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 Announces Key Oregon Wins for Oregon Small Businesses and to Address Tax ID Fraud
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill includes key provisions to help Oregon small businesses compete in the global economy. The bill also includes language to address the growing problem of tax identity theft. “We should be doing everything we
Appropriations Committee Passes Merkley-Murray Amendment to Provide Access to Banking Services for Legal Marijuana Businesses
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill, which included an amendment from Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Washington Senator Patty Murray to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services. Currently, marijuana businesses operating under state laws that have
Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Oregon Wins for Rural Oregon in Senate Appropriations Bill
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which Merkley sits, has passed an Interior Appropriations bill including key provisions that will help Oregon’s rural communities. These include funding for the Klamath basin, wildfire prevention, sage grouse habitat improvements and the Payments
Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Oregon Wins to Keep Oregon Communities Safe
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, on which Merkley sits, has passed an Interior Appropriations bill including key provisions to keep Oregon communities safe with clean drinking water and to prepare for the possibility of a large scale Cascadia earthquake.
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on Federal Agencies to Protect Communities from Dangers of Volatile Crude Oil
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined a group of ten senators today to urge the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to set an interim standard for volatility of crude oil under the DOT’s authority to issue emergency orders.
Merkley Statement on NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting no on the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): “As someone who worked inside the Pentagon, I know how important it is to give the strongest backing to our men and women in uniform and to plan