Press Releases
Statement on the passing of Dave Frohnmayer
"I am deeply saddened by the passing of my longtime friend and former law professor Dave Frohnmayer. His career is the gold standard for public service in this state. He worked tirelessly to make Oregon a better place and he will be sorely missed by all of us who came to depend on his wise counsel and selfless nature. My thoughts and prayers are with Lynn, Mark, Jonathan, Amy and the entire Frohnmayer … Continue Reading
March 09, 2015
Wyden Announces Release of Oregonian Carrie Russell
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tonight announced the release of Carrie Russell from a Japanese detention center. "I'm thrilled that common sense has won the day and that Carrie is being released to her family,'' Senator Wyden said. "I want to thank Ambassador Kennedy and her staff for working closely with our office and their Japanese counterparts to get her released." Japanese authorities took Ms. Russell into custody on Feb. 20 after she shipped herself medication as part … Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Wyden Introduces Bill to Spur Investment in Short Line Railroads
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today introduced the Short Line Railroad Rehabilitation and Investment Act of 2015, which would extend the short line railroad track maintenance tax credit that expired in 2014. "Small railroads provide a critical service to communities and businesses across Oregon, and this bill means continued investment in important infrastructure," said Wyden, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. "The short line … Continue Reading
March 03, 2015
Wyden Statement on Stacey Addison Coming Home to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., celebrated the release of Stacey Addison, who boarded a plane to the U.S. after passport was returned by authorities in Timor Leste late last night. "I am so happy and relieved to know Stacey is finally coming home from Timor-Leste to her loved ones in Oregon. Huge thanks are in order for Ambassador Stanton and everybody at the State Department who worked to bring this situation to a successful conclusion for … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Wyden Secures Commitment from Forest Service Chief to Work on Oregon Priorities
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today secured a commitment from U.S. Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell to provide much-needed funding to resource-dependent counties in Oregon, take the next step toward a solution in the Klamath River Basin and fix the broken funding system for fighting wildfires. In a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today, Wyden pushed to make permanent the funding for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payments in Lieu of Taxes … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Wyden Bill Requires Most Up-To-Date Military Medical Training, Ends Unnecessary Use of Live Animals
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would require the Defense Department to use the most up-to-date military medical training methods, and to phase out the outdated and unnecessary use of live animals in combat trauma courses for U.S. armed forces. Even while new high-tech simulators, like the "Cut Suit," can reproduce the feeling, appearance and even smell of combat injuries, the Department of Defense still relies on outdated training methods that … Continue Reading
February 26, 2015
Wyden Hails FCC Approval of Rules to ‘Save the Internet’
Washington, D.C.- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., lauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval of rules that will protect the free and open Internet: "Today is a win for everyone who uses the Internet. The interests of individual Americans triumphed over those of corporate monopolies. These strong new rules will preserve the Internet we know and love, where start-ups can thrive regardless of the size of their wallets, and where people are free to speak and share ideas. The drumbeat of … Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
Bipartisan Group of Senators Launches Whistleblower Protection Caucus
WASHINGTON - To raise awareness of the need for adequate protections against retaliation for private sector and government employees who call attention to wrongdoing, a bipartisan group of senators today launched the Whistleblower Protection Caucus. The caucus will foster bipartisan discussion on legislative issues affecting the treatment of whistleblowers and serve as a clearinghouse for current information on whistleblower developments of interest in the Senate. It will also coordinate … Continue Reading
February 25, 2015
Senators introduce bipartisan bill to protect knife owners
Washington, D.C. - Today U.S. Senators Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced legislation to ensure that those traveling with a properly secured knife are not prosecuted under local or state laws which ban certain knives. "Americans who are transporting a pocket knife shouldn't have to worry that they will be arrested for just passing through," said Enzi. "This is not theoretical, but a real problem. It is almost impossible for a citizen to be fully aware of the thousands of … Continue Reading
February 20, 2015
Wyden: Oil Train Accidents Raise Red Flags about Safety of New Rail Cars
Washington, D.C. - Recent oil train accidents raise serious concerns about newer rail cars that carry crude oil in Oregon and across the country, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today. Wyden urged the administration to take into account a series of accidents involving new cars as it finalizes oil train safety rules, in a letter to the White House budget office today. Wyden called on the Office of Management and Budget to consult with the National Transportation Safety Board and Department of … Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
Sen. Wyden Statement on Governor Kitzhaber’s Resignation
WASHINGTON - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after Gov. Kitzhaber announced he would resign: "Oregonians want government to focus on their needs rather than investigations and charges and counter-charges. Oregonians have a right to expect the highest ethical standards from their government, and today's announcement by Governor Kitzhaber acknowledges that reality. In the days ahead, we will refocus with our new Governor Kate Brown on the goal all Oregonians share - … Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
Oregon Senators Announce Restoration of Veterans Employment Program
Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $1.4 million for an Oregon National Guard program that helps servicemembers and veterans find jobs when they return home. When funding for the Joint Transition Assistance Program (JTAP) lapsed late last year, the Senators asked the National Guard Bureau to work with them to provide emergency resources. Today's announcement represents the fruit of the Senators' labor and is especially timely given that … Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
Wyden, Crapo Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Renew Safety Net for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C.- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today introduced a bipartisan bill to renew the Secure Rural Schools program, which supports schools, law-enforcement and roads in more than 700 rural counties across the country. "County payments are a lifeline for cash-strapped rural communities that are already facing shortfalls to pave roads, keep teachers in schools and firefighters on call," Wyden said. "This bipartisan bill keeps up the commitment the government … Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
Wyden Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Group to Protect Online Privacy
WASHINGTON- Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators as cosponsor of a bill to modernize our nation's electronic privacy laws and bring protections against warrantless searches up to date with the technological realities of the 21st century. The "Electronic Communications Privacy Amendments Act of 2015" (ECPA) was submitted in the Senate by Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Representatives Kevin Yoder (R-KS) and Jared Polis (D-CO) … Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
Wyden: Oregon Cidermakers, Brewers, Vintners, and Distillers Would Benefit from Bills Heading to Senate Floor
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said that the state's economy is well-positioned to benefit from two bipartisan bills passed today in the Senate Finance Committee. Wyden, the Finance Committee's top Democrat, said one of those two bills would help Oregon's growing cider industry by updating antiquated excise taxes. Those excise taxes are outdated because their current definition of hard cider sets alcohol and carbonation levels that are too low, unfairly triggering higher tax rates … Continue Reading
February 09, 2015
Wyden Lauds Proposed Wine Rules
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Monday that he is very encouraged by two significant developments that could have huge benefits for the wine industry in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. The first of the two developments is the announcement today by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that would allow wines produced in "The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater" to state that they are produced in The Rocks, located within the internationally … Continue Reading
February 06, 2015
Wyden Demands Investigation into Alleged Government Mistreatment of Research Animals
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for an investigation into the possible mistreatment of animals over several decades at a U.S. Department of Agriculture research facility, in a letter today. Wyden sent the letter to the USDA following a recent report in the New York Times alleging the dangerous and inhumane treatment of animals at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska. The report described surgical and breeding practices that caused pain and … Continue Reading
February 05, 2015
Oregon Senators Co-Sponsor Craft Brewing Bill
Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced their co-sponsorship of a bill that would stimulate the growing craft brewing industry in Oregon and nationwide by reducing the excise tax on each barrel of beer brewed by small brewers. The bill, S. 375, the Small Brewer Reinvestment and Expanding Workforce Act, or Small BREW Act, would also change the threshold definition of a small brewer to better reflect modern production. A reduced excise tax and a more … Continue Reading
February 05, 2015
Wyden Launches Bipartisan Bill to Boost Commercial Unmanned Aircraft Research
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in introducing a bill that would encourage continued research and development of the potential uses of commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in Oregon and across the country. The bill, the Safe Skies for Unmanned Aircraft Act of 2015, would lift restrictions on unmanned aerial systems research that make it harder for universities and other research institutions to partner with private … Continue Reading
February 04, 2015
Wyden, Manchin, Cruz Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Hold Pentagon Accountable for Financial Audit
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., along with Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced the Audit the Pentagon Act of 2015, which would establish strict penalties should the Department of Defense (DoD) not meet its legal obligation to be audit-ready by 2017. The Defense Department is the only federal agency that has never fully complied with financial management laws and currently remains on the Government Accountability's Office … Continue Reading
