Press Releases

Merkley Applauds Pentagon for Efforts to Restore Honors for Wrongfully Discharged LGBTQ+ Veterans, Continues Fight for Full Justice

Washington, D.C. – Following the Pentagon reaching a historic settlement with LGBTQ+ veterans, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley vowed to continue his longtime efforts to restore dignity to veterans and servicemembers who were unjustly discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces because of their sexual orientation. It is estimated that more than 100,000 servicemembers were wrongfully discharged from the Armed Forces on the

Merkley Statement on Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate on Monday night defeated an effort to defund Planned Parenthood: “Millions of women across America – including more than 60,000 each year in Oregon – rely on Planned Parenthood as an essential health care provider.

Merkley Applauds Strengthening of Clean Power Plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced they would finalize and strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan to cut carbon pollution: “Climate change is an urgent threat that requires urgent action. Already we are seeing the cost of climate

Appropriations Committee Passes Merkley Amendment to Provide Access to Banking Services for Legal Marijuana Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the financial services appropriations bill, which included an amendment from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to ensure that legal marijuana businesses can access banking services. Senator Merkley’s amendment is similar to bipartisan legislation that he introduced last week. Currently, marijuana businesses operating

Historic, Comprehensive LGBT Non-Discrimination Legislation Introduced in Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, 40 Senators, led by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced historic, comprehensive federal legislation to ban discrimination against LGBT Americans. The legislation was filed simultaneously in the U.S. House of Representatives by 158 Representatives, led by Rep.

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