Padilla, Merkley, Schakowsky Introduce Bicameral Bill to Strengthen Nursing Staff Standards, Improve Patient Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, on International Nurses Day, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Nurse Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act to improve hospital patient care and nurse retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratios. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.-09)
Welch, Wyden, Merkley, Schumer, Lead Colleagues in Fight to Protect Head Start, Meals on Wheels, Social Services from Republican Budget Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today led the Senate Democratic Caucus in sending an open letter to the public exposing the
Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bill to Expand Access to SNAP, Repeal Republicans’ Punitive Eligibility Rules
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would help more Americans have access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a crucial safety net that stands between thousands of Oregonians and hunger. “Oregonians should not have to choose between putting food
Merkley Statement on Ferguson, MO
Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement on the recent events in Ferguson, MO: I am deeply disturbed by the recent events in Ferguson, MO, which has become a tragic reminder of how many divisions remain in our nation and the work we still have ahead of us
Merkley Pledges to Continue Fighting for Critical Dredging Funds for Small Ports
FLORENCE – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke at the Oregon Coast Economic Summit on Wednesday, highlighting his work for Oregon’s coastal communities and promising to keep pushing to maximize funds for small port dredging, a major driver of local coastal economies and an important source of jobs. Merkley also received
Merkley, Feinstein Lead Senators in Calling for Greater Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Citing the dangers to U.S. national security posed by terrorists and rogue states seeking nuclear weapons, a bipartisan group of 26 senators sent a letter last week to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Shaun Donovan, calling on the President to support increased
Merkley Leads Senators’ Call for USPTO to Improve Patent Quality, Pave Way for Innovation
WASHINGTON – Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce to call for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to take several key steps to improve the quality of patents and make the patent examination process more comprehensive and more efficient. By focusing
Congress Passes Merkley Bill in Veterans Compromise
WASHINGTON – Today the Senate passed compromise legislation to reform the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and improve veterans’ benefits, which includes a provision authored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to expand educational benefits to spouses of service members who die in the line of the duty. The bill, which was passed
Merkley Introduces Older Americans CARE Act To Help Seniors Stay in their Homes
WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced new legislation to help older Americans stay in their own homes and communities as they age. The bill, the Older Americans Community Access Revitalization and Education (CARE) Act, would also improve seniors’ access to a range of health and support services. Merkley’s