Jeff is committed to protecting America from those who would do us harm, and to making sure we do so in a way that is consistent with American values and our Constitutional rights. Indeed, Jeff firmly believes that the measure of our strength isn’t just the power of our military, but that the United States is safer and stronger when we honor our fundamental American values like respect for the rule of law and invest in the hard work of working with our allies. In a dangerous world, with global threats ranging from terrorism to global warming to nuclear weapons proliferation, Jeff understands that we need to be able to work with other nations to confront these challenges together.
Having worked as a national security analyst at the Pentagon and at the Congressional Budget Office, Jeff has a unique understanding of national security policy. In both positions, he was immersed in the national dialogue on responsible management of nuclear weapons. Jeff also remained actively engaged in foreign policy issues as President of the World Affairs Council of Oregon.
Merkley, Markey Announce Joint Resolution of Disapproval on U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal, Setting Up Senate Vote
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—and Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey today introduced a Joint Resolution of Disapproval (JRD) that gives the Senate an opportunity to debate and vote on the proposed U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it goes into
Merkley, McGovern Unveil New Legislation to Protect Hong Kong Residents in America from Being Forced to Return to PRC
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (MA-02)—Ranking Members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—announced the Hong Konger Promise of Refuge Act, new legislation to provide protections for Hong Kong residents who have fled persecution and are living in the United States. Since
Merkley, Meeks, Shaheen, Jacobs Issue Statement on Troubling GAO Report on Status of Trump Admin’s Foreign Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-5), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Ranking Member of the Africa
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction
Sanctions would target settlement construction within the E1 area of the West Bank Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in
Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology
Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), announced the reintroduction of the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, legislation to prohibit the government from using
Senators Markey and Merkley Lead Colleagues to Demand Trump Administration Abandon Reckless Saudi Nuclear Deal
Trump deal caves to Saudi demands, fails “Gold Standard” test Letter Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), co-chairs of the bicameral Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, today sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding that