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

Oregon Delegation Urges Prompt EPA Action on Portland Harbor site

WASHINGTON — All seven members of Oregon’s congressional delegation today urged federal environmental officials to support the prompt transition of the Portland Harbor Superfund site from the prolonged study phase to active cleanup.  The letter from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer,

Merkley Slams Trump Health Care Sabotage

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced late Thursday night that the Trump administration will stop paying health care Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments. Without the CSR payments, health insurance rates will see double digit increases—in many cases, 20% or more.

Merkley Statement on Trump Iran Deal Blunder

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump’s announcement on decertifying the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal: “Make no mistake: With his announcement today, President Trump is

Merkley, Wyden Announce Rural Development Grants for Small Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ron Wyden today announced more than $42,000 in grant funding for small-business programs in rural Oregon. “Oregon can’t be successful if we don’t have good jobs and vibrant

Merkley: Trump-Pruitt Climate Denial Won’t Stop Hurricanes, Wildfires, and Drought

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), acting under orders from President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, officially began the process of rolling back the Clean Power Plan. The Clean Power Plan is the most significant federal action

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