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 Trump Plan to Gut Wall Street Oversight

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in response to President Trump’s plan to gut Wall Street oversight by rolling back key pieces of the reforms that were put in place following the 2008 financial crisis: “Eight years ago, following a decade of predatory home-lending and

SENATORS INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CODIFY MEMBERSHIP ON THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today introduced legislation that will clarify the permanent membership of the National Security Council (NSC) to better ensure that decisions affecting the national security of the nation

Merkley Statement on Pruitt Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after he joined Democrats on the Environment and Public Works Committee to boycott a vote on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominee Scott Pruitt until Pruitt fully answers the committee’s questions: “EPA nominee Scott Pruitt failed to answer important questions

Merkley Statement on Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald J. Trump announced his nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States. Last year, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Republicans engaged in an unprecedented blockade of President Obama’s nominee to fill the

en_USEnglish