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 Introduces Bill to Prevent Warrantless Surveillance of Americans
Washington, DC- Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Protect America’s Privacy Act, which would reform the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to ensure that intelligence agencies are not using a warrantless wiretapping program to collect and store emails and phone calls of American citizens. Under amendments to FISA
Merkley Statement on Cybersecurity Bill
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement today after the Cybersecurity bill failed a cloture vote. “We need to be prepared to take on the mounting threat of cyber attacks on our critical infrastructure, such as electricity grids and our transportation system. Our national security leaders
Merkley, Mikulski, Harkin Bill Would Stop Colleges from Peddling Worthless Degrees Legislation would cut off financial aid for unaccredited programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act to make it more difficult for colleges to take students’ and taxpayers’ dollars for unaccredited and unlicensed degree programs that leave graduates unable to work
Senators Merkley and Wyden and Governor Kitzhaber Announce Crooked River Water Agreement
WASHINGTON, DC— Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Governor Kitzhaber today announced that an agreement on water allocation from the Crooked River in Central Oregon has been made between a broad coalition of stakeholders in the region. Legislation will be introduced later this week by Senator Merkley with Senator
Merkley Unveils Bold Plan to Jump-Start Housing Markets
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today offered a new plan to tackle one of the most persistent challenges to the sputtering economy: the massive number of Americans who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are now worth. In a white paper containing the proposal, called “The 4%
Merkley, Udall, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Curb Online Payday Lending
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) 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 give states more power to