Press Releases

Merkley, Van Hollen, Sanders, Welch Denounce Threats to West Bank Communities

Washington, D.C. – Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States last week, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Maryland’s U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, and Vermont’s U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch issued the following statement in response to the Israeli Higher Planning Council’s directive on June 18 to reject all

Merkley, Daines Recognize 30 Years of U.S.-Vietnam Relationship

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines teamed up in a bipartisan effort to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalization of relations between the United States and Vietnam. “Vietnam is a critical partner to the United States, and only together will we

Merkley, Bonamici, Oregon Delegation Slam Trump Education Funding Cuts Harming Schools Across the State

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led the Oregon Democratic delegation—Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—to demand the Trump Administration reverse its abrupt cutoff of more than $73 million in federal education funds for Oregon, harming afterschool programs, specialized literacy programs,

Merkley: It Is Time for a New Direction in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today reiterated his call that the President commit to a sizeable and sustained drawdown of troops from Afghanistan.  President Obama is scheduled to speak about the future of that country later tonight.  Early news reports indicate that Obama will call for small decreases

Merkley: New Leadership Needed at OCC

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today urged President Obama to appoint a new head to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC), a position held for the past several year by Acting Comptroller John Walsh.  Merkley’s comments came in response to recent statements from Walsh that criticize

Senators to FDA: It’s Time to Close the Door on Tobacco Candy

WASHINGTON, DC – A group of Senators, led by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, are calling on the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to reverse a recent decision that could potentially open the door to the possible sale of tobacco candy –

Senators Call on President to Shift Strategy in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and 24 other senators sent a letter to President Obama today calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan ahead of next month’s announced deadline to begin an accelerated transition to Afghan security forces. In the letter, the senators

Merkley, Snowe, Reed, Whitehouse Offer Amendment to End Worst Mortgage Abuses

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) offered the Regulation of Mortgage Servicing Act of 2011 as an amendment to the Public Works and Economic Development Reauthorization Bill.  The mortgage servicing bill would help homeowners stay in their homes by ending

en_USEnglish