Press Releases
Wyden, Smith Secure Approval for $115 Million in Oregon Projects in Final Highway Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced the authorization of $115 million for Oregon transportation projects in the conference report for the Transportation Equity Act of 2005. That legislation reauthorizes the Federal-aid surface transportation program, which includes Federally aided highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. The Senate's version of the "highway bill" was approved in May and has now been reconciled with the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2005
Key Wyden-Backed Measure Blocks Double Standards for Executives in Pension Reform Legislation
Washington, DC - A key provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that would keep companies with significantly under-funded employee pension plans from locking away retirement funds for top company executives was included today in pension reform legislation being considered by the Senate Finance Committee. Specifically, the Wyden-backed provision would prohibit companies from giving executives deferred compensation - or retirement funds held in accounts outside of the same program … Continue Reading
July 26, 2005
Wyden-Talent E-Waste Legislation Moves Forward with Key Senate Committee Hearing
Washington, DC - Legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.) to combat the growing nationwide problem of electronic waste received a hearing by the Environment and Public Works Committee, a key step toward the bill being enacted into law. Wyden and Talent testified at today's hearing on their bipartisan Electronic Waste Recycling and Promotion and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which would provide consumer and industry tax incentives to create the … Continue Reading
July 22, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure Funds for Community Development, Transportation Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that they have obtained more than $38 million for various projects throughout Oregon as part of the FY 2006 Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development (TTJHUD) Appropriations bill. The legislation approved this week by the Senate Appropriations Committee includes funding for transportation and community development projects. The TTJHUD Appropriations bill must now be … Continue Reading
July 21, 2005
Wyden, Smith Win Funds for Oregon Military Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon could soon receive more than $7 million for military facility construction projects. The funding was included in the FY 2006 Veterans Administration and Military Construction Appropriations bill approved today by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The VA/MilCon Appropriations bill must now be approved by the full Senate.It is important that we recognize Oregons role in defending our nation, … Continue Reading
July 20, 2005
Wyden, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Hooley and Wu Enter Brief with Supreme Court on Upcoming Assisted Suicide Case
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) and David Wu (D-Ore.) today filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in opposition to efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice to overturn Oregons Death with Dignity Act. In the brief, the Oregon delegation members maintain that the 1971 Controlled Substances Act (CSA) did not provide former Attorney General John Ashcroft with the … Continue Reading
July 19, 2005
Energy Conference Committee Fails to Take Important Step to Reduce U.S. Dependence on Foreign Oil
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the House-Senate Energy Conference Committee, expressed regret at the committee's failure to adopt an amendment he offered today that would increase automobile industry fuel economy standards by one mile per gallon each year for five years beginning in 2008. Wyden offered the amendment to the 2005 energy bill as a concrete step the conference committee could take to improve the legislation to reduce America's dependence on foreign … Continue Reading
July 19, 2005
Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wydenon the Nomination of Judge John Robertsto the Supreme Court
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement this evening following the Presidents nomination of U.S. Circuit Judge John Roberts, Jr. to be an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court:The only appropriate way to proceed is on the merits of Judge Roberts record and judicial temperament and any pronouncements tonight would be prejudgments. I look forward to learning about Judge Roberts as the Judiciary Committee conducts a thorough and careful evaluation … Continue Reading
July 14, 2005
Senate Appropriations Committee FundsCitizens Health Care Working Group for 2006
Washington, DC The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved full funding for a continuing effort to break years of gridlock in American health care reform. The FY2006 Labor-HHS appropriations legislation includes $3 million for the Citizens Health Care Working Group created by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) in their Health Care that Works for All Americans law. The Working Group is already holding hearings this summer and preparing to publish a guide this fall … Continue Reading
July 07, 2005
Wyden Statement On London Attacks
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement following today's attacks in London:"I am deeply saddened, but not surprised, by today's violence in London. Great Britain, like the United States, is no stranger to these sorts of terrorist attacks. What is important is that there must be no political divide between civilized governments at moments such as this. Those who resort to the murder of innocent civilians to further their cause must be defeated, and the … Continue Reading
July 05, 2005
Senate Approves Creation of National Tsunami Warning System
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has approved legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) that would allow for the development of a national tsunami warning system to protect more fully Oregon and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States. Wyden and Smith joined U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and others in sponsoring the bipartisan Tsunami Preparedness Act, which was introduced earlier this year following the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2005
Statement of Senator Ron Wyden on the Retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released the following statement on the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor from the United States Supreme Court:"Sandra Day O'Connor has been a true pioneer throughout her distinguished career in public service, and particularly as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. America has benefited greatly from Justice O'Connor's intellect, independence, solid judgment and her unwavering dedication to equal justice under the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2005
CBO Tells Wyden Elimination AD Costs Could Save Hundreds of Millions
Washington, DC - At a hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging today, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Douglas Holtz-Eakin, told U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that the Federal government potentially could save between $300 million and $500 million if the cost of advertising prescription drugs directly to consumers is eliminated in Medicaid alone. Wyden and U.S. Senator John Sununu (R-N.H.) introduced legislation earlier this year to require discounts for Federal … Continue Reading
June 29, 2005
Senate Approves Funds for Oregon Natural Resource Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced full Senate approval of more than $9 million in funding for Oregon natural resource projects in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2006, and approval of an additional $2.5 million for projects in which Oregon will participate. After the passage this evening by the Senate, the Fiscal Year 2006 Interior Appropriations bill moves to a conference committee to work out differences between Senate and House versions of … Continue Reading
June 27, 2005
Wyden Statement on Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
Washington, DC - At a press conference today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding his recent trip to Cuba and his visit to the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay:Senator [Ben] Nelson [D-Neb.] and I spent three days in Cuba and returned last evening. We spent all of yesterday touring Camp Delta, exploring past practices and observing current ones in dealing with so-called "detainees," and discussing the challenges faced by our military personnel.It is … Continue Reading
June 24, 2005
Wyden Amendment to Energy Bill Promotes E-Waste Recycling
Washington, DC - An amendment written by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and accepted into the Senate energy bill will give American recyclers a tax credit to help buy equipment that can be used to recycle electronic waste. The Wyden amendment adds electronic waste to the list of qualified recyclable materials covered under the recycling equipment tax credit in the tax title of the energy bill. That provision would allow businesses to claim a credit of as much as 15 percent of the cost of … Continue Reading
June 24, 2005
Wyden, Smith Gain Funding Approval for Salmon Recovery, Ocean Research
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved funding for the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund and for Oregon State University (OSU) for oceanic observation research. The funding approved this week was included in the Senate's FY 2006 Commerce/Justice/Science (CJS) funding bill; the legislation will next be considered by the full Senate and then a House-Senate conference committee, which will … Continue Reading
June 22, 2005
New Wyden Legislation to Protect National Park Lands, Ecosystems from Invasive Species
Washington, DC - To help the National Park Service more effectively fight off invasive species and preserve threatened natural resources, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation to authorize the Secretary of Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with watershed councils, non-profits organizations, private landowners and county and state governments to protect, maintain and restore natural plant species and water resources in and around national park lands. The … Continue Reading
June 17, 2005
Senate Committee Approves Funding for Oregon Energy and Water Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee passed the FY2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. The bill contains over $60 million in funding for Oregon's critical infrastructure and environmental projects. The legislation now awaits approval by the full Senate. "Oregon's future is dependent upon finding innovative opportunities for economic growth while taking a responsible approach to managing our natural … Continue Reading
June 17, 2005
Wyden Testifies Before BRAC Commission
Portland, OR U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) testified today before the Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission regarding the potential dangers of proposed changes to the 142nd Fighter Wing at Portland Air Base. Wyden was joined by fellow Oregon leaders and various military experts in opposing a Pentagon plan to realign the Wing by moving all but two alert fighter jets out of Portland; that move would severely compromise the security of Oregon and the entire Northwest.The BRAC … Continue Reading
