WASHINGTON – On Tuesday on the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., denounced the Obama administration’s ongoing inaction in finalizing the proposed tobacco “deeming rule,” and called for the rule to be finalized as quickly as possible. Finalizing the rule is essential to putting in place regulations for e-cigarettes and other
The Senate’s upcoming appropriations bill on energy and water development won’t include a battle over Flint’s water infrastructure. But, like any spending bill, it sports some debate about controversial riders. On tap are amendments to defund the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Rule and address the impact of the crude
WASHINGTON, DC –Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an amendment to the Military Construction funding bill led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) that would allow Veterans Health Administration (VA) doctors to discuss and make recommendations about the use of medical marijuana with their patients. The amendment
Washington, DC — U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging their colleagues to improve federal air quality programs in the wake of several Portland neighborhoods learning last month that there are high levels of heavy metals in the air. “The EPA aims to protect air quality but, as
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As families in Flint, Michigan continue to struggle with lead-contaminated water, eighteen Senators are pushing to boost investment in water infrastructure repairs to avert future crises of contaminated drinking water supplies. In a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Senators
March 2 (BNA) — Opioid abuse and lack of biosimilar guidance continue to be pressing issues for the FDA, senators told the new head of the agency March 2. Robert Califf appeared on Capitol Hill for the first time as the head of the FDA, testifying at a brief hearing
The 43 million Americans estimated to have medical debt on their credit reports could find some credit score relief should a new Senate bill come to pass. Five senators —Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — introduced legislation late last week that
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Senate held a bipartisan vote to bring a bill to the floor to help take on the growing opioid crisis across America: “As the opioid crisis has spread throughout America, no corner of our state has
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Medical Debt Relief Act. This legislation would prevent medical debt from continuing to damage consumers’ credit scores after it has been paid off or settled,
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley today unveiled legislation that would ensure consumers’ credit scores aren’t permanently hurt by unpaid medical bills. Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, said his Medical Debt Relief Act would “help get consumers back on their feet and restore our economy.” He noted that millions of Americans have racked up medical
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