Jeff Merkley is a Democratic U.S. Senator from Oregon, serving since 2009. Before his Senate service, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, including as Speaker of the House from 2007 to 2009. He serves on multiple Senate committees including Appropriations, Foreign Relations, Budget, Environment and Public Works, and Rules and Administration, along with numerous subcommittees covering areas from clean air and nuclear safety to global health policy and cybersecurity.

Name

Jeff Merkley

Party

Democratic

State

Oregon

Committees

Clean Air and Nuclear Safety Subcommittee, Appropriations Committee, Africa and Global Health Policy Subcommittee

Key Fact 1

Jeff Merkley was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2008, defeating incumbent Republican Senator Gordon Smith.

Key Fact 2

He served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2009.

Key Fact 3

Merkley sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee and its subcommittees covering commerce, labor, health services, education, agriculture, energy, water development, and interior matters.

Key Fact 4

He is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with assignments to subcommittees on Africa and Global Health Policy, East Asia and International Cybersecurity Policy, and the Western Hemisphere.

Key Fact 5

Merkley serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, including its subcommittees on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety and Superfund and Waste Management.

Key Fact 6

He holds positions on the Senate Budget Committee and the Rules and Administration Committee.

Key Fact 7

Merkley is a member of the Joint Committee on Printing.

Key Fact 8

Before entering politics, he worked as a presidential management fellow and policy analyst.

Data from Congress.gov