Jeff Merkley (Senator)

What Health Care Reform Means for You Families across Oregon are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of health care. Oregonians who have insurance dread the moment they get a letter from their insurance company stating that their monthly premiums increase yet again. Workers worry that they might lose their jobs and be hit with the double whammy of losing their health care along with it. Families fear that if they do become ill, their insurance companies will drop their coverage. Seniors are postponing their retirements because of the rising cost of health care and prescription drugs. Small business owners are being forced to drop health insurance coverage for their employees because it's just become too expensive. For millions, instead of peace of mind, health insurance offers only a nagging question: will it really be there if and when I need it? This status quo may be ok for the special interests trying to kill reform, but it's not acceptable to Senator Merkley. That's why, as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Senator Merkley spent weeks in committee meetings working with his colleagues to craft the Affordable Health Choices Act, a bill that will lower costs for working families and small businesses, ban insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions, promote preventive care, and ensure that all Americans have access to quality health care. The opponents of health care reform who profit from the status quo are spreading myths intended to mislead and frighten Americans and sink any attempts to fix our broken system and lower costs for middle-class families. If you'd like the truth about what reform will mean for American families and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about plans for reform, visit a new feature on Senator Merkley's website called, 'What Health Care Reform Means for You.'

What Senator Merkley Has Been Working On Merkley Introduces Legislation to End Workplace Discrimination Senator Merkley, along with Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Edwards M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and 36 additional co-sponsors, introduced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which will ban job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Senator Merkley helped pass similar legislation at the state level in 2007, making Oregon one of twelve states banning this type of workplace discrimination. ENDA will prohibit employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor-management committees from firing, refusing to hire, or discriminating against those who are employed or currently seeking employment on the basis of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity. Senator Merkley believes that no worker in America should ever be fired or denied a job because of who they are. Watch Senator Merkley speak about the importance bringing an end to workplace discrimination:

Helping Families and Businesses Afford Energy Efficiency Upgrades Senator Merkley, joined by Republican Senator Richard Lugar (IN), introduced the Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Act to help homeowners and small businesses afford the up-front investments in energy efficiency retrofits that will save them money on their energy bills. The legislation is modeled after Oregon's new energy efficiency law authored by State House Rep. Jules Bailey (D-42) which was recently signed into law. Many Oregonians want to make energy efficient upgrades to their homes and businesses but can't afford the high cost. This legislation will bolster local programs that offer low-cost loans for energy efficient retrofits, which will allow families and businesses to start saving money on day one when the upgrades are completed. Supporting these local energy efficiency programs will create jobs, save families their hard earned money and help protect the environment. Read more about the Clean Energy for Homes and Buildings Act.