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 Statement on Nuclear Agreement with Iran

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the announcement of a comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran: “Today’s announcement is a significant milestone in the effort to preclude Iran from pursuing a nuclear weapon. It is essential for the surety of the United States and for

Merkley Video: Shark Week’s Most Dangerous Predators – Payday Loan Sharks

This week, in honor of TV’s “Shark Week,” Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley released a whiteboard video entitled “Loan Shark Week” to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to crack down on predatory payday lending and prevent loan sharks from trapping American families in a vortex of debt. In the

Senate Committee Passes Merkley Climate Amendment with Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee threw bipartisan support behind an amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to help tackle climate change. The amendment enables the U.S. State Department to invest in the global Green Climate Fund. The amendment passed on a bipartisan 16-14 vote and

Oregon Delegation Announces Manufacturing Designation for Oregon Communities

Portland, OR – Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden were joined by Oregon Congressmen Peter Defazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today in announcing that Oregon and SW Washington have received a manufacturing designation under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative for the Pacific Northwest

MERKLEY STATEMENT ON ADMINISTRATION’S RULE CHANGE ON OVERTIME PAY

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after President Obama announced a rule change that would make millions more Americans eligible for overtime pay. It would extend overtime protections to all salaried workers making up to about $50,400 a year from $23,660.   “This significant change

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