Press Releases

Merkley Announces Central Oregon Town Halls in March 

Senator holding in-person conversations in Klamath, Lake, Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties between March 20-21  Bend, OR. — Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced he will continue his town halls with in-person community conversations in Klamath and Lake counties on Friday, March 20, followed by conversations in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties on Saturday, March 21.  The five events continue Merkley’s 2026 town hall tour of

Merkley Applauds Senate Passage of Housing Provisions to Crack Down on Hedge Fund Control of American Homes

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a long-time champion of kicking hedge funds out of the housing market—released the following statement after the Senate passed sweeping housing legislation that includes the first-ever limits on institutional investors purchasing single-family homes: “Housing in our communities should be homes for families, not profit centers

Merkley: DOMA Decision Huge Stride Forward for Equality and Fairness

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. “This Supreme Court decision that the federal government must recognize all marriages is a huge stride forward for equality and fairness.  No one should be denied

Merkley Applauds New Steps to Combat Climate Change

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama announced new actions to combat climate change, including regulation of carbon pollution from power plants. “I applaud President Obama for acting to take on our most pressing global challenge. Already we are beginning to see the

Merkley: Voting Rights Act Decision Fundamentally Off Base

 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a key section of the Voting Rights Act.  “In a democracy, there is no right more fundamental than the right to vote, and yet in some places, Americans still face the threat

Wyden, Merkley, Announce Passage of Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Bill

Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley celebrated the Senate passage of the Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Act today, which will permanently conserve thousands of acres of pristine forest near the Southern Oregon coast. The bill now goes to the House.  “The proposed Devil’s Staircase Wilderness area is

Merkley Amendment to Protect Jobs in the Woods Passes Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate passed Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s amendment to end abuse of the H-2B visa program in forestry work and protect American jobs in American forests. The amendment will be added to the comprehensive immigration bill being debated by the U.S. Senate. In 2010, the Bend

Merkley Asks Administration to Declassify Secret Court Opinions on NSA Programs

Merkley Asks Administration to Declassify Secret Court Opinions on NSA Programs WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is asking the Obama administration to make public secret court opinions that include significant findings about the legal scope of the NSA surveillance programs. These court opinions are currently classified and thus kept

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