WASHINGTON, D.C.—Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement today following the announcement that he will be joining the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, which has key jurisdiction over democracy reform legislation and Senate rules:
“For years, the powerful and the privileged have bent Congress around their whims and wish lists, at the expense of working Americans’ interests and the functionality of our government’s institutions. Their destructive efforts have contributed to an unprecedented level of mistrust among the public, which is being exploited by harmful conspiracies and lies and threatens the very fabric of our democratic republic. That’s why now more than ever, we must work to restore our democracy, bring integrity to our government institutions, and ensure that the Senate itself can debate and pass legislation and deliver for the people. I look forward to advancing those goals through my work on the Senate Rules Committee.”
The Senate Rules Committee’s jurisdiction includes Senate rules—which Merkley has worked for years to reform to cut through gridlock and deliver for the American people. The committee is expected to have primary jurisdiction over S1, the For the People Act, landmark legislation Merkley is leading that will take on voter suppression and intimidation, gerrymandering, dark money, and political corruption.
In addition to this new assignment, Merkley will continue to serve on the Senate Appropriations, Budget, Foreign Relations, and Environment and Public Works Committees.
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