Press Releases

Merkley, Whitehouse, Doggett Celebrate Plastic Pollution Action Month

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Rhode Island’s U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-37) introduced their resolution marking July 2026 as “Plastic Pollution Action Month.” The bicameral resolution spotlights the dangers of the plastic pollution crisis and calls on Americans to protect our

NEW: Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Aviation Safety After Slackline-Helicopter Tragedy

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), and U.S. Representatives Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02) and Val Hoyle (D-OR-04) introduced the McCarty and Heideman Air Safety Enhancement Act, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT).

Merkley, Krishnamoorthi Fight Back Against Predatory For-Profit Colleges Scamming Students with Worthless College Degrees

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) reintroduced legislation to protect students from predatory higher-education programs—which are often run by for-profit colleges—that target financially vulnerable students, leave borrowers buried in debt, and force taxpayers to foot the bill for federal aid that

Merkley, Padilla Lead Effort to Fight Back Against Voter Suppression and Misuse of Artificial Intelligence in U.S. Elections

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla reintroduced legislation to protect voters in the face of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and recent attacks on voting by the Trump Administration. The Fraudulent Artificial Intelligence Regulations (FAIR) Elections Act bans false election-related AI-generated

New Merkley Bill Clears Barriers to Renewable Energy Projects Nationwide

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee—released new legislation to oppose discriminatory barriers to renewables enacted by states, counties, and municipalities across the United States. As the Trump Administration increases electricity prices with ever-intensifying attacks on cheap

Merkley, Harder Push to Increase Federal Response for Hazardous Wildfire Smoke 

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Josh Harder (CA-09) today reintroduced the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act, legislation to help communities respond to increasingly dangerous wildfire smoke events. The bicameral bill would create a federal framework for smoke emergencies, unlock resources to protect public health, support small businesses, and help communities weather worsening wildfire seasons.   “When the 2020

Merkley Fights Back Against Trump’s Attacks on Renewable Energy Projects Nationwide

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee—today unveiled new legislation to push back against the Trump Administration’s attacks on renewable energy. The Restoring Renewable Energy Parity Act repeals Trump Administration executive orders targeting renewable energy projects across the

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