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,
Senate Republicans Block Merkley and Wyden’s Effort to Require Identification, Accountability for Federal Law Enforcement, Armed Forces
Follows Trump sending federal troops to Oregon and cities nationwide Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today denounced Senate Republicans for voting down his amendment with his Oregon colleague, Senator Ron Wyden, to prevent unidentifiable federal law enforcement and armed forces from being deployed against Americans. “I led an amendment with Senator Wyden
As Trump Unconstitutionally Deploys Military into American Cities, Senators from Illinois, Oregon & California Oppose NDAA
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Amid Donald Trump’s escalating deployments of troops to American cities, the six U.S. Senators representing states that Donald Trump is targeting with troop deployments over state and local officials’ strong objections—U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and
Bonamici, Wyden, Merkley, Dexter Demand Answers about Portland ICE Facility
WASHINGTON DC [10/9/25] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) demanding that the Trump administration provide answers about the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland. The requests follow the lawmakers’ visit to the ICE facility on S.
Warren, Duckworth, Van Hollen, Markey, Merkley Ask Trump State Department to Explain Apparent Neglect of American Citizens Detained from Global Sumud Flotilla
Trump State Department has failed to explain why “it took the U.S. embassy four days – longer than other governments whose citizens were detained – to visit and assess the care of American citizens.” “What steps will the State Department take to independently evaluate the accusations of mistreatment towards American
Merkley Leads Senators to Call for Removal of Political Propaganda from Federal Agency Websites and Communication Channels
Washington, D.C. – As the Trump Administration blatantly tries to weaponize federal funding and misuse official government communications channels for partisan propaganda purposes, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Rhode Island’s U.S. Senator Jack Reed, both senior members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, led 22 Senate colleagues—including Oregon Senator Ron Wyden—in
Illinois, Oregon, & California Senators Issue Warning About Trump’s Dangerous, Unconstitutional Deployments of National Guard Troops into Their States
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – The six United States Senators representing states that Donald Trump has sought to force National Guard deployments to, against state and local officials’ objections, without any coordination and in the absence of adequate justification—U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron