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.
Trump Forest Service Head ADMITS 1,400 Fire-Certified Employees have been PUSHED OUT
Senator Merkley pressed Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz on pushing out vital fire-certified personnel ahead of fire season, and called his attempts to slash essential federal support for state, rural, and volunteer fire departments a “violation of trust.” Watch the full hearing here: https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2026-budget-request-for-the-united-states-forest-service
Merkley: Netanyahu Government Withholding Food in Gaza “Violates Human Rights and International Law”
Senator Merkley spoke out against the Netanyahu government withholding food from Gaza on the floor of the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Merkley draw attention to the impacts of widespread starvation in Gaza and demanded that the U.S. government to use every lever of influence it has to
Merkley SLAMS Trump Ed. Secretary McMahon for Gutting Student Programs: “Profoundly Disturbing”
Senator Merkley questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about gutting critical college-support and financial aid programs for first-generation college students during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on June 3, 2025.
Merkley on Trump’s Crypto Scam: “There’s a big FOR SALE sign on the White House Lawn!”
Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senate colleagues in condemning President Trump’s crypto scheme—selling access to the U.S. government and U.S. government policies to enrich himself and his family.
Merkley Presses Trump’s EPA Head on Why He’s Illegally Slashing Funding to Oregon Communities
Senator Merkley questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin on why he is cancelling and withholding grant funding won by communities in every corner of Oregon, which would have gone toward emergency readiness, community health centers, early learning centers, and more, during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on May
Merkley Presses Kash Patel on Due Process: “You Haven’t Read the Constitution?”
Senator Merkley pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on upholding the Constitutional right to due process during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on May 8, 2025. Senator Merkley raised concerns that Director Patel seemed unaware that due process applies to “all persons” under the Constitution.