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 and Snowe Introduce Bipartisan Energy Security Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Obama discussed strategies to reduce American dependence on foreign oil Wednesday, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation that sets a goal of ending America’s dependence on overseas oil by 2030.  The Energy Security Act of 2011 would establish a National

Merkley Amendment Would Reduce Wait Time for HUBZone Designation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley put forward an amendment Wednesday to reduce the wait time for small businesses to benefit from a federal program that aids small businesses in hard-hit areas.  There is currently a two-year lag time after the census is completed before metro areas can be

Merkley Calls for Crack Down on Oil Speculation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today pushed to corral speculators who’re feverishly trading oil contracts and driving up the price of gas.  Merkley joined more than a dozen U.S. senators to press regulators for an immediate crackdown. The senators are pushing for tougher regulation because new data shows

Merkley Introduces Measure to Boost American Manufacturing

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today put forward an amendment to promote domestic manufacturing and create jobs here at home.  His measure was offered during the debate over legislation to encourage innovation at small businesses. “Over the last several decades, American manufacturing has lost ground, taking good paying

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