Tag: Civil Rights

Bipartisan Group of Senators: It’s Time to Pass ENDA

Washington, DC – Today, after the successful cloture vote to start debate on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Senate to pass the bill and end LGBT employment discrimination. They said

ENDA Vote Next Week

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after it was announced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which Merkley authored, will be heading for a floor vote next week. “We have a chance next week to pass a landmark civil rights bill that will enshrine in law

Merkley Statement on ENDA Coming to Floor

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, the lead Democratic sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to end LGBT job discrimination, released the following statement after Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Monday that ENDA would be brought to the Senate floor in the coming weeks: “I thank Majority Leader Reid

Merkley: NLRB Key for Workplace Fairness

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the confirmation of Kent Hirozawa and Nancy Schiffer as Commissioners of the National Labor Relations Board. The confirmation of these nominees was part of the deal struck two weeks ago during the debate Merkley helped spark about changing

Merkley Applauds Committee Passage of Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after his bill to end employment discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, was passed out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee on a bipartisan vote.  “All Americans deserve the right

Merkley: ENDA Markup a Historic Step Forward for Equal Protection

WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senator Tom Harkin, Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, announced that the Committee will hold a markup of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) next Wednesday, July 10. ENDA would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis

Merkley Statement on Passage of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill, including a Merkley provision to protect Oregon forest workers by closing a loophole that has been abused in the H-2B visa system.  “We have known for a long time

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

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