WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [12/13/24] Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), joined by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to pause implementation of planned changes to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA's planned changes to NFIP are intended to bring the flood insuran more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * Funding for zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles, along with infrastructure and workforce development projects, to tackle climate change, reduce air pollution, and advance environmental justice * * * SEATTLE -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has been selected to receive $6,543,857 in funding to assist in the purchase o more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- The Joint Economic Committee released the following testimony by Small Business Majority CEO John Arensmeyer from a Nov. 19, 2024, hearing entitled "Building on the Success of TCJA: The 2025 Tax Policy Debate". TCJA is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. * * * Chairman Heinrich, Vice Chairman Schweikert, and members of the Joint Economic Committee: Thank you for inviting me to speak about the importance of ensuring that we have a tax code that supports a robust, innovative and i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: 45 Senators: "Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills" 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 Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) to keep any new dangerou more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a notice, receipt of application for letter of authorization and request for comments and information in the Federal Register on Dec. 5, 2024, entitled "Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Surveys Along the Oregon and California Coasts". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: NMFS has received a request from the University  more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2024: * * * Delivers investments in Southwest Oregon's water infrastructure * * * On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representative passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). It authorizes U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (Corps) construction projects, studies and other infrastructure activities for U.S. waterways and ports. This bipartisan legislation includes key priorities championed by  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2024: * * * This year's NDAA adds $10 billion to an agency that has failed seven straight audits of its financials * * * Yesterday, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) voted against the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Just a month ago, the Pentagon announced it failed a seventh straight audit. Yet this year's NDAA adds nearly $10 billion with no additional oversight or acc more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: NANJEMOY, Md. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams today joined partners and community members to celebrate the establishment of Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge as the 573rd and newest unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System. A newly acquired 31-acre parcel is the first of several donations that will become part of th more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Surface Transportation Board issued the following notice (Docket No. AB 541) entitled "Portland and Western Railroad Inc. - Abandonment Exemption - in Washington County, Oregon": * * * Portland & Western Railroad, Inc. (PNWR), has filed a verified notice of exemption under 49 CFR part 1152 subpart F--Exempt Abandonments to abandon approximately 4,111 feet of rail line extending between milepost 31.3 and milepost 32.2 in Tigard, Or. more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vermont, issued the following news release: Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) partnered with U.S. Representative Katie Porter (D-CA-47) to introduce the Plug Offshore Wells Act, bicameral legislation that would direct the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to submit an annual, publicly available report to Congress on the status of decommissioning offshore oil and gas wells, platforms, an more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: This week, U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), the Senate's only former federal public defender, joined U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND-At Large) in introducing the Federal Public Defense Commission Act of 2024, bicameral legislation that would establish a new Federal Public Defense Commission to address current structural concerns within the federal public defense  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressional investigation reveals Navient may be improperly denying borrowers relief from predatory student loans Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in sending a letter to federal regulators that revealed the results of their investigation into Navient about its cancellation process for the predatory, for-profit student loans in its portfolio and urging the agencies to ensu more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Rep. Andrea Salinas today announced a federal investment of $20 million through the Inflation Reduction Act for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde to build a safe, accessible shelter that will provide services during extreme weather. "The problems created by the ongoing climate crisis overlap with many issues already threatening Oregonians such as housi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the city of Molalla has secured a $33.25 million loan and a $2 million grant to update its wastewater treatment facility. "Federal investment in modern infrastructure is a must for Oregonians counting on public health and for communities statewide needing to operate efficiently," Wyden said. "These federal funds achieve both objectives for residents an more PR