Both Oregon Senators OPPOSE S. 5653…But Bill Will Advance

Pictured Above: Sue Densmore(Friends of the Oregon Caves and Chateau), Senator Jeff Merkley, & Nicole Possert (Restore Oregon) at United States Capitol in 2026. 

On November 9, 2026, the Senate held a procedural vote (a cloture vote) and it passed 73-25. What does this mean? The Senate has moved to advance and open the floor to debate the bill Restore Oregon opposes – S. 5653 (“Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act” aka BAAJA). Just because a Senator voted “yes” on this procedural vote, it does not mean they fully support or will vote for the actual bill. In fact, we know that a number of Senators who voted “yes” remain uncommitted to final passage of the bill, pending additional amendments.

While we hoped this vote would have been different, we now welcome the debate on the Senate floor, as it will help expose the bill's profound flaws. Considering that the bill has not been the subject of any committee hearings or debates, it is high time that Senators explore what's really in the bill. We remain deeply concerned about how Title III (the section gutting Section 106) will threaten our heritage.

Because of your help with calls and emails, both Oregon Senators voted NO. This shows leadership – thank you, Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley!

Staff from both offices shared with Restore Oregon this news:

Senator Wyden has voiced his opposition to BAAJA:

“I cannot support a bill that relies on a handshake promise from the same administration that’s spent the last two years waging a war on new clean energy projects to hold up its end of the bargain, and continues to do so even after negotiating the reform proposal. Furthermore, I cannot support a deal that strips Oregonians and tribes of the most important tools they have to hold Trump and his cronies accountable.” 

Senator Merkley’s full statement on the permitting vote:

“...the current bill raises too many serious issues that require more deliberation. I will vote against the bill before us today, but I look forward to working with my colleagues to get permitting reform right.”

Here are the 25 Senators who voted NO on the procedural vote yesterday. You can see that both Senators from Washington and California also voted “no,” firmly aligning the entire West Coast in addition to many from other Western states.

Senators who voted No: Alsobrooks (D-MD), Baldwin (D-WI), Bennet (D-CO), Blunt-Rochester (D-DE), Booker (D-NJ), Cantwell (D-WA), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Hassan (D-NH), Hirono (D-HI), Kaine (D-VA), Kelly (D-AZ), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Murray (D-WA), Padilla (D-CA), Rounds (R-SD), Sanders (I-VT), Schiff (D-CA), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT) and Wyden (D-OR).