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)
Senators Urge CFTC, SEC to Close Major Swaps Loophole and Prevent Bailouts from Implied U.S. Guarantees on Swaps
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), as well as Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), urged the heads of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and
Merkley Calls on House to Pass Bill Giving Oregonians First Shot at Local Forestry Jobs
Springfield, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today visited Springfield to celebrate the Senate passage of his bill to end abuse in the H-2B guest worker visa program that allowed some contractors to avoid hiring Oregonians in favor of foreign labor. Yesterday, the Senate passed the comprehensive immigration bill that
Merkley Statement on Passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill, including a Merkley provision to protect Oregon forest workers by closing a loophole that has been abused in the H-2B visa system. “We have known for a long time
Merkley: DOMA Decision Huge Stride Forward for Equality and Fairness
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. “This Supreme Court decision that the federal government must recognize all marriages is a huge stride forward for equality and fairness. No one should be denied
Merkley Applauds New Steps to Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama announced new actions to combat climate change, including regulation of carbon pollution from power plants. “I applaud President Obama for acting to take on our most pressing global challenge. Already we are beginning to see the
Merkley: Voting Rights Act Decision Fundamentally Off Base
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a key section of the Voting Rights Act. “In a democracy, there is no right more fundamental than the right to vote, and yet in some places, Americans still face the threat