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, Wyden Announce Continued Funding to Train National Guard to Fight Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As wildfires continue to blaze across Oregon, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden today announced that the Department of Defense 2019 appropriations bill includes $7 million to train National Guard members to fight wildfires. The bill passed the Senate
Merkley Statement on Defense Spending
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding the combined Labor-Health and Human Services/Defense appropriations bill: “I voted for this bill today because it includes important priorities for Oregon and our nation, including training the National Guard to fight wildfires, supporting nursing workforce development, conducting critical
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill Aimed at Reducing Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced a bill aimed at reducing significant racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity. The Oregon senators joined with a dozen colleagues introducing the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE) Act, in response to statistics showing the United States
Merkley, Durbin Introduce Bill to Protect Students from Worthless Degrees, Overturn DeVos Giveaway to Predatory For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As college students begin returning to class, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act of 2018. This legislation would close a loophole that allows for-profit colleges to take federal financial aid dollars for students to attend
Merkley, Senate Democrats Stand with Saudi Women, Push for Human Rights Progress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today announced the introduction of a resolution standing with Saudi women and pushing for human rights progress in Saudi Arabia. Merkley was joined on the resolution by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten
Merkley Introduces Amendment to Prevent Internment Camps in United States
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that he has introduced an amendment to the 2019 Labor-Health and Human Services spending bill that would prevent the construction or operation of family internment camps in the United States. In his June 20 Executive Order, President Trump called on Congress