Merkley criticizes the objection to his bill
U.S. senator from Oregon and co-lead of the bill
“a colleague objected to this common-sense bill”
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Press release on Sen. Merkley's official website, dated September 28, 2026. It gives his statement after Sen. Mike Lee blocked his request to pass the Protecting Presidential Memorials Act by unanimous consent.
Original text
About this source
The Senate floor log records Merkley's unanimous-consent request for the memorial-demolition bill and Lee's objection. It also records a separate objection to an arch-project bill.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Merkley sought unanimous consent to pass the one-page bill and Lee objected.
After the quotation
Merkley's official statement defended requiring congressional approval before demolition of presidential memorials and criticized Lee's objection.
How this statement is classified
Case context: Was Mike Lee right to block fast-track passage of the Kennedy Center protection bill?
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
Merkley described the objection as unfortunate and the blocked bill as common-sense. His response rejects Lee's floor action.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Mike Lee
Was Mike Lee right to block fast-track passage of the Kennedy Center protection bill?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“through the appropriate committee process”Read statement