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 Statement on Announcement that Rural Post Offices Will Remain Open

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Postmaster General announced that the Postal Service would halt its plans to eliminate thousands of rural post offices, including 20 that remained on the closure list in Oregon: “This is very good news for Oregon.

Merkley Applauds Obama on Marriage Equality

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after reports that President Barack Obama has announced support for marriage equality:  “I applaud President Obama for voicing his support for marriage equality. This is an issue of fundamental fairness for the men and women who seek to create a

Merkley Bill Would Help Homeowners Refinance, Rebuild Equity

Washington, DC- Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Rebuilding Equity Act, a bill that will lower costs for some homeowners seeking to refinance through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).  Under this bill, if homeowners who are current on their mortgage seek to refinance into a 20-year loan term

Merkley Statement on Agreement to Improve Care for Oregonians on Medicaid

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on today’s announcement of a new partnership between Oregon and the federal government to improve the quality and delivery of care to Oregon residents: “This is a momentous occasion for our state. Oregon has long been on the vanguard of innovative policies and

MERKLEY MEETS WITH SMALL BUSINESS ABOUT NEW OPTIONS FOR RAISING MONEY ONLINE

Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley held a roundtable meeting at the Portland State University Business Accelerator today to discuss crowdfunding, a new option for businesses to raise capital online. Merkley wrote the CROWDFUND (Capital Raising Online While Deterring Fraud and Unethical Non-Disclosure) Act which was recently signed

Merkley, Wyden Announce Grants for Oregon Health Centers

Washington, DC- Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $10 million to ten health centers across Oregon to expand access to quality health care. Funding for these awards come from the health reform law passed in 2010 and will

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