Press Releases

Merkley Denounces Unjust Sentencing of Hong Kong Democracy Advocate Jimmy Lai

Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and past Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)—issued this statement following the sentencing of Jimmy Lai, an entrepreneur and democracy advocate in Hong Kong who has been imprisoned since 2020 under

Merkley, Wyden Lead the Charge to Limit DHS’ Use of Facial Recognition Technology Amid Trump’s Rapidly Growing Surveillance State

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced they introduced the ICE Out of Our Faces Act. The bicameral legislation would rein in the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), banning agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs

With Senate Republicans Promising to Filibuster Debt Limit Extension, Merkley and Kaine Introduce Legislation to Protect American Jobs and Businesses by Ending Debt Limit Hostage Taking

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As another debt ceiling showdown approaches, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced legislation aimed at ending Congress’ abuse of the debt ceiling as a political hostage. The Protect our Citizens from Reckless Extortion of our Debt and Irresponsible Tactics (Protect

Merkley Introduces Legislation to Provide Smooth Landing to Afghan Evacuees in U.S.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that he has introduced the Welcoming Evacuees Coming from Overseas to Mitigate Effects of Displacement (WELCOMED) Act of 2021 in the U.S. Senate. The legislation was previously introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Seth Moulton (D-MA) and

Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Increase Wildland Firefighter Pay

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a group of Senate colleagues urging the Biden Administration to increase the pay for federal wildland firefighters and transition many from seasonal to permanent status. The senators noted that pay disparities amongst wildland firefighters are limiting personnel and will leave

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