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
Merkley Calls on Federal Reserve to Close Loophole that Allows Big Banks to Own and Manipulate Commodities
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is calling on the Federal Reserve to close a loophole that allows big banks to own and control physical commodities—such as oil, aluminum, and electricity—raising prices for consumers and threatening the stability of the financial system. The Federal Reserve has been taking public comments
Following New Report, Oregon Senators Call for Changes at Local VA Hospitals and Accountability for Those Who Let Down Oregon’s Veterans
WASHINGTON – Following the release of a new report that revealed vast numbers of Oregon veterans have been unable to access care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden called Monday for renewed accountability and dramatic action to turn around a
Merkley Announces FEMA Assistance for Fire Management for Two Bulls Fire
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that the state’s request for fire management assistance to help fight the Two Bulls fire in Deschutes County was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on June 8th. “Our firefighters, our land, and the families and businesses near these
Merkley Welcomes Expansion of Income-Based Student Loan Repayment Options
WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley welcomed the announcement from the White House today that the administration will expand income-based repayment options for federal student loans, making higher education more affordable for as many as 5 million Americans. The new plan will expand a 2010 law that allows students with
Merkley Releases Congressional Report on Need for E-Cigarette Regulation
Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley was joined today by students and experts on tobacco use prevention to release a Congressional report on the marketing tactics by tobacco companies to hook young people on nicotine. Merkley also called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to swiftly finalize regulations
Merkley Announces Wins for Oregon Jobs as Two Appropriations Bills Pass Through Committee
WASHINGTON – With two more appropriations bills moving through the Senate Appropriations Committee today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley continued to deliver key wins in the appropriations process that will help create jobs in Oregon. Last year, Merkley became the first Oregon Senator to sit on the powerful Appropriations Committee since