump from abusing loopholes to appoint inexperienced attorneys as temporary immigration judges.

The Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act aims to close loopholes the Trump administration has been using to short-circuit due process and accelerate its mass deportation agenda. This bill follows Trump weaponizing U.S. immigration courts and torching due process rights by replacing more than 100 immigration judges with up to 600 military lawyers.

“Trump is weaponizing our immigration courts and torching due process rights by replacing experienced judges with unqualified lawyers who will rubberstamp his mass deportation agenda,” Wyden said. “Congress needs to ensure that judges hearing these critical and complex cases have the knowledge to give immigrants the fair hearings that they deserve.”

“We can’t stand idly by as an authoritarian strongman tramples on due process,” Merkley said. “Trump is replacing qualified judges with inexperienced lackeys who will carry out his cruel immigration agenda without question. Congress needs to act swiftly to defend the rule of law and make sure that the judges serving on our immigration courts are experienced, qualified, and fair.”

The bill would:

Cap temporary immigration judge appointments at four consecutive six-month terms: 2-year maximum service limit with at least a 3-year break in between services.

Prevent military attorneys and Judge Advocate Generals from being appointed as temporary immigration judges.

Authorize appointments of attorneys at the Department of Justice who meet the eligibility requirements.

Establish basic training requirements.

The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Brennan Center for Justice, and the National Association of Immigration Judges.

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai’i, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.

Full text of the legislation is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-budd-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-support-family-farmers-grow-agritourism,"Wyden, Budd Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Family Farmers, Grow Agritourism",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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 Ted Budd, R-N.C., today introduced bipartisan legislation to support the economic development and growth of agritourism businesses nationwide by increasing federal resources like loans, grants, broadband, and educational programs to small family farmers.

“Small family farmers are the backbone of our country’s agricultural sector,” Wyden said. “There’s no question that the federal government needs to step up and support family farmers at a time when most are operating on a shoestring budget and barely making ends meet. Our bipartisan legislation would give family farmers much-needed resources to not only survive, but grow and thrive.”

“Agritourism is essential to keeping working farms afloat, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. Without it, many of North Carolina’s farms would have been forced to cease operations following Hurricane Helene. I’m proud to lead this legislation alongside Senator Wyden to streamline federal resources for North Carolina’s booming agritourism industry,” Budd said.

Wyden and Budd’s Accelerating the Growth of Rural Innovation and Tourism Opportunities to Uphold Rural Industries and Sustainable Marketplaces (AGRITOURISM) Act would support local, family-owned businesses by designating a senior official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as the federal agritourism advisor. This role would coordinate with stakeholders and other federal agencies to promote the growth of family-owned farms and advise the Secretary of Agriculture on this essential industry.

Agritourism is one of the fastest growing industries that serves as a critical lifeline for rural economies nationwide by allowing family farms to offer outdoor recreational services like beer tasting, berry picking, seasonal festivities, bed-and-breakfast accommodations, and event venues.

Oregon State University found that each Oregon county has at least one farm participating in agritourism. In North Carolina alone, agritourism is nearly a $1 billion industry.

In addition to Wyden and Budd, the AGRITOURISM Act is cosponsored by Senators Peter Welch, D-Vt., ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Rural Development, Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jim Justice, R-W.Va., and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. House companion legislation was also introduced by Representatives Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., and Dan Newhouse, R-Wash.

The AGRITOURISM Act is also endorsed by:

“The Brewers Association supports the AGRITOURISM Act, which recognizes craft breweries as vital contributors to America’s agricultural and rural tourism economies. This legislation will strengthen local supply chains, expand opportunities for small and independent brewers, and help communities thrive,” wrote Bart Watson, President and CEO of the Brewers Association.

”We applaud Sen. Wyden, a longtime and critical advocate for our industry, for the introduction of the AGRITOURISM Act! Our craft distilling industry, a vibrant sector within the broader US agricultural industry, relies heavily on local farmers for spirit production. Likewise, our community of distilleries - whose numbers are sadly in decline - rely heavily on agritourism as an important revenue stream. Particularly in rural areas, this tourism in turn stimulates these local economies while also creating local jobs,” wrote Margie Lehrman, CEO of the American Craft Spirits Association.

“Agritourism is essential to the survival of the wine industry and no one knows this better than Senator Wyden. Wineries need visitors to survive, and we are thrilled that Senator Wyden is leading this bill. He understands what our industry needs and continues to be a steadfast supporter of not only the Oregon wine industry, but the entire American industry,” wrote Michael Kaiser, Executive Vice President of WineAmerica.

The text of the bill is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-applaud-house-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-secure-rural-schools-program,"Wyden, Merkley Applaud House Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize Secure Rural Schools Program",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,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., today applauded the House passage of his bipartisan legislation introduced with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho, to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program and ensure rural, forested communities across Oregon and the country receive funding for roads, schools, law enforcement and other critical services.

“The Secure Rural Schools program has been a lifeline for rural communities across Oregon since I originally authored the program back in 2000,” Wyden said. “I’m relieved the House has finally done its job with the long-overdue passage of my bill to return the safety net for critical services to communities that need it the most. This is exactly why we need a permanent solution to get rural communities off the financial rollercoaster and ensure they have the resources they need to not only survive, but grow and thrive.”

“By passing our bipartisan bill, Congress has finally taken critical action to restore funding that is crucial to keeping schools and libraries open, maintaining roads, restoring watersheds, and ensuring there are police officers and firefighters to keep rural communities safe,” said Merkley. “Extending the SRS program ensures Oregon communities and local governments can maintain access to these important lifelines and resources, and I look forward to President Trump swiftly signing our bill into law.”

Wyden first authored the SRS program in 2000. Funding for the program lapsed in September 2023, and counties have not received payments since early 2024. Wyden’s bill to reauthorize the program had previously passed the Senate, but stalled in the House, delaying crucial funding for rural schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure projects.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-stop-trump-administration-replacing-immigration-judges-with-inexperienced-attorneys,"Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Stop Trump Administration Replacing Immigration Judges with Inexperienced Attorneys",2025-12-09,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Ron Wyden,W000779,www.wyden.senate.gov,wyden,https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases,scraper,"Since day one of the Trump administration, more than 100 immigration judges have been fired or forced to leave their positions

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are joining their Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Donald Trump from abusing loopholes to appoint inexperienced attorneys as temporary immigration judges.

The Temporary Immigration Judge Integrity Act aims to close loopholes the Trump administration has been using to short-circuit due process and accelerate its mass deportation agenda. This bill follows Trump weaponizing U.S. immigration courts and torching due process rights by replacing more than 100 immigration judges with up to 600 military lawyers.

“Trump is weaponizing our immigration courts and torching due process rights by replacing experienced judges with unqualified lawyers who will rubberstamp his mass deportation agenda,” Wyden said. “Congress needs to ensure that judges hearing these critical and complex cases have the knowledge to give immigrants the fair hearings that they deserve.”

“We can’t stand idly by as an authoritarian strongman tramples on due process,” Merkley said. “Trump is replacing qualified judges with inexperienced lackeys who will carry out his cruel immigration agenda without question. Congress needs to act swiftly to defend the rule of law and make sure that the judges serving on our immigration courts are experienced, qualified, and fair.”

The bill would:

Cap temporary immigration judge appointments at four consecutive six-month terms: 2-year maximum service limit with at least a 3-year break in between services.

Prevent military attorneys and Judge Advocate Generals from being appointed as temporary immigration judges.

Authorize appointments of attorneys at the Department of Justice who meet the eligibility requirements.

Establish basic training requirements.

The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Brennan Center for Justice, and the National Association of Immigration Judges.

The bill was led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, D-Calif. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawai'i, Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Chris Murphy, D-Conn., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/as-oregon-s-economic-conditions-worsen-democrats-flounder,"As Oregon’s Economic Conditions Worsen, Democrats Flounder",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Republican,House,OR,Cliff Bentz,B000668,bentz.house.gov,bentz,https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– State Representatives Lieber and Sanchez, both of whom represent parts of Portland, wrote earlier this week in the Oregonian newspaper that it's “Trump’s cuts” (in the One Big Beautiful Bill) that are creating a “billion dollar problem for Oregon with no easy solutions”.

In the same piece, they assert the importance of “growing private sector jobs (to) stimulate our broader economy and provide good wages to hardworking Oregonians”.

What they intentionally fail to mention is that the Big Beautiful Bill, which every Democrat in Oregon's federal delegation voted against, protected Oregonians from a 20% federal tax increase which would have been effective just a few weeks from now. If the Democrats had had their way, this 20% tax increase would have been allowed to happen, small business would have been devastated, millions of jobs would have been lost and a recession may have occurred. Yet, not a peep about this in Lieber and Sanchez’s editorial. Instead, they say, with a straight face, that the Big Beautiful Bill is horrible, and that it’s actually Democrats who want to grow jobs and Oregon’s economy.

It’s bad enough that these two don’t support the tax reductions for business and individuals in the Big Bill, but they then confound the reader by saying it’s their intent to “stimulate the broader economy and grow jobs”. Just how is it that they are going to do this when they plan to raise your taxes and leave untouched the tangled mess of complicated, confusing, expensive, anti-business laws they have imposed upon Oregon’s businesses?

Having ignored their complicity in creating economic stagnation, they go on to unabashedly assert that the reduction in federal funds flowing to Oregon will “hamper economic activity and risk business closures at a time when we can least afford it”. This statement, read in conjunction with their opposition to the tax cuts in the Big Bill, is that Oregonian’s taxes should be higher and the federal government should send Oregonian’s tax money back in the form of government spending, substituting government judgment in how money is spent for individual judgment. Their statements broadcast Democrat’s belief that money should be taken from taxpayers and then used in ways politicians think best, often to hire indiscriminately at salaries totally disconnected from private sector rates for progressive purposes. But economics 101 teaches us that the federal and state governments are not jobs programs. Jobs that last and actually create value emerge from the private sector where employers are subject to the forces of competition, risk, profit, loss, and modest government intrusion.

Oregonians should call, text, or write Lieber and Sanchez, and tell them that they should reduce spending, reduce taxes, and repeal those laws which impose more paperwork, higher labor costs, and increased litigation risk on Oregon’s business. Bringing Oregon Back will begin when those in power actually acknowledge that it’s their laws and policies driving businesses out of Oregon. Your calls and texts to them carrying this message will help save our wonderful state.",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases/hoyle-calls-on-congress-and-va-to-fund-roseburg-state-veterans-home,"Rep. Hoyle Calls on Congress and VA to Fund Roseburg State Veterans Home, Expand State Veterans Home Construction Program",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Val T. Hoyle,H001094,hoyle.house.gov,hoyle,https://hoyle.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) testified before the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Congress to fully fund the Roseburg State Veterans Home and strengthen the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, which she said has been chronically underfunded and delayed critical care for rural veterans.

“Veterans in my district have been advocating for this home since 2011,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Our veterans have served, sacrificed, and shown the ultimate commitment to our country. In return, it is our responsibility to make sure they are taken care of and can get the health care they need.”

Rep. Hoyle’s district is home to more veterans than any other district in the state, many of whom live in rural and remote communities. The lack of a funded state veterans' home in Roseburg has forced veterans and families to travel long distances or go without needed long-term care.

Under the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program, states are required to provide 35 percent of project funding, with the VA responsible for the remaining share. The Oregon State Legislature has repeatedly secured state matching funds, including in 2011 and again in 2024. Despite the state’s preparedness, Rep. Hoyle said the Roseburg application has been repeatedly overlooked, causing project costs to rise due to inflation and construction delays. The current state funding is set to expire in 2027, creating added urgency for immediate federal action.

Rep. Hoyle also highlighted that Congress has underfunded the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program by nearly $1 billion, limiting the VA’s ability to approve new construction and forcing the agency to prioritize smaller repair and renovation projects instead.

To address these shortfalls, Rep. Hoyle submitted an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to increase funding for the program. However, House Rules Committee Republicans blocked the amendment from receiving a vote.

“I call on my colleagues on the House Veterans Affairs Committee to work with the VA to prioritize the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program and ensure our aging veterans across the country can live with the dignity they’ve earned and deserve,” said Rep. Hoyle.

Rep. Hoyle’s full testimony can be viewed on the HVAC website here.

###",1,2026-04-04T05:28:40Z,2026-04-04T05:30:10Z
https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-salinasthompson-newhouse-lamalfa-and-panetta-introduce-bill-deliver,"Reps. Salinas,Thompson, Newhouse, Lamalfa, and Panetta Introduce Bill to Deliver Tariff Relief for Wine and Specialty Crop Growers",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,House,OR,Andrea Salinas,S001226,salinas.house.gov,salinas,https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"“Oregon’s wine producers and specialty crop growers make world-class products, but as countries impose tariffs in response to Trump’s trade policies, our farmers are facing higher costs, shrinking export opportunities, and real economic pain,” said Salinas. “Specialty crops and wine producers have been harmed by tariffs just like row crops, and the federal government has a responsibility to provide equal relief. This bill ensures they get the support they need to weather the economic hardship tariffs have caused. Ultimately, we need to get rid of Trump’s barriers to trade so our world-class products can truly be enjoyed all over the world, but in the meantime, Congress must step up to help our farmers where the Trump Administration has failed them.”

“Farmers and wine producers in our district are being hit hard with rising costs at home and retaliatory tariffs abroad,” said Thompson. “Northern California agriculture feeds our country and fuels our local economy. When our producers are targeted with tariffs, families here at home feel it immediately. This bill gives them targeted relief they need to stay competitive. California’s agricultural and wine community are cornerstones of our local economies, from family farms to world-class producers. Ensuring they can weather sudden tariff hikes isn’t just an economic necessity, it’s a commitment to protecting the livelihoods that make our district and community special.”

“While many crops are struggling in farm country, specialty crops are at a breaking point,” said Newhouse. “For too long, specialty crops have been left out of the conversation when financial relief for farmers is on the table, and it is essential that we begin to balance the scales. This bipartisan legislation directs USDA to establish a program that delivers much needed relief to our producers who grow some of the highest quality specialty crops in the world. If we want to continue to boost our specialty crop industry, then the federal government must make it a priority when planning for financial assistance for farmers.”

“The agricultural economy is suffering, and dividing farm country isn’t the solution,” said LaMalfa. “Row crop and specialty crop growers in my district are struggling just alike, and this bill ensures all of farm country is supported. We can’t make Americans healthy again if we continue to let tree nut, fruit, and vegetable growers fall behind in bad years while only boosting the safety net for a limited number of crops. I appreciate Reps. Thompson, Newhouse, Salinas, and Panetta for joining me in leading this effort.”

“This Administration’s tariff policy has significantly impacted farmers of all types of crops from all across the country,” said Panetta. “That’s why as proud representatives of regions that produce specialty crops, we must ensure that that type of agriculture is protected and included in any relief type of package. Our bipartisan Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act will provide specialty crop farmers with the direct payments program that’s needed to ensure that they continue to play a vital part of our nation’s agriculture.""

BACKGROUND

Our specialty crop growers and wine producers rely on robust export markets around our world. With the enactment of new tariffs and trade barriers, our agricultural communities have suffered significant losses. Foreign competitors are filling the gap left by declining U.S. exports, strengthening their position while American producers are struggling with new market uncertainties.

This key agricultural sector is experiencing significant volatility, raising prices and reduced competitiveness. Producers are facing significant challenges accessing once reliable markets and seeing input costs skyrocket. This legislation would provide much needed relief to this key agricultural sector and ensure they are provided the financial resources necessary to whether the current market while Congress does its work to negotiate and implement trade agreements.

The Specialty Crop & Wine Producer Tariff Relief Act will support our local growers and producers by:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-statement-on-trumps-farmer-bailout-to-fix-crisis-created-by-trump/,Merkley Statement on Trump’s Farmer Bailout to Fix Crisis Created by Trump,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the unveil of a $12 billion bailout package for U.S. farmers who have been hurt by President Trump’s reckless and haphazard tariffs, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement. Due to the Trump Administration’s policies, farmers across several commodities – especially soybeans – have faced devastating financial loses this year when foreign governments dramatically decreased or halted purchasing U.S. commodities altogether. These actions by the Trump Administration have caused farm bankruptcies to rise by nearly 60% compared with 2024.

“The financial strain U.S. farmers have faced throughout this year has been devastating and completely avoidable. There is only one person to blame – Donald Trump. Soybean farmers were projected to have a bumper crop this year – and they did – but Trump’s self-inflicted tariff agenda left farmers with no market to sell to. Now, the Trump Administration is using U.S. tax dollars to provide a bailout to farmers to fix the President’s mistakes. Unfortunately, for many family farms, it’s too late. Farmers are the latest to suffer at the hands of the Trump families lose and billionaires win agenda,” said Ranking Member Jeff Merkley.

This bailout by the Trump Administration not only does very little to support farmers who have faced significant loss this year, it also puts another strain on the pocketbook of the American taxpayer. Given that U.S. consumers and businesses initially paid for the tariffs that Trump put in place, using U.S taxpayer funds to bailout these farmers means U.S. taxpayers are essentially being charged twice for the president’s policies.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/ranking-member-merkley-trump-administration-weaponizing-u-s-park-police-to-further-its-authoritarianism/,Ranking Member Merkley: Trump Administration Weaponizing U.S. Park Police to Further Its Authoritarianism,2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,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—the top Democrat overseeing funding for the National Park Service— today led U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) to sound the alarm over President Trump’s proposed plans to turn the U.S. Park Police into a federal police force under his direct control for deployment across Washington, D.C. rather than following its mission of safeguarding national monuments and visitors.

The Senators launched their probe in response to a report from The Washington Post, which outlined the unprecedented and dangerous nature of Trump’s plans to transform the U.S. Park Police.

The Senators wrote to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, “The administration is on a deliberate hiring spree to exploit the U.S. Park Police’s jurisdiction and turn it into a tool of the President for him and his ideological extremists to impose their will on the streets of D.C.”

“Commandeering the U.S. Park Police is not an earnest effort to help protect the Lincoln Memorial or improve motorists’ safety on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway,” the Senators stated. “According to a strategy memo obtained by The Washington Post, a goal for the force is to ‘establish the U.S. Park Police as the premier law enforcement agency in DC, capable of keeping DC safe regardless of inaction by MPD [Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia] or inaction by the DC City Council.’”

“There is no evidence of an uptick in crime on park service land or increased threats to national monuments – this haste in both a hiring spree and waiving of [critical testing and standards for new officers] are clear signs that the administration is hijacking this federal police force for its own authoritarian purposes. And the administration may seek other mechanisms (legal or otherwise) to further expand the U.S. Park Police, increasing this authoritarian threat,” the Senators strongly emphasized.

Merkley and the group of Senators concluded their inquiry by demanding the Trump Administration suspend its plans and swiftly answer urgent questions about its planned weaponization of the Park Police.

Previously, Merkley took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to speak directly to the American people and ring the alarm bells about the Trump Administration’s authoritarian takeover of the country. He spoke for 22 hours 37 minutes—the third longest speech in Senate history.

Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:

Dear Secretary Burgum:

We are alarmed that the National Park Service is currently in the process of doubling the number of U.S. Park Police officers in Washington, D.C. with the goal of transforming it into a federal police force to be deployed across the city rather than following its mission of safeguarding national monuments, icons, and visitors.

The administration is on a deliberate hiring spree to exploit the U.S. Park Police’s jurisdiction and turn it into a tool of the President for him and his ideological extremists to impose their will on the streets of D.C. Commandeering the U.S. Park Police is not an earnest effort to help protect the Lincoln Memorial or improve motorists’ safety on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. According to a strategy memo obtained by The Washington Post, a goal for the force is to “establish the U.S. Park Police as the premier law enforcement agency in DC, capable of keeping DC safe regardless of inaction by MPD [Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia] or inaction by the DC City Council.”

In fact, the administration is in such a hurry to get these new officers on board that it is offering

$70,000 hiring bonuses and a promise of a “streamlined, virtual hiring process with quick turnaround”. There is no psychological testing or physical fitness testing. In fact, applicants are allowed to submit a “self-attestation” in place of an in-person physical fitness test, an affront to the gold standard of federal law enforcement hiring – and standards that MPD itself follows in its hiring practices.

There is no evidence of an uptick in crime on park service land or increased threats to national monuments – this haste in both a hiring spree and waiving of critical testing and standards are clear signs that the administration is hijacking this federal police force for its own authoritarian purposes. And the administration may seek other mechanisms (legal or otherwise) to further expand the U.S. Park Police, increasing this authoritarian threat.

Amassing what is effectively a new federal police force is yet another Trump administration effort to consolidate and centralize his power as he continues to intimidate protestors, threaten free speech, and desensitize Americans to military presence on the streets. Reshaping the U.S. Park Police into a police force with a mission to carry out the President’s policy priorities hands President Trump a cadre of his own armed officers with widespread jurisdiction at his fingertips.

Continuing to amass more armed forces – police and military – under direct control of President Trump in Washington D.C. is unprecedented and dangerous. We demand you suspend the hiring process and provide full and complete responses to the following questions no later than December 19, 2025:

How do the jurisdictions and authorities of the U.S. Park Police and MPD differ in Washington, D.C.? Please provide a specific detailed explanation of your concurrent jurisdictions with federal, state and local law enforcement in the Washington, D.C. area and the role each agency plays in taking law enforcement actions.

MPD and the U.S. Capitol Police have an agreement that MPD cannot enter the U.S. Capitol Building and Congressional office buildings. Does the U.S. Park Police abide by that same limitation, and will they continue to do so? What agreement does Park Police have with MPD and USCP?

Does the Park Police have an interagency or other type agreement with MPD? If so, please provide that document.

Does the Park Police have an interagency or other type agreement with any other federal, state or local law enforcement agency in the National Capital Region? If so, please provide those documents.

Will the U.S. Park Police be used as a general police force or will deployments – regular and occasional – be limited to those involving National Park Service property? If general policing activities will be routinely performed, please provide a specific explanation of the authority, scope and schedule for such activities.

Does the National Park Service have a workforce planning analysis for this hiring increase? If so, please provide a copy.

What hiring standards are being revised, eliminated, or added for the recruiting and selection of these new hires? Please provide a copy of the current hiring standards for new law enforcement officers within the Service.

Reporting indicates that the agency is seeking 300 new officers. Please provide a justification for the number that includes rationale for what the duties of each of these new officers will be. What operational objective is being achieved within the Service by hiring and deploying these new officers?

Please describe what structure exists in the National Park Service for overseeing the USPP for communicating and enforcing, including disciplinary action, the code of conduct and use-of-force policy? How many new staff will be hired for these activities given that staffing in the District will double? Is there an independent body that reviews complaints and internal affairs investigations?

How will the 300 new officers, in addition to the current officers on board, be dispatched across the National Park Service’s jurisdiction? Will they be deployed consistent with U.S. Park Police’s primary operational mission to protect national icons and monuments?

What will the cost be for hiring, training, equipping, and employing 300 new officers in fiscal year 2026? What is the planned source of funding? What new contracts, such as for recruiting or other portions of the hiring process, will be required to meet this hiring goal and to whom are these contracts being awarded? If new contracts are required, will they be competitively awarded or sole source?

What will the cost be in fiscal year 2027? What is the planned source of funding?

Beyond the current hiring expansion announcement, what is the Service’s plan within the next year for personnel hiring in D.C.? Is there a plan for the U.S. Park Police to grow in Washington, D.C. beyond hiring the 300 additional officers?

Are there plans to hire additional officers in New York City (Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island National Historic Site and Gateway National Recreation Area) or San Francisco (Golden Gate National Recreation Area and the Presidio), where there are currently other U.S. Park Police officers deployed? If so, please provide a detailed explanation of the plans.

Are there plans to hire additional U.S. Park Police officers in other parts of the United States, and if so, where? Please provide a detailed explanation of the plans.

What is the source of funding and funding authority for the $70,000 hiring bonus advertised on the website of the National Park Service? What service agreements, if any, are new hires expected to perform for these bonuses? Do the agreements include loyalty pledges, or similar commitments, to the President or this administration? If agreements are required, please provide a copy of the agreement, to include the terms and conditions.

Given the new “streamlined, virtual hiring process with quick turnaround,” please describe in detail each step of the new hiring process for these officers and what requirements potential officers need to meet in order to qualify for this position.

Has the National Park Service used a “streamlined, virtual hiring process with quick turnaround” to hire U.S. Park Police officers in the past? What is the justification for this process? Which hiring standards have been eliminated to meet this hiring objective and why were they eliminated?

Because law enforcement officers are empowered with taking an individual’s constitutional rights away from them during the course of their duties, why is standard psychological testing not part of the hiring evaluation process to ensure the best candidates are selected? How is the Service ensuring that new hires do not have pre-existing mental health issues that would preclude them from carrying out the essential functions of being a law enforcement officer?

Why are applicants allowed to submit a “Self-Attestation” form for physical fitness instead of an in-person physical fitness test? How is the Service ensuring that new hires can carry out the essential functions of the position?

Are any of the interviews conducted in person, or is the entire hiring process conducted on Microsoft Teams as is described on the National Park Service website?

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-patients-and-ensure-more-americans-can-afford-health-care/,"Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Patients and Ensure More Americans can Afford Health Care",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,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. Senator Ron Wyden said today is leading Senate colleagues, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, in introducing legislation to protect health care coverage for millions of Americans and improve the effectiveness of the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace.

The Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act would renew the enhanced premium tax credits for three years, extend the 2026 open enrollment period, reduce paperwork for families, and lower out-of-pocket costs.

“Americans today are waking up to a cold reality: health care costs are doubling, tripling, or even worse,” Wyden said. “While Trump is playing the blame game on America’s affordability crisis, Democrats are working day and night to extend ACA tax credits so that working families nationwide can access quality care without breaking the bank.”

“Republicans exploded the cost of care for more than 20 million Americans who use the ACA exchange for health insurance—all to fund tax breaks for the already richest Americans,” said Merkley. “I refuse to let folks be left out in the cold—Congress needs to act now to fix the Republican health care crisis and lower the cost of health care for folks in Oregon and across the country.”

More than 20 million Americans rely on ACA Marketplace plans to have access to comprehensive health coverage, including small business owners, farmers and ranchers, independent contractors, and those who cannot afford insurance through their employers.

Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations, the Trump administration has systematically erected barriers that have made it both more difficult and more expensive for Americans to access health care coverage. With open enrollment underway, people are actively logging onto healthcare.gov to shop for insurance coverage in 2026 and seeing massive premium spikes that will cause millions of people to forgo coverage altogether.

The Restoring Patient Protections and Affordability Act would:

Prevent health insurance premium spikes by extending the enhanced premium tax credits for three years;

Extend open enrollment, restore navigator funding, and reinstate the low-income special enrollment period, protecting Americans who buy their own insurance on the ACA Marketplace from the chaos and confusion caused by Republicans;

Force insurance companies to be more transparent by requiring that health plan enrollees are notified of new information about eligibility, new premium amounts, and extended open enrollment;

Make it easier for working people to enroll in ACA coverage by reinstating automatic reenrollment and protecting against bureaucratic coverage denials;

Lower premiums, deductibles, and cost sharing for millions of Americans by reversing flawed Trump administration insurance payment formulas and by reinstating the bronze to silver cross walk;

Protect consumers from surprise premium bills by reinstating the repayment caps for those who inadvertently overestimate their income;

The bill was led by Wyden and U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. In addition to Merkley, the bill was also co-sponsored by Senators Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Tina Smith, D-Minn.

Wyden and Merkley have continually championed affordable health care. In November Wyden and Merkley slammed the Trump administration for its failure to address rising health care costs for American families.

The full text of the bill is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wyden-merkley-urge-trump-administration-to-release-funds-for-klamath-family-head-start/,"Wyden, Merkley Urge Trump Administration to Release Funds for Klamath Family Head Start",2025-12-08,2025,2025-12,Democrat,Senate,OR,Jeff Merkley,M001176,www.merkley.senate.gov,merkley,https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/,scraper,"Oregon senators’ letter notes that federal agency delays could endanger program helping 180 children in Southern Oregon

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Head Start to release grant funding essential to preventing the Klamath Family Head Start program from foreclosing on its main site in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

“Despite the program submitting a full application for funding to pay off an outstanding loan and purchase their facility more than six months ago, Klamath Family Head Start still has yet to receive an update from the Office of Head Start (OHS),” the senators wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “This delay is especially troubling as Klamath Family Head Start’s lender has now informed them that they will extend the mortgage only through December 18, 2025, after which this program could lose its building.”

“Klamath Family Head Start has been a trusted Head Start provider since 1980 and foreclosure of the building would be devastating for the community,” the senators continued. “One hundred eighty children and families in rural Oregon rely on this facility on a daily basis and it is supported by over 40 staff members. If the program is forced into an eviction or emergency relocation because of a stalled federal review process, Oregon families will pay the price.”

The senators requested an update to the status of the grant request, and a timeline of when OHS will complete its review.

The full letter is here.

###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T20:09:11Z