Standing Up for Human and Civil Rights

Editorial: Skewed priorities

You cannot talk about the federal deficit without mentioning the war in Afghanistan. Sen. Jeff Merkley did both during his talk to the Columbia Forum last Wednesday night. Sen. Merkley took the annual spending on the Afghanistan war – $120 billion – and broke that into jobs that could be

Merkley Statement On National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting against the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act:  “The most bedrock principle of our government, one that our nation was founded on, is that it protects the freedom and liberty of our citizens.  On this critical measure, the

Merkley Statement on End of Iraq War

WASHINGTON, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the end of the Iraq War:  “This day, the day marking the end of combat troops in Iraq, has been far too long in coming.  This misguided war should never have been fought, but today we can all

Senate Sends Message To President: Bring U.S. Forces In Afghanistan Home Faster

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment introduced by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley requiring President Obama to develop a plan to expedite the reduction in U.S. forces in Afghanistan and to make periodic reports to Congress on the progress of that plan. “Our American forces have successfully

Bipartisan Amendment Calls for Accelerated Handover in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON, DC – Ten years after the start of the war in Afghanistan, more than one hundred thousand American troops remain in that nation, providing military and security assistance to the Afghanistan government.  A bipartisan group of senators today offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to urge the

Merkley Statement on Iraq Troop Withdrawal

Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the announcement by President Barack Obama that the last American soldier in Iraq will be home by the end of the year. “It is terrific to hear that all of our men and women in uniform will come home

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