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

Senators Press For Consumer-Friendly GMO Labeling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), today pressed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to

Wyden, Merkley Praise Rural Infrastructure Loans for Eastern Oregon

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed federal investments totaling more than $60 million for rural economic infrastructure in eastern Oregon. The Umatilla Electric Co-op Association will receive a $48.8 million loan and the Harney Electric Co-op will receive a $11.7 million loan from the

Merkley Statement on Jerome Powell Nomination

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald Trump nominated Jerome Powell to be the next Chair of the Federal Reserve: “My thanks go out to Janet Yellen for her outstanding service as Chair. Her expertise and leadership will be difficult to replace. “As

Senators Introduce Bill to Ban Asbestos, Protect Public Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today introduced the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2017, legislation to eliminate human or environmental

Merkley Blasts GOP’s Corporate Giveaway Tax Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after House Republicans unveiled their tax plan, which attacks the state and local tax deduction while massively slashing the corporate tax rate: “This may be the greatest heist in American history. Republicans want to tax your income twice in

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