Merkley Leads Oregon Lawmakers to Urge Continued Support for Oregon’s Hazelnut Industry
Salem, OR – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led members of Oregon’s congressional delegation in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins that calls on the Department to deliver critical federal support to Oregon’s hazelnut industry under the federal Section 32 purchase program. “The hazelnut
Dexter, Bonamici, Merkley Conduct Unannounced Oversight Visit to Portland ICE Facility After Reports of Denied Access to Legal Counsel
PORTLAND, OR – Today, Congresswomen Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) conducted an unannounced congressional oversight visit to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility on Macadam Avenue in Portland following troubling reports that attorneys were repeatedly denied access to detained clients. “No one should be denied
Wyden, Merkley Announce More Than $1 Million to Support Addiction and Recovery Services in Eastern Oregon
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $1 million in federal awards to help combat the opioid epidemic and to support addiction and recovery services in Eastern Oregon. “The opioid epidemic continues to harm communities across the state, especially in rural areas that
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
Merkley Applauds New Mortgage Rules
Washington, DC – Today, after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced sweeping new rules to the nation’s mortgage market, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley applauded the CFPB for putting an end to interest-only loans, “no doc” loans, and loans based on an initial “teaser” interest rate. Merkley has been a leading