Portland – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer today asked the U.S. Attorney’s Office to investigate whether a black Portlander’s civil rights were violated by local police departments. The Oregon lawmakers’ letter to U.S. Attorney Billy Williams follows a report this week in The
Washington, D.C. – Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would ensure continuity of critical health and treatment coverage for Americans who are awaiting trial in custody. Currently, only individuals who have been arrested and are able to post bail maintain their coverage—resulting in a gap in coverage for
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), today pushed the Trump Administration to permanently shut down the Homestead child prison in Florida. The Senator’s push follows reporting from the Miami Herald that children are likely to
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following alarming reports that the Trump Administration is purposefully forcing pregnant asylum seekers to await their hearings in dangerous conditions in Mexico, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General to open an immediate, priority investigation into the treatment of
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Thirteen months after his first trip to McAllen, Texas pushed the issue of family separation to the top of the national debate, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley returned to McAllen today with a delegation of 12 Senate Democrats. Merkley helped lead the on-the-ground mission to investigate the Trump
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week reintroduced legislation that would correct the military records of service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned. “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell may be a thing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) today led a group of 19 Senators in pushing back on a State Department policy that discriminates against LGBTQ couples in citizenship for their children. In a strongly-worded letter, the Senators urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The lead Senate sponsors of the Equality Act—U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ)—today celebrated the bipartisan passage of the legislation in the House of Representatives, and pledged to work to continue the bill’s momentum in the Senate. “Today
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, who co-authored the Equality Act along with Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), released the following statement following the U.S. House of Representative’s bipartisan passage of the legislation. The Equality Act is landmark, comprehensive legislation that would add explicit protections for LGBTQ Americans to the
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden on Wednesday joined 23 colleagues in introducing legislation aimed at reducing bullying and harassment, including cyberbullying, at colleges and universities around the country. “Cyberbullying has escalated harassment to disturbing new heights, and we must act to decisively say that
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