Foreign Policy and National Security

Jeff is committed to protecting America from those who would do us harm, and to making sure we do so in a way that is consistent with American values and our Constitutional rights.  Indeed, Jeff firmly believes that the measure of our strength isn’t just the power of our military, but that the United States is safer and stronger when we honor our fundamental American values like respect for the rule of law and invest in the hard work of working with our allies.  In a dangerous world, with global threats ranging from terrorism to global warming to nuclear weapons proliferation, Jeff understands that we need to be able to work with other nations to confront these challenges together.

Having worked as a national security analyst at the Pentagon and at the Congressional Budget Office, Jeff has a unique understanding of national security policy.  In both positions, he was immersed in the national dialogue on responsible management of nuclear weapons.  Jeff also remained actively engaged in foreign policy issues as President of the World Affairs Council of Oregon.

Senators ask NBA about Rwanda relationship

ESPN Two U.S. senators sent a letter Tuesday to NBA commissioner Adam Silver accusing the league of “putting profit over principle,” in response to an ESPN story that detailed the NBA’s extensive relationship with Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame. The bipartisan letter, signed by Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.),

Merkley: Risk of Mass Atrocities in Burma High, U.S. Must Take Further Action to Support Rohingya on Anniversary of Genocide

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a member of both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee—today issued the following statement ahead of the seventh anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide: “I’ll never forget hearing painful stories from members of the Rohingya community when I traveled to Burma

Welch Leads Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Increase Accountability from Social Media Platforms that Knowingly Host False Election Administration Content

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) led Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.),and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) in introducing the Digital Integrity in Democracy Act,legislation to increase accountability of social media platforms that knowingly host false election administration information. The bill

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