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 Decries Sessions Cannabis Decision

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after reports that Attorney General Jeff Sessions will rescind key federal policy that has effectively allowed states to determine their own cannabis laws: “This is a destructive decision and a huge step backwards. Whatever happened to Attorney General Sessions’

Mt. Hood Land Exchange Legislation Goes to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law

Washington, D.C. – Legislation written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to protect and enhance Oregon’s land conservation and recreation priorities on Mt. Hood passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to

Merkley Speaks Out After UN Human Rights Investigator Is Denied Access in Burma

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Burmese government denied access to a key UN human rights investigator working to gather information about the persecution of the Burmese Rohingya minority in Rakhine state. Merkley led a

Merkley Statement on CR

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting against a continuing resolution that fails to provide a solution for DREAMers or for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP):  “Every day, more than 100 DREAMers – young Americans who know no other home – lose their

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