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, Brown, Shaheen Ask GAO for Updated Report on the Financial Technology Marketplace
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) wrote to the head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), asking for an updated report on the rapidly-expanding financial technology, or “fintech,” marketplace. Merkley, Brown and Shaheen serve respectively as the
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer and Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Push President to Remove Barriers to Medical Marijuana Research
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, along with a bipartisan group of 24 senators and representatives, urged President Obama to remove barriers to research on medical marijuana and facilitate new medical research on cannabis and its derivatives. “Twenty-three states have passed
Merkley and Wyden Announce Appropriations Win To Help Homeless Veterans
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that included in the Senate Military Construction appropriations bill is $320 million for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program and $496 million for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) voucher program. These programs help veterans and their
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Merkley-Daines Bipartisan Amendment Letting VA Doctors Recommend Medical Marijuana to Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the Military Construction funding bill led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) that would allow Veterans Health Administration (VA) doctors to discuss and make recommendations about the use of medical marijuana with their patients. The amendment
Merkley Announces Key Appropriations Win To Address Spotted Frog Issues In Central Oregon
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that included in the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations bill is language that could help Central Oregon farmers maintain access to water supplies while protecting endangered species. The provision urges the Bureau of Reclamation to provide additional funds for the WaterSmart program
Merkley And Murray Announce Key Appropriations Win To Address Tribal Housing Needs In The Columbia Gorge
Portland, OR – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Patty Murray of Washington announced today that the U.S. Senate is pressing the U.S. Army of Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to move forward with construction of new tribal housing at historical fishing sites to replace villages that were flooded during