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 and Wyden Push Back on Trump Administration’s Secret, Error-Riddled Cascade-Siskiyou Monument Report
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today pushed back against the Trump administration’s leaked draft report that recommended diminished protections for the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, pointing out serious concerns with both the factual inaccuracy of the report and lack of transparency surrounding the report. Despite the
Western Senators Urge Trump, Senate Leaders to Prioritize Wildfire Disaster Response in Next Aid Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today led a group of 10 Western Senators strongly urging President Donald Trump and Senate leaders to include funding for wildfire disaster response in the next disaster aid package. The letters to the President and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader
In Bipartisan Push, West Coast Senators Urge Disaster Aid for Fisheries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a bipartisan push led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, all eight West Coast Senators—Merkley, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)—today called on congressional
Bipartisan Western Senators Press White House to Extend Critical Lifeline Funding in Future Disaster Aid Request
Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of western senators today urged the White House and the White House budget office to fulfill the federal government’s promise to rural communities by extending a critical lifeline that funds road repairs, schools and law enforcement in rural communities in any future emergency disaster supplemental
Sens. Murray, Merkley, Cantwell, Wyden and Rep. Blumenauer Demand Answers After Trump Administration’s Decision Halts Work on Tribal Housing Plan Along Columbia River
(Washington, D.C.) – Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to demand answers from the Trump Administration after it denied a request to allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Army Corps) to move forward with The Dalles
Wyden, Merkley Urge Extension of Greater Sage-Grouse Comment Period
Washington, D.C. – Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to extend the comment period by 45 days for changes to the Greater Sage-grouse conservation plans. The letter from Wyden and Merkley as well as five other Western senators responds to the