KAINE, VAN HOLLEN, AND MERKLEY INTRODUCE BILL TO STRENGTHEN STATE DEPARTMENT WORKFORCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the State Department Integrity and Transparency Act, legislation to strengthen the State Department workforce and ensure senior State Department officials are selected based on merit.
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump to Justify His Claim that Hostilities in Iran Have Ended
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in refuting the Trump administration’s claim to Congress that the hostilities that began on February 28, 2026, in Iran have “terminated” and requested President Trump release the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion supporting his claim. The
Merkley: Republicans Vote to Ignore Working Americans and Cater to Trump’s Demands
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement after Senate Republicans voted to pass their funding bill that will give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nearly $70 billion. This bill provides zero relief
Merkley, Wyden, Lawmakers Urge Nonpartisan Congressional Scorekeeper to Determine True Cost of War in Iran
Trump Administration has provided inconsistent and incomplete estimates that contradict external experts, raising questions about true cost of war Senators: “The American people deserve to know the true costs of this conflict, and they deserve transparency and honesty when their government commits the nation to war.” Text of Letter (PDF)
Merkley Leads Colleagues in Slamming Trump Putting His Face on U.S. Passport
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Angus King (I-ME) to demand answers from the U.S. Department of State about its reported plans to issue 25,000 special passports featuring Trump’s portrait in commemoration of
Senate Moves to Curtail Iran War Powers
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution to force an end to President Trump’s war with Iran. The resolution was led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tammy