Merkley, Salinas Lead New Bill to Hold ICE, CBP Accountable for Abusing Americans’ Constitutional Rights
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced new legislation to hold U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) liable for violating individuals’ constitutional rights. The ICE and CBP Constitutional Accountability Act would make the federal government
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 Applauds Release from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Washington, DC – The Department of Energy announced today that it will sell off 30 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released a statement following the announcement. “I applaud President Obama and the Department of Energy for releasing a small portion of the Strategic
Merkley: It Is Time for a New Direction in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today reiterated his call that the President commit to a sizeable and sustained drawdown of troops from Afghanistan. President Obama is scheduled to speak about the future of that country later tonight. Early news reports indicate that Obama will call for small decreases
Merkley: New Leadership Needed at OCC
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today urged President Obama to appoint a new head to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency (OCC), a position held for the past several year by Acting Comptroller John Walsh. Merkley’s comments came in response to recent statements from Walsh that criticize
Merkley Statement on the Confirmation of Michael Simon as U.S. District Judge for Oregon
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined 63 of his colleagues in voting to confirm Michael Simon of Oregon as a United States District Judge for the District of Oregon. After the vote, Merkley issued the following statement: “Michael Simon is a man of enormous integrity, intellectual breadth and
Senators to FDA: It’s Time to Close the Door on Tobacco Candy
WASHINGTON, DC – A group of Senators, led by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, are calling on the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to reverse a recent decision that could potentially open the door to the possible sale of tobacco candy –
Senators Call on President to Shift Strategy in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tom Udall (D-NM) and 24 other senators sent a letter to President Obama today calling for a shift in strategy in Afghanistan ahead of next month’s announced deadline to begin an accelerated transition to Afghan security forces. In the letter, the senators