Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Aid Workers in Conflict Zones
WASHINGTON – Today, on Human Rights Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced legislation to protect humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. The lawmakers’ legislation, the Commitment to Aid Workers Act, would strengthen U.S. efforts to safeguard those who risk their
Senate Republicans Block Merkley’s Bill to Prevent War with Venezuela
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked consideration of his Prohibiting Unauthorized Military Action in Venezuela Act of 2025, which would block federal funds from being used for military actions in Venezuela: “As the Constitution so clearly says, Congress has the power
Senators Blunt Rochester, Merkley, Warnock Introduce Bill to Repair Infrastructure, Bridge Communities
Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) today introduced the Restoring Essential Public Access and Improving Resilient (REPAIR) Infrastructure Program Act. The bill would reauthorize and expand the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Program as the REPAIR Infrastructure Program,
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on Postal Service to Prepare for Upcoming Election
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is leading Senate colleagues including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in calling on Postmaster General DeJoy and the U.S. Postal Service to share their plans to accommodate high volumes of mail expected in the upcoming 2024 general election in Oregon and nationwide. “In 2020, the
DURBIN, COLLEAGUES REQUEST INFORMATION FROM DOJ, FDA ON THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE TO COMBAT THE ILLICIT SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF UNAUTHORIZED E-CIGARETTES
The letter comes after the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the prevalence of youth e-cigarette use and ahead of June 30th deadline for FDA to complete its e-cigarette PMTA reviews CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S.
Cardin, Coons, Van Hollen, Merkley Call on State Department to Prioritize Human Rights in U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Relationship
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) sent a letter to Secretary Antony Blinken urging him to ensure the State Department addresses mounting human rights concerns and fully integrates human rights priorities into the
Markey, Durbin, Merkley Statement on Acquittal of Final Charge Against Former Philippine Senator Leila De Lima
Washington (June 26, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today released the following statement regarding Philippine Senator Leila de Lima, who was cleared of the third and final charge against her. Former Senator de Lima was detained by
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues in Calling on Department of Energy to Promote Battery Recycling in U.S. Electric Vehicle Fleet
In 2023, EV sales hit a record, surpassing one million cars sold Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined 12 of their colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to bolster and diversify the nation’s domestic supply of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, including promoting
Merkley Champions Legislation to Repeal the Comstock Act
The Stop Comstock Act would repeal the 1873 law that could be misused to ban abortion nationwide WASHINGTON, D.C.— Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined a bill led by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) to repeal an arcane 1873 law, called the Comstock Act, that Republicans and anti-choice extremists want to misuse to ban medication abortion nationwide. Comstock