Washington, D.C. – Following the adoption of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement:
Mr. Merkley Friends and colleagues, I rise today because of a document that our forefathers signed 233 years ago, the Declaration of Independence. Specifically, the Declaration stated, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. They’re endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights that
Washington DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today co-sponsored legislation that entitles all federal employees, no matter their sexual orientation, to the same employment and health care benefits as married couples. “It is plain wrong that some federal employees are not currently entitled to equal health and employment benefits,” said
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D – Mass.) to co-sponsor the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. The bill will enable the Justice Department to assist local authorities in the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes by authorizing
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