Jeff Merkley was born in Myrtle Creek, Oregon, and earned a degree from Stanford University and a master's degree from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. He worked in the defense policy arena in Washington before returning to Oregon, where he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and rose to become Speaker of the House. Merkley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, defeating a Republican incumbent, and has been re-elected since.
Merkley serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, where he has been an outspoken advocate on climate change, clean energy, and environmental protection. He is a leading progressive voice in the Senate, known for championing filibuster reform, affordable housing, and workers' rights. Merkley has authored multiple proposals to limit or eliminate the Senate filibuster, arguing it has become an obstacle to majority governance.
- Senate Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies — Ranking Member
- Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
- Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight — Ranking Member
- Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Innovation and Safety
- Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy
- Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy
- Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues
- Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
- Senate Committee on the Budget — Ranking Member
- Joint Committee on Printing
- S. 4618: A bill to effectively staff the high-need public elementary schools and secondary schools of the United States with school-based mental health services providers. — Introduced
- S. 4597: A bill to direct the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to eligible partnerships to establish, expand, or support career and technical education programs of study in early childhood education. — Introduced
- S. 4568: A bill to amend the definition of professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965. — Introduced
- SRES. 709: A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2026. — Introduced
- S. 4325: 6PPD Task Force Act — Introduced