Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce $7 Million FEMA Grant for Rural Infrastructure Damage Caused by Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a $7 million grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help repair damaged electrical infrastructure in Marion County. "Wildfires and intense winds caused significant damage to our electrical infrastructure in Marion County, jeopardizing the stability of small businesses and the homes of many Oregon families," said Merkley. "I am pleased that these grants will help repair critical … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Senate Unanimously Confirms Oregonian Chuck Sams as National Park Service Director after Wyden Takes to the Senate Floor
Washington, D.C. - Tonight, the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Chuck Sams as National Park Service Director after U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., went to the Senate floor and asked the Senate pass the nomination by unanimous consent. "Chuck Sams is the right nominee to lead the National Park Service as it addresses these challenges. I know Chuck. He is hardworking. He is committed," Wyden said on the Senate's action. "Chuck is a role model in the stewardship of American land … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio & Bonamici: More than $31 Million to Lane & Washington Counties for Critical Transportation Updates
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici today announced that Lane and Washington counties have earned a combined more than $31 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for road, rail, and transit improvements. "I've said for a long time, you can't have a big league economy with little league infrastructure," Wyden said. "I am gratified these two counties have earned such large grants that will … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Wyden Welcomes Step Forward for Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today welcomed bipartisan passage of his legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both of those regions. Wyden's bill is now eligible to be considered by the full Senate. The Oregon Recreation Enhancement (ORE) Act, which Wyden introduced earlier this year with U.S. … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Wyden, Lummis, Khanna and Meijer Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to End Warrantless Searches of Automobile Data and Protect Americans’ Rights
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., introduced bipartisan legislation today to protect Americans against warrantless searches of the data generated and stored in their cars and trucks. The Closing the Warrantless Digital Car Search Loophole Act ends the outdated "vehicle exception" to the Fourth Amendment, that was created by courts long before automobiles contained computers that generate vast amounts of digital information and requires law … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Wyden and Eshoo Press for Answers on Restrictive E-Book Agreements That Limit Libraries’ Digital Lending
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., today sought answers about expensive, restrictive e-book lending contracts with libraries, in letters to nine e-book aggregators and platforms. Aggregators are middlemen that license e-books to libraries on behalf of book publishers, and can also develop the e-lending platforms used by library patrons. The questions are part of Wyden and Eshoo's ongoing inquiry into restrictions on public and academic libraries' … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Wyden, Blumenthal, Democratic Colleagues Reintroduce Bill of Rights for Airline Passengers
Washington, DC - Ahead of a busy holiday travel season, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said today he has joined with U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reintroduce comprehensive legislation to expand protections for air travelers. Among a host of key consumer protections, the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights would ensure that airlines provide passengers with fair compensation, refunds, and recourse in the event of … Continue Reading
November 17, 2021
Senators Wyden, Lee “Bet” On Oregon-Utah Game
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced he and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) have placed a friendly "wager" on Saturday's college football game between Oregon and Utah, with the winners of the "bet" being the community members facing food insecurity in both states - and the food banks working hard year-round to help fight hunger. Thanks to Farmers Ending Hunger and Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) in Oregon, 15,000 pounds of ground beef and more than 20,000 … Continue Reading
November 15, 2021
Wyden-Neguse Disaster Safe Power Grid Proposal Signed Into Law as Part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.)'s proposal to upgrade America's power system and protect local communities from extreme weather events was signed into law today as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Wyden and Neguse introduced the Disaster Safe Power Grid Act earlier this year to ensure that power companies do their part to reduce the risks of power blackouts and wildland fires through power system upgrades, fire … Continue Reading
November 15, 2021
Wyden, Senators Announce Bipartisan ‘Bridge Investment Act’ to Provide Significant Federal Investment in Bridge Repair is Signed into Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that their bipartisan Bridge Investment Act has been signed into law by President Biden. The senators have been pushing for this legislation since 2018, and reintroduced the bill in 2019 and again in May of this year. Led by Brown, they successfully … Continue Reading
November 12, 2021
Wyden, Senators Urge Fix to Broken Credit Reporting System, Accountability for Credit Reporting Agencies
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined with U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to take concrete steps to reform the credit reporting industry. The senators urged CFFB Director Rohit Chopra to use the CFPB's existing supervisory, rulemaking, and enforcement authority over … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Wyden, Fischer, Grassley, Tester Reach Cattle Market Bill Compromise
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today joined with U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) to announce a bipartisan compromise cattle market proposal, known as the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. "Family ranchers in Oregon are struggling as they continue to recover from the economic fallout of the pandemic, on top of a cattle market that sets them up at a disadvantage and delivers big for corporate meat packers," said … Continue Reading
November 09, 2021
Wyden, Heinrich Lead Introduction Of Pathways To Health Careers Act, Fight To Include In Build Back Better Plan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Pathways to Health Careers Act that builds on the success of the Health Profession Opportunity Grant (HPOG) Program. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). In the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Chairman of the Ways and Means Worker and … Continue Reading
November 06, 2021
Wyden Welcomes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Passage
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today welcomed House passage of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation, which includes essential priorities for Oregon and the West. The bill now goes to the President's desk to be signed into law. "I've said for a long time, you can't have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. And today Oregon and the American West will finally get the significant investments needed to deal with catastrophic wildfires and severe … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Wyden Urges Administration to Protect Federal Workers, Overseas Military Personnel and Diplomatic Facilities from Counterintelligence Threats
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden pressed the heads of federal law enforcement, defense, intelligence and cybersecurity agencies to take long-overdue action to secure federal facilities against spying threats posed by wireless phone surveillance technology, in a letter today. Wyden wrote to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly, Director of National Intelligence Avril … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: $13.5 Million Headed to Seven Oregon Airports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that more than $13.5 million from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) will be heading to airports in Medford, Eugene, Redmond, Newport, Klamath Falls, Lake County and Grant County to help them cover costs incurred during the pandemic and support rent and minimum annual guarantees for airport concessions. "Each of these airports is a crucial part of a strong infrastructure that ensures Oregonians throughout our … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bills to Reform Federal Wildfire Disaster Response
Washington, D.C. - Following another season of record-breaking wildfires in the West, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues on two bills to redesign the federal government's response to wildfires and provide additional resources to ensure equity for communities experiencing natural disasters. "The climate crisis is not some distant threat. It's here, and communities in Oregon and across the West are suffering its worst impacts with regular blazing infernos that … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Urge Biden to Rescind Medals for Perpetrators of Wounded Knee Massacre
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is leading a bicameral letter, along with Senator Ron Wyden, urging President Biden to rescind the Medals of Honor awarded to soldiers involved in the Wounded Knee Massacre, when hundreds of unarmed men, women, and children were slaughtered. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative Kaiali'l Kahele (D-HI-02) co-led the letter with Merkley. On December 29, 1890, U.S. soldiers descended upon Pine Ridge Reservation in … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $422 Million Federal Grant to Help Oregonians Recover from Devastating 2020 Wildfires
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the state of Oregon will receive $422 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in an effort to help communities recover from the extreme damages caused by the 2020 wildfires. "Oregon cannot fully recover from the 2020 Labor Day wildfires without addressing underserved communities who have had difficulty rebuilding from natural disasters-especially after these fires … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Bill to Support Oregon Conservation, Economic Development
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today introduced the Sutton Mountain and Painted Hills Area Wildfire Resiliency, Preservation, and Economic Enhancement Act, legislation that would establish a Sutton Mountain National Monument on tens of thousands of acres of public lands surrounding the iconic Painted Hills and popular recreational areas, including Sutton Mountain, Pat's Cabin, Priest Hole, Gable Creek, Sand Mountain and Dead Dog. The proposal, which was … Continue Reading