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, Wyden Announce $11.85 Million for Oregon Biomass Projects

Washington D.C. – Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Department of Agriculture has awarded $11.85 million to five counties in Oregon to create clean energy jobs and reduce the risk of wildfire in Oregon as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The funding will

Merkley: Health Reform Should Include Drug Rebate Extension

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley called on the leadership of the Senate Finance Committee today to include an extension of the Medicaid drug rebate program to managed care plans (MCOs) in the health reform legislation currently being drafted. In a letter to Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Senator

Merkley Statement on National Unemployment Rate

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released a statement today following the announcement by the Department of Labor that job losses were lower than expected even though the national unemployment rate climbed to 9.4 percent.   “The loss of nearly 350,000 jobs last month is unacceptable.  While some experts

Merkley: Attacks On Vote-By-Mail Have No Place in Employee Free Choice Debate

Washington, DC – In recent days, opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act have turned their fire toward a voting method that has been used successfully in Oregon for over a decade:  vote-by-mail.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today laid out the facts for these new opponents of vote-by-mail. “Unfortunately, opponents

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