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 Announces Oregon Priorities Included in Transportation Funding Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley today announced key Oregon priorities—from electric vehicle infrastructure, to grants for rural infrastructure, to funding for resiliency measures to counter the effects of climate-related hazards—are included in the reauthorization of a surface transportation funding bill that passed out of the Senate Environment

Following Visit to Inspect Southern Border Facilities, Merkley, Wyden and Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Immediately Address a Number of Issues the Senators Witnessed

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in a new a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan outlining serious concerns regarding the conditions at the southern border that the

Oregon Delegation Conducts Oversight Tour of Facility Holding Migrant Children

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, with Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Peter DeFazio, on Sunday conducted an oversight tour of Oregon’s only facility contracted by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to hold children who have crossed the border unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.

U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Angus King, Jeff Merkley Press to Enhance Nation’s Energy Efficiency Capabilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/25/19]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Angus King (I-Maine) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to boost the use of cutting-edge technologies to increase energy efficiency capabilities across America.   The American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019 builds upon state success to establish a nationwide energy efficiency standard that would ask retail

Merkley, Wyden Announce Funding to Purchase New Electric Buses for TriMet

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a $2.1 million federal grant that will allow TriMet to purchase three new electric buses, advancing the transit authority’s goal to convert its fleet of diesel buses to zero-emissions. “Climate chaos is threatening our future, and we

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