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 $2.7 Million for Wildfire Resiliency, Conservation Efforts in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $2.7 million in federal funding is headed to the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests to implement a cross-boundary restoration project that will improve forest resiliency, reduce long term costs of fire management, and improve watershed conditions. 

Merkley, Sinema Push DHS to Investigate, Address Serious Concerns of Medical Neglect and Poor Care at ICE Facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today pressed the Trump administration over serious concerns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have committed systemic civil rights violations regarding medical care for detainees. The senators are calling for the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)

Merkley Slams Judiciary Committee Republicans for Proceeding with Illegitimate Supreme Court Appointment Process, Threatening Americans’ Sacred Rights and Health Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today, as Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham and his fellow Senate Republicans on the Judiciary Committee proceeded with their illegitimate Supreme Court nomination hearings: “There are just 23 days left in this election, and millions of Americans have already cast

Merkley, Van Hollen, Smith Press Trump Administration For Answers Over Disturbing Whistleblower Complaint Detailing ICE’s Human Rights Violations, Medical Malpractice

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) today to press the Trump administration for critical information regarding a whistleblower complaint that warned of major human rights violations and medical malpractice—including forced sterilizations and hysterectomies—at the Irwin County

en_USEnglish