Women’s Rights and Health

Jeff is committed to protecting the health, rights, and liberties of all women. Throughout his career, Jeff has fought for equal pay, working to restore the balance of power between workers and employees by providing legal protections to women who face pay discrimination. He believes that millions of hardworking American women should have the ability to properly care for themselves and their families, without worrying about their economic security. Jeff also led the successful fight that created the first set of national rights for new mothers who want to continue to breastfeed after returning to work, and he continues to push to expand those rights.

Jeff has fought to protect a woman’s constitutional right to the full scope of comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion, and will continue to stand up against efforts that would allow the government to make personal health care decisions for a woman and her family. He has worked to create a society that is safe for women—one that is free of violence and harassment—and continues to speak out against those who use their positions of power to victimize individuals and silence women.

Wyden, Merkley Join in Honoring Equal Pay Day, Reintroduce Paycheck Fairness Act

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., joined Sen. Patty Murray D-Wash., and Representative Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., today in commemorating Equal Pay Day by reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation aimed at reinforcing the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by guaranteeing that women can challenge pay

Merkley: Following TrumpCare Failure, Republicans Should Abandon Plans to Destroy Health Care and Instead Work to Make Health Care More Affordable

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after reports that House leaders are again cancelling today’s vote on the American Health Care Act, or “TrumpCare,” because the bill lacks the support to pass: “Following today’s TrumpCare failure, it’s time for Republicans to cease and desist in

Merkley and Wyden Call for Congress to Reconvene to Address Zika Crisis

Portland, OR – Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined with 39 other Senate Democrats in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan urging the Republican leaders to immediately call Congress back into session to pass emergency funding legislation to address the

Members of Congress Urge Court to Recognize Protections for LGBT Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 128 Members of Congress, led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), have filed an amicus brief in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Christiansen v. Omnicom Group, Inc., arguing that workplace discrimination on the basis

Merkley Welcomes Support of 60 Leading Corporations for the Equality Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today welcomed the support of 60 leading corporations who announced that they are forming a coalition of support for the Equality Act, landmark bipartisan LGBT rights legislation introduced by Merkley and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) in 2015. The formation of the Business Coalition

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