Press Releases
Wyden, Smith Secure Funds for Oregon Natural Resource Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon could soon receive more than $9 million, and share in an additional $2.5 million, for natural resource projects across the state. Wyden and Smith secured this funding as part of the Senate's FY2006 Interior funding bill, now approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Included in the bill is funding for land acquisitions at the Columbia River Gorge and the Upper Klamath Lake National … Continue Reading
June 08, 2005
Wyden, Fellow Senators Call for Immediate Investigation of Justice Department Action in Tobacco Case
Washington, D.C. - At a press conference on Wednesday, June 8, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sharply criticized the U.S. Justice Department for inexplicably reducing its demands in a Federal racketeering case against tobacco companies to $120 billion less than the companies could be asked to pay for anti-smoking programs. Wyden has joined U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and others in requesting an Inspector General investigation of the Justice Department's … Continue Reading
June 03, 2005
Wyden: Proposed 142nd Air Wing Changes Make Oregon Vulnerable to Attack
Portland, OR - After a briefing today from officials with the 142nd Air National Guard Fighter Wing and the Oregon Military Department, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said that proposed changes to the unit pose a threat to the safety and security of Oregon and the Northwest region. Wyden had previously expressed strong concerns about Defense Department recommendations to the Federal Base Realignment and Closing (BRAC) Commission that would drop 13 alert fighter jets out of the Portland Air … Continue Reading
May 26, 2005
Federal Government Will Pay Less for Advertised Prescription Drugs under New Wyden Legislation
Washington, DC - The Federal government would pay less for prescription drugs advertised directly to consumers under new legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today. The bipartisan Pharmaceutical Advertising and Prudent Purchasing Act, introduced with and U.S. Senator John Sununu (R-N.H.), would require discounts for programs such as Medicaid, to eliminate advertising costs passed on by pharmaceutical companies as part of a drug's price; drug companies already receive tax … Continue Reading
May 19, 2005
Senate Energy Bill Would Create Energy Consumer Advocate
Washington, DC - A provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to create a Federal advocate to protect the interests of American energy consumers was included today in the Senate's comprehensive energy legislation. The provision, which would create an independent consumer advocate to be appointed by the Secretary of Energy, is part of the energy bill currently being considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Wyden offered amendment language to create … Continue Reading
May 18, 2005
Wyden Amendment to Propose Hybrid Vehicles Added to Senate Energy Bill
Washington, DC - An amendment offered by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to promote the government's use of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles was included today in the comprehensive energy legislation currently being considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The amendment, now a part of the Senate's energy bill, would give government agencies and fleet operators credits toward alternative fuel vehicle purchase requirements for the purchase of hybrid vehicles. … Continue Reading
May 17, 2005
Senate Approves Highway Bill Including Wyden Bond Measure, "Smart Growth" Funds
Washington, D.C. - Federal highway legislation passed by the U.S. Senate today included an amendment authored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to boost funding for America's roads and bridges by $15 billion. The bipartisan Highway Infrastructure Bonds amendment, which Wyden offered with U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.), will use bonds to finance repair and building projects for roads, bridges and freight infrastructure."A chunk of our country's transportation infrastructure is falling apart, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2005
Wyden Legislation Would Protect Volunteer Health Provides
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation to extend comprehensive medical liability protections through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to volunteer physicians and medical personnel that are currently in for doctors and health providers who are paid for the same services. The Community Health Center Volunteer Physician Protection Act of 2005 aims to combat a dire shortage of health care providers in underserved communities; community health centers are … Continue Reading
May 16, 2005
Transportation Bill Boosts Funds for Wyden "Smart Growth" Measure
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced today that the Federal highway bill expected to pass in the Senate tomorrow contains a major funding boost for the "smart growth" provision he authored in the 1998 TEA-21 transportation law. In that original legislation, Wyden's Transportation and Community and System Preservation (TCSP) Program initiative provided $25 million per year to promote innovative transportation planning and to fund projects that keep communities' healthy … Continue Reading
May 13, 2005
Pentagon's Proposed Closures, Realignments Target Oregon Military Facilities
Washington, DC - The Portland International Airport Air Guard Station was targeted for major realignments and the Umatilla Chemical Depot in eastern Oregon and Navy Reserve Center in Central Point were recommended for closure by the Pentagon today, in a proposal raising strong concerns for U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.). U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld advocated the shutdowns and realignments as part of a list submitted to the Base Realignment and Closure … Continue Reading
May 12, 2005
Wyden Blocks Transport of Chemical Weapons to Umatilla
Washington, DC - Legislation championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to prevent the possible transportation of dangerous chemical weapons materials across state borders and into Oregon was signed into law this week. Wyden joined with U.S. Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) in sponsoring the legislation earlier this year that prohibits the Department of Defense (DoD) from funding any study on the feasibility of transporting the chemical munitions at the Pueblo, … Continue Reading
May 11, 2005
Wyden Legislation Would Improve Care for Patients near the End of Life
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation aimed at improving hospice care for America's seniors and expanding the field of palliative care for those at the end of life. Wyden's two bills - the Medicare Hospice Demonstration Act and the Palliative Care Training Act - are part of an effort to help the Senate address the fundamentals of end-of-life care and pain treatment in a responsible manner. "Supporting new ways to care for a very ill patient physically, … Continue Reading
May 11, 2005
Wyden-Smith Legislation Will Help Patients, Families, Health Providers Fight Pain
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today introduced legislation to help Americans living and dying in pain, support their families and assist health care providers in getting information and guidance to treat severe pain. The Conquering Pain Act will provide an opportunity for the country to develop and test different ways of provide pain management to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "Almost half of the dying experience moderate to severe … Continue Reading
May 11, 2005
Wyden, Allen Accept Call to Break Down Barriersfor Women and Girls in Math, Hard Science Fields
Washington, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and George Allen (R-Va.) today accepted a call from more than 6,000 women scientists, engineers, educators and others to push Congress to break down barriers to women and girls who could enter and excel in math and hard science fields such as engineering and physics. The call was issued in a letter delivered to the Senators by groups representative of women in these fields (listed below), and included a call for investigative and legislative … Continue Reading
April 28, 2005
Wyden Seeks to Clean Up Television Programming for Kids
Washington, DC - In an effort to finally make American television programming sensitive to children, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today is introducing legislation that would for the first time require cable and satellite operators to offer a child-friendly tier of programming similar to those offered for sports and entertainment shows. Wyden's Kid-Friendly TV Programming Act of 2005 strikes a balance between requiring providers to offer child-friendly television and limiting government … Continue Reading
April 19, 2005
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Make Internet Tax Ban Permanent
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation to make permanent an existing ban he authored on multiple and discriminatory taxation on Internet access and online sales. Wyden joined U.S. Senator George Allen (R-Va.) and U.S. Representative Chris Cox (R-Calif.) at a press conference in Washington to unveil the bipartisan legislation, which extends the Cox-Wyden Internet Tax Freedom Act of 1998. That law bans three types of taxes that unfairly single out the … Continue Reading
April 15, 2005
Smith, Wyden Announce Support for National Drought Preparedness
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden have announced the introduction of the National Drought Preparedness Act (S.802), which will finally bring a national, coordinated approach to drought preparedness and response efforts. The legislation authorizes, for the first time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency to respond to the economic and human suffering resulting from drought conditions. "Currently our ability to respond to the devastation of widespread drought is … Continue Reading
April 12, 2005
Wyden Launches Online List of Drought Resources
Portland, OR - Following a promise at his Drought Preparedness Forum, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has posted a list of drought resources on his website. The list includes resources for various water users - agricultural users, fishermen, small businesses, those impacted by increased energy costs, recreational users, and others - who may suffer the consequences of a dry spring and summer in Oregon. "When drought impacts our state, people shouldn't have to spend weeks trying to figure out who to … Continue Reading
April 07, 2005
Senators Wyden and Smith Announce Bipartisan Goals for Oregon, Nation
Washington, DC - Extending their shared priorities beyond Oregon's borders, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced their joint legislative plan for the 109th Congress (2005-2006): a "Bipartisan Agenda for Oregon." This year, Wyden joined Smith on the Senate Committee on Finance, which oversees many areas of health care and tax policy the Senators intend to address. The agenda features eight aims on health, trade, technology and tax issues that will fall … Continue Reading
April 05, 2005
Wyden, Smith Seek to Improve Long-Term Health Care
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today introduced legislation that rewards health providers who administer high quality health care and provides better treatment options for long-term care patients. The Long Term Care Quality and Consumer Information Act would increase government payments from Medicare to those nursing homes which provide the highest levels of care, and also would provide for better sharing of information about treatment options and … Continue Reading
