Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Send Names of Six Finalists to White House for Upcoming Judicial Vacancy on U.S. District Court in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today sent to the White House the names of six finalists to fill an upcoming federal judicial vacancy in Oregon created by the announcement from U.S. District Court Judge Marco Hernandez that he will take senior status in August 2024. In alphabetical order, the six finalists sent by Wyden and Merkley to the White House for its consideration are as follows: Amy Baggio, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Nadia Dahab, … Continue Reading
June 01, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Push for Safe, Stable Staffing Levels at FCI Sheridan
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to address understaffing and low pay at the federal correctional institution in Sheridan, Oregon. “In our discussions with prison staff and union representatives, they repeatedly raised concerns about low morale, high rates of attrition, and difficulties recruiting and retaining staff. We each discussed these issues with Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters, who was familiar … Continue Reading
May 30, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Send Bipartisan Letter to Secretary of Defense Urging Investigation of Price Gouging by Defense Contractors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues from both parties have sent a letter urging the Secretary of Defense to conduct a thorough investigation after repeated instances of defense contractors overcharging the Department of Defense to secure excess profits of 40 to 50 percent, costing the U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. "These companies have abused the trust government has placed in them, exploiting their position as sole suppliers … Continue Reading
May 26, 2023
Wyden Demands Answers About the International Trade Administration’s Promotion of Surveillance Technology to Foreign Markets and Governments
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the International Trade Administration (ITA) to answer questions about its promotion of dangerous surveillance technology in foreign markets, and explain what steps it is taking to prevent such technology sales from harming human rights. Wyden chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over international trade policy. He first requested information from ITA about its activity promoting the sale of … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Wyden Applauds New FERPA Regulations that Protects Students’ Data from Big Tech Companies
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement applauding the Department of Education for protecting the privacy of students by updating FERPA regulations to provide best practice guidance to school districts regarding contracting with ed-tech vendors: “I’m pleased the Department of Education listened to my call to protect students’ data from big tech companies by updating FERPA regulations to help school districts negotiate with … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Wyden, Ross Announce Bill to Stop Judge Shopping and Prevent Rogue Judges From Wielding Undue Power Over Millions of Americans
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Deborah Ross, D-N.C., today announced the Fair Courts Act, legislation that makes it more difficult for litigants to seek out specific judges to guarantee their preferred outcome and requires a panel of judges to preside over cases that seek nationwide relief. “It’s fundamentally unjust for a special interest group to play hopscotch with American courts in search of one biased judge predisposed … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Wyden Applauds DHS’s New Body Camera Policy
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the Department of Homeland Security for releasing a new department-wide policy requiring use of body-worn cameras to improve accountability of DHS law enforcement personnel. The policy was recommended by DHS’s Law Enforcement Coordination Council, which was created following Wyden’s hold on the confirmation of former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Chris Magnus in order to secure transparency and reforms … Continue Reading
May 24, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Earn $500,000 Federal Grant for Wireless Connections
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde will receive a $500,000 federal investment to build a fixed wireless network providing high-speed Internet connections to 200 unserved households in their community. "Quality rural broadband is essential to quality of life, and that infrastructure priority must include Tribal communities," said Wyden, who recently pushed the FCC to ensure rural, Tribal communities receive a … Continue Reading
May 23, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $8.3 Million Coming to Oregon for Flood and Wildfire Relief
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will be awarded $8,364,460 under the U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Emergency Relief Program. The funding will be used for road and bridge repairs on Forest Service roads that have sustained damages from extreme weather events. "Oregonians across the state depend on safe and reliable roads to conduct business, visit Oregon's iconic natural wonders, and much … Continue Reading
May 22, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $3 Million to Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and Burns Paiute Tribe to Build Affordable Housing and Repair Cultural Heritage Center
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation and the Burns Paiute Tribe have earned federal grants to build affordable housing and repair a cultural heritage center. "Affordable housing and rehabilitated cultural resources are crucial to continued Tribal independence and sovereignty," Wyden said. "I am gratified to see these dollars go toward resources so that members of the Warm Springs tribe have … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Wyden Calls for Reforms to FISA Surveillance Following Disclosure of New Abuses
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement calling for reforms to FISA surveillance following disclosure of new abuses: “Yet again, the public is learning about shocking abuses of FISA Section 702, in particular the FBI’s warrantless searches through 702 data for information on Americans. These abuses have been going on for years and despite recent changes in FBI practices, these systematic violations of Americans’ privacy … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Wyden, Bipartisan Group of Senators Announce "Kids to Parks Day" Resolution
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Shelly Moore Capito, R-W. Va., Susan Collins, R-Maine, Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., today announced their bipartisan resolution that encourages children to get outdoors and promote healthy outdoor recreation by designating May 20, 2023 National Kids to Parks Day. First celebrated by the National Park Trust, the thirteenth annual Kids to Parks … Continue Reading
May 19, 2023
Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, and Bonamici Announce $6 Million Coming to Portland International Airport
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and U.S Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding the Portland International Airport $6 million under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to update their master plan. "PDX is a vital hub for Oregon's residents and businesses that rely on air travel, whether it's for recreation, support for firefighting, or to transport goods," said Senator … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Wyden Statement on Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh Opinions
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous rulings in Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh. "I appreciate the Supreme Court's thoughtful rulings that even without Section 230, plaintiffs would not have won their lawsuits. As is the case with a majority of suits blocked on 230 grounds, the First Amendment or an inability to prove the underlying claims would lead to the same result,” … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $3.5 Million Coming to Oregon for Airport Improvements
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding six airports across the state nearly $3.5 million under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) "Oregonians across the state and industries rely on air travel for many reasons, whether it's for recreation, support for firefighting, or to transport goods," said Senator Merkley. "This federal funding will help ensure Oregon's regional airports are able to … Continue Reading
May 18, 2023
Sens. Wyden, Hirono, Rep. Jacobs Reintroduce the My Body, My Data Act to Protect Reproductive and Sexual Health Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., today reintroduced the My Body, My Data Act, which would create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data. "There should be strict limits on how tech companies collect, use and share personal, sensitive information-especially reproductive health information collected through period tracking apps or web searches," Wyden said. "The My Body, My … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Advance Key Outdoor Recreation Priorities for Oregon
Washington, D.C. – As Oregonians gear up for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today advanced on a bipartisan vote bills authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley that would make the outdoors more accessible, support the recreation economy, protect drinking water for thousands of Oregonians, and ensure essential wildfire prevention work. “Oregon is home to some of the most treasured outdoor spaces in our nation, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Wyden, Paul and Bipartisan Senators Call for Reform to Surveillance of Americans’ Letters And Packages
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and six bipartisan senators today called for stronger protections for the privacy of Americans’ letters and packages, in a letter to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) today. Wyden chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and Paul is ranking member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. Senators Cynthia Lummis, R-Wy., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Mike Lee, R-Utah, Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., … Continue Reading
May 17, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Release GAO Report Showing Widespread Use of Non-Compete Agreements Restricts Job Mobility, Stifles Wages and Innovation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues have released a new report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office that found the use of non-compete agreements is widespread throughout the U.S. labor market and serves to unfairly protect large employers while restricting job mobility, lowering wages for workers, and discouraging innovation. "I've been sounding the alarm that non-compete agreements hurt workers' wages, stifle innovation and economic … Continue Reading
May 16, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announced Nearly $3 Million for Central Oregon Community College to Train and Expand the EV Workforce
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Central Oregon Community College (COCC) was awarded nearly $3 million to help expand the electric vehicle (EV) technician workforce. The funding comes from the National Science Foundation and will support COCC's Northwest Engineering and Vehicle Technology Exchange (NEVTEX). "The transportation sector is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. So it is imperative that we … Continue Reading
