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 Statement on SEC Nominations

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, released the following statement after the White House announced the nominations of Lisa Fairfax and Hester Peirce for open positions on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): “We face a critical juncture at the SEC,

Merkley Applauds Interior Department’s Cancellation of Arctic Offshore Lease Sales

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it would cancel two potential Arctic offshore lease sales for oil drilling and not renew existing leases: “Today’s announcement is huge news and a real victory for the millions of Americans

Merkley Awards Military Service Medals to Veteran’s Family

Salem, OR – In a ceremony at the VFW Veterans’ Memorial in Salem today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today presented the Crom family with long-lost service medals earned by Petty Officer Ronald Crom during his service in the U.S. Navy. Petty Officer Crom served in the Navy during the Vietnam

Merkley Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley released a Medium post celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Oregon. In the post, entitled “Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Oregon,” Senator Merkley highlights the contributions of the Hispanic community in Oregon and shares the stories of three prominent Oregonians who are

Merkley Statement On Trans Pacific Partnership Deal Reached

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement upon the finalization of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP): “The earlier draft of the TPP would have put American workers in direct competition with people earning a dollar per hour or even less overseas. Such an unbalanced trade agreement

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