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 Statement on CR

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding the two-week continuing resolution (CR): “We face a huge number of serious issues that we are already far behind on tackling. The authorization for the Children’s Health Insurance Program expired 68 days ago, and health care for nine

Merkley Blasts Trump Administration Move to Undo Key Oil Train Safety Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Trump administration Department of Transportation announced that it will roll back 2015 rules requiring enhanced safety for oil trains: “Oil trains are rolling explosion hazards, and as we’ve seen all too many times—and all too recently in

Merkley, Wyden, Governor Decry Trump Administration Report That Recommends Stripping Protections for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, today decried the release of the Trump administration Interior Department’s report that recommended stripping protections from and shrinking the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon. Despite months of requests from Oregon’s Senators, Governor and

Merkley Statement on Honduras

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the situation in Honduras: “The reports of irregularities and lack of transparency regarding the vote counting process following the November 26 elections in Honduras are deeply concerning. The Honduran government

Merkley Statement on House Vote to Proceed With GOP Tax Scheme

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after House Republicans voted to move forward with negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the GOP tax plan: “Republicans just voted to move forward on raising taxes on millions of working Americans. They voted to move

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