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

Merkley Unveils Sweeping Blueprint to Restore American Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today unveiled a sweeping blueprint to restore American democracy, outlining a series of proposals to take on voter suppression, gerrymandering, dark money, and unequal representation in our democracy. “The ‘We the People’ vision of our Constitution is being corrupted by dark, anti-democratic forces,”

Merkley, Hemp Industry Leaders Mark Hemp Legalization

PORTLAND, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today was joined by Barry Cook, a hemp farmer, and Courtney Moran, a hemp industry expert, to mark legalization of hemp in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill included landmark legislation, introduced in partnership among senators in Kentucky and Oregon—including Senate

Merkley to Kick Off 2019 with Town Halls Across Oregon

Portland, OR – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley will hold town halls in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane, Linn, Benton, Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook counties, Wednesday through Friday, January 2, 3, and 4.  He will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C., and answer their questions and invite their suggestions

Merkley, Bonamici Press EPA on Alarming Reuters Asbestos Investigation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today pressed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for answers following an alarming new Reuters report revealing that some everyday consumer products, including baby powders, may contain asbestos—a highly toxic chemical. “We write to express our deep concern about recent

Merkley Announces Introduction of Bill to Ban USDA Slaughter of Kittens

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced the introduction of the Kittens In Traumatic Testing Ends Now Act, or KITTEN Act, which would end the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) practice of killing kittens after they’re used in agency testing. “In this testing, kittens are fed raw meat infected with parasites, which grow

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