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,
Ahead of Juneteenth, Merkley, Williams Propose Constitutional Amendment to Close Slavery Loophole in 13th Amendment
Washington, D.C. – As Juneteenth approaches this weekend, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Nikema Williams (GA-05) have introduced the Abolition Amendment, which would strike the ‘Slavery Clause’ of the 13th Amendment that allows slavery to continue in the United States. This week, Congress passed legislation to establish Juneteenth
VIDEO RELEASE: Amid Five-Alarm Drought Conditions, Merkley Emphasizes Urgency of Acting to Prevent Wildfires, Aid Irrigators in First Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, the chairman of the Senate Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, convened a hearing with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during which he emphasized the need to create a budget that reflects the critical role of the Department of the
Merkley Responds to Fulton v. City of Philadelphia Supreme Court Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia: “Of all the jobs I’ve had in my life, being a dad has always been the most special to me. It’s a deeply fulfilling experience—one
Merkley, Daines Urge Colleagues to Build Pathway Forward for Bipartisan Legislation To Ensure that Legal Cannabis Businesses Can Access Crucial Financial Services
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) are urging the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to schedule a markup for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Merkley and Daines
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Ban Government Use of Facial Recognition, Other Biometric Technology
Washington D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a group of eight lawmakers—including U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)—this week in introducing bicameral legislation to end government use of biometric technology such as facial recognition tools. The Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act responds to reports that hundreds of local, state, and
Merkley, Inhofe Lead Bipartisan Effort to Urge Colleagues to Include Robust Funding for the Economic Development Administration in the Next Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) today to lead a bipartisan group of 39 senators in urging the Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to include robust funding for the EDA in fiscal year 2022 appropriations