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 Celebrate $11.5 Million Coming to Oregon to Boost Literacy Programs

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $11.5 million is coming to Oregon to boost the state’s programs to close disparities in literacy for students.  The U.S. Department of Education is awarding the Oregon Department of Education $11,578,036 to advance literacy skills, including

Oregon Delegation Announces $9.6 Million for the City of Portland to Make Critical Safety Improvements Along 82nd Avenue 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, today announced new federal funding to improve one of Portland’s most important, high-crash corridors.  The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding the City of Portland $9.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make

DURBIN, PALLONE, MERKLEY LEAD AMICUS BRIEF URGING SUPREME COURT TO SUPPORT FDA’S PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITY AND ACTIONS TO REGULATE E-CIGARETTES

During its upcoming term, the Supreme Court will hear FDA’s appeal of a Fifth Circuit decision that struck down the agency’s denials of applications from an e-cigarette manufacturer WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Ranking Member

164 Members of Congress File Brief to Defend Trans Rights at SCOTUS

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressional Equality Caucus Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senator Ed Markey (MA), and Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) filed an amicus brief to defend transgender Americans’ right to access

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