Merkley, Schiff, Underwood Lead Push to Increase Nursing Education and Workforce Support
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, California’s U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) introduced the bicameral Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. In an effort to address nursing workforce shortages around the country, the FAAN Act would authorize grants to increase the number
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
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer ask President to Review Federal Prison Terms for Oregonians Serving Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Nonviolent Offenses
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Rep. Earl Blumenauer asked President Obama to review the cases of Oregonians serving mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent offenses in federal prison. Their letter urged the president to commute the sentences of those who are eligible when appropriate to a
Merkley Celebrates Launch of Job-Creating Water Infrastructure Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today celebrated the official launch of his Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), which will make low-cost loans available to communities across the country to invest in repairing and upgrading crumbling water infrastructure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that Congress’s
Wyden, Merkley Pledge to Fight for More Funding to Restore Northwest Fisheries
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today renewed their pledge to fight for more resources to restore Northwest fisheries, in a letter to Oregon fishers and irrigators. Their legislation, the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (FRIMA), was passed into law at the end of December
BROWN, MERKLEY PUSH BACK ON OCC’S PLAN FOR FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY CHARTER
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today expressed concerns that a new federal charter for financial technology firms could weaken consumer protections, limit competition, and threaten financial stability. The Senators outlined their concerns in a letter to the head of the Office of the
Merkley Statement on Tillerson Meeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson: “Mr. Tillerson and I had an extensive and substantive conversation. After talking with him, I still have significant questions about Mr. Tillerson’s foreign policy
Merkley Joins Colleagues to Introduce Legislation Blocking Establishment of Federal Religious Registry
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he has joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and seven of their Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would block the establishment of a registry of people based on their religion, race, age, gender, ethnicity, national origin, or nationality. “Contrary to