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, Morelle, Katko Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Close Summer Learning Gap
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Congressmen Joseph Morelle (D-NY-25) and John Katko (R-NY-24), today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Summer Meals and Learning Act of 2019—legislation to address summer learning inequality by keeping school libraries open at schools that already serve free summer meals. “Every student—no matter
Merkley, Wyden Push VA Secretary Wilkie to Protect Veterans’ Health Care as New Program Goes Into Effect
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today pressed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to not repeat the same mistakes of the Veterans Choice Program when establishing the new Veterans Community Care Program. Congress passed the VA MISSION Act in 2018
As Trump Administration Tries to Destroy Health Care Protections, Merkley and Senate Democrats Stand Up for Health Care Bill of Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today responded to the Trump administration’s attempts to rip health care away from tens of millions of Americans by introducing a new resolution supporting a “health care bill of rights” for all Americans. Merkley was joined by Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Brian Schatz
Merkley Calls on Acosta to Resign
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today released the following statement calling on Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to resign. Merkley’s call follows new details about the serial sexual abuse of children by Jeffrey Epstein, a powerful financier with whom Acosta negotiated a lenient 2007 plea deal when Acosta was
As LGBTQ Rights Cases Head to Supreme Court, Merkley and Cicilline Lead Bicameral Amicus Brief in Support of Civil Rights Protections for Employees
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) are leading 151 colleagues in an amicus brief supporting equal rights for LGBTQ employees, in three cases where high-performing employees were fired once their bosses discovered their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Supreme Court will hear
Wyden, Merkley and Colleagues: Census Should Stay on Schedule, Omit Citizenship Question
Washington, D.C. – Today U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined colleagues in calling for Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to meet the administration’s previously set deadline of July 1 to begin printing materials for the 2020 Census and move forward without adding a politically-motivated question about citizenship. Their call