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,

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

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

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