Bills About Health Sponsored by Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)

Sen. Merkley sponsored 41 bills about health in the 115th Congress (2017-18).

Introduced	Number	Title	Cosponsors	Cosponsor Party	Latest Action
Sept. 8, 2020	S.4541	A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sept. 8, 2020	S.4539	A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other Federal officials to compile into a searchable database information relating to Federal support for biomedical research and development related to COVID-19, and for other purposes.	1	All Republicans	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug. 3, 2020	S.4396	A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to support schools of nursing in program enhancement and infrastructure modernization, increasing the number of nursing faculty and students, and for other purposes.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 6, 2020	S.RES.561	A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2020.	22	Bipartisan	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2294)
Feb. 13, 2020	S.RES.500	A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the "International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife", as designated by the World Health Organization.	3	Bipartisan	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S1078)
Nov. 7, 2019	S.2817	A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an annual reference price for insulin products for purposes of Federal health programs, and for other purposes.	1	All Democrats	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S6479-6480)
May 9, 2019	S.1399	A bill to amend title VIII of the Public Health Services Act to revise and extend nursing workforce development programs.	23	Bipartisan	Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 285.
Oct. 17, 2019	S.2626	A bill to remove limitations on inmate eligibility for Medicare, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and veteran's health benefits.	1	All Democrats	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sept. 24, 2019	S.2536	A bill to establish standards for the design of electronic nicotine delivery systems.	4	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sept. 19, 2019	S.2515	A bill to require the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a study on the effects of radiofrequency radiation in the 5G networks on human health.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
July 31, 2019	S.RES.299	A resolution designating the first week in August 2019 as "World Breastfeeding Week", and designating August 2019 as "National Breastfeeding Month".	9	All Democrats	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S5258)
July 9, 2019	S.RES.273	A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to health care rights.	17	Bipartisan	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4732)
June 26, 2019	S.1987	A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish reference prices for prescription drugs for purposes of Federal health programs, and for other purposes.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S4569-4570)
May 23, 2019	S.1662	A bill to establish an annual fee applicable to opioid manufacturers.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 8, 2019	S.1375	A bill to require the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to develop standards for a "Reef Safe" label for sunscreen.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
May 1, 2019	S.1261	A bill to provide for the establishment of Medicare part E public health plans, and for other purposes.	15	All Democrats	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
March 7, 2019	S.696	A bill to designate the same individual serving as the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health.	27	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Dec. 5, 2018	S.3711	A bill to establish an annual fee applicable to opioid manufacturers.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Nov. 29, 2018	S.3680	A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish reference prices for prescription drugs for purposes of Federal health programs.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug. 1, 2018	S.RES.605	A resolution designating the first week in August as "World Breastfeeding Week", and designating August as "National Breastfeeding Month".	12	Bipartisan	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5587-5588)
April 18, 2018	S.2708	A bill to provide for the establishment of Medicare part E public health plans, and for other purposes.	14	All Democrats	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2265-2266)
Feb. 15, 2018	S.2446	A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug. 3, 2017	S.RES.246	A resolution designating the first week in August 2017 as "World Breastfeeding Week", and designating August 2017 as "National Breastfeeding Month".	1	All Democrats	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4881)
May 11, 2017	S.1106	A bill to designate the same individual serving as the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health.	7	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
May 11, 2017	S.1109	A bill to amend title VIII of the Public Health Service Act to extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs, and for other purposes.	18	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sept. 15, 2016	S.RES.561	A resolution supporting efforts to increase competition and accountability in the health insurance marketplace, and to extend accessible, quality, affordable health care coverage to every American through the choice of a public insurance plan.	32	Bipartisan	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5848)
July 14, 2016	S.3245	A bill to amend title VIII of the Public Health Service Act to extend advanced education nursing grants to support clinical nurse specialist programs, and for other purposes.	7	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
March 2, 2016	S.2621	A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to genetically engineered food transparency and uniformity.	12	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1225-1226)
May 12, 2015	S.RES.178	A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week from May 6, 2015, through May 12, 2015.	0		Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2798-2799)
May 6, 2015	S.1205	A bill to designate the same individual serving as the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service as the National Nurse for Public Health.	5	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
April 29, 2015	S.1132	A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes.	1	All Democrats	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
July 23, 2014	S.RES.514	A resolution designating the week of August 10 through August 16, 2014, as "National Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Week".	1	All Republicans	Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4846; text as passed Senate: CR S4770-4771)
May 15, 2014	S.2353	A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by establishing safe nurse staffing levels at certain Medicare providers, and for other purposes.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Dec. 20, 2013	S.1886	A bill to ensure that individuals who attempted to, or who are enrolled in, qualified health plans offered through an Exchange have continuity of coverage and to require Exchanges to make coverage under qualified health plans retroactive to January 1, 2014.	5	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Aug. 1, 2013	S.1475	A bill to establish the position of National Nurse for Public Health, to be filled by the same individual serving as the Chief Nurse Officer of the Public Health Service.	0		Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
March 29, 2012	S.RES.417	A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week.	9	All Democrats	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2259)
March 15, 2012	S.2193	A bill to require the Food and Drug Administration to include devices in the postmarket risk identification and analysis system, to expedite the implementation of the unique device identification system for medical devices, and for other purposes.	4	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Aug. 1, 2011	S.1463	A bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding by new mothers and to provide for reasonable break time for nursing mothers.	5	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
June 24, 2010	S.RES.565	A resolution supporting and recognizing the achievements of the family planning services programs operating under title X of the Public Health Service Act.	14	All Democrats	Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S5447-5448)
May 25, 2010	S.3418	A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to specifically include, in programs of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, programs to research, prevent, and address the harmful consequences of pathological and other problem gambling, and for other purposes.	4	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4220)
June 11, 2009	S.1244	A bill to amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect breastfeeding by new mothers, to provide for a performance standard for breast pumps, and to provide tax incentives to encourage breastfeeding.	8	Bipartisan	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

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