Jeff Merkley

Democrat

Senator, OR

Website 202-224-3753 Contact @SenJeffMerkley

5 Courage (100%)

Feb 12, 2026•Vote

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 (Senate Cloture Vote)

This was a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security. After federal immigration agents shot and killed two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis, Democrats demanded reforms—including body cameras, a ban on agents concealing their identities with masks, and judicial warrants for arrests. Republicans refused. The bill could not get the 60 votes required to end debate, triggering a shutdown at midnight on February 14.

NayappropriationsDHSICEimmigrationshutdown

Nov 12, 2025•Vote

Continuing Appropriations Act

Congress passed H.R. 5371 to end the longest government shutdown in US history (43 days). The bill funds most federal agencies through January 30, 2026, including DHS and ICE operations. Senate Democrats had demanded ACA subsidy extensions, but seven Democrats and one independent sided with the President. Six House Democrats sided with the President.

NayappropriationsICEDHSshutdownimmigrationhealthcare

Jul 3, 2025•Vote

One Big Beautiful Bill Act

H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). President Trump's signature budget reconciliation bill, extending his 2017 tax cuts while cutting nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and imposing new work requirements for food stamps. The bill provides $75 billion in supplemental funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement through FY2029—nearly tripling ICE's annual budget—including $45 billion for detention capacity expansion to 100,000 beds and $29.9 billion for enforcement operations and 10,000 new officers. The Senate passed the bill 51-50 on July 1, 2025, with Vice President Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Republicans—Susan Collins (ME), Rand Paul (KY), and Thom Tillis (NC)—joined all Democrats in opposition. The House concurred 218-214 on July 3, with Republicans Thomas Massie (KY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA) voting Nay. Signed into law July 4, 2025.

NayICEimmigrationhealthcaretaxesSNAP

Mar 15, 2025•Vote

Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025

This bill kept the federal government funded through September 2025, freezing spending at 2024 levels while cutting $13 billion from non-military programs. Senate Democrats faced a painful choice: block the bill and risk a shutdown that would give President Trump and DOGE free rein to decide which agencies stay open, or let it pass with no oversight concessions. The outcome was decided in the Senate cloture vote, where ten Democrats broke the filibuster 62-38. After that, the final vote only needed a simple majority. The House passed 217-213; the Senate passed 54-46.

Nayappropriationsspendingshutdown

Jan 29, 2025•Vote

Laken Riley Act

The first law signed in President Trump's second term, the Laken Riley Act requires mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants who are arrested for, charged with, or admit to committing theft, burglary, larceny, shoplifting, assault on a law enforcement officer, or any crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the Department of Homeland Security over immigration enforcement failures. The Senate passed it 64–35 with 12 Democrats crossing over; the House passed it 263–156 with 46 Democrats voting yes.

NayimmigrationICEdetention