Press Releases

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Attacked for Exercising their Right to Free Speech

Senators’ effort comes on one-year anniversary of “Declaration of Dissent” letter and follows recent revelations that EPA legal counsel advised against disciplinary action due to employees’ First Amendment rights Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump administration to reverse disciplinary actions

Krishnamoorthi, Bynum, Merkley, Booker Urge EPA to Begin Monitoring Microplastics in America’s Drinking Water

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Tuesday led a bicameral letter, joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add microplastics to the agency’s recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant

Merkley Applauds Treasury Move to Increase Flow of Humanitarian Aid to Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), issued the following statement applauding the issuing of general licenses to enable the flow of humanitarian aid into Afghanistan. In August, Merkley led a letter pressing the Biden administration to take this step

Merkley, Lowenthal Lead Bicameral Push to Limit Single-Use Plastic Production and Petrochemical Expansion in Build Back Better Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) is co-leading a bicameral effort calling for limitations on single-use plastic production and exclusion of any provisions that expand petrochemical infrastructure from the Build Back Better plan. “Paired together, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID) and a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package, provide a

With Senate Republicans Promising to Filibuster Debt Limit Extension, Merkley and Kaine Introduce Legislation to Protect American Jobs and Businesses by Ending Debt Limit Hostage Taking

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As another debt ceiling showdown approaches, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced legislation aimed at ending Congress’ abuse of the debt ceiling as a political hostage. The Protect our Citizens from Reckless Extortion of our Debt and Irresponsible Tactics (Protect

Merkley Introduces Legislation to Provide Smooth Landing to Afghan Evacuees in U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that he has introduced the Welcoming Evacuees Coming from Overseas to Mitigate Effects of Displacement (WELCOMED) Act of 2021 in the U.S. Senate. The legislation was previously introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and

Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Increase Wildland Firefighter Pay

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a group of Senate colleagues urging the Biden Administration to increase the pay for federal wildland firefighters and transition many from seasonal to permanent status. The senators noted that pay disparities amongst wildland firefighters are limiting personnel and will leave

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