Ranking Member Merkley, Colleagues Denounce Trump Administration’s Partisan Changes to National Park Service Access for 2026
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—the top Democrat overseeing funding for the National Park Service— today led U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory
Ranking Member Merkley: Interior-Environment Funding Bill Boosts Wildfire Resiliency, Water Infrastructure, and Climate Investments in Oregon and Across the Nation
Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Interior-Environment Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations bill in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 82-15: “Oregonians turned out in record numbers during my town halls last year and delivered
Merkley, Sullivan, Curtis, Kaine Push for Bipartisan Crackdown on Chinese Government-Controlled Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in U.S.
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—teamed up with current CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator John Curtis (R-UT), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to introduce bipartisan legislation that
Senate Passes Bill to Strengthen Nutrition Programs and Fight Childhood Obesity
Washington, D.C. – The Senate passed legislation today to reduce childhood obesity and strengthen programs dedicated to improving children’s nutrition. The Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act will provide $4.5 billion to improving the National School Lunch Program, promote the health benefits of breastfeeding, and establish new national nutritional standards to help
Merkley Statement on the Confirmation of Solicitor General Kagan to the Supreme Court
Washington, D.C. – Today the Senate voted to confirm U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the next Supreme Court Justice. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement following the vote: “Solicitor General Kagan’s thoughtful approach to the law will make her a valuable addition to the Supreme Court. Her
Merkley: Oregon Iron Works’ Brown a Strong Addition to Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that President Obama will appoint Chandra Brown, vice president of Oregon Iron Works and President of United Streetcar, to the Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council. Since 1994, Brown has helped put the Clackamas-based fabrication and manufacturing company in the vanguard of
Merkley: Help on the Way to Prevent Mass Teacher Layoffs
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate cleared a major 60-vote hurdle to move forward with a bill that will prevent mass teacher layoffs and provide medical services to those in need. The bill will provide $10 billion to keep teachers on the job, including $117 million for Oregon school districts.
Livable Communities Act Heads to Full Senate
Washington, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today passed the Livable Communities Act, sending it to the Senate floor for consideration. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is an original co-sponsor of the bill and authored an amendment in committee to support community projects that make biking
Merkley, Levin Urge Strong Implementation of New Rules, End to “Business-as-Usual” on Wall Street
Washington, D.C. – In a letter to heads of the government agencies charged with implementing Wall Street reform, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) today urged strong implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, particularly the Merkley-Levin provisions limiting conflicts of interest and high-risk proprietary trading. “The law is clear: