Press Releases

Merkley Proposes Housing Downpayment Savings Initiative

Senator leads groundbreaking new legislation to give federal match for money saved by first-time homebuyers for a downpayment on a home Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced new legislation to help support the dream of homeownership for Americans by ensuring working families have a credible path

Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek—today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and

Ahead of Xi’s Visit to the United States, Merkley & McGovern Urge Trump Admin to Stand Up to PRC for its Treatment of Political Prisoners, Transnational Repression

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative James P. McGovern (MA-02)—Ranking Members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—led Congressional Democrats in calling attention to the Chinese government’s treatment of political prisoners and its ongoing campaign of transnational repression. They sent two letters ahead of People’s

Merkley, Bonamici Announce House Committee Passage of Their Bill to Ban Asbestos

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today announced that the full House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed their Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 on a nearly unanimous vote.  Today’s action represents the first-ever congressional committee vote to ban asbestos, and a new

Merkley Slams Trump’s Capitulation to Big Tobacco

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), today released the following statement regarding reports that President Trump blocked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from issuing a proposed ban on all flavored e-cigarettes. The proposed ban

Merkley Releases Sweeping Report on Trump’s Gutting Of Asylum, Including Direct Evidence of Grave Whistleblower Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today released a sweeping new report detailing the Trump administration’s gutting of the legal asylum system. The report includes previously unreported, direct evidence of whistleblowers raising alarms within the asylum division. For several years, the Trump administration has tried to prevent people from

Wyden, Merkley Bill Would Bar Use of SRS Funds for Lobbying

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would ensure counties receiving Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds cannot spend those federal resources on any activity related to lobbying. Wyden and Merkley said their bill is to ensure SRS funds remain dedicated to their intended

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