Jeff Merkley on Health Care

Democratic Senate Challenger; member of State House

Address the nursing shortage

Jeff strongly supports the Capps Nurse Reinvestment Act and would sponsor similar legislation in the US Senate. This plan establishes a National Nurse Service Corps to provide educational scholarships to nurses that commit to serve in a health facility determined to have a critical shortage of nurses. Grants would also be available to help individuals at any level of the nursing profession-from a nursing aide to an individual pursuing a doctoral degree--obtaining more education. The bill also provides funding for public service announcements and supports nursing recruitment grants for educational facilities. In addition, it would expand Medicare and Medicaid funding for clinical nursing education and reimburses some home health agencies, hospices and nursing homes for nurse training. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Support Healthy Americans Act: universal comprehensive care

One of Jeff's first acts as Oregon's next US Senator will be to sign on as a cosponsor of Oregon Senator Wyden's health care bill, the Healthy Americans Act. The Healthy Americans Act would guarantee every American universal, affordable, comprehensive, portable, high-quality health coverage that is as good or better than members of Congress have today. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Take on insurance & pharmaceutical companies

Jeff has fought to improve health care quality and access in Oregon. He's ready to take on the insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies to ensure that every American has access to affordable, quality health care coverage. It's becoming more difficult for working families to pay for visits to the doctor and essential medicine. It's unacceptable that some Americans are without health care. In the US Senate, Jeff will fight for universal access to affordable, quality health care coverage. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Provide affordable quality health care to all Americans

In twelve years Gordon Smith has failed to endorse any plan to make quality health care affordable. One of Merkley's first acts as Oregon's next US Senator will be to sign on as a co-sponsor of Senator Wyden's Healthy American's Act, which will guarantee every American universal, affordable, comprehensive, portable, high-quality health coverage that is as good or better than Members of Congress have today. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Fully fund the VA health care system

Veterans often are forced to wait months for an appointment to see a doctor, and very often they have to travel great distances for care because there are too few facilities to provide effective treatment. The disgraceful conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are symptomatic of a system-wide problem that must be addressed immediately. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Provide children with the health care they need

Provide children with the health care they need: healthy children learn better. Every American child deserves health care. Healthy children miss less school days and learn better overall. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Jun 3, 2008

Health care for all Americans

Health Care for All Americans: Every American deserves to be in control of their own health security, without fear of losing coverage or of not being able to find a doctor. Our representatives in Congress ought to be looking out for the health security of all Oregonians. Read more. Source: Campaign website, www.jeffmerkley.com, "Issues" Mar 2, 2008

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*Other candidates on Health Care:*		*Jeff Merkley on other issues:*
*OR Gubernatorial:* Ted Kulongoski *OR Senatorial:* Dave Brownlow Gordon Harold Smith Ron Wyden *2008 Senate retirements:* Wayne Allard(R,CO) Larry Craig(R,ID) Pete Domenici(R,NM) Chuck Hagel(R,NE) Trent Lott(R,MS) Craig Thomas(R,WY) John Warner(R,VA) *2008 Presidential Contenders:* Chuck Baldwin(C) Rep.Bob Barr(L) Sen.Hillary Clinton(D) Sen.Mike Gravel(L) Alan Keyes(C) Sen.John McCain(R) Rep.Cynthia McKinney(G) Ralph Nader(I) Sen.Barack Obama(D) Rep.Ron Paul(R)	*2008 Senate Races:* AK:Stevens v.Begich v.Cuddy v.Sikma AL:Sessions v.Figures AR:Pryor v.Kennedy CO:Schaffer v.Udall DE:Biden v.O`Donnell GA:Chambliss v.Martin v.Buckley IA:Harkin v.Reed ID:Risch v.LaRocco v.Rammell IL:Durbin v.Sauerberg v.Stafford KS:Roberts v.Jones v.Slattery KY:McConnell v.Lunsford LA:Landrieu v.Kennedy MA:Kerry v.Beatty v.Underwood ME:Collins v.Allen MI:Levin v.Hoogendyk v.Boman v.Nikitin MN:Coleman v.Franken v.Barkley v.Cavlan MS4:Wicker v.Musgrove MS6:Cochran v.Fleming MT:Baucus v.Kelleher NC:Dole v.Hagan NE:Johanns v.Kleeb v.Larrick NH:Sununu v.Shaheen v.Blevens NJ:Lautenberg v.Zimmer Pearce v.Udall OK:Inhofe v.Rice OR:Smith v.Merkley v.Brownlow RI:Reed v.Young v.Tingle SC:Graham v.Conley v.McBride SD:Johnson v.Dykstra TN:Alexander v.Tuke v.Lugo v.Heyward TX:Cornyn v.Noriega v.Jameson VA:Gilmore v.Warner WV:Rockefeller v.Wolfe WY4:Barrasso v.Carter WY6:Enzi v.Rothfuss	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Jobs Principles Social Security Tax Reform Technology War/Peace Welfare Other Senators House of Representatives SenateMatch (matching quiz) Senate Votes (analysis) House Votes Bill Sponsorships Affiliations Policy Reports Group Ratings

Page last updated: Nov 07, 2008