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 Applauds Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Plan

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Arctic would be put off-limits to offshore drilling in the five-year leasing plan from 2017-2022: “Drilling in the Arctic is the height of irresponsibility. I’m pleased that Secretary Jewell and President Obama

Drumbeat Against Bannon Grows as Senators Call for His Dismissal

Today, a group of Senators led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley signed a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump urging him to repudiate his hate-filled campaign attacks, and to show the country that he is serious about uniting Americans by immediately firing newly-appointed Chief Strategist Steve Bannon. In addition to Senator

Merkley Denounces Appointment of White Nationalist to Top White House Post

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Steve Bannon to be his Chief Strategist, splitting top duties with his Chief of Staff: “There should be no sugarcoating the truth here: Donald Trump just invited a white nationalist into the highest

Merkley Announces $500,000 Grant to Provide Oregon Veterans with Medical Transportation

In honor of Veterans Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has been awarded $500,000 as part of the federal Veteran Affairs’ Highly Rural Transportation Grant to support veterans’ medical transportation needs in rural Oregon counties. Ten Oregon counties are considered “highly

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