Jeff Merkley

U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown (D-Ohio) has introduced the Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act, co-sponsored by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The bill would create a $2 billion competitive grant program helping school districts cap kindergarten through third-grade class sizes at 18 students in low-income public elementary schools. Funds could go toward hiring teachers, expanding facilities, or professional development. Brown cites research linking smaller classes to better student outcomes amid ongoing teacher shortages and budget constraints. The bill has additional Senate Democratic cosponsors and backing from major education organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

Automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), widely deployed by companies like Flock Safety, are facing growing federal scrutiny even as local law enforcement officials continue to back the technology. U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, recently introduced legislation that would ban federal agencies from using ALPRs, halt federal grant funding tied to ALPR contracts, and let Americans sue the federal government over their use. A separate bill, Rep. Thomas Massie's Flock-Off Act, would block municipalities from purchasing, installing, or upgrading ALPR and biometric surveillance systems.

In Tennessee, Dickson County Sheriff Tim Eads defended the tool as a "force multiplier" for catching wanted individuals, stolen vehicles, and Amber Alert subjects, citing safeguards like required case numbers for data access. Mt. Juliet's police chief similarly pointed to regular audits. Still, some communities, including Coopertown, have dropped Flock contracts amid privacy concerns, highlighting a widening divide over surveillance technology's role in policing.

A bipartisan bill aimed at preventing presidents from demolishing presidential memorials, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, was blocked in the Senate on Monday after Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, objected to a unanimous consent request, offering no public explanation. The bill, introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and co-sponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse and Chris Van Hollen, would have required congressional approval before demolishing any presidential memorial designated by Congress. On the floor, Merkley accused Trump of wanting the building destroyed if he could not rename it after himself, framing the bill as a defense of the rule of law and separation of powers.

The effort follows weeks of turmoil at the Kennedy Center after a judge ruled twice that Trump could not attach his name to the building, prompting a brief closure and renewed demolition threats from Trump, who cited disrepair. A leaked photo showed Trump holding a sign reading "Kennedy Center DEMOLISH." A judge has since ordered any changes to the center be disclosed to the court 30 days in advance. Trump has floated replacing the venue with an outdoor amphitheater, while Rep. Joyce Beatty's lawsuit against renaming or destroying the center continues.

Sen. Jeff Merkley held one of three Oregon town halls Thursday, this one in Portland, where he warned of "the entrenchment of an authoritarian state" and urged constituents to organize and vote. Attendees ranked free speech, Supreme Court ethics, and presidential profiteering from office as top concerns, with several framing them as part of a broader erosion of democratic institutions and checks and balances. Many also criticized Democrats and federal prosecutors under President Biden for failing to hold Trump accountable.

Concerns about the 2026 elections featured prominently, including fears that Trump's mail-in voting executive order could disrupt Oregon's vote-by-mail system. Merkley and Rep. Maxine Dexter said states retain authority over elections and that Oregon has contingency plans to ensure ballots are counted.

Merkley outlined proposed reforms, including stronger anti-corruption penalties, banning officials from stock trading, and regulating prediction markets to prevent officials from profiting off inside knowledge of political outcomes. He also called for Supreme Court ethics rules, term limits, and greater disclosure of political spending.

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, joined by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, held a press conference opposing the Trump administration's efforts to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 elections. Oregon has conducted elections by mail for decades and views the federal push as a direct threat to its voting system.

The dispute stems from a March executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of eligible voters in every state and instructing the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to those on the lists, citing voter fraud concerns. USPS subsequently required states to register mail voters and compile state-specific lists. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of states in challenging the rule, and a federal judge recently granted a motion temporarily blocking it from taking effect while litigation continues. The Trump administration is seeking to appeal to the Supreme Court, but time is limited before ballots must be sent to voters ahead of Election Day.