Standing Up for Human and Civil Rights

Merkley Statement on the President’s NSA Speech

Corvallis, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the President released a new policy directive on U.S. surveillance.  “It is unacceptable that our government has indiscriminately swept up millions of cell phone records of law-abiding citizens. This is an outrageous abuse of Americans’ privacy.  I’m glad

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 Celebrates Bipartisan Vote on Historic Civil Rights Legislation

Eugene, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley visited the University of Oregon today to celebrate the Senate’s historic passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and to call on the House of Representatives to vote on this legislation. Senator Merkley also took the opportunity to invite Speaker Boehner out to

‘Let the bells of freedom ring’—Senate passes ENDA

Senate lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill banning workplace discrimination against LGBT individuals in a historic victory four decades in the making. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) passed its final vote in the full Senate 64-32, just three days after its first since 1996, when a similar measure failed but

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