Press Releases

Merkley Investigates Chemical Industry Insiders Taking Over Critical EPA Chemical Safety Office

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) subcommittee overseeing environmental justice, chemical safety, and waste management—today sent an oversight letter following reports of former chemical industry lobbyists filling key positions at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical

Merkley: Senate Refuses to Stop Unauthorized War with Iran

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—released the following statement after the Senate voted to block U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)’s War Powers Resolutionaimed at stopping the unauthorized U.S.-Israel war in Iran: “The Trump Administration has repeatedly misled the American people about its plans for war against

Merkley, Clay Propose Constitutional Amendment to Close Slavery Loophole in 13th Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO-1) today introduced the Abolition Amendment, which would strike the ‘Punishment Clause’ of the 13th Amendment in order to finally abolish slavery in the United States. The 13th Amendment abolished most—but not all—slavery, permitting slavery or involuntary

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Ensure More Wildfire Resilient Power Grid

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced new legislation to incentivize utility companies to do more to reduce wildfire risks as aging power infrastructure ignite wildfires in Oregon and across the West. Wyden and Merkley’s Wildfire Resilient Power Grid Act of 2020 would ensure power companies do their part to reduce

Oregon Delegation Press to Extend Open Enrollment Period to Dec. 31

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici today pushed the Trump administration to extend the Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace through the end of the year in light of severe obstacles

Merkley Applauds Appointment of Janet Yellen as Treasury Secretary

Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—who used his position on the Senate Banking Committee to successfully advocate for Janet Yellen’s appointment as the first female Federal Reserve Chair in 2014—today issued a statement following President-elect Joe Biden’s announcement that he will nominate her to serve as Treasury Secretary in his administration:

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