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,

Wyden, Merkley Join 39 Colleagues in Introducing D.C. Statehood Bill

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined 39 colleagues in introducing the District of Columbia statehood bill for the 119th Congress in the Senate. “Year after year, nearly 700,000 people living in our nation’s capital are being taxed without receiving the same

Merkley, Reed, Huffman, Barragán, McClellan, Casten, Grijalva: LNG Exports Are Not in Public Interest

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Rhode Island’s U.S. Senator Jack Reed, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA-02), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) today led a bicameral letter urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to use its recent findings when determining the public interest

Merkley Applauds Pentagon for Efforts to Restore Honors for Wrongfully Discharged LGBTQ+ Veterans, Continues Fight for Full Justice

Washington, D.C. – Following the Pentagon reaching a historic settlement with LGBTQ+ veterans, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley vowed to continue his longtime efforts to restore dignity to veterans and servicemembers who were unjustly discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation. It is estimated that more than 100,000 servicemembers were wrongfully discharged from the Armed Forces on the

Oregon Delegation Announces $36 Million to Tackle Railroad Crossing Challenges

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Janelle Bynum, announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation is sending a combined $36,314,523 for two Oregon communities to eliminate railroad crossings, improve congestion, and boost safety and accessibility. Of this federal funding,

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