Press Releases

Senators Markey, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Healthcare for Americans Who Cannot Afford Bail

Bill Text (PDF) Washington, D.C. – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today reintroduced the Equity in Pretrial Health Coverage Act, legislation that would protect the continuity of federal health benefits under Medicaid, Medicare, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and

Merkley Leads Sweeping Legislation to Counter Trump’s Authoritarian Takeover of U.S. and Defend Our Democracy

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley unveiled the For Our Republic Act, a comprehensive legislative package to fight back against President Trump’s aggressive authoritarian takeover of American democracy. The brand-new For Our Republic Act includes provisions to directly oppose Trump’s authoritarian playbook, including defending independent government watchdogs,

Merkley: Federal Budget Lays Groundwork for Job Growth

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement reacting to President Obama’s proposed FY2011 budget: “I’m impressed by the focus on job creation and economic growth for working families that is apparent in President Obama’s proposed budget.  When he was sworn in, President Obama was faced with

Wyden, Merkley, and Schrader Statement on NOAA Review of Newport Siting

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), issued the following statement on NOAA’s response to the GAO decision sustaining the protest against NOAA’s decision to move their Pacific fleet to Newport, Oregon: “After reviewing NOAA’s letter and speaking with Secretary Locke this

Merkley, Boxer Laud President’s Commitment to Small Business Lending

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today praised President Obama’s commitment to help small businesses by taking $30 billion of the money Wall Street banks have repaid the Troubled Asset Relief Program and using it to help community banks give small businesses much-needed loans.

Merkley Statement on Confirmation of Ben Bernanke as Federal Reserve Chairman

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm Ben Bernanke to a second term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve.  Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the first Democrat to publicly oppose Bernanke’s nomination, voted against confirmation.  Merkley issued the following statement after the vote: “I opposed Ben Bernanke’s

Wyden, Merkley Land Swap Bill Will Preserve More Than 16,000 Acres as Wilderness

Washington, D.C. – Building on last year’s successful efforts to preserve more than 200,000 acres of Oregon lands as wilderness, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have introduced legislation to preserve another 16,000 acres near Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven by swapping land with private landholders, including

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