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 Price Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on Health and Human Services nominee Congressman Tom Price. Price’s nomination is currently being considered on the Senate floor. “If confirmed, Tom Price would be America’s 23rd Secretary of Health and Human Services, but he would be the first

Merkley Statement on Jeff Sessions’ Nomination as Attorney General

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on Attorney General nominee Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL). Merkley held the floor from 2am to 4am this morning to protest Sessions’ nomination. “In 1986, Coretta Scott King wrote in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee that Jeff Sessions

Merkley Speaks Out Against DeVos Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement before the U.S. Senate’s final vote on Education Secretary nominee Betsy DeVos: “I know firsthand the powerful difference that a good public education makes. When I was growing up, my father took me to the doors of the schoolhouse

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Resolution to Honor Civil Rights Hero Fred Korematsu

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced a resolution honoring Fred Korematsu, who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans.. Wyden and Merkley said the resolution honoring Korematsu’s work and advocacy of the civil rights and liberties of all people is timely, given the president’s executive order

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