Press Releases

Padilla, Merkley, Schakowsky Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09)

Welch, Wyden, Merkley, Schumer, Lead Colleagues in Fight to Protect Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Social Services from Republican Budget Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today led the Senate Democratic Caucus in sending an open letter to the public exposing the

Merkley Amendment Would Reduce Wait Time for HUBZone Designation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley put forward an amendment Wednesday to reduce the wait time for small businesses to benefit from a federal program that aids small businesses in hard-hit areas.  There is currently a two-year lag time after the census is completed before metro areas can be

Merkley Calls for Crack Down on Oil Speculation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today pushed to corral speculators who’re feverishly trading oil contracts and driving up the price of gas.  Merkley joined more than a dozen U.S. senators to press regulators for an immediate crackdown. The senators are pushing for tougher regulation because new data shows

Merkley Introduces Measure to Boost American Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today put forward an amendment to promote domestic manufacturing and create jobs here at home.  His measure was offered during the debate over legislation to encourage innovation at small businesses. “Over the last several decades, American manufacturing has lost ground, taking good paying

Senators Snowe, Merkley Introduce the Strategic Petroleum Demand Response Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) today introduced legislation aimed at reducing the federal government’s consumption of oil in emergency situations.  The federal government currently consumes about 1.5 percent of the nation’s energy, which costs taxpayers approximately $25 billion per year.  The Strategic

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