Press Releases

KAINE, VAN HOLLEN, AND MERKLEY INTRODUCE BILL TO STRENGTHEN STATE DEPARTMENT WORKFORCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced the State Department Integrity and Transparency Act, legislation to strengthen the State Department workforce and ensure senior State Department officials are selected based on merit.

Merkley, Senate Democrats: Trump’s Staffing Cuts at Key USDA Services Threaten Rapid Response to New World Screwworm, Rural Communities, Food Safety, and Public Health Nationwide

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led his Senate Democratic colleagues to sound the alarm over the Trump Administration’s staff cuts at critical U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies that oversee food and agriculture systems and respond to threats such as the New World Screwworm across the

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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