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, Schatz Introduce New Legislation to Provide Automatic Cash Assistance to Struggling Families Recovering from Natural Disasters and Economic Crises

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley has teamed up with Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to introduce the Family Crisis Cash Assistance Act, legislation that would create a new permanent program to help families struggling through a natural disaster or economic crisis with immediate cash assistance. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made clear,

Oregon Delegation Calls for Extension of Deadline to Claim Economic Impact Payments

WASHINGTON, DC – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici led the Oregon Congressional delegation – Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, and Kurt Schrader – in calling on the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service to extend the deadline to claim Economic Impact Payments

Merkley Slams Illegitimate Trump Supreme Court Appointment, Calls Out Threat to Millions of Americans’ Health Care and Reproductive Rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald Trump appointed Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court approximately five weeks before the presidential election—defying the will of the American people, historical precedent, and Republicans’ own election-year

Bennet, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Halt Transfer of ICE Detainees, Slow Spread of COVID-19 in ICE Facilities

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the End Transfers of Detained Immigrants Act, legislation to immediately prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from transferring immigrant detainees between ICE facilities or to federal, state, and local prisons during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The legislation also requires that if physical

en_USEnglish