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 Slams GOP’s Budget-Busting Giveaways to the Rich

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans passed their budget blueprint for 2018. The blueprint—which Republicans pushed forward so that they will be able to pass a tax plan on a party-line vote—slashes a trillion and a half dollars from Medicare and Medicaid,

Senators Fight to Stop Republican Effort to Open Arctic Refuge to Drilling

Washington (October 17, 2017) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash,), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) were joined today by the League of Conservation Voters, Defenders of Wildlife and the Alaska Wilderness League to call for the

Oregon Delegation Urges Prompt EPA Action on Portland Harbor site

WASHINGTON — All seven members of Oregon’s congressional delegation today urged federal environmental officials to support the prompt transition of the Portland Harbor Superfund site from the prolonged study phase to active cleanup.  The letter from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer,

Merkley Slams Trump Health Care Sabotage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced late Thursday night that the Trump administration will stop paying health care Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments. Without the CSR payments, health insurance rates will see double digit increases—in many cases, 20% or more.

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