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 the President’s NSA Speech

Corvallis, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the President released a new policy directive on U.S. surveillance.  “It is unacceptable that our government has indiscriminately swept up millions of cell phone records of law-abiding citizens. This is an outrageous abuse of Americans’ privacy.  I’m glad

Merkley Secures Support for Threatened Control Towers in Omnibus Bill

 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the omnibus spending bill that passed the Senate today will fully fund Oregon’s smaller airport control towers, ensuring that the air traffic control towers and airports in these communities will continue to operate. Because

Merkley’s Appropriations Seat Pays Dividends for Oregonians

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured investments in a wide range of Oregon priorities in the federal spending bill passed by the Senate today.  The provisions championed by Merkley will help put Oregonians to work in the woods reducing the threat

Merkley Ensures Coastal Priorities Addressed in Spending Bill

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that the omnibus spending bill that just passed the Senate includes several provisions directly benefiting the Oregon coast. The bill was the first since Merkley joined the committee, which shapes the federal government’s annual spending priorities. 

Merkley: Yellen to Help Restore Economy that Makes Middle Class Jobs Top Goal

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the confirmation of Janet Yellen as Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.  “America does well when the middle class does well, and I’m confident Janet Yellen will have that common-sense approach to the

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