Press Releases

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: NOAA Selects OMSI as Regional/National Heat Monitoring Center

Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland will be NOAA’s Pacific Northwest hub for the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring, gathering local temperature data to support heat resilience in Oregon and throughout the country.  “As the climate

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call to Strengthen Federal Pell Grant Program

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for the Pell Grant program for Fiscal Year 2025.  In the letter, the senators request a discretionary increase to the award as Congress works towards doubling the Pell

Merkley, Wyden Tout $9.8 Million Coming to Oregon for Brownfield Cleanup

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $9,806,847 is coming to the state from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support cleanup projects at brownfields sites, land that has been previously polluted or contaminated. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Merkley and Wyden championed, added

Wyden, Merkley Announce $5.5 Million to Replace Aging Water Infrastructure in Oregon

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that Oregon will receive $5.5 million in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to replace aging water delivery infrastructure in communities across Oregon. “Access to reliable and safe water is essential for communities to thrive in rural and

HIRONO, CARTWRIGHT INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN RIGHTS OF PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS TO JOIN UNIONS, BARGAIN COLLECTIVELY

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, bicameral legislation to guarantee the right of public sector employees to organize, act concertedly, and bargain collectively in states that currently do not afford these basic protections. “Private

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