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,
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Rescind Illegal Anti-Voter Executive Order
Senators say “requirements in this illegal order would likely disenfranchise millions of American voters…places a variety of other process burdens on voters, especially married women, rural residents, and low-income voters, and communities of color.” Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate
UPDATE: Merkley Announces Early April Town Halls
UPDATE: Because of a change in the U.S. Senate voting schedule, all three town halls in Central Oregon on Saturday, April 5 have been postponed. The town halls in Grant and Wheeler counties on Sunday, April 6 currently remain as scheduled. An updated event schedule and invitations will be shared in
Senators Schmitt and Merkley Reintroduce the Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization (WATCH) Act
WASHINGTON – Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statements after the reintroduction of S.1104 – the Worldwide Animal Testing Compliance and Harmonization (WATCH) Act. This bill would ensure the United States is not funding risky research on animals in unregulated foreign laboratories. “The outsourcing
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Elimination of Scientific Research Arm Threatens Clean Air and Water for All
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sounded the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide.
Oregon Delegation Calls on Trump Administration to Reinstate Fired Agricultural Researchers in Oregon
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) led her Oregon colleagues – including U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05), along with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley – in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, expressing
Merkley, Pingree: EPA’s Reckless Gutting of Environmental Justice Programs Harms Communities
Washington, D.C. – Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and House Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Chellie Pingree (ME-01) denounced plans by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to eliminate all of the agency’s offices and positions related to environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion.