Press Releases

Merkley Statement on Russia Sanctions to Bolster Ukraine’s Fight for Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley – a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee – issued the following statement after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to crack down on Russia’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine: “The United States must stand with democratic republics

Merkley, Senate Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Close Ethics Loopholes for All Officials Representing the U.S. Abroad

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—led a group of Senate Democrats in introducing the Transparency in the Administration’s Business Opportunities Overseas (TABOO) Act. The new legislation mandates strong ethics requirements for every individual representing the United States government in negotiations

Merkley, Correa Launch New Effort to Fix Misleading Recycling Labels

Truth in Labeling Act Aims to Restore Consumers’ Confidence in Packaging Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Lou Correa (CA-46) announced their new Truth in Labeling Act of 2026. The bicameral legislation would establish clear federal guidelines for labeling consumer products that are recyclable,

Merkley Decries ICE Detainment of Infants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the American Immigration Council (AIC) filed a complaint with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling on ICE to release infants with their mothers from custody. Currently, at least nine infants under one year of age are being

Merkley Introduces Resolution to Prevent Military Intervention in Venezuela Without Explicit Congressional Authorization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following repeated hints from the Trump Administration that it is considering a military intervention in Venezuela, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced a Senate resolution that would prohibit military action in Venezuela without explicit congressional approval. Merkley is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and

Merkley and Colleagues Offer $2 Billion Plan to Reduce Class Sizes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today introduced bold new legislation to invest in smaller class sizes for public schools across America. Smaller class sizes increase student achievement and

Merkley, Smith Introduce Bill to Protect Rent-to-Own Tenants

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) today introduced the Residential Rent-to-Own Protection Act, legislation that would create a safe, viable pathway to homeownership by reforming traditionally predatory rent-to-own housing contracts, also called land contracts or contracts-for-deed. “Rent-to-own housing agreements could provide access

Merkley Presses VA Secretary on Privatization

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today pressed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie on whether new efforts to expand the privatization of VA health care could diminish resources and harm care at the VA facilities many veterans rely on. Merkley’s letter to Secretary Wilkie follows new,

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