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: Oregon Leading the Way in Clean Energy Economy

Portland – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley’s commitment to clean energy took him to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in Albany today where he learned about the facility’s research including its techniques for minimizing the environmental impact of fossil fuels and producing sustainable energy. “This cutting edge

Merkley: House Vote on Clean Energy Jobs Bill Paves the Way for Senate Action

Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed groundbreaking legislation to rebuild the economy around clean energy and to directly address the looming threat of global warming.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on the vote:

Wyden, Merkley Seek Molalla River Protection

Washington, D.C. – Bringing to fruition years of work from the Molalla community to preserve their namesake river, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2009, which is a companion bill to legislation introduced in the House of

Merkley, Wyden Announce $81 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Oregon Transportation

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced today that the Department of Transportation has awarded over $81 million for public transit repair, maintenance, and equipment in Lane, Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Polk, Marion, and Deschutes counties as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. “The

Merkley Statement on Meeting with Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today met with Supreme Court nominee, Judge Sonia Sotomayor.  He issued the following statement after the meeting: “I had a productive conversation with Judge Sotomayor and came away very impressed by her intellect and dedication to the law.  She is very personable with

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