Merkley Presses Trump Official to Support Oregon and American Manufacturing
Senator Merkley pressed Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to support Oregon and American manufacturers by continuing the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) during a Senate Appropriations hearing. The Trump Administration moved to eliminate the MEP program earlier this year.
Congress has the power to declare war, not the President.
Senator Merkley spoke on the Senate floor in support of Senator Kaine’s war powers resolution on June 27, 2025.
Republicans BLOCKED bill to protect borrowers from crushing student debt
I was the first in my family to go to college. I know how difficult it can be to access higher education. I just brought my SOAR Act—a student loan repayment plan that protects borrowers from unaffordable student loan payments—to the floor for a vote. Republicans BLOCKED IT.
Senator Merkley Questions Expert on Protecting Wetlands
Senator Merkley spoke with Dr. Mažeika Patricio Sulliván, Director of the Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science at Clemson University, during an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing entitled “Examining the Implications of Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Water Act Protections of Wetlands and Streams.”
Senator Merkley Chairs Subcommittee Hearing on Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee hearing titled, “Evaluating Material Alternatives for Single-Use Plastics” on October 26, 2023. This is his opening statement from that hearing; you can find the full hearing here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTp3XURJCU Witnesses included: Marcus Eriksen, Ph.D. – Co-Founder, Executive Director –
Senator Merkley Chairs Hearing on Reducing Plastic Bottle Waste – Opening Statement
On September 28, 2023, Senator Merkley chaired a Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight hearing titled “Examining Solutions to Address Beverage Container Waste,” the latest hearing in his series of hearings investigating plastic production and pollution and its impact on
Senator Merkley Chairs Hearing on Transnational Repression – Opening Statement
Senator Merkley co-chaired a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing titled “Countering China’s Global Transnational Repression Campaign” on September 12, 2023. His opening statement focused on the growing issue of transnational repression and the steps the United States needs to take to address this troubling trend. Earlier this year, Senator Merkley
Senator Merkley Highlights Contaminated Well Water in Rural Oregon
Senator Merkley highlighted the pressing issue of contaminated private well water in rural Oregon communities during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing titled “Implementing IIJA (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act): Perspectives on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act, Part II” on September 7, 2023. Senator Merkley visited
Senator Merkley Speaks on Banning Legacy Admissions
Senator Merkley’s remarks from a press conference announcing the introduction of the Fair College Admissions for Students Act, which would ban the practice of giving preference to children of donors and alumni in the college admissions process on July 26, 2023. Read more about the bill: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-bowman-no-more-legacy-admissions-at-colleges-and-universities/
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