Jeff Merkley

I think this agreement will work because it does provide albeit at a reduced level, it provides water assurances into the future.

Congratulations for where we've gotten to and Senator Wyden and I are going to do all we can to take this side of it forward.

The people of the Klamath Basin have found a better way forward now.

It is now our challenge as a legislature to help put that plan into action.

In many ways the solutions that local residents are implementing in the Klamath Basin point to a new model for managing our natural resources, collaboratively based on local needs, rather than from a place of conflict based on litigation…

I applaud all of them for coming today. It's an amazing group of individuals with diverse, as diverse, stakeholders coming together in this effort.

The legislation, in my view, provides a sustainable and more economically certain future for the Klamath Basin.

The pledge to lower the cost by more--between a quarter and a third has been exceeded.

The blueprint that the stakeholders have, in effect, agreed to now is codified in S. 2379.

We should not be judging the success of our economy by the Dow Jones or S&P 500.

The quid pro quo would be it has to be built in the United States.

Where was the taxpayers' return on the investment? It was in the loss of jobs.

What would help in this realm, if the Government were to insist on those Made in America principles...

If we do not make things in America, we are not going to have a middle class in America.

I have signed on to Senator Warren's bill--is that by reducing the interest rates on student loans, enabling folks...to refinance those at 4 percent

The Congress needs to look carefully, pass comprehensive housing finance reform to make sure the credit is available for those home buyers

I meant to mention in my previous statement your efforts to get capital to rural communities through working with rural utilities, which is a huge help for those communities.

I would like to welcome Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has been able to join us.

We are achieving multiple public policy objectives in one fell swoop.

Financing is a critical tool in the toolbox, and on-bill is a very important piece of financing.

Oregon is 1 percent basically of the Nation, and that would mean a potential for 6 million under a roughly similar ball-park.

Yes, that 80 percent of the jobs created by investing in infrastructure would be in construction, manufacturing, and retail, and that 90 percent of these would be middle class.

The need still remains as a key part of our freight and passenger transportation.

The whole system of mobility, including freight and goods movements, to, from, and through the State of Oregon will come to a stop.

What was happening really was a shift from Federal funding to Federal financing.