Press Releases
Wyden Fights Wasteful F-22 Spending
Washington, D.C. - Keeping his focus on protecting American troops and taxpayer funds, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke on the Senate floor against spending $1.75 billion to purchase seven more F-22 fighter jets that the Air Force has specifically said it does not want. The Pentagon has already purchased 187 of the jets. The speech was in advance of the senator's vote today in support of the Levin-McCain F-22 amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill, S. 1390. The amendment was approved … Continue Reading
July 21, 2009
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $29 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Oregon Forests
WASHINGTON D.C. - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that nearly $29 million in Recovery Act funds will go to facility infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and trail maintenance in Oregon's forests. The funding also includes $3 million for the Oregon Youth Employment Initiative. This program puts youth to work in the woods and helps conserve natural resources in Oregon's forests. "Our forests are integral to our way of life. They create jobs, provide recreation … Continue Reading
July 16, 2009
Judicial Selection Committee Recommends Five Finalists for Two Federal Judgeships
Portland, OR - Senator Ron Wyden announced today that a federal judicial selection committee has recommended five finalists to fill two federal district court judgeships for Oregon. Wyden will forward those five names to the White House. Wyden will interview them in August. "I thank the selection committee for their hard work and recommendations," said Wyden. "Their efforts are critical to the wise administration of justice in our state, and their contributions will be felt … Continue Reading
July 14, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce $3.2 Million in Improvements to Buena Vista Ferry
Washington, D.C. - Working to improve transportation infrastructure throughout the state, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that $3.2 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will be used to revitalize the Buena Vista Ferry. "The Buena Vista Ferry is a landmark in Marion County," Wyden said. "For decades, it has served the mid-Willamette valley and with these improvements it will continue to be an important transportation tool for many … Continue Reading
July 13, 2009
Wyden Seeking Names of Those Interested in Oregon U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal Positions
Portland, OR - Senator Ron Wyden is seeking the names of individuals interested in the United States Attorney and the United States Marshal positions for the District of Oregon. The deadline to apply for the positions is August 15. Senator Wyden and Senator Jeff Merkley will appoint a selection committee to review candidates and make recommendations to Senator Wyden. The U.S. Attorney for Oregon is one of 93 in the United States and its territories, all of which are part of the United States … Continue Reading
July 13, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce Funding for Agriculture Research Included in Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced today that an agriculture appropriations bill headed to the Senate floor includes more than $7 million in projects for Oregon. Included in the bill is funding for research into improving Oregon's crops and controlling invasive species. "Agriculture producers have always played a major role in the success of this state and it is important that wise investments are made to ensure that continues to be the … Continue Reading
July 10, 2009
Wyden Says Bush Policies Were "Harmful to U.S. National Security"
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July 09, 2009
Military Construction Appropriations Bill to Include Improvements to Oregon's Military Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Working to ensure Oregon's military infrastructure is up-to-date and able to provide the best in emergency services, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced today that a Military Construction appropriations bill headed to the Senate floor includes nearly $5 million in projects for military installations in Clackamas, Clatsop and Washington counties. "These funds lay the ground work for improvements and upgrades to the infrastructure in these … Continue Reading
July 09, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $8 Million for Oregon in Interior Department Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - Working to ensure Oregon's natural resources are preserved and its infrastructure is strengthened, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced today that an Interior appropriations bill headed to the Senate floor includes nearly $8 million in projects for Oregon. Included in the bill are $3 million for land acquisition in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area. "You only have to look at Oregon's natural … Continue Reading
June 29, 2009
Wyden Unveils "Soft Landing" and Related Bills to Help Soldiers, Military Families and Veterans
Portland, OR - Keeping a promise he made to help National Guard soldiers adjust to life after combat, Senator Ron Wyden today unveiled a package of legislation that includes a 90-day "soft landing" for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. "One of the hard lessons we have learned from years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan is that we weren't ready to respond to the modern challenges facing National Guard soldiers, their families, our wounded soldiers, or our veterans," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
June 29, 2009
Wyden Commends Committee For Approving Back Pay for Combat Vets
Washington, D.C. - Affirming support for the brave men and women of the U.S. military, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) expressed gratitude and thanks to the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee for including a Wyden-authored provision to retroactively pay soldiers for leave earned under the Post Deployment and Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) in the 2010 Defense Authorization bill. More than 20,000 service members - at least 864 from Oregon - have not received their earned leave … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Wyden Engages White House on Classification Policy
Washington, D.C - In a letter laying out a series of principles and policy recommendations drawn from his years of challenging excessive government secrecy, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden commended the White House for initiating a landmark review of the nation's classification system. In his letter, Wyden states that protecting the nation from foreign threats often requires the U.S. government to operate in secret, but said that in too many cases "the natural bureaucratic tendency to avoid being … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Urge Congress, Postal Service to Protect Oregon's Vote-by-Mail
Washington, D.C. - Seeking to protect Oregon's vote-by-mail elections, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are asking Congress and the U.S. Postal Service to avoid taking steps that would damage the state's mail-in balloting. In a letter to a Senate appropriations subcommittee, Wyden and Merkley asked that efforts to balance the Postal Service budget not include a suggestion to eliminate Tuesday mail delivery. "While we admire and encourage examination of avenues to modernize the postal … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Wyden, Barrasso Legislation Will Improve Access to Rural Health Clinics
Washington, D.C. - Ensuring that Americans in rural areas have access to quality health care, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have introduced the Rural Health Clinic Patient Access and Improvement Act of 2009, which addresses long standing underpayments to rural health clinics, introduces a quality improvement program to RHCs, and provides incentives to recruit and retain medical professionals to rural areas. "Oregonians in rural areas have the same right to … Continue Reading
June 25, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Seek Molalla River Protection
Washington, D.C. - Bringing to fruition years of work from the Molalla community to preserve their namesake river, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Molalla River Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 2009, which is a companion bill to legislation introduced in the House of Representatives on June 9, 2009, by Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-5). The bill will designate approximately 21 miles of the Molalla River for preservation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. … Continue Reading
June 18, 2009
Wyden Statement on Lane County Decision to Use County Payment Money for Jail Beds
Portland, OR -- Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today following a decision by the Lane County Board of Commissioners to use county payment money for public safety."I am thankful to my friends and colleagues on the Lane County commission for voting to use federal county payment funds to keep violent criminals off the streets of Lane County and the rest of the state. Public service can be a thankless task, particularly in lean times that inevitably pit one important set … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Wyden Spells Out Health Reform Challenges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke on the Senate floor today, laying out what he sees as the key components required to enact true health care reform. The text of the speech follows: Mr. President, many senators on both sides of the aisle are working constructively to fix American health care, and for several years I have spent time listening to colleagues - going to the offices of about 85 Senators and at least that many in the House - and also listening to thousands in … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
DEFAZIO, WYDEN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT DEVIL'S STAIRCASE, OREGON CAVES AND THE LOWER ROGUE
WASHINGTON, DC -Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Ron Wyden today introduced three pieces of legislation to protect some of Oregon's most wild places; Devil's Staircase, Oregon Caves and the Lower Rogue River. DeFazio and Wyden have worked extensively on these important pieces of legislation with input from the public and private stakeholders. The Devil's Staircase legislation designates approximately 29,650 acres of the Siuslaw National Forest as a wilderness area. The Oregon Caves bill adds … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Wyden to Eastern Oregon for Four Town Hall Meetings on June 27-28
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host town hall meetings in four Eastern Oregon counties on Saturday, June 27, 2009, and Sunday, June 28, 2009. Morrow, Umatilla, Baker and Umatilla county residents are invited to attend the open forums to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. The events in Irrigon, Hermiston, Baker City and Ontario are numbers 517, 518, 519 and 520 respectively Morrow County Town … Continue Reading
June 16, 2009
Wyden Asks BLM to Put Brakes on $10,000 in Fees for 2009 Cycle Oregon
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden is asking the Bureau of Land Management to waive or significantly reduce $10,000 in fees it plans to charge 2009 Cycle Oregon for the use of BLM roads and a campground. "Since the ride will use only about 35 miles of BLM-constructed roadway and one campground lunch stop, I believe your decision deserves an immediate review," Wyden wrote in a letter to Ed Shepherd, state BLM director. "Hopefully it will result in waiving the fee altogether or … Continue Reading
