Press Releases

Padilla, Merkley, Schakowsky Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09)

Welch, Wyden, Merkley, Schumer, Lead Colleagues in Fight to Protect Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Social Services from Republican Budget Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today led the Senate Democratic Caucus in sending an open letter to the public exposing the

Merkley Applauds Creation of Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities

Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D- Ore.) and Governor Ted Kulongoski via video today to announce the creation of the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities within HUD. The creation of this office reflects elements of the Livable Communities Act that Merkley co-sponsored last year.

Merkley: Federal Budget Lays Groundwork for Job Growth

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement reacting to President Obama’s proposed FY2011 budget: “I’m impressed by the focus on job creation and economic growth for working families that is apparent in President Obama’s proposed budget.  When he was sworn in, President Obama was faced with

Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader Statement on NOAA Review of Newport Siting

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), issued the following statement on NOAA’s response to the GAO decision sustaining the protest against NOAA’s decision to move their Pacific fleet to Newport, Oregon: “After reviewing NOAA’s letter and speaking with Secretary Locke this

Merkley, Boxer Laud President’s Commitment to Small Business Lending

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised President Obama’s commitment to help small businesses by taking $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid the Troubled Asset Relief Program and using it to help community banks give small businesses much-needed loans.

Merkley Statement on Confirmation of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the first Democrat to publicly oppose Bernanke’s nomination, voted against confirmation.  Merkley issued the following statement after the vote: “I opposed Ben Bernanke’s

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