Press Releases

Merkley, Van Hollen, Colleagues: Trump’s Military Actions in Yemen Must Follow the Law

Washington, D.C. – As President Trump visits the Middle East this week, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Maryland’s U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen—both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—today led their colleagues in demanding answers from the administration about its military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen and

Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Legislation to Ban Conversion Therapy 

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore) today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would ban so-called “conversion therapy,” a practice fraudulently claiming to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.  “Forcing Americans into sham therapy for a non-existent illness is medieval quackery, not modern

Padilla, Merkley, Schakowsky Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09)

Wyden, Merkley Seek Disaster Aid for Malheur County, Eastern Oregon

Washington – Senator Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked federal officials to begin the process that makes disaster aid available to farmers and businesses in Malheur County as well as other Eastern Oregon counties hard hit by severe winter weather since December. “This relief is desperately needed by these

Oregon Lawmakers Introduce Mt. Hood Land Exchange Bill

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., this week introduced legislation to protect and enhance Oregon’s land conservation priorities on Mt. Hood. Wyden and Merkley introduced the Mt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act in

Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Schrader Oppose EPA Grants Freeze

Washington, D.C. – Six Oregon lawmakers today told the White House that its decision to freeze grants administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) poses a serious threat to fundamental public health and environmental protections in Oregon and nationwide. “Americans deserve to know whether the EPA will protect their health and safety

Merkley Statement on Immigration Executive Orders

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed new executive orders on immigration policy: “Trump’s border wall will waste our scarce resources: a 21-foot ladder defeats a 20-foot wall. There are smarter strategies for border security and for infrastructure investment. Let’s repair

Merkley Slams Trump’s Executive Order on Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Trump signed an executive order designed to ram through the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines: “The proposed Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines have inspired unprecedented grassroots opposition, and for good reason: they would turn on

Merkley Statement on Pompeo Vote

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate vote on the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo to serve as CIA Director:  “We need a CIA Director who will stand up for Americans’ privacy, not undermine it. I voted ‘no’ on Rep. Pompeo’s nomination because

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