Foreign Policy and National Security

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, Wyden, Hoyle Push VA to Build Roseburg Veterans’ Home

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), are calling on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to prioritize funding for the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) proposed Roseburg Veterans’ Home project. Currently, ODVA operates two high-quality, award-winning Oregon Veterans’ Homes: the

Merkley Presses Trump Nominee on China’s Human Rights Abuses, Freedom of the Press

Senator Jeff Merkley questioned David Perdue, Trump’s nominee to be Ambassador to China, about China’s human rights abuses and the dismantling of Voice of America, among other topics. Merkley pressed Perdue on how he plans to stand up for American values abroad. Watch the full hearing: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/hearings/nominations-04-03-2025

Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bill to Repeal Trump’s Anti-Voter Executive Order and Block DOGE Access to Voter Data

Oregon senators’ legislation also would overturn Trump suppressing and disenfranchising millions of eligible American voters Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would  repeal Donald Trump’s illegal anti-voter executive order, while also blocking DOGE from unlawfully accessing sensitive voter registration data

Merkley, Reed, King Reintroduce Legislation Banning LNG Exports to China

Legislation would also ban exports to U.S. Adversaries Russia, Iran, and North Korea Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today reintroduced the Protecting American Households from Rising Energy Costs Act, legislation that would lower prices for American households by banning the export of crude oil or liquefied fossil

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