WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: The Department of the Interior today announced a $37.4 million investment through President Biden's Investing in America agenda for three projects to help improve drought resiliency in Oregon. The projects, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act the largest ever investment in climate are expected to conserve almost 5,000 acre-feet of water annually in the Ochoco, Central Oregon and Tumalo irrigatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release: The Department of the Interior today announced a $37.4 million investment through President Biden's Investing in America agenda for three projects to help improve drought resiliency in Oregon. The projects, funded through the Inflation Reduction Act the largest ever investment in climate are expected to conserve almost 5,000 acre-feet of water annually in the Ochoco, Central Ore more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), and Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) sent a letter to Robinhood questioning their recent decision to allow customers to bet on the results of the presidential election. "It appears that Robinhood has capitalized on election betting to expand its profits, which could come at the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) applauded Senate passage of the Urban Canal Modernization Act, which would allow Bureau of Reclamation aging infrastructure funding to help address repairs for urban canals with extraordinary maintenance issues. Many western canals, like the New York Canal in Idaho's Treasure Valley, have gone from being rural in nature to surrounded by urban infrastructure over t more PR

PORTLAND, Oregon, Dec. 20 -- Environment Oregon issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Preliminary 2024 data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries shows 34 whales -- the highest number since 2018 -- became entangled in fishing gear this year off the West Coast, E&E News reported Thursday, citing a NOAA spokesperson. The data will be made public next year, E&E said. Off the Pacific coast of the United States, whales often get entangled in vertical r more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure webs more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Department of Housing and Urban Development issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * Funds will support manufactured communities through repairs, infrastructure upgrades, homeowner assistance and creation of new homes. * * * Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the award of $225 million in competitive grant funding for 17 awardees with proposed projects across 26 states through the Preservation and Reinvestme more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs issued a notice in the Federal Register on Dec. 13, 2024, entitled "Indian Gaming; Approval of the Tribal-State Class III Gaming Compact Amendment Between the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and the State of Oregon". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: This notice publishes the approval of the Amendment to the Amended and Restated (Highway 26) Tribal-State Compact for Regulation o more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the following news release: The Department of the Interior today announced an updated Western Solar Plan to help guide efficient and environmentally responsible solar energy permitting on public lands across the West. The plan will guide the siting of solar energy proposals in areas with fewer resource conflicts, advance the nation's growing clean energy economy, help lower energy costs for consumers, create good-paying jobs, ta more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management issued the following news release: The Department of the Interior today announced an updated Western Solar Plan to help guide efficient and environmentally responsible solar energy permitting on public lands across the West. The plan will guide the siting of solar energy proposals in areas with fewer resource conflicts, advance the nation's growing clean energy economy, help lower energy costs for consumers, cr more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register on Dec. 11, 2024, entitled "Reclassification of the Rough Popcornflower From Endangered to Threatened With a Section 4(d) Rule". Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to reclassify the rough popcornflower ( Plagiobothrys hirtus) from endangered to threatened (downlist) under the Endangered Species Act of 197 more ST

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued the following news release: Investments will help reduce wildlife vehicle collisions that result in thousands of serious injuries, hundreds of fatalities, and more than $10 billion in medical costs and property damage each year. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced $125 million in grants for 16 wildlife crossing projects in 16 states, including one Native American Tribe. more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration issued the following news release: The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced $125 million in grants for 16 wildlife crossing projects in 16 states, including one Native American Tribe. The funding is available through the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, a new grant program in its second round of awards that was created by President Biden's Bipartisan  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving $33,182,188 in federal funding to construct the Mariposa Preserve Wildlife Crossing over I-5 in Southern Oregon through the heart of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Once complete, the wildlife crossing will be among the largest in the nation to significantly improve the mo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a $4,419,306 grant for high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Lane County. This federal investment for Pioneer Telephone Cooperative will be used to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet. This network will benefit 75 people, 12 businesses, and eight farms in Lane County. The funding is provided through t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $19,742,170 to revitalize and modernize manufactured housing and eligible manufactured housing communities across Oregon. "As communities and Tribes in every corner of the state face their biggest housing affordability crises in decades--with rents dramatically outpacing i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that critical projects and policy initiatives for Oregon included in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 have passed Congress and now head to the president's desk to be signed into law. Their authorization sets the stage for Oregon to secure essential water infrastructure funding. "Water is the lifeblood of our state. Updating a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory issued the following article on Dec. 18, 2024: * * * Study will help Oregon better prepare for changing future demands for finished gasoline * * * By Elsie Puig-Santana Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) are collaborating on a pilot project to evaluate risks to petroleum fuel infrastructure, distribution, and supply chains and compounding more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release: RAPID CITY, S.D. The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $10,708,466.00 contract to T1 Construction LLC, of North Bend Oregon to repair the Angostura Dam spillway.The project aims to improve access by upgrading the old road to the stilling basin and addressing freeze-thaw deterioration by removing and replacing damaged concrete on the face of the dam.Construction is projected to more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation issued the following news release: RAPID CITY, S.D. The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $10,708,466.00 contract to T1 Construction LLC, of North Bend Oregon to repair the Angostura Dam spillway.The project aims to improve access by upgrading the old road to the stilling basin and addressing freeze-thaw deterioration by removing and replacing damaged concrete on the face of the dam.Construction is projected to more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: "Today, I voted to keep the government open so that our servicemembers will continue to get paid, farmers will get the assistance they deserve, and families will be able to put food on the table this Christmas. I am relieved that we were able to avoid a shutdown and pass a bare minimum extension of the Farm Bill. At the same time, I am deeply disappointed in Speaker Johnson's failure to pass a bipartisan d more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: The U.S. Senate today advanced the EXPLORE Act, a bipartisan bill that includes key provisions authored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., to make the outdoors more accessible and to support the recreation economy in Oregon and nationwide. The bill now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law. "As an Oregonian, I know the power of outdoor recreation in uplifting rural economies. From more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Dec. 19, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the findings of the Committee's investigation into eight hospitals that reportedly delayed and denied women emergency reproductive health care in potential violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) post-Dobbs. The Committee's report, "Practicing Amid 'a Min more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz issued the following joint statement today about their work to pass bipartisan legislation for the Owyhee Canyon Lands in Eastern Oregon: "You cannot get an acre of wilderness, an ounce of Tribal protection, or any meaningful grazing reforms for ranchers in the Owyhee without black-letter law passed by Congress. So we want Oregonians to hear us  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today reintroduced their bipartisan bill to protect the confidentiality of email communications between incarcerated individuals and their attorneys. Despite mail, phone calls, and in-person meetings at federal prisons being protected against government surveillance, current federal policies require that inmates at Bureau of Prison facilities must al more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Bipartisan Letter Criticizes Auto Industry Fearmongering "The industry has raised concerns about data sharing with independent repair shops to justify opposing right-to-repair, while earning profits from sharing large amounts of personal data with insurance companies." Text of Letter (PDF) Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to the leaders of each of th more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (TNSfact) -- The White House issued the following fact sheet on Dec. 19, 2024: * * * President Biden Sets 2035 Climate Target Aimed at Creating Good-Paying Union Jobs, Reducing Costs for All Americans, and Securing U.S. Leadership in the Clean Energy Economy of the Future - The U.S. Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) is an economy-wide, all greenhouse gas target of reducing net emissions by 61-66 percent below 2005 levels in 2035 - The emissions reduction strategy i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: The Bureau of Reclamation award will benefit projects by The Klamath Tribes, Hoopa Valley Tribe, Karuk Tribe, Modoc Nation, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People, and Yurok Tribe. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $4.6 million for six Klamath Basin Tribes to support 14 projects aimed at combating drought and building resilience in Tribal communities across the region. "Res more PR