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: Marriage Equality Issue of Fundamental Fairness

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued a statement on the day the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments on Hollingsworth v. Perry, a case challenging California’s Proposition 8, banning marriage for same-sex couples.  “Marriage equality is an issue of fundamental fairness.  The Supreme Court should do the right thing

Merkley: Budget Puts Middle Class First

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement after Senate passage of a budget framework for fiscal year 2014.  “For too long, our economy hasn’t been working for too many middle class Oregonians.  This budget lays out a path to

Merkley “Too Big to Jail” Amendment Passes

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate passed his amendment to create a deficit-neutral reserve fund to facilitate the criminal prosecution of U.S. financial institutions that break the law, regardless of size. “Under our American system of justice – where Lady Justice is blindfolded

Merkley, Paul, Brown: End the War in Afghanistan

Washington, DC – Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) yesterday called for a swift and orderly end to United States military involvement in Afghanistan. They made this call in recognition that in the coming months the President will decide how quickly to withdraw troops and

Merkley Welcomes JPMorgan Payday Lending Changes, Says More Needed

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, sponsor of the SAFE Lending Act, a bill to crack down on online payday lending, issued the following statement after the New York Times reported that JPMorgan Chase has changed internal policies to rein in some of the worst practices by online payday lenders: 

Merkley Passes Infrastructure Jobs Bill Through Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has passed his Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act  (WIFIA). The WIFIA program was included as an element of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which the committee passed on a bipartisan vote. WIFIA

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