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 Statement on Republican Shutdown
Washington, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Republicans refused bipartisan negotiations to prevent a massive increase in the cost of Americans’ health care: “Republicans are shutting down the government to cut health care for all Americans. Republicans control every aspect of the federal
SCHATZ, MERKLEY QUESTION SECRETARY KENNEDY OVER DELAYS IN NATIVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY
Senators: Delays Will Have Life-Or-Death Consequences For Patients WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, wrote to Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding delays in
Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.2 Million For Rural Mental HealthGrande Ronde Hospital in Union County to benefit
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $2.2 million to support mental health and acute care workforce development at the Grande Ronde Hospital in Union County. “Rural health care recently has seen extraordinary cuts due to Republicans gutting Medicaid, and it is absolutely essential to
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
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