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 Invites Struggling Families to Testify to the Senate on the State of the American Dream
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced he will hold his first hearing as chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Policy on Wednesday, June 5, at 2:30 PM in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 538. The topic will be “the State of the American Dream – Economic
GOP Blocks Merkley Amendment to Repeal the Monsanto Protection Act
Greetings- Today, after his unanimous consent request for a vote on his amendment to the farm bill that would repeal the “Monsanto Protection Act” was blocked by a member of the minority party, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley made the following remarks on the floor. “MR. PRESIDENT, I REGRET THAT WE’VE
In Advance of Memorial Day, Merkley, Heller Introduce Bill to Expand Education Benefits to Spouses of Fallen Heroes
WASHINGTON, DC – In honor of Memorial Day, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) today introduced the Spouses of Heroes Education Act, which would expand full educational benefits to spouses of service members who die in the line of duty. “This Memorial Day, we remember those who
Merkley and Wyden Introduce Amendment Requiring Government to Pay Counties Missing Funds Within Seven Days
Washington DC – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced an amendment to the Farm Bill that would require the Department of the Interior to pay 18 Oregon timber counties nearly $2 million in overdue Secure Rural Schools payments within seven days of passage of the Farm Bill.
Merkley: Let’s Repeal the “Monsanto Protection Act”
Washington – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he would put forward an amendment to the Senate farm bill that would repeal a controversial provision of the recently-passed continuing resolution known as the “Monsanto Protection Act.” “The Monsanto Protection Act is an outrageous example of a special interest loophole,”
Senate Passes Merkley Proposal to Create Jobs by Repairing Crumbling Water Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate passed Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act (WIFIA) as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. The program would create jobs by providing low-cost loans to communities for infrastructure projects to repair or upgrade their water systems. “A