Tag: Civil Rights

Merkley: DOMA Decision Huge Stride Forward for Equality and Fairness

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional. “This Supreme Court decision that the federal government must recognize all marriages is a huge stride forward for equality and fairness.  No one should be denied

Merkley: Voting Rights Act Decision Fundamentally Off Base

 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a key section of the Voting Rights Act.  “In a democracy, there is no right more fundamental than the right to vote, and yet in some places, Americans still face the threat

Merkley Asks Administration to Declassify Secret Court Opinions on NSA Programs

Merkley Asks Administration to Declassify Secret Court Opinions on NSA Programs WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley is asking the Obama administration to make public secret court opinions that include significant findings about the legal scope of the NSA surveillance programs. These court opinions are currently classified and thus kept

Senators: End Secret Law

Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), accompanied by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Begich (D-AK), Al Franken (D-MN), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced a bill that would put an end to the “secret law” governing controversial government

Merkley: NSA Spying Outrageous Breach of Americans’ Privacy

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after press reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) is engaging in massive, secret bulk data collection of Americans’ phone records. “This type of secret bulk data collection is an outrageous breach of Americans’ privacy. I have had significant concerns

Merkley: Marriage Equality Issue of Fundamental Fairness

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued a statement on the day the Supreme Court started hearing oral arguments on Hollingsworth v. Perry, a case challenging California’s Proposition 8, banning marriage for same-sex couples.  “Marriage equality is an issue of fundamental fairness.  The Supreme Court should do the right thing

Merkley: Brennan Not Right Person for the Job

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after voting against John Brennan’s nomination to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. “The Bush Administration was far too quick to sacrifice our core constitutional values that guarantee freedom in the name of fighting terrorism, and while the

Merkley Praises Senate Passage of Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA):  “The Violence Against Women Act has been an extremely successful tool in fighting violence and abuse in our communities, and it is unacceptable that

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