Press Releases
Bipartisan House, Senate Leaders Announce Proposed Child Welfare Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., along with Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, R-Texas, and Ranking Member Sander Levin, D-Mich., released a proposal to keep more children safely at home and out of unnecessary foster care. In the coming days, the Family First Prevention Services Act will be introduced in the House by Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Vern Buchanan, R-Fl., … Continue Reading
June 10, 2016
Senate Approves Wyden, Merkley Bill to Rename Clinic for War Hero Loren Kaufman
Washington, D.C. - A bill co-sponsored by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to designate the veterans community-based outpatient clinic in The Dalles the Loren R. Kaufman Memorial Veterans' Clinic passed the Senate today. The Oregon senators said their bill provides long-overdue recognition to a local Army soldier who served with great distinction in both World War II and the Korean War. "Loren Kaufman's service and ultimate sacrifice has earned him a permanent place of honor in his … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
Wyden, Merkley Call on National Transportation Safety Board to More Closely Examine Future Oil Train Derailments
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate future oil train derailments in order to find ways to better prevent such accidents. In their June 9 letter to NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart, the senators expressed their concern that the safety board did not fulfill its unique safety mission or provide its transportation expertise when it declined to investigate the cause of the train derailment near … Continue Reading
June 09, 2016
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Mineral Withdrawal Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would protect more than 2 million acres of the world-renowned high desert in southeastern Oregon from outside mineral exploitation, including oil and gas drilling, and build on long-time local economic strengths by helping farmers and ranchers. Wyden and Merkley said the Southeastern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal and Economic Preservation and Development Act recognizes that public lands in Southeastern … Continue Reading
June 06, 2016
Oregon Leaders call for Oil Train Moratorium in the Columbia River Gorge
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, Governor Kate Brown and Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici released the following statement today calling for a temporary halt to oil train traffic in Columbia River Gorge in light of last Friday'sderailment of a Union Pacific oil train in Mosier, OR: "Oil train tankers are still lying on their sides in Mosier, the ground and water have yet to be cleaned up, and there's still no good explanation for the cause of … Continue Reading
June 03, 2016
Wyden Statement on Oil Train Derailment Near Mosier
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after a train carrying crude oil derailed near Mosier, Oregon today: "It's clear with this crash - as it has been for years - that more must be done to protect our communities from trains carrying explosive hazardous fuels," Wyden said. "That's why I've repeatedly called for more resources and notification for first responders, and why I'm continuing to push for my bill to move unsafe cars off the tracks and away from … Continue Reading
May 31, 2016
Wyden Commends Energy Department Office of Inspector General Review of Hanford Vapor Exposures
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., commended the Department of Energy's Office of Inspector General for beginning a review today of chemical vapor exposures to workers at the Hanford nuclear site in Washington state. "This is a good step toward providing the workers at Hanford with some assurance that someone is looking out for their safety," Wyden said. "I look forward to a thorough review by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Energy's response to working … Continue Reading
May 27, 2016
Wyden Outlines Priorities for Reforming Federal Coal Leasing Program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 13 other senators outlined three priorities for upcoming reforms to the federal coal leasing program, in a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today. The Interior Department announced earlier this year that it would review the program and update the programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) under which federal coal is leased. In the letter, the senators commended Secretary Jewell for her efforts to modernize the federal … Continue Reading
May 25, 2016
Sens. Wyden, Murkowski, Cantwell, Crapo, Risch Work to Improve Forest Management and Wildfire Budgeting
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, released draft legislation aimed at improving forest management and wildfire budgeting. The bipartisan discussion draft reflects the work of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to examine and find solutions for these issues over the past two congresses. The bill uses a cap adjustment to end the practice of fire borrowing similar to … Continue Reading
May 25, 2016
Wyden Calls for Senate to Do Its Job and Take Action on Supreme Court Vacancy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a speech on the Senate floor today called on his colleagues to end months of partisan obstruction and act to fill the Supreme Court vacancy as soon as possible. "The unanimous position of the majority party is that elections don't seem to matter, that the rule of force trumps the rule of law and saying "no, we will not" is an acceptable response to being asked to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities," Wyden said. "This is not a … Continue Reading
May 24, 2016
Wyden Opposes 2017 Intelligence Authorization Act that Expands Government Surveillance and Undermines Independent Oversight Board
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today voted against the 2017 Intelligence Authorization Act in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. The bill includes provisions to expand warrantless government surveillance and takes aim at a valuable independent oversight board. "This bill takes a hatchet to important protections for Americans' liberty," Wyden said following the vote. "This bill would mean more government surveillance of Americans, less due process and less independent … Continue Reading
May 19, 2016
Wyden, Paul and Bipartisan Senators Call on Congress to Stop Massive Expansion of Government Surveillance and Hacking Power
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., today introduced the Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act to protect millions of law-abiding Americans from government hacking. The Stopping Mass Hacking (SMH) Act prevents recently approved changes to Rule 41 from going into effect. The changes would allow the government to get a single warrant to hack an unlimited number of Americans' computers if their computers had been affected by criminals, possibly without notifying … Continue Reading
May 18, 2016
Wyden and Colleagues Call on President to Fulfill Commitment to Resettle Syrian Refugees in America
WASHINGTON-U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and 26 other senators calling on the President to fulfill the Administration's commitment to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States this fiscal year. He recently reiterated this commitment, but so far in the first seven months of FY 2016, only 1,736 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States. "We write to express our strong support for resettling Syrian … Continue Reading
May 17, 2016
Wyden Applauds Actions to Provide Overtime Pay to Tens of Thousands of Oregonians
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the White House announced it would extend overtime pay to millions of American workers. "Working men and women are putting in more hours than ever before, yet coming home to their families without fair compensation for the extra time on the job," Wyden said. "It's long past time to make overtime pay a reality for thousands of Oregonians and millions of people nationwide who have earned every penny of … Continue Reading
May 17, 2016
Senate Passes Wyden, Merkley Resolution to Mark 100th Anniversary of Historic Columbia River Highway
Washington - A resolution co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Historic Columbia River Highway has passed the Senate. "America's first scenic highway offers both remarkable views of the Columbia Gorge and a uniquely historic example of innovative engineering," Wyden said. "Today's Senate action recognizes the importance of preserving and restoring this landmark so Oregonians can continue to enjoy its beauty and benefit from … Continue Reading
May 13, 2016
Wyden Applauds Actions to Protect LGBT Americans from Discrimination in Education, Health Care
After two announcements on actions that take steps toward protecting the rights of LGBT Americans today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement: "All young people should be able to go to school and seek health care in an environment where they can be who they are and love who they want," Wyden said. "I applaud the administration for taking these critical steps in the fight for full protections for all LGBT Americans." The first announcement, from the Education and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2016
Wyden Applauds USDA Award for Oregon Biomass Innovation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to award a groundbreaking Oregon project with funding to continue its innovative work using wood waste for renewable energy. The Oregon Torrefaction Project will convert forest wastes to a low-carbon product that can be used to heat and power homes and businesses. Processing in John Day will create access to rural jobs and reduce transportation costs. "Thanks to community … Continue Reading
May 12, 2016
Wyden Presses Energy Department Inspector General Nominee on Hanford
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed the nominee for the Department of Energy's Inspector General post about changing the way the department manages the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington state. At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Wyden asked Susan Beard to provide a timeline within 72 hours for actions she will take as inspector general to change the way clean-up is managed at Hanford. "I was there last week, and the … Continue Reading
May 12, 2016
Wyden Presses Energy Department Inspector General Nominee on Hanford
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed the nominee for the Department of Energy's Inspector General post about changing the way the department manages the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington state. At a confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Wyden asked Susan Beard to provide a timeline within 72 hours for actions she will take as inspector general to change the way clean-up is managed at Hanford. "I was there last week, and the … Continue Reading
May 06, 2016
Wyden Statement on Senator Bob Bennett
Portland, OR - Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D - Ore.) released the following statement on the passing of former Utah Senator Bob Bennett: "I am truly saddened by the news of Senator Bob Bennett's passing," Wyden said. "Senator Bennett was a cherished friend of mine and I have missed his presence since the day he left the Senate. Nancy and I extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Joyce and their children. "Senator Bennett was committed to creating solutions instead of soundbites, he … Continue Reading
