Category: Press Releases

Merkley, Klobuchar, Schumer Introduce For the People Act to Strengthen Democracy, Put Power Back in the Hands of the American People

March 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with Rules Committee Chairwoman U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) today to lead their colleagues in introducing S.1., the For the People Act—a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption

VIDEO RELEASE: Merkley, Baldwin, Booker Emphasize Importance of Equality Act in Judiciary Committee Hearing

March 17, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—the lead sponsors of the Equality Act in the Senate—spoke before the Senate Judiciary Committee today to emphasize the necessity of passing the legislation to protect the rights and liberties of LGBTQ Americans.

Merkley Applauds Secretary Haaland’s Historic Confirmation to Lead Interior Department

March 15, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Department of the Interior—released the following statement following Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s historic Senate confirmation to lead the department: “Secretary Haaland’s lifetime of service demonstrates her strong commitment to defending our public lands and

ICYMI: Voting Rights Groups Sound the Alarm on Racist, Politically Motivated Voter Suppression Laws in Georgia, Arizona, and Across America

March 12, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. – State lawmakers in Georgia have quickly raced to the forefront of the Republican party’s effort to turn ‘stolen election’ conspiracies into extremely restrictive voter suppression laws. This week, Georgia legislators passed a bill to repeal no-excuse absentee voting and end automatic voter registration—provisions that helped 1.3 million

Wyden, Merkley: Nine Oregon Health Centers to Join Federal Vaccine Program

March 12, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that clinics in Portland, Oregon City, Grants Pass, Eugene, Tillamook, Prineville and Medford will be invited to join the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program over the next six weeks. The nine clinics join Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center,

Merkley, Young, Durbin Lead Senate Resolution Condemning Coup in Burma, Laying Out Coordinated International Response to Rohingya Genocide

March 11, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-IN) and Richard Durbin (D-IL), today led a group of 13 senators in introducing a bipartisan resolution to condemn the military coup in Burma and subsequent violence against citizens calling for democracy, as well as the

Merkley, Wyden Announce $40 Million in Federal Funding to Help Maintain Healthy Pacific Northwest Forests and Support Local Recreation Economies

March 10, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will invest up to $40 million in projects that will maintain healthy national forests in the Pacific Northwest Region. The funding will also support projects to improve transportation and

Merkley Applauds Swift House Passage of American Rescue Plan

March 10, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan. President Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law this week. “With the House’s vote today, this legislation is officially on its way to President Biden’s desk to

Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Defend Property Owners’ Rights from Eminent Domain Claims for Natural Gas Pipelines

March 9, 2021

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would strengthen the rights of landowners facing eminent domain claims from private companies exploiting public interest provisions to confiscate property in Oregon and nationwide for natural gas pipeline development. The bills, which Wyden and Merkley

Merkley Votes to Pass the American Rescue Plan to Send Stimulus Checks to Struggling Americans, Support Frontline Workers and Main Street Businesses, Open Schools Safely, and Establish National Vaccine Distribution Strategy

March 6, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after a marathon of votes that culminated in the Senate passage of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan: “Good news, America: Relief is finally on the way. The American Rescue Plan is going to put money in people’s pockets, vaccines in