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, Booker, Grassley, Hinson, and Adams Highlight Need for Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) teamed up with U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19, 2025, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day. With at least 25 percent of stillbirths
Booker, Daines, Merkley, Wicker Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce U.S. Stillbirth Rate
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, legislation that would reduce the alarmingly high U.S. stillbirth rate. Named after Autumn Joy, a New Jersey baby
BLUMENTHAL & MERKLEY URGE FDA TO FINALIZE BIPARTISAN RULE CAPPING NICOTINE LEVELS FOR COMBUSTIBLE TOBACCO PRODUCTS
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) this week led a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary and Center for Tobacco Products Acting Director Bret Koplow to urge FDA to finalize a bipartisan rule that would establish maximum nicotine levels
Merkley, Warren, Hoyle, Ryan, Jayapal Introduce New Bill to Crack Down on Health Insurers Buying up Clinics Across the U.S.
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren teamed up with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Pat Ryan (NY-18), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) to introduce new legislation in response to billionaire health care corporations buying up independently owned clinics across the nation to pad
Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici: FEMA Must Award Critical Disaster Mitigation Funds to an Oregon Coast Project
Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, as well as U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) immediately award Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) $20,845,683 in federal funding that was provided under the Building
Wyden, Merkley Announce $1 Million Grant to Establish a New Mobile Integrated Health Program in Wheeler County
Washington D.C.—U.S.Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., today announced an investment of $1 million for the Oregon Office of Rural Health (ORH) to help improve access to healthcare in Wheeler County. “With Trump’s cruel cuts to Medicaid, rural healthcare is on life support right now and needs thoughtful