Press Releases

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)

Welch, Wyden, Merkley, Schumer, Lead Colleagues in Fight to Protect Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Social Services from Republican Budget Cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today led the Senate Democratic Caucus in sending an open letter to the public exposing the

Merkley Holds Hearing on Economic Challenges Facing Young Workers and Recent Grads

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the Chair of the Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy, held a hearing yesterday on the economic challenges facing young workers and recent high school and college graduates. The hearing, titled “Dreams Deferred: Young Workers & Recent Grads in U.S. Economy,” focused on

Merkley, Wyden Highlight NTSB’s Call for Expanded Oil Trains Transparency

Washington, D.C. – First responders need more timely and detailed information about crude-by-rail trains in order to better protect communities, according to a letter from the National Transportation Board released today by Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. The senators urged Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to use

Merkley Hails Passage of Bipartisan Job Training Bill

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the Senate passage of a major bipartisan bill to improve America’s workforce development system and help put Americans back to work. Merkley voted for the bill, which is expected to be signed into law by the president soon. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity

Merkley Slams Citi for Flouting Volcker Rule Firewall

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after news reports that Citigroup is flouting the Volcker Rule firewall by engaging in high-risk, proprietary trading in mortgage bonds:   “Citigroup’s trading activities, as reported by Bloomberg News, appear to constitute a direct violation of law. It’s unacceptable for

Senate Committee Passes Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden hailed the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee’s passage of the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013, which moves the bill one step closer to becoming law. “This legislation is all about providing water certainty and laying

Wyden, Merkley Safety of Dams Bill Takes Step Forward

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill that would clear the way for critical safety upgrades to Scoggins Dam in Oregon and dams across the western United States took a step forward when it passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today.  Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley introduced the

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