Foster, Merkley Introduce Bicameral Investor Choice Act
Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Investor Choice Act, legislation to prohibit pre-dispute mandatory, or “forced,” arbitration agreements and preserve customers’ ability to bring or join class action lawsuits in certain financial sectors. “Individuals shouldn’t need to surrender their legal rights because
Blumenthal & Merkley Lead Colleagues in Push to End CFTC Assault on State Prediction Markets Oversight
“Through engaging in this campaign of litigation and intimidation, the CFTC risks becoming an instrument and enabler of online prediction markets’ efforts to bypass states’ consumer protections and oversight, creating a race-to-the-bottom in gambling.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) this week led 15
Merkley Launches Investigation into Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Surrounding Renovation of the Reflecting Pool
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee—launched an investigation into the Trump Administration’s renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, which has so far reportedly cost American taxpayers more
Merkley: Shrinking Economy is an Urgent Wake-Up Call to Put Jobs First
WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after news that the economy had shrunk in the last quarter of 2012: “This is a wake-up call for Washington. While DC has been manufacturing political crises, real people and businesses are suffering. Our priority should be making the economy
Merkley Introduces Bill to Stop Deceptive Loan Checks
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Deceptive Loan Check Elimination Act, which would prohibit companies from sending “live” loan checks to consumers. In these schemes, financial institutions send unsuspecting customers a check made out to them. Customers often assume that their financial institutions have sent refunds or
Senators Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Online Payday Loans
Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act. The SAFE Lending Act would crack down on the worst practices of the online payday lending industry and
Senators Introduce Bill to Help Americans Struggling with Medical Debt
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation to prohibit companies from using paid off or settled medical debt in assessing consumer credit scores. The Medical Debt Responsibility Act, which is cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert Menendez
Merkley Statement on Senate Rules Compromise
Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after a deal was struck to modify Senate rules. “The Senate spoke clearly today: the paralysis of the Senate is unacceptable. Senators of both parties have recognized the need for change, and supported several steps to make the Senate more
Merkley Statement on Status of Rules Reform
Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after today’s caucus meeting focused on rules reform. “Leader Reid has left open two paths to rules changes. While I’ve always thought that improving how the Senate works should be an area ripe for bipartisan agreement, it is clear