Tag: Civil Rights

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

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

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

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