Press Releases

Ranking Member Merkley: Interior-Environment Funding Bill Boosts Wildfire Resiliency, Water Infrastructure, and Climate Investments in Oregon and Across the Nation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Interior-Environment Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations bill in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 82-15: “Oregonians turned out in record numbers during my town halls last year and delivered

Merkley, Sullivan, Curtis, Kaine Push for Bipartisan Crackdown on Chinese Government-Controlled Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in U.S.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—teamed up with current CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator John Curtis (R-UT), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to introduce bipartisan legislation that

Merkley: Shrinking Economy is an Urgent Wake-Up Call to Put Jobs First

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after news that the economy had shrunk in the last quarter of 2012:  “This is a wake-up call for Washington. While DC has been manufacturing political crises, real people and businesses are suffering. Our priority should be making the economy

Merkley Introduces Bill to Stop Deceptive Loan Checks

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act, which would prohibit companies from sending “live” loan checks to consumers.  In these schemes, financial institutions send unsuspecting customers a check made out to them.  Customers often assume that their financial institutions have sent refunds or

Senators Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Online Payday Loans

Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act. The SAFE Lending Act would crack down on the worst practices of the online payday lending industry and

Senators Introduce Bill to Help Americans Struggling with Medical Debt

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation to prohibit companies from using paid off or settled medical debt in assessing consumer credit scores. The Medical Debt Responsibility Act, which is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Menendez

Merkley Statement on Senate Rules Compromise

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after a deal was struck to modify Senate rules.  “The Senate spoke clearly today: the paralysis of the Senate is unacceptable.  Senators of both parties have recognized the need for change, and supported several steps to make the Senate more

Merkley Statement on Status of Rules Reform

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after today’s caucus meeting focused on rules reform.  “Leader Reid has left open two paths to rules changes. While I’ve always thought that improving how the Senate works should be an area ripe for bipartisan agreement, it is clear

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