Senate Passes Landmark Housing Bill with Merkley-Inspired Provision to Crack Down on Hedge Fund Control of American Homes
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a long-time champion of kicking hedge funds out of the housing market—released the following statement after the Senate passed an updated version of Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the biggest housing bill in 30 years, that includes the first-ever limits
Merkley, Panetta Announce Bicameral Resolution Marking National Pollinator Week 2026
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced a bicameral resolution to recognize the importance of pollinators to ecosystem health and agriculture in the United States. The resolution designates June 22 through June 28, 2026, as “National Pollinator Week,” to emphasize the vital
At Town Halls Across the State, Oregonians Tell Merkley That the Ultra Wealthy Need to Pay More to Save Social Security
Merkley Polled Attendees at His Recent Town Halls in Each of Oregon’s 36 Counties on Their Views of How to Prevent Social Security from Going Insolvent As of 2025, Nearly 965,000 Oregonians Receive Social Security Benefits WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate
Merkley Statement on Congress Passing Childhood Nutrition Bill
Washington, D.C. – The House overwhelmingly passed the childhood nutrition bill yesterday, sending it to President Obama’s desk for signature. The Senate passed the bill unanimously last August. The Healthy, Hunger-free Kids Act will reduce childhood obesity and strengthen programs dedicated to improving child nutrition. The bill will also provide
Merkley: Historic Food Safety Bill Will Protect Families and Small Farmers
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that today the U.S. Senate passed the Food Safety Modernization Act by a vote of 73 to 25. This bill provides historic modernization to our food safety systems while giving small family farms reasonable exemptions to continue operating without unnecessary regulation.
Merkley, Wyden Call for Yearlong Renewal of Unemployment Benefits for Jobless Americans
Washington, D.C. – In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined 27 of their colleagues in calling for a yearlong renewal of unemployment benefits for millions of out-of-work Americans. With the national unemployment rate
Merkley Statement on Failed Plot to Bomb Pioneer Courthouse Square
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the thwarted attempt to bomb Pioneer Courthouse Square: “This is a grim reminder to all of us that there remain individuals and groups that want to inflict terror upon our communities. We must remain vigilant in our efforts
Lawmakers call on IRS to allow deductibility and flex spending for breastfeeding equipment and supplies
WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Sander Levin (D-MI), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) today sent letters to Commissioner Douglas Shulman of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging him to reverse a ruling that denies equipment used to help women breast feed as a
Merkley’s Bill to Ban Animal Torture Videos Heads to President’s Desk for Signature
The Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act of 2010, a bill introduced by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley with Senators Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Richard Burr (R-NC), passed the Senate unanimously Friday evening and will now to go President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.