Press Releases

Merkley, Mannion Champion Legislation to Make Mental Health Care Accessible for Every Student in America 

Washington, D.C. – During Mental Health Awareness Month, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman John Mannion (NY-22) announced the reintroduction of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act, legislation that would significantly boost the availability of mental health providers in America’s public schools. Mental illness affects nearly 20 percent of American youth. This bicameral legislation would put additional mental health providers in elementary and

Forty-One Senators Push to Keep Harmful Environmental Riders Out of Appropriations Bills

Senators warn that inclusion of poison pills harming the environment would undermine Senate’s ability to pass bipartisan spending bills Washington, D.C. – Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works; Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior,

Merkley Statement on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001:  “Ten years ago, our nation watched in shock and horror as an unprecedented attack on American innocents was carried out in cold blood. We knew that day the world would

Merkley Statement on President’s Jobs Speech

WASHINGTON – Tonight, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the President’s speech: “Everyone in Washington should be focused on creating jobs, and I applaud President Obama for laying out a bold plan to tackle unemployment. We need aggressive action to put people back to work. “There is

Merkley Statement on Trip to Afghanistan

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after returning from a Congressional Delegation trip to Afghanistan. “You can’t meet with our troops overseas and not be blown away by their skill, dedication, and sacrifice.  They undertake and accomplish amazing things under incredibly difficult conditions every day,

Senators Call on McConnell to Put Jobs First in “Super Committee”

WASHINGTON – One day after Republicans in the House and Senate announced their picks for the Joint Select Committee (JSC), Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and 22 of his Democratic colleagues sent a simple message to Republican lawmakers: Put jobs first.  In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the

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