Jeff believes access to quality, affordable health care is not a privilege, but a human right. Jeff’s perspective on health care has been influenced by his wife, Mary, a registered nurse, who sees the world through the eyes of her patients: the people who should be at the heart of our health care system.
Throughout his career, Jeff has fought to expand access to quality, affordable health care coverage. As Speaker of the Oregon House, Jeff lowered prescription drug prices by expanding the state’s bulk purchasing program and fought to expand and improve children’s health care coverage. Jeff continues working to improve health care quality and coverage for all Oregonians in the U.S. Senate.
Merkley, Colleagues: Ban Menthol Cigarettes Now
Senators: “Simply put, delays in finalizing these rules will only bring more addiction and death.” Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), led 22 senators in a letter to the
Merkley Joins Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Workers’ Physical and Behavioral Health in Commercial Fishing Industry
Legislation would expand life-saving safety training and research grant opportunities for Oregon’s commercial fishing industry WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in the introduction of the Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act, bipartisan
Merkley: “The Longer Menthol Cigarettes Remain on the Market, the More Harm the Public Will Face”
Biden administration announces delay in finalizing ban on menthol cigarettes; rule that was originally to be finalized in August 2023 Washington D.C. – Today, following the Biden administration’s announcement of a delay in finalizing a federal rule to ban menthol cigarettes, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement:
Rep. Porter, Sen. Merkley Reintroduce Bill to Protect Americans from Medical Debt
Legislation would shield patients’ credit scores from medical debt WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-CA) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reintroduced bicameral legislation to protect patients from the long-term financial harms of high health care costs. Despite medical debt being an unreliable indicator of creditworthiness, it appears on the credit reports of
Merkley, Cassidy Bill to Address Silent Stillbirth Crisis Unanimously Passes the Senate
Washington, D.C. – Bipartisan legislation by Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Louisiana’s U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. has unanimously passed the Senate. The Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act will help bring down the shockingly high rate of stillbirths and maternal mortality in the United States by opening up more
Merkley, Scott Sound the Alarm on Opioid Overdose in Schools, Introduce New Legislation to Support School Access to Naloxone
Merkley also announces Senate introduction of bill to help prevent fatal overdoses in workplaces Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Florida’s U.S. Senator Rick Scott teamed up to introduce the bipartisan School Access to Naloxone Act. This new legislation would ensure school personnel would have the
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