Jeff Merkley

The waiting time in predominantly black precincts... was eight to ten times as long, the average waiting time, as in the predominantly white precincts.

I would invite any election officials who are having difficulty figuring out how to compare signatures or verify request for absentee ballot, we are happy to give a seminar in my state.

You do not want people to vote, you can change the location of the precinct voting place.

If we could figure it out in Oregon more than two decades ago, is not it possible for every jurisdiction to figure out how to issue an absentee ballot with integrity?

We so appreciate your experience as Secretary of State and bringing that to bear on these election issues.

But let me turn more broadly to your overall number of staff that you need to add.

We need a dramatically improved plan, not just simply a new version of a recycling strategy that fails.

Because it is all about the communities initiating ideas, and then we fight for our communities to get those things funded.

We have seen a massive drop in insects in this country.

You can't hardly pick up any kind of newspaper that doesn't talk about the expanding problems with microplastics.

I would like you to brainstorm with your inner circle on, like, realizing that these communities will be really well served by finding a way to expedite that process.

I am particularly concerned about the situation faced by the Warm Springs in Oregon who have a myriad of problems with their water system.

I think about the huge set of issues that you are responsible for I know you are diligently trying to make a difference through your leadership, and your rebuilding of the Agency.

What are the most important funding increases for making progress in tackling climate chaos, in staff, in research, in grants, what is the vision?

I hope that there will be a moment 10 years from now when we can say that that 98 percent collapse in the monarch has been reversed.

There is a hundred Senators who have communities that have received grants, and they are very excited about the grants in there, but they are very concerned about costs going up while they are waiting.

Everyone in this country deserves clean air, clean water, and a stable climate.

Is very soon, like June?

Consumers in America, are just kind of really believe that we are monitoring the chemicals that go into products in a way we are not.

And I hope you will also replicate your emphasis on simplicity.

Okay. So brass tacks, when will you start awarding the School Bus Replacement Grants?

Thank you very much for your testimony.

The impacts are here now, and we don't have any time to waste.

We are in a climate emergency, and everyday life, we are feeling the impacts.

During a May 11, 2022, Senate Appropriations subcommittee on Interior hearing to review the fiscal Year 2023 President's Budget for IHS, Senator Jeff Merkley asked IHS Acting Director Elizabeth Fowler if more grants went out to UIOs due to…