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-Grassley Wind Energy Amendment Passes Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the United States Senate passed a bipartisan amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that restores funding for wind energy research and development (R&D). The amendment was attached to the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) Energy and Water Appropriations bill. “Wind energy

Merkley Statement on the Signing of Historic Paris Climate Agreement on Earth Day

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after nations from around the world convened on Earth Day at the United Nations to sign the historic Paris Climate Agreement: “The Paris Agreement signed today represents a breakthrough moment in the international fight to take on climate change.

Merkley and Wyden Announce Key Appropriations Win for Industrial Hemp

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that included in the Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations committee bill is an amendment offered by Senator Merkley that would prevent the federal government from interfering with the implementation of state laws on the cultivation of industrial hemp. 

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