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, Senate and House Lawmakers: Trump Administration Risking a New Arms Race with Failure to Renew Nuclear Treaty with Russia
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—co-chair of the Congressional Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group and a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—led his Senate and House colleagues in raising urgent concerns about the expiration this week of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
Senators Press Administration for Answers on Reports of CBP Blocking Asylum Seekers at Ports of Entry
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of nine U.S. Senators, led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, today pressed the head of Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) about persistent reports that Border Patrol agents are blocking asylum seekers from coming into legal ports of entry to present their asylum claims. In its
Merkley, Wyden Announce Millions of Dollars in Affordable Housing Support in Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced more than $2.7 million for new Section 811 Housing Choice Vouchers that will assist people with disabilities in accessing affordable housing and an array of supportive services. “These vouchers allow public housing authorities to better serve Oregonians
Merkley Statement on NAFTA Notification
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Trump Administration formally notified Congress of its intent to sign a new NAFTA deal this year: “For more than two decades, American jobs and American workers have suffered because of major imbalances in NAFTA. Our middle class
Merkley, Kennedy Announce Bipartisan “Fly Smart Act” to Stop Government Waste on First-Class Flights
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) today announced the introduction of the Fly Smart Act, new bipartisan legislation to prevent taxpayer dollars from being wasted on first-class flights. The legislation would ban federal government employees—including cabinet secretaries and other high-ranking public servants—from using
Merkley Statement on John McCain
“I am deeply saddened to learn of John McCain’s passing. He led a courageous and remarkable life, made tremendous sacrifices, and carried a deep love for our nation. He was a true American hero, and it was an honor to serve with him in the Senate. My thoughts and prayers
Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Grant for Underserved Youth in Portland
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a five-year, nearly $28 million U.S. Department of Education grant to Self Enhancement, Inc. will serve more than 7,000 underserved students and families in Portland. “When I was a child, my father took me to the