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 Statement on Troubled Asset Relief Program Vote
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate rejected a resolution disapproving of the release of $350 billion for the Trouble Asset Relief Program (TARP). The vote clears the way for the funds to be released to the incoming Obama Administration. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley voted to release the TARP funds. Merkley issued
Merkley Statement on Final Passage of Public Lands Bill
Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today overwhelmingly approved legislation to expand protections for public lands in Oregon and other states. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley joined 72 of his colleagues in supporting the bill: “From Mt. Hood to Central Oregon to the Siskiyou National Forest, there are few regions of
Merkley Poised for Assignments on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Environment and Public Works Committees
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is expected to be appointed to three critical panels with jurisdiction over domestic policy, the environment and infrastructure, his office announced today. “These committees will play an instrumental role in setting our nation’s agenda in such diverse areas as health care, education, the environment and global
Merkley Urges Use of Financial Service Funds to Help Troubled Homeowners
Washington, DC – As the incoming Administration seeks the release of $350 billion in funds designated to help financial service firms, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is urging President-Elect Barack Obama to use half the funds to directly aid troubled homeowners. Last fall, Congress passed a $700 billion bailout of the
Merkley: Public Lands Bill Clears Important First Hurdle
Washington, DC – A long-delayed public lands bill took a major step toward final passage today. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley cast his first vote in the U.S. Senate in support of moving forward on this important piece of legislation. “Oregonians are rightly proud of our long tradition of protecting our
Merkley: Today’s Job Numbers Another Sign We Need Immediate Action to Put Our Nation Back to Work
Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Department of Labor released new job numbers showing the loss of another half million jobs and the unemployment rate skyrocketing to 7.2% in December. In Oregon, the rate already tops 8%. Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement: “Last fall, Congress passed a