Jeff Merkley

On Thursday, members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee discussed the need to provide financial security for rural communities in Oregon, and nationwide, but ensuring long-term funding for essential services.  During the hearing on pending legislation addressing the Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs, Oregon’s Ron Wyden said it’s important that lawmakers g

Last week, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act.  The legislation would designate more than one million acres of wilderness and protect more than 14 miles of the Owyhee River as wild and scenic.  Je...

Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led a group of fellow Democrats in releasing a report on the Trump Administration’s trade policies.  The Report says the administration’s agricultural trade aid program “is picking winners and losers in their attempt to aid farmers affected by President Trump’s turbulent trade agenda.”   The Democrats, whi.

While this week’s White House budget deal with Congressional leaders makes it easier to pass USDA and other spending bills in September, it’s not a guarantee.  The two-year budget debt ceiling deal must still be sold to lawmakers of both parties and there are both Republicans and Democrats that are not happy.  There's a 'no'...

Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden said the Oregon Ag industry will receive needed help through the disaster package passed last week.  The two Democrats said part of the $19.1 billion bipartisan disaster includes relief for Oregon agriculture affected by severe wildfires and storms, such as winegrowers that saw their crop severely damaged by wildfire smoke in 2018.  ...

On Thursday, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Colorado’s Cory Gardner (R-CO) led a bipartisan group of Senators, including Patty Murray, Ron Wyden, Jacky Rosen, Lisa Murkowski, Michael Bennet, Dan Sullivan, Kamala Harris, Rand Paul, Catherine Cortez-Masto, Kevin Cramer, Tammy Duckworth, Gary Peters, Bob Menendez, Angus King, Bernie Sanders, Edward J. Mark...

Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Oregon’s Jeff Merkley are leading a bipartisan push for “robust” wind energy funding in the 2020 funding bills.   Grassley, a Republican, and Merkley, a Democrat, call the funding necessary to “continue supporting rural communities, advance domestic energy independence, and ensure America remains a leader in wind energy technology.”  Their comments were sent ...

The Farm Bill conference committee announced last week it had agreed in principle setting up for passage of the pivotal legislation by year’s end.  Andrew Walmsley, American Farm Bureau Federation congressional relations director, says the hope is lawmakers will address the bill during this the final week of 2018.   “...

After a visit earlier this week to fire-ravaged California Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue says there's an urgent need to more than increase suppression efforts.  Purdue said there's an urgent need to increase preventative treatments, and on Capitol Hill Thursday he unveiled a plan that requires states and environmental groups collaborating more closely and sharing resources.  ...

On Tuesday, Senators Jeff Merkely, Ron Wyden and Governor Kate Brown announced the USDA will provide access to emergency conservation service grants to farmers impacted by the recent Substation, Boxcar, and Jackknife wildfires.  Merkley said this assistance is a step toward recovery for those that have lost crops to fire.  ...