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A Note From Jeff
A few weeks back, I wrote to you to remind you that Oregon’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period had begun. Now, we are less than two weeks away from the end of that period, so I want to make sure you have all the information you need to sign up.
The ACA, which covers nearly 4 million Oregonians, has helped us cut the uninsured rate in our state by two-thirds. Thanks to tax credits that help put plans in reach for everyone, policies are available to many Oregonians for just $50 or $100 per month, and assistance is available by visiting localhelp.healthcare.gov or calling 1-800-318-2596.
This is the only chance most of our family, friends, and neighbors will have to get covered through the ACA for the next year -- so please join me by sharing this video, signing up, and spreading the word!
All my best,
Jeff
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Critical Milestones: Supporting Democracy in Hong Kong
Jeff’s view is that “the U.S. should always stand with those seeking freedom and democracy, not their oppressors.” That’s why he wrote bipartisan legislation to block the export of crowd control equipment like tear gas and rubber bullets to the Hong Kong police. Last month, Jeff and his colleagues on both sides of the aisle passed this and another critical piece of legislation that sends a clear, bipartisan message: The United States will not be complicit in the Chinese authorities’ crackdown on pro-democracy protestors.
This bill, which became law the day before Thanksgiving, is only the most recent example of Jeff’s fight to hold China accountable for its human rights abuses -- which include the torture, interrogation, and internment of over one million Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities.
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People Above Profits
Every person, regardless of the color of their skin, the city they live in, or their income, should have access to life-saving medication. But for the millions of Americans who rely on daily doses of insulin to manage their diabetes, that access is far from guaranteed. In fact, sky-high prices force countless people in our state and across the country to ration their insulin -- a risky practice that costs lives -- while drug company executives continue to write themselves massive checks.
Insulin has been around for nearly a century, but that hasn’t stopped Big Pharma from sending the prices sky-high. “No one should go bankrupt just to afford the daily medication they need to stay alive. It’s time to put people above profits, and tell the big drug companies that their days extorting Americans who need insulin are over,” Jeff said.
In November, Jeff introduced the End Price Gouging for Insulin Act, legislation that would address this crisis by requiring drug companies to charge Americans the same prices they charge abroad. This shift would slash insulin costs by up to 500 percent, helping to ensure that this lifesaving medicine is within reach for every American who relies on it.
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21st Century Infrastructure for Every Community
Access to high-speed internet can help transform a community by making it easier to access health care, provide more educational opportunities, and provide local businesses the ability to sell to larger markets. That’s why Jeff has been fighting to make sure every community in Oregon has access to the vital resource of broadband internet.
As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees funding for rural development programs, Jeff has helped secure over $1.15 billion for broadband infrastructure projects in rural communities. Most recently, Jeff announced a $6 million grant to deploy 89 miles of high-speed broadband in Oregon’s Grant and Wheeler counties, which will bring reliable network access to nearly 250 square miles of rural Oregon.
“High-speed internet is an important tool for success in the 21st century,” Jeff said. “As the Senate considers funding bills for the upcoming year, I’m going to keep fighting for the funding we need to keep expanding our high-quality broadband infrastructure.”
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