Press Releases

Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls in March 

Senator holding in-person conversations in Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties between March 20-21  Bend, OR. — Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced he will continue his town halls with in-person community conversations in Klamath and Lake counties on Friday, March 20, followed by conversations in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties on Saturday, March 21.  The five events continue Merkley’s 2026 town hall tour of

Merkley Applauds Senate Passage of Housing Provisions to Crack Down on Hedge Fund Control of American Homes

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a long-time champion of kicking hedge funds out of the housing market—released the following statement after the Senate passed sweeping housing legislation that includes the first-ever limits on institutional investors purchasing single-family homes: “Housing in our communities should be homes for families, not profit centers

Merkley Applauds Strengthening of Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced they would finalize and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution: “Climate change is an urgent threat that requires urgent action. Already we are seeing the cost of climate

Appropriations Committee Passes Merkley Amendment to Provide Access to Banking Services for Legal Marijuana Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the financial services appropriations bill, which included an amendment from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services. Senator Merkley’s amendment is similar to bipartisan legislation that he introduced last week. Currently, marijuana businesses operating

Historic, Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation Introduced in Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 40 Senators, led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced historic, comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT Americans. The legislation was filed simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives by 158 Representatives, led by Rep.

Merkley Statement on Failed Transportation Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after he and a bipartisan majority of Senators voted against an attempt to bring a 1,000 page transportation bill to the floor less than an hour after it had been released: “After months of stalling on putting forward a

On Five Year Anniversary of Wall Street Reform, Senate Democrats, Joined by Former Senator Dodd, Fight Back Against Continued Attacks on Consumer Protections

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Democrats celebrated the five year anniversary of Dodd-Frank, major Wall Street reform legislation passed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and vowed to keep pushing back on continued attempts to gut critical consumer protections contained in the legislation. The legislation was enacted on

Merkley Delivers Wins For Oregon Farmers in Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley announced several key wins to help farming communities in Oregon and across the country. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, Senator Merkley has vowed to use his position to fight for Oregon’s priorities and middle class families. This

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