Elfreth, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Partisan National Park Passes
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Vice Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the top Democrat overseeing funding for the National Park Service, introduced the Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act. The bill is straightforward legislation that would explicitly prohibit the National
CBO Tells Merkley: Trump’s Brazen National Guard Deployment to American Cities Has So Far Cost U.S. Taxpayers Upwards of $589 Million
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) told U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, that President Donald Trump’s brazen decision to deploy National Guard personnel to U.S. cities, including Portland, has cost taxpayers upwards of $589 million to date. If these
Merkley, Durbin, Peters Lead Amicus Brief Urging Circuit Court to Affirm the Critical Protections of Minors in Immigration Detention
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee led a group of 23 Senators in filing an
Merkley Statement on Brennan Nomination
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the nomination of John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. “I will certainly be looking to hear how John Brennan responds to concerns that have been raised about his nomination. I have followed reports that Brennan, as
Senators Introduce Rules Resolution to Restore Senate Debate and Accountability
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) today introduced a resolution to enact meaningful Senate rules reforms that would end filibuster abuse and restore debate to the chamber. In accordance with Article 1, section 5 of the Constitution, a majority of senators have
Merkley Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal
Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate passed a deal that would avert the fiscal cliff. “My measuring stick for this fiscal cliff deal, like every bill I consider, is how it will impact working families throughout Oregon. And while I have deep misgivings
Merkley: We Must Put an End to “Secret Law”
Washington, DC– Today, during debate of the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments of 2008, the Senate failed to pass a bipartisan amendment authored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley that would put an end to “Secret Law.” Specifically, the amendment would declassify significant FISA Court opinions, allowing
Merkley Statement on National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting against the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act, which stripped out earlier provisions in the Senate bill that were designed to protect American citizens against indefinite detention: “The freedom and liberty of American citizens are
Merkley Statement on Kerry Nomination as Secretary of State
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the announcement that President Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State. “John Kerry will make an excellent Secretary of State. As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Kerry has been an effective leader