Fresh into her second term, Rep. Val Hoyle has scored herself some kudos for her first – and she’s giving a scream for libraries. Said scream was not in a library, it was for libraries… operative word for, not in, we promise.
Also, we’ve been bad. Yes, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley slammed out bills seeking to more affordably heat homes, cool urban areas, and protect everyone’s data, water and environment – but because we Advocate folks are children, that’s not what we really responded to.
Nope. It was Merkley getting all cuddly with freaking Senator Rand Paul, of all people, over the administration’s recent actions in Yemen. Okay, they didn’t really cuddle, they just agreed on something, which is bipartisanship, so yeah.
As for Wyden, because we’re bad people, we wag a finger at him even when he’s nice to us, but at least we meet him at Oz, a reference you’ll understand when you read this week’s DC Report…. Soooo, here yuh go….
Hoyle’s week…
Congrats are in order: Last week, we learned Hoyle has been ranked as one of the most effective first-term lawmakers in the 118th Congress, years 2023-25, by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, or CEL.
Rep. Hoyle was the second highest ranked Democratic freshman and eighth highest ranked freshman overall.
“Since my time in the Oregon State House, I have prided myself on being an honest and effective broker who can bring people together from across the aisle to find solutions while still holding true to my values,” Rep. Hoyle said. “Effective lawmaking usually doesn’t make headlines, but it should always make life easier for working people and that is exactly what I came to Congress to do. I am humbled to be recognized by the Center for Effective Lawmaking for meeting that mark last congress, and I look forward to building on that work.”
The CEL also issued this statement alongside the award announcement: “Our analysis found that Representative Hoyle ranked as one of the most effective freshman lawmakers in the entire House. We congratulate the Representative for her hard work and setting an example for promoting the importance of effective lawmaking.”
The Center for Effective Lawmaking is a joint venture between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University that seeks to better understand and promote what effective lawmaking looks like.
Their criteria for their rankings can be found on page 1 of the Executive Summary of their report for the 118th Congress. Every Congress, CEL ranks the most effective House Members and Senators, and freshman Members in both houses.
Worth a try: On Thursday, Hoyle joined Wyden and Merkley, and the whole freaking Oregon congressional delegation for a freakout. Okay, the freakout was minus one Oregon congressman, Republican Cliff Bentz, but hey…
They were seeking to sound the alarm over potential federal funding cuts at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which comes as the agency’s entire staff was recently placed on administrative leave.
“Libraries and museums play a vital role in our communities, including in the great state of Oregon,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to IMLS acting director Keith Sonderling. “Libraries offer access for all to essential information and engagement on a wide range of topics, including skills and career training, broadband, and computing services.”
Concerns over the looming funding cuts come amid reporting that the IMLS placed its entire staff on paid administrative leave, following a meeting between staff from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and IMLS leadership.
“IMLS cuts also affect zoos and aquariums—including the Oregon Zoo and the Oregon Coast Aquarium—which use IMLS funds to contribute to the wellbeing and advancement of our communities and develop and expand programs that educate and engage Oregonians and visitors alike,” the lawmakers further cautioned.
IMLS grants enable libraries to develop services in every community, including people of diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, residents of rural and urban areas, Native Americans, military families, veterans, and caregivers. IMLS was created under the Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA) of 1996 and is required to have an Office of Museum Services and an Office of Library Services.
The IMLS Office of Museum Services is the largest dedicated source of investment in the nation’s museums, which typically support more than 700,000 jobs and contribute $50 billion annually to the U.S. economy. IMLS funding plays a significant role in this economic impact by helping museums reach more visitors and spur community development. For example, Central Oregon’s High Desert Museum received $1.43 million from IMLS grants over the last decade, which had allowed the museum to partner with the Museum at Warm Springs on Tribal programming and fund family workshops involving STEM education in rural communities.
The IMLS Office of Library Services provided 25 percent of the State Library of Oregon’s budget, approximately $2.6 million. If these funds were to disappear, the budget for the SAGE courier system in Eastern Oregon — which transported 91,582 items across 15 rural counties in Eastern Oregon in FY24 — would be cut in half. Similarly, without this funding, K-12 students in Oregon would no longer have access to the online resources of the Oregon School Library Information System, which had 677,775 visits in FY24.
In sharing their deep concerns with IMLS Acting Director Keith Sonderling, the Oregon delegation reminded the Trump Administration of its obligation to execute the provisions MLSA reauthorized in 2018, which was signed into law by President Trump.
“We expect that the Administration will implement the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 in a manner consistent with these allocations enacted in Fiscal Year 2024,” wrote the Oregon delegation. “We also expect that the Administration will allow the IMLS to engage with and support both libraries and museums as Congress intended and as authorized in the MLSA.”
For Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24), Congress appropriated $294.8 million for IMLS, and Oregon benefitted from nearly $3.6 million of that funding. This includes more than $2.5 million to Oregon for the grants to states program under the Library Services Technology Act, which is the largest source of federal funding support for library services in the United States. Investments for Oregon in FY24 included more than $700,000 for Oregon museums to better serve the public, with funding for the Portland Art Museum, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the High Desert Museum.
Full text of the letter can be found HERE.
Wyden’s Week…
Age old problem: On Wednesday, Wyden joined Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to demand a new investigation into the quality of care provided at assisted living facilities.
Their goal is to find out if the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and state Medicaid agencies have improved their ability to protect hundreds of thousands of seniors and people with disabilities in assisted living facilities that participate in Medicaid.
“A new GAO report could provide legislators and the American public with a stronger understanding of why assisted living facilities were so rarely held accountable for neglecting the safety of their residents,” the senators wrote the Government Accountability Office, or GAO.
In 2018, GAO reported on this issue, revealing that the majority of state Medicaid agencies did not track serious health and safety issues at assisted living facilities participating in Medicaid. The report also found state agencies defined critical incidents in different ways, limiting the collection of information. GAO concluded that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services may be unaware of widespread problems affecting Medicaid beneficiaries at assisted living facilities due to a lack of clear federal guidance on reporting issues.
Since this initial report, The Washington Post revealed that since 2018, thousands of assisted living residents have “wandered away…or been left unattended for hours outside,” leading to nearly 100 documented deaths and even more residents unaccounted for as a result of “failures by administrators and front-line caregivers” to prevent these incidents.
“Given GAO’s previous findings on the need for improved oversight of assisted living facilities, and new findings about residents’ health and safety, we request that GAO provide an update on this issue,” concluded the senators.
The lawmakers asked for details into the GAO’s investigation, highlighting how oversight of the facilities has changed since the 2018 report, what deficiencies and critical incidents have been identified at the facilities in recent years, how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is implementing the updated monitoring and reporting requirements for state Medicaid programs, and what additional oversight in these facilities is necessary.
Wyden is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. Warren is the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee. Gillibrand is the Ranking Member of the Senate Aging Committee.
Full text of the letter is here. The Advocate has staff that were writing and editing on these same issues in the 1990s.
Hot and cold: On Thursday, Wyden announced he is co-sponsoring a bill to expand and modernize the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
His goals: As Wyden puts it, he is looking to bring much-needed relief for Americans struggling to pay their utility bills in Oregon and nationwide. This legislation comes on the heels of reports that RFK Jr. has terminated the entire LIHEAP staff, making this bill all the more crucial.
“No Oregonian should have to choose between putting food on their table or paying their utility bills,” Wyden said. “Unfortunately, as the climate crisis continues to wreak havoc, more and more Americans face extreme temperature shifts and rising energy costs. This bill would help provide energy assistance to everybody facing the impossible choice between food or utilities and could mean the difference between life and death for many vulnerable Oregonians.”
Specifically, the Heating and Cooling Relief Act would:
- Substantially increase Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding to ensure year-round assistance, including an additional $2 billion for emergency energy assistance and $1 billion in Just Transition grants to help vulnerable households adapt to a changing climate;
- Broaden eligibility so that households earning up to 250 percent of the federal poverty line or 80 percent of state median income can qualify, while ensuring lower energy burdens for lower-income households and capping household energy burdens at 3 percent of monthly income;
- Protect consumers from utility shutoffs, excessive late fees, and predatory energy practices that disproportionately hurt vulnerable communities;
- Expand emergency assistance, ensuring extreme heat and cold are recognized as qualifying emergencies and that states can provide vital cooling relief;
- Increase funding for weatherization and home electrification, to help low-income households reduce energy costs, improve health and safety, and transition to clean, resilient energy systems;
- Streamline enrollment and outreach, improving coordination with other federal programs and increasing access through automatic enrollment and simplified verification; and
- Strengthen reporting requirements to better track affordability, equity, and climate resilience outcomes.
The full bill is here. A section by section breakdown of the bill is here. The legislation has broad Democratic support, however, among the majority Republican party – well, not so much.
Watersheds retry: Also on Thursday, Wyden reintroduced legislation that would improve the restoration of watersheds – saying these are the lands and waters that supply our communities with drinking and irrigation water and provide habitat and recreation opportunities – across Oregon and nationwide.
“With this year’s scorching hot summer right around the bend, it is more important than ever to improve watersheds so our communities have clean drinking water, fertile soil, outdoor recreation, productive fisheries, and other basic essentials,” Wyden said. “This bill would use cost-efficient tools backed by science to restore the health of our waterways so they are safe and resilient for generations of Oregonians and Americans nationwide to enjoy.”
Watersheds are made up of rivers and streams, farms and rangeland, forests and developed towns and cities, with restoration opportunities varying dramatically from acre to acre. Wyden’s Watershed Results Act would usescientific and data analysis to identify the most effective areas, where watershed restoration work would generate the greatest environmental results at the best value for taxpayers. The Interior Department would pilot this fresh approach in several watersheds across the country, addressing environmental, economic and public health concerns.
“Farmers play a critical role in ensuring the resiliency of our watersheds. We are supportive of this legislation because it encourages collaboration among all those funding and working with and on behalf of water. Collaboration and innovation are both desperately needed if we are going to ensure that our freshwater resources can support the future of farming,” said Dan Keppen, Executive Director of Family Farm Alliance.
“Right now, too many hurdles stand in the way of getting obvious conservation solutions on the ground. This innovative bill—which uses technology to prioritize where we invest, coordinates across all the fragmented funding to get the best projects done fast, and vastly streamlines transactions—makes it a great fit for the moment, and provides a scalable model for getting real outcomes for taxpayer dollars,” said Joe Whitworth, President & CEO of The Freshwater Trust.
“The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund works with farmers and outcome beneficiaries across ten states to improve water quality and climate resiliency. The proposed Watershed Results Act supports an outcome-based approach to water quality improvement and, if passed, would represent a transformative approach in how the Federal Government funds environmental outcomes by providing cost-effective delivery of conservation dollars to areas providing the highest benefit,” said Adam Kiel, Managing Director of Soil and Water Outcomes Fund and Executive Vice President of AgOutcomes.
“Two of the most important ways to make national environmental programs more effective are captured in Senator Wyden’s legislation: a focus on quantified environmental outcomes, and permission for federal agencies to use pay for success contracts to buy them. The Watershed Results Act puts in place the right incentives for America’s restoration experts and scientists to do their most effective and creative work for freshwater,” said Timothy Male, Executive Director of Environmental Policy Innovation Center.
The Watershed Results Act was successfully reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in the previous Congress.
The text of the bill is here.
More words: Also on Thursday, Wyden announced he is co-sponsoring a resolution designating April 2025 as “Preserving and Protecting Local News Month” to highlight local journalism’s vital role in U.S. democracy, particularly as news outlets face mounting threats and intimidation from the Trump administration.
“The cornerstone of democracy is a free and fair press. Among this administration’s blatant threats, exclusions and intimidation, it’s more important than ever to protect these vital local information outlets in Oregon and nationwide,” Wyden said. “Trump has made it painfully clear he thrives best in dark, deceitful places, which is why I’ll keep spotlighting our First Amendment rights whenever they are threatened by authoritarian wanna-bes. As the son of a journalist and an elected official who knows full well the need for reliable local news, I’ll always fight for a free press and the crucial service it provides in maintaining healthy and vibrant communities.”
In addition to Wyden, the resolution was led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and co-sponsored by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.).
Full text of the resolution is here.
And now, we’ll editorialize a moment…
Ron, thanks for the words, but Donald Trump isn’t the coffin, he’s just one of the louder and last nails. By the time the Orange One descended down the Golden Escalator, monopolies were already dressing local journalism for the grave.
But, it’s not all bad news – there is something you can do for us. And this is where we beg for some legislatin’.
What local journalism needs is the online environment – a once upon a time promised land for information and thought that has now been overtaken by tech bro designed algorithms with the sole purpose of keeping one within the colorless vanilla confines of, well, the algorithms.
And nobody can compete with any of it, because it is these bro barons that decide what most everyone is likely to see and hear today. They set the rules for how we sell advertising, and then shockingly control the online advertising market. That revenue gone; and our industry has turned to subscriptions. The bros also set the rules for how we sell subscriptions – and steal our content so consumers are less likely to buy one.
A news outlet’s very discoverability is directly controlled by folks with a demonstrable animus toward our work. Honestly, it feels like there should be a law, or maybe a few laws.
And this is where you come in. Because yes, while we appreciate your words, given what we do for a living, we have plenty of our own. What we really need from you is legislation. We need renumeration for damages done. We need an evened up playing field. And our larger society needs a far less powerful technocracy.
We need new laws that do those things.
Do that, and you won’t need to be writing proclamations about Donald Trump’s treatment of the news media anymore – we’ll take care of that for you. But that’s a whole other editorial, and we are now returning to our usual news coverage…
Land with Oz: Dr. Mehmet Oz has now been confirmed as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Sooo… Wyden has invited the Doc to honor his recent commitment to join him for a Malheur County town hall so the Trump appointee could hear directly about Medicaid’s importance in the county with the state’s highest share of residents enrolled in the federal-state program that helps seniors, children, families and more cover medical and nursing home costs – known in Oregon as the Oregon Health Plan.
“I know you will honor your commitment to Oregonians to visit Malheur County so you can hear directly from citizens and dedicated health care workers how devastating proposed Medicaid cuts by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans would be to one of Oregon’s poorest counties,” wrote Wyden, who is the Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “The importance of Medicaid in Malheur County cannot be overstated. With more than half of its residents enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan, it has the highest share among Oregon’s 36 counties”.
“Not only that, the Oregon Health Plan is the economic lifeblood of Malheur County,” Wyden wrote. “Malheur County boasts one hospital, one nursing home, and a community-based mobile crisis team, operating 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for people who experience a behavioral health crisis. These pillars of the community offer stable employment for doctors, nurses, aides, counselors, janitors, and administrators, among others.”
Wyden told Dr. Oz he could schedule a town hall with him on April 23 in Malheur County during the Senate’s upcoming state work period, or between June 19-21 during the June state work period. The entire letter is here.
Merkley’s week….
Cast for the water: On Tuesday, Merkley joined Oregon’s Congresswoman Janelle Bynum to introduce the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025. The bill reauthorizes the Deschutes River Conservancy’s (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality improvement initiatives and conservation efforts.
Since its founding in 1996, the DRC and district partners have saved and restored flow to 350 cubic feet per second to rivers and streams, and piped over 100 miles of canals, maintaining streamflow and preventing water loss.
“Support for the Deschutes River Conservancy benefits our economy, our health, and our environment,” said Congresswoman Bynum. “It’s difficult to overstate the importance of the Deschutes River Basin for our Central Oregon communities, and the DRC’s work to improve, restore, and maintain its water flow and water quality. I’m proud to partner with Senator Merkley and lead this bill in the House to get this bill across the finish line and improve quality of life for all Oregonians.”
“The Deschutes River Conservancy plays a critical role in maintaining the quality of our waterways, and its work goes hand-in-hand with the health and stability of Central Oregon’s rivers and tributaries that are essential to our Tribes, agricultural producers, and those who use the Deschutes River as their destination for recreation,” said Senator Merkley. “Reauthorizing the DRC’s ability to receive federal funding will directly enhance collaborative conservation projects to improve water quality, supporting essential restoration work and working toward a sustainable future across the region.”
Som background – he DRC was formed in 1996 to improve water quality and restore streamflow in the Deschutes River Basin, which covers more than 10,000 square miles. The DRC was first reauthorized in 2005, which made it eligible to receive $2 million per year for the next 10 years. The Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act of 2025 would reauthorize the DRC for the next 10 years, permitting it to receive $2 million in federal funding annually from the Bureau of Reclamation to continue its water quality and conservancy efforts.
You can view the full text of the bill here.
Student loan relief-ish: With affordable student loan repayment options at risk, Merkley and Virginia’s U.S. Senator Tim Kaine are leading an effort to protect and expand federal student loan repayment programs.
The Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment (SOAR) Act creates a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan—which links payments to a borrower’s income and family size—to better protect borrowers from unaffordable payments, runaway balances due to rapidly accruing interest, and offer a clearer path to debt relief after at least a decade of payments. The SOAR Act codifies, expands, and strengthens the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan that President Biden introduced to help student loan borrowers nationwide in 2023.
“As the first in my family to go to college, I know the barriers that too many students face in accessing higher education,” said Merkley. “Income-driven repayment programs are an essential tool to address America’s student debt crisis. As Republicans threaten to raze the SAVE Plan and other affordable repayment options for students, we need to fight back by ensuring students have a much-needed path to loan forgiveness, now and in the future.”
Merkley and Kaine’s SOAR Act is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), The Institute of College Access & Success (TICAS), Student Borrower Protection Center, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Consumer Action, National Urban League, Student Debt Crisis Center, The Education Trust, UnidosUS, and Young Invincibles.
“Income-driven repayment plans give millions of borrowers the right to pursue a life and career free from the shackles of onerous student debt. And they are the only way for public service workers to benefit from Public Service Loan Forgiveness—a critical lifeline for teachers, nurses, first responders and countless others. While the new administration and its pliant allies in Congress seem intent on stripping away these options and making life harder for working people, Sens. Jeff Merkley and Tim Kaine are introducing the Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment Act to ease the squeeze. The AFT won’t rest until we make college more accessible and affordable, and we urge Congress to pass the SOAR Act as an important step toward that goal,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.
“NEA applauds Senators Merkley and Kaine for introducing the SOAR Act, a bill designed to create an affordable and accessible federal student loan repayment pathway. As an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan, SOAR will work in tandem with Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). This will strengthen the educator pipeline and other careers that lead to public sector jobs that provide essential services for every community, especially in rural and underserved areas,” said Marc Egan, Director of Government Relations at the National Education Association (NEA).
In addition to Merkley and Kaine, the SOAR Act is cosponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA).
Full text of the SOAR Act can be found by clicking here.
A one-pager on the SOAR Act can be found by clicking here.
Less comfort for our enemies: On Thursday, Merkley reintroduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act.
His goal with the legislation is to lower prices for American households by banning the export of crude oil or liquefied fossil gas (also known as LNG) to what he calls our biggest adversaries: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Angus King (I-ME).
“Sending LNG to our adversaries raises prices for Americans,” said Senator Merkley. “This bill helps keep energy affordable for American families by ensuring our resources stay here at home, rather than being shipped to boost the economies of China and Russia.”
According to Merkley, exporting LNG is causing price instability and rising costs for American households and industries. This spring, the Trump Administration reversed President Biden’s pause on LNG exports and approved two new LNG export facilities, Commonwealth LNG and Golden Pass LNG, just the first of many projects that will harm the planet and domestic economy.
Full text of the bill can be found by clicking here.
A summary of the bill can be found by clicking here.
For Youth Corps, bipartisanship: Merkley has also joined Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to introduce legislation that seeks to reduce federal cost-sharing requirements for public lands projects performed by qualified youth or conservation corps from 25% to 10%.
“Current cost-sharing requirements prevent youth conservation corps from carrying out important public lands projects,” said Risch. “My bill reduces this barrier to better allow our youth corps to enhance our public lands while instilling life skills and job training to the future workforce.”
“As more work falls on the Youth Corps due to cuts at federal agencies, it has never been more important to support its critical work to enhance our public lands,” said Merkley. “The Corps’ conservation and wildfire resiliency efforts have built a pipeline for talented young people to develop skills that can grow into careers. Congress must take immediate action to pass this bipartisan bill that ensures our Youth Corps can expand opportunities for the next generation of leaders as stewards and protectors of our public lands.”
Risch and Merkley are joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Cartherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) in introducing the legislation.
“This important adjustment to the Public Lands Corps Act will allow many more young Americans participate in service while protecting our communities from wildfire, improving our outdoor recreation facilities, and keeping our lands and waters healthy for generations. Conservation Corps help prepare thousands of young people each year for careers in resource management, forestry, and wildfire. We are grateful for Senator Risch’s leadership in this effort,” said Jeff Parker, CEO of Idaho Conservation Corps.
Yemen, skeptical bedfellows: On Tuesday, in response to escalating U.S. military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, Merkley and Kentucky’s U.S. Senator Rand Paul joined forces to urge the Trump Administration to adhere to the Constitution and consult with Congress in order to avoid stumbling into another costly and unnecessary war.
Wait, Merkley and Paul agreed on a thing? Yes, we had to give that a reread ourselves. But let’s move along…
Their bipartisan effort demands swift answers amid growing national security concerns as a result of U.S. military engagement in the region and the administration’s careless decision-making.
Merkley and Paul wrote in their letter to President Trump, “U.S. military action must have a clear strategy that advances our country’s long-term national security objectives and is compliant with the law of armed conflict. Congress should be briefed about the recent strikes against the Houthis and the total cost expected to be incurred by this campaign at the American taxpayer’s expense. The Administration must also explain to Congress and the American people its expected path forward given the failure of previous such efforts and statements from the Administration that the military campaign will continue and possibly expand to include military action against Iran.”
“We also recognize that any U.S. military response—especially sustained military engagement—must be conducted within the framework of the Constitution. Although the Constitution assigns the President the role of commander in chief of the U.S. military, it is Congress that is entrusted with the power to declare war—and Congress has not done so with respect to the Houthis,” the Senators strongly emphasized.
Merkley and Paul reminded the president of the requirements under the War Powers Resolution of 1973 to notify Congress in the event of military engagement. They asked for a classified briefing within 10 days to address their concerns.
Full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and follows below:
Wyden and Merkley together…
Seeking cooler islands: On Monday, Merkley and Wyden joined colleagues in introducing the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act, which would create a competitive grant program to provide funding to combat the causes and consequences of urban heat islands.
“With extreme heat driven by the climate crisis a growing threat to the well-being of Oregonians and everybody in our country, it’s a must for federal investment to help local communities respond to this life-and-death risk,” said Wyden. “This bill would provide those resources for locally driven responses that could provide relief for farmworkers, construction workers and everybody working outdoors as well as for people living indoors and lacking affordable cooling options.”
“In places like East Portland, where a lack of tree canopy already leaves neighborhoods dangerously exposed to extreme heat, the Trump Administration’s illegal funding freeze and grant contract cancellations will only deepen this heat crisis,” said Merkley. “The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act provides much-needed resources for tree planting, cooling centers, and other solutions to fight climate chaos and keep our communities safe.”
Heat islands occur when urban areas experience higher temperatures due to factors such as increased population density; a lack of shading; and pavement infrastructure such as parking lots, sidewalks, and roadways. 34 million Americans currently live in areas where manmade factors are pushing up temperatures by 8 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Portland has seen increasing heat-related health risks, with extreme heat contributing to 72 deaths in Multnomah County during the summer of 2021. East Portland, which lacks adequate tree cover and has a high concentration of concrete, is considered an urban heat island. This effect particularly impacts lower-income and underserved communities, which are more likely to be affected by heat and lack access to cooling resources, further intensifying environmental justice concerns.
The Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act, led by U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), would create a $30 million grant program through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for entities such as local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to implement efforts that prevent and offset the effects of excess urban heat including: cool pavements, cool roofs, tree planting and maintenance, green roofs, bus stop covers, cooling centers, and local heat mitigation education efforts.
This legislation is cosponsored by Senators Merkley, Wyden, Cory Booker (D-NJ) Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA).
Bill text can be found by clicking here.
Data protection wishes: Wyden and Merkley joined Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass. On legislation to protect Americans against Elon Musk, DOGE and other officials illegally accessing stores of personal data held by the government, including social security numbers, medical history, financial data and other sensitive information. The Privacy Act Modernization Act would make it easier for Americans to sue officials for violations and would increase the penalties for such violations.
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
Since Trump took office, DOGE officials have reportedly accessed highly sensitive government databases at agencies, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and the Internal Revenue Service, under flimsy justifications and with little oversight.
“The seizure of millions of Americans’ sensitive information by Trump, Musk and other MAGA goons is plainly illegal, but current remedies are too slow and need more teeth,” Wyden said. “The Privacy Act was part of our country’s response to the FBI abusing its access to revealing sensitive records on the American people. Our bill defends against new threats to Americans’ privacy and the integrity of federal systems, and ensures individuals can go after the government when officials break the law, including quickly stopping their illegal actions with a court order.”
“Over 50 years ago, Congress passed the Privacy Act to protect the public against the exploitation and misuse of their personal information held by the government,” Markey said. “Today, with Elon Musk and the DOGE team recklessly seeking to access Americans’ sensitive data, it’s time to bring this law into the digital age. I’m proud to partner with Senator Wyden on the Privacy Act Modernization Act to close loopholes and increase penalties in the law. The federal government should be a steward of our privacy–not a source of surveillance.”
“Elon Musk and his minions have no business riffling through your personal data,” Merkley said. “Our bill protects millions of Americans who count on the federal government to safeguard sensitive personal information included on taxes, student loans, and disaster assistance.”
The Electronic Information Privacy Center and Public Citizen both endorsed the legislation.
The Privacy Act of 1974 required agencies to disclose what personal data they collect and why, limited how officials could use or share that data, and created remedies for when the government held incorrect data about a person or otherwise broke the rules. This legislation was passed in light of the Watergate and Counterintelligence Program (COINTELPRO) scandals, which involved illegal government surveillance that undermined public trust and American democracy. Wyden’s legislation would make key updates to further protect government databases storing personal information against Trump and Musk’s ongoing abuses of Americans’ privacy and our democracy.
Given the Privacy Act was created half a century ago, Wyden’s bill would update the law’s coverage, close loopholes and strengthen protections to support millions of Americans who have been harmed by Trump and Musk’s recent invasion by:
- Increasing civil and criminal penalties for violations of the Privacy Act, including making it a felony to disclose records for personal gain, malicious harm, or commercial advantage, punishable by fines of up to $250,000 and ten years in prison.
- Strengthening court authority to stop programs and actions while lawsuits are pending, and allowing Americans to recover for a range of damages, including the mental and emotional distress caused by privacy violations.
- Modernizing the law to cover any information that identifies or is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual or a device that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual.
- Limiting information sharing to the minimum necessary for a legally authorized purpose, and only if consistent with what an agency previously stated they would use records for.
- Narrowing the so-called “routine use” exception for sharing information by further requiring that “routine use” disclosures be “appropriate and reasonably necessary.”
Senator Wyden is a longtime champion of cybersecurity and privacy protections. In 2017, Wyden demanded the executive branch to finally reveal how many Americans have their phone calls, emails and other communications swept up – without warrants – under a surveillance program. In 2023, his legislation to stop data brokers from selling Americans’ personal data to the government passed the House, but did not advance in the Senate. In February 2025, Wyden demanded information on DOGE’s infiltration of IRS systems.
The bill text is here. The one-page summary is here. No Republicans have signed onto this bill. For a deeper dive on this bill, see this piece in Wired.
Farmer pay-up bill: Wyden and Merkley have joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would release funding withheld by the Trump administration for all contracts and agreements previously entered into by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA.
“The unlawful freezing of federal funding has inflicted chaos on nearly every part of our lives, and this funding can make the difference between whether farms in Oregon and nationwide can stay in business or not,” Wyden said. “Agriculture plays a huge part in Oregon’s economy, and it’s absolutely essential for the federal government to fulfill its end of the deal with farmers’ promised reimbursement. The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would reverse the Trump administration’s reckless actions and ensure farmers can trust that the federal government won’t stiff them.”
“The USDA’s failure to honor its commitments is hurting farmers and rural communities in Oregon and across the country,” said Merkley. “The Honor Farmer Contracts Act is about restoring trust and ensuring farmers get the Congressionally authorized funding they were promised. The Trump Administration’s illegal federal funding cuts violate contracts, jeopardize livelihoods, and weaken our food system. It’s time to restore critical funding and support the farmers who feed our communities.”
Trump’s Agriculture Department has refused to make reimbursement payments to fulfill signed contracts, without any indication of when or whether farmers will be paid the money they laid out and are owed. Farmers and the organizations that serve them operate on tight margins and cannot be left waiting for weeks and months without funding they rightfully planned for and need to keep operating. Similarly, farmer-serving organizations—which farmers rely upon to connect to local markets and implement practices that make them more productive and less resource intensive—are facing imminent funding crises from not being reimbursed for completed or in-progress contracted work. This legislation would require the USDA to pay farmers all past due payments as quickly as possible to prevent them from having to shut down their operations.
The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would:
- Require USDA to unfreeze all signed agreements and contracts;
- Require USDA to make all past due payments as quickly as possible;
- Prohibit USDA from cancelling agreements or contracts with farmers or organizations providing assistance to farmers unless there has been a failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement or contract.
- Prohibit USDA from closing any Farm Service Agency county office, Natural Resources Conservation Service field office or Rural Development Service Center without providing 60 days prior notice and justification to Congress.
The Honor Farmer Contacts was led by U.S Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Peter Welch, D-Vt., Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Angus King, I-Maine, Tina Smith, D-Minn., Ed J. Markey, D-Mass., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., will introduce companion legislation in the House.
The full text of the bill is here.
To see the full list of organizations endorsing the Honor Farmer Contracts Act, click here.
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