Press Releases

Ranking Member Merkley: Interior-Environment Funding Bill Boosts Wildfire Resiliency, Water Infrastructure, and Climate Investments in Oregon and Across the Nation

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Interior-Environment Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Appropriations bill in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 82-15: “Oregonians turned out in record numbers during my town halls last year and delivered

Merkley, Sullivan, Curtis, Kaine Push for Bipartisan Crackdown on Chinese Government-Controlled Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices in U.S.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—teamed up with current CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Senator John Curtis (R-UT), and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to introduce bipartisan legislation that

Wyden, Merkley Tout Newport as New Home for NOAA Fleet

PORTLAND –Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have urged the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration to select Newport as the future home for NOAA’s Pacific fleet. In a letter sent earlier this month to Rear Admiral Jonathan W. Bailey, Director of NOAA’s Office of Marine & Aviation Operations and

Merkley Applauds Recovery Money For Head Start Programs

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the nearly $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds heading to Head Start programs throughout Oregon. The funds will help programs in a variety of ways including retaining and recruiting teachers, enhancing facilities and hiring support staff. “The foundation for

Merkley: Chrysler to Buy Back Cars From Dealers Forced to Close

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that Chrysler has revised its strategy for compensating dealers that are losing their franchises.  Last week, Merkley sent a letter to Chrysler and GM taking issue with the lack of assistance.  In the letter to Fritz Henderson, CEO of General Motors,

Merkley: Financial Regulation Overhaul Must Include Protections for Consumers

Washington, DC – This week, President Barack Obama will lay out principles for the upcoming debate over modernizing regulations of the financial market.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is urging the White House to include strong protections for consumers in that effort.  The lack of clear regulations and strong protections for

Merkley: Senate Tobacco Regulation Bill A Breakthrough For Public Health

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined a bipartisan majority in the U.S. Senate in passing the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco products for the first time.  “Over the course of the summer, the

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