Tag: Foreign Policy and National Security

Senators: Congress Should Vote on Keeping Troops in Afghanistan Past 2014

Washington, DC – Today, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Mark Begich (D-AK) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) urging Congressional approval as a condition for any American troop presence in Afghanistan past 2014.  The

Merkley Reaction to President’s Address on Syria

Washington, DC– Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after President Obama’s address tonight on the situation in Syria. “I share the President’s deep passion that the use of chemical weapons is unacceptable.  The United States must not ignore Syria’s egregious crime against its citizens. “Indeed, America should bring

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

Merkley Applauds Department of Navy for Naming Ship After Portland

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today applauded the Department of the Navy’s decision last week to name an amphibious transport dock ship the USS Portland after Portland, Oregon. When Senator Merkley was alerted to this news by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus last Thursday, he used the

Merkley, Paul, Brown: End the War in Afghanistan

Washington, DC – Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) yesterday called for a swift and orderly end to United States military involvement in Afghanistan. They made this call in recognition that in the coming months the President will decide how quickly to withdraw troops and

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 Statement on Hagel Filibuster

Washington, DC- Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the GOP silent filibuster of Chuck Hagel as Secretary of Defense. “Merely weeks after the Senate came together in a good-faith effort to fix the Senate’s problems, Senate Republicans are now engaging in the first-ever filibuster of a Secretary

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 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

Merkley Statement on Kerry Nomination as Secretary of State

Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the announcement that President Obama has nominated Senator John Kerry as Secretary of State.  “John Kerry will make an excellent Secretary of State.  As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Kerry has been an effective leader

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