Senator Merkley hosts two roundtable discussions on Trump budget impacts during Central Oregon visit

BEND, Ore (KTVZ) -- Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., was in Bend Thursday to speak with health care professionals and business leaders about concerns they have regarding the effects of the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

Representatives from health care organizations relayed concerns to the senator about potential funding issues and closures.

The Democrat lawmaker also spoke about rising prescription drug prices in the U.S.

Merkley told KTVZ News, "We are the nation whose taxpayers put more into the research and development of pharmaceuticals than any other nation in the world, and yet we are also among developed nations, the country where our citizens and health care organizations pay the highest prices for those drugs."

Senator Merkley says he is actively working on legislation to cap prescription drug prices and reduce costs for the consumer.

At the roundtable, he assured health care leaders that he would work with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to keep health care affordable for residents of Oregon.

At a second roundtable Thursday, Merkley spoke with local business leaders and manufacturers about how tariffs are affecting them.

The leaders stressed the importance of making sure residents understand that tariffs will affect them.     

Lauren Redman told KTVZ News: “It is the customer. I don't care what it is, what product it is or what state you live in. It is the customer that will pay for it.”

Merkley spoke emphatically about the costs consumers will face due to the downstream effects tariffs have, but eased concerns about the rise in unemployment.