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 Oregon Based Development Fund Awarded $1.6 Million

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced Business Impact NW was awarded a federal grant totaling $1.6 million over the next four years to establish the Oregon Minority Business Development Agency Business Center (OBC).     This award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s

Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.1 Million to Oregon for Emergency Preparedness with Pipelines

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) funds for crucial emergency preparedness. “The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced

Bipartisan Merkley-Daines Legislation Providing Specialized Wildland Firefighting Training to Civilian Conservation Center Students Receives Hearing

Washington, D.C. – As wildfire season continues, bipartisan legislation to train more firefighters introduced by Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) took a step forward in the Senate today. Earlier this month, Senators Merkley and Daines teamed up to introduce the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act

Merkley: Electoral Count Reform Strengthens Underpinnings of Government

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate Rules Committee held a markup and passed the Electoral Count Reform Act, bipartisan legislation to further clarify the Vice President’s role in counting Electoral College votes: “At its most basic level, the idea of

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