Press Releases

Merkley Condemns More Pocket Rescissions by Trump Administration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the below statement after President Donald Trump and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought issued more illegal pocket rescissions, this time clawing back nearly $1 billion in

Sens. Markey, Merkley and Reps. Jayapal, Tlaib, Pressley Reintroduce Legislation to Halt Government Use of Facial Recognition and Other Biometric Technology

Bill Text (PDF) Washington (September 25, 2026) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), announced the reintroduction of the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act, legislation to prohibit the government from using

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

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