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, Balint Fight Back Against Trump’s Hateful Anti-LGBTQ+ Policies
During Pride Month, Lawmakers Defend Freedom & Rights for Queer, Trans Americans Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Becca Balint (D-VT) launched a new effort to push back against the Trump Administration’s assault on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ Americans nationwide. The No Place for
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Seek Information on Republican Budget Bill’s Potential to Close Rural Hospitals
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore. said today they have joined Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in requesting important information about the impact of House Republicans’ budget bill’s dangerous proposed cuts to federal spending on health programs, rural hospitals
Merkley Statement on New CBO Analysis Showing Republican Plan Kicks 16 Million People Off Their Health Insurance
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing that the Republican plan will kick 16 million people off of their health insurance to fund tax breaks for billionaires. “This
CBO Analysis Shows House-Passed Reconciliation Bill Adds $2.4 Trillion to the 10-year Deficit
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following new analysis from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) showing that the House-passed reconciliation bill would cost $2.4 trillion over the next 10 years. “Congressional Republicans will let nothing
Markey, Leader Schumer, Wyden, Merkley Seek Information on Republican Reconciliation Bill’s Potential to Close Rural Hospitals
Letter Text (PDF) Washington (June 4, 2025) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y), Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Budget Committee,
During National Nurses Month, Merkley, Collins, Baldwin, Blackburn Champion Bipartisan Bill to Support America’s Nursing Workforce
Joyce, Bonamici, Underwood, Kiggans lead House version of the bill Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Maine’s U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and Tennessee’s U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn—along with U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02)—marked
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