Press Releases
Senators Wyden and Markey Lead Colleagues in New Legislation to Protect Rail Safety
Washington (June 26, 2019) - Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced the Safe Freight Act, legislation that would promote rail safety by mandating at least two-person crews on all freight trains in the United States. The bill is designed to correct the Federal Railroad Administration's recent rollback of a proposed rule that would have established these necessary safety standards. The Safe Freight Act will specifically require that all freight trains have … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Wyden, Ernst, Bishop, Dingell Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Rob Bishop, R-Utah, and Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., today reintroduced legislation in the Senate and House to remove barriers to outdoor recreation and boost rural economies across the country. Their bipartisan Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act would promote access to outdoor recreation opportunities and allow more visitors to get outdoors. The RNR Act would … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Wyden Presses FDA to End the Uncertainty, Promptly Update Regulations on CBD, Other Hemp-based Derivatives
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promptly issue guidance that ensures the regulatory pathway Congress intended for the lawful use of hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) as a food additive and as a dietary ingredient in dietary supplements. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and FDA Acting Commissioner Ned Sharpless, Wyden urged the FDA to issue its formal enforcement discretion policy … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $7.2 Million Investment in Oregon Airports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced nearly $7.2 million in federal grants that will help Oregon airports fund critical rehabilitation, reconstruction, and installation projects. "Oregon's airports connect our state to economic opportunity and vital resources," Merkley said. "This investment in our airport infrastructure will improve safety for Oregon's airports, and I will continue to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Join Senators to Press FDA for Stronger Response to Teen Tobacco Use
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recognize the tenth anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act with action that protects children from dangerous new tobacco products. In the letter addressed to Dr. Norman E. Sharpless, Acting FDA Commissioner, the senators urge the FDA to act quickly and do more to protect children from dangerous tobacco products, citing alarming statistics in a … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Wyden: If the Intelligence Community Won’t Release Report on Murder of U.S.-Based Journalist, Congress Must Release It
Washington, D.C.-If the Intelligence Community refuses to publicly release information about which Saudi officials are responsible for ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today vowed to invoke a special Senate procedure to force the release of that information. In a speech on the Senate floor, Wyden, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, warned that the administration's inaction in response to the murder of a U.S.-based journalist puts reporters … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Wyden, Cortez Masto Introduce Geothermal Energy Opportunities Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) this week introduced legislation that would promote the growth of geothermal energy. Wyden and Cortez Masto said their Geothermal Energy Opportunities (GEO) Act would develop stronger public-private geothermal partnerships, reduce barriers to leasing public land for geothermal energy use where certain energy extraction activities are already permitted, and promote the direct development and deployment of … Continue Reading
June 21, 2019
Wyden Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Guarantee Dreamers Access to Home Loans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., this week joined 11 of his colleagues in introducing a bill to guarantee Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients access to federally-backed home loans. The Homeownership for Dreamers Act clarifies DACA beneficiaries - also known as Dreamers - cannot be denied federally-backed mortgage loans solely because of their immigration status. "To deny individuals the opportunity to own a home based on their immigration status alone … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Wyden Acts to Protect Elections from Foreign Interference
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today co-sponsored legislation that would help protect U.S. elections from foreign interference by requiring candidates, campaign officials and their family members to notify law enforcement if offered illegal assistance by a foreign national. "It shouldn't take a law for candidates to know they need to tell the FBI when foreigners try to illegally influence our elections," Wyden said. "But now that this administration has thrown every commonsense … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Senators Call on DOJ and DHS to Stop Implementation of Guidance Denying Citizenship Over Cannabis-related Activities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today led nine of his Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prevent implementation of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidance considering cannabis-related activities as a factor for the "good moral character" standard required for citizenship-even in cases where there is no violation of state law. Wyden, along with U.S. Sens. Elizabeth … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio, Walden Seek Federal Disaster Help for Six Oregon Counties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden today sought federal disaster assistance for spring storms that hit Curry, Douglas, Grant, Linn, Umatilla and Wheeler counties over a two-week stretch in April. The bipartisan letter from the Oregon lawmakers to the White House comes in support of Gov. Kate Brown's request for a presidential major disaster declaration for those counties' losses from heavy rain, snow melt, flooding, landslides … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Schrader Announce Federal Grant for Port of Toledo
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader today announced that the Port of Toledo has earned a federal grant of $261,285 for its Shipyard Vocational Training Lab. The three Oregon lawmakers said the Transportation Department resources for the port's training lab are critical to maritime professional development and ensuring Oregon's fishery fleet has access to quality shipyard facilities nearby both for routine boat maintenance as well as more … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Wyden Presses Forest Service on Misguided Policy Change, Backlog of Wildfire Prevention Projects in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today raised serious concerns about a new U.S. Forest Service proposal to gut environmental rules for forest management projects at a time when there's a serious backlog of wildfire prevention work. At a U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing Wyden questioned Forest Service Director of Fire Aviation and Management Shawna Legarza on the agency's decision. A senior member of the Committee, Wyden noted that the changes will … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Reconsider New Housing Rules
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week urged federal officials to reconsider a newly proposed public housing rule that could worsen homelessness and force some families of mixed citizenship status to separate. The Oregon senators' letter to Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson comes in response to a rule proposed last month by the department that would prohibit families in which at least one member is undocumented from subsidized housing. … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Senators Introduce Legislation to Encourage Innovation, Boost Next-Generation Hydro Power
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Angus King, I-Maine, Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Jack Reed, D-R.I., today reintroduced legislation to increase domestic production of low-carbon, renewable energy from the natural power in ocean waves, tides and currents. The Marine Energy Research and Development Act provides federal resources to encourage private investments in renewable energy projects that use the power in oceans to produce electricity. "Americans … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Major Package of Bills to Help Communities Harmed by Wildfire Smoke
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today introduced four bills to help the public, businesses and agricultural operations combat the effects of wildfire smoke, and recover from the damage it causes: the Smoke-Ready Communities Act, the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act, the Farmworker Smoke Protection Act, and the Smoke Planning and Research Act. "Last August in the Rogue Valley, I looked up at a sun that was neon pink through the thick haze of smoke … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Wyden, Klobuchar Question FBI Response to Hack of Florida Election Software Company
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee, today asked the FBI to explain its response to the potential Russian hack of VR Systems, a Florida-based election software company. Wyden and Klobuchar pressed the FBI to explain what steps it took to investigate a potential hack of VR Systems. The company provides election software, including electronic poll … Continue Reading
June 12, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce $5.6 Million Investment in Lake County Railroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a $5.6 million investment in railroad safety and rehabilitation in Lake County. "This is the kind of significant investment our country needs to be making in infrastructure," Merkley said. "This grant will make railroad crossings safer and improve service reliability-creating jobs and economic opportunity for the entire Lake County region. As I've traveled around the state, I've seen firsthand the need for … Continue Reading
June 11, 2019
Wyden Statement on Senate Floor on Net Neutrality
Mr. President, today I'm joining my colleague Senator Markey on the floor to continue the fight for a free and open internet - what's known as net neutrality. Exactly one year ago, the repeal of net neutrality orchestrated by Ajit Pai and the Trump FCC went into effect. Let me explain what this is all about. Net neutrality -- the free and open internet -- says that once you have access to the internet, you get to go where you want, when you want and how you want. That's the basic principle … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill Directing Trump Administration to Meet Paris Climate Agreement Standards
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced legislation with a group of 44 senators, directing the Trump administration to meet the standards established by the historic Paris Climate Agreement. The legislation - the International Climate Accountability Act - would prevent the president from using funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. Instead, the bill directs the Trump administration to develop a strategic plan for the country to meet its … Continue Reading
