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,

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $3.6 Million for the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is awarding $3.63 million to further support the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Legacy Program.  This new federal funding builds off of the $10 million foundation Merkley and Wyden announced

Cardin, Rubio, Kaine, Cassidy, Merkley Introduce Resolution Welcoming Paraguay President, Supporting U.S.-Paraguay Relationship

WASHINGTON – Today, as Paraguay celebrates the 213th anniversary of its independence, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) are introducing a Senate resolution welcoming President Santiago Peña of Paraguay to the United States, as

Wyden, Merkley Praise Passage of Bill Honoring Dustoff Crews from the Vietnam War

Legislation co-sponsored by Oregon senators means Oregon City veteran Gary Hagen, 72, will receive Congressional Gold Medal; Four Oregonians to earn this congressional honor posthumously Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed the Senate passage of legislation they cosponsored to award a collective Congressional Gold Medal

Merkley: TSA’s Facial Recognition Regime Continues to Lack Proper Congressional Oversight

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement after the Senate voted last night to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act without a vote on his amendment to address the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of facial recognition technology: “Facial surveillance creates the

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