WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Nanette Barragan (D-CA-44), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), and Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13) led their colleagues on a bicameral letter thanking President Biden and Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Jennifer Granholm for pausing approvals of new liqu  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [05/09/2024] - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced legislation that models Oregon's successful Project Turnkey Program to provide flexible housing assistance that can quickly convert unused buildings into affordable housing and emergency shelters, enhance services for people experiencing homelessness, and address the nationwide housing crisis. The Project Turnkey Act would create a federal  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [05/08/2024] - Today Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced legislation to allow workers to receive full compensation when their employers are found liable for employment discrimination. The Equal Remedies Act corrects an outdated 1991 law that caps awards in cases of  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) voted in favor of the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870), which passed the House with bipartisan support. The proposal will help strengthen firefighter and first responder services across the nation by providing for a five-year reauthorization of key federal programs. "Firefighters put themselves in harm's way to protect their neighbors, and I deeply appreciate their cou  more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, issued the following news release: Today, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) hosted an oversight field hearing on the gray wolf population, the species' successful recovery and the need for its removal from the endangered species list. "A wolf is not a pet dog. It is not a schnauzer   more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) teamed up with U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week 2024 is celebrated from May 6th through May 12th. The resolution honors and celebrates the important contributions of  more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) teamed up with U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week 2024 is celebrated from May 6th through May 12th. The resolution honors and celebrates the important contribution  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced today he will be holding nine in-person town halls for Eastern Oregon counties in May: Malheur, Harney, and Grant counties on Friday, May 17; Baker, Union, and Wallowa counties on Saturday, May 18; and Umatilla, Morrow, and Gilliam counties on Sunday, May 19. The events continue Merkley's 2024 town hall tour of Oregon, where he is holding a community conversation fo  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Urge USPS to Request a Comprehensive Assessment of Proposed Changes from its Regulator and Address the Results Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined a bipartisan letter led by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to pa  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement in response to President Biden's recent comments that he would not send bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch a major invasion of Rafah: "President Biden's recent pause on the shipment of 500- and 2,000-pound bombs is the right decision. The president is also right to express concern about how these offensive weapons are bei  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the National Park Service (NPS) is awarding a total of $1,697,354 in Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) investments to help preserve treasured historical and cultural places in the state. These investments include $1,161,729 for State and Local Preservation Grants and $535,625 in Tribal Preservation Grants. "A core pillar of ensuring Oregon's futu  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the National Park Service (NPS) is awarding a total of $1,697,354 in Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) investments to help preserve treasured historical and cultural places in the state. These investments include $1,161,729 for State and Local Preservation Grants and $535,625 in Tribal Preservation Grants. "A core pillar of ensuring Oregon's future   more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Subcommittee on Early Childhood and Secondary Education released a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report found that inadequate oversight of Title IX negatively impacts women from participating in college athletics. Under Title   more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 6, 2024: On Friday, May 3, 2024, Chairman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) led a Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries oversight field hearing titled, "How Many Wolves Are Enough? Examining the Need to Delist the Grey Wolf." Chairman Cliff Bentz's opening statement (as written): "I want to thank the witnesses for being here today and our members for their interest in the issues we'll be discussing. Today, t  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 7, 2024: Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, pushed President Biden to enact nearly a dozen executive actions that build on the Department of Justice's proposal to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance. In an updated cannabis policy memorandum, Congress' top weed advocate outlines the path forward to end the failed federal prohibition  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Washington, issued the following news release on May 7, 2024: Last week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) and Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) led 17 of their bipartisan colleagues in urging the House Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Federal Highway Administration's Bridge Investment Program. This program is essential to bridge replacement projects across the country, including the I-5 Bridge Replacement Project connecting Washi  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on May 8, 2024: * * * Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7109, the 'Census Interference Act:' "It's another week in Washington, DC, which means another week of performative messaging bills brought by House Republicans. The latest is H.R. 7109, a bill that would add a citizenship question in the census and then require congressional districts to be   more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06), who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, warned that House Republicans' partisan approach to the Farm Bill would exacerbate food insecurity in Oregon's Sixth District. "The Farm Bill should help feed more people, not take food off their dinner tables. Unfortunately, the bare-bones framework presented by House Republicans would only exacerbate food ins  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 8, 2024: Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) led a bipartisan group of 38 lawmakers demanding answers from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the implementation of recent reforms aimed at combatting hospice fraud and abuse. "When electing to receive hospice care, individuals and their families must be confident the provider is committed to   more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 7, 2024: Today, Representatives Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the bipartisan Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act. This important legislation includes a 5-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home program to allow participating providers to continue furnishing services that enhance access to care. This bill will allow for the expanded delivery of ho  more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31), and Don Beyer (VA-08), the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus, led 36 of their colleagues in introducing H.Res. 1206, a bipartisan resolution to recognize May 2024 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. "Mental health challenges are at an all-time high and can be devastating for individuals, families, and co  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from a hearing dated April 16, 2024, entitled "The President's Fiscal Year 2025 IRS Budget and the IRS 2024 Filing Season": * * * The Committee meets this morning to discuss the IRS budget and tax filing season, which closed just yesterday. I want to thank Commissioner Werfel for being here at a very busy time for everybody at the IRS. There are a lot of issues to discuss,   more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following testimony from a hearing dated April 11, 2024, entitled "Bolstering Chronic Care Through Medicare Physician Payment": * * * This morning the Finance Committee gathers to discuss how to update and strengthen Medicare's guarantee of high-quality health benefits for the next generation of America's seniors. Colleagues, I want to be clear from the outset: traditional Medicare is falling  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from a hearing dated April 17, 2024, entitled "The President's 2024 Trade Policy Agenda": * * * I'm going to discuss the ways in which Congress and the administration can work together to build a trade agenda that will supercharge America's diverse industries and create good-paying and innovative jobs across Oregon and nationwide. Let's start with trade enforcement: withou  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden today joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in calling on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Federal Defender Services program in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill. "In FY24, Defender Services was appropriated $1.45 billion, and in FY25, the Judiciary is requesting $1.69 billion. This essential funding supports  more

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and 23 Senate colleagues urging Senate appropriators to provide $2.7 billion in funding to the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) in fiscal year (FY) 2025. "Fully funding the President's request for FSA this fiscal year - a $625 million increase from the FY 2023 levels - is particularly critical given that FSA's FY 2023 and FY 2024 funding was sta  more

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden said today that the bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Act he voted for this week would save lives as well as benefit Oregon air travelers and small businesses. "It is absolutely essential to our national security and economy to fully fund the departments that keep our planes in the sky and Oregonians safe in Oregon and throughout the country," Wyden said about the legislation authorizing operation  more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected Boutique Air to continue providing Essential Air Service between Pendleton and Portland with 21 nonstop round trips a week between the two cities. "Regular air service is critical for rural communities to give local businesses the opportunity to tap into national and international economies, and provide a vital  more

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Contract funds 21 nonstop round trips to/from PDX per week through May 2026 Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has selected Boutique Air to continue providing Essential Air Service between Pendleton and Portland with 21 nonstop round trips a week between the two cities. "Regular air service is critical for rural communities to give local businesses the o  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Douglas and Lane counties will receive $1.22 million and $4 million, respectively, in drought resiliency funding as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. "In Oregon and throughout the West, we know firsthand how much the climate crisis has devastated our communities and economies with drought and other impacts," Wyden said. "Sol  more

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Bureau of Reclamation Funds Two Oregon Projects Under its WaterSMART Program Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Douglas and Lane counties will receive $1.22 million and $4 million, respectively, in drought resiliency funding as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. "In Oregon and throughout the West, we know firsthand how much the climate crisis has devastate  more