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)

Merkley Celebrates Landmark Ruling Creating Marriage Equality in Oregon

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after a judge ruled that marriage equality can no longer be denied to same-sex couples in Oregon: “Today is a momentous day in Oregon’s fight for equality. Lifetime love and commitment should be celebrated and honored, not relegated to second-class

Merkley Introduces Bill to Make Hospitals Safer for both Nurses and Patients

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Registered Nurses Safe Staffing Act, which will help improve the quality of care and outcomes for patients through appropriate levels of staffing, reduction in medical errors, and increases in nurse retention. The bill will require Medicare-participating hospitals to create staffing plans

Merkley Helps Pass Job-Creating Transportation Bill Out of Committee

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley helped to pass a bipartisan, job-creating transportation bill out of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. The bill will ensure that construction work across the country does not come to an abrupt halt later this year and will make job-creating investments in

Merkley Leads Senators in Pushing CFPB to Crack Down on Predatory Payday Loans

WASHINGTON – In a letter sent to the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today, six Senators – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM), Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) – pushed the

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