Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce $18 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Oregon Health Centers
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the federal department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded more than $18 million in funding for health centers all across Oregon. The funding-provided through the American Rescue Plan, which Merkley and Wyden helped to pass last spring-comes as Oregon is facing its most difficult COVID-19 surge yet, fueled by the Delta variant. Health centers will use this funding to help pay for new needs … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
Following a Summer of Massive Heat Waves, Merkley and Wyden Press FEMA on Extreme Heat Preparedness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following a summer of scorching heat waves that set record temperatures in many parts of Oregon, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are joining a bipartisan effort to push the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for better assistance in dealing with extreme heat events. "This summer has produced historic heat waves and high temperatures across the United States, particularly in the West, devastating communities and causing hundreds of heat-related … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici Applaud $99.9 Million Award to TriMet to Expand Red Line to Hillsboro
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today announced that TriMet will receive $99.9 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to support the expansion of the MAX Red Line beyond Beaverton to Hillsboro. "Investments in mass transit reduce vehicle traffic and emissions with the added benefit of ensuring that Oregonians have the most direct and expedient way to get where they need to go," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Join Introduction of the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today they are co-sponsoring the Tyler Clementi Education Anti-Harassment Act, introducing it alongside Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-02). Named after Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University who died by suicide after being harassed and bullied online, the legislation calls on colleges and universities to implement anti-harassment policies … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Wyden, Rubio, Colleagues Urge Biden to Press Bahrain on Human Rights Violations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today led colleagues in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to press Bahrain about their human rights abuses and pushing for more accountability. Joining Wyden and Rubio on the letter were Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. "For the past decade, the State Department and major human rights advocates have detailed a long list … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Booker, Ossoff and Van Hollen Urge Justice Department to Protect Journalists First Amendment Rights at Public Events
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., urged the Department of Justice to strengthen its policies to protect the rights of reporters, and to drop its challenge to court-ordered protections for reporters covering demonstrations and other First Amendment-protected activities. "Protecting the rights established by the First Amendment is crucial to our democracy's functioning. The federal … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Wyden Introduces Bill to Improve Watershed Resilience and Health
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced a bill to improve the resilience and health of the nation's watersheds - the land leading into streams, rivers or lakes. Watersheds play an essential role in the health and economic livelihood of local communities, supporting safe drinking water for communities, outdoor recreation and productive fisheries. "As the American West continues to face unprecedented heat waves and droughts due to the climate crisis, it's more … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Wyden, Casey Applaud Administration for Publishing User-Friendly COVID-19 Vaccination Nursing Home Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Bob Casey today applauded the Biden Administration for publishing user-friendly data on the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations among residents and workers at more than 15,000 individual nursing homes across the country. The move comes after multiple requests from Wyden (D-OR) and Casey (D-PA) to put this data in the hands of nursing home residents, workers and families. "This important step will help families easily access key data about the safety of … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Increase Wildland Firefighter Pay
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a group of Senate colleagues urging the Biden Administration to increase the pay for federal wildland firefighters and transition many from seasonal to permanent status. The senators noted that pay disparities amongst wildland firefighters are limiting personnel and will leave areas vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires. In the letter, they requested that at least 1,000 seasonal firefighting positions be promoted to … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.6 Million in Housing Vouchers will go to the Metro Area for Families and Youth Aging out of Foster Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the housing authorities for Clackamas County and the city of Portland have earned a combined $1.6 million in housing vouchers to support families and youth aging out of foster care. "Foster kids making the transition to adulthood in Oregon and nationwide often need support to help them face all of life's challenges," Wyden said. "I'm gratified these federal resources will assist Clackamas County and the City of … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Two Rural Electric Co-ops in Oregon to Receive $21 Million in FEMA Funds for Repairs from Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Lane Electric Cooperative and Consumers Power Inc. -- two electrical co-ops serving rural Oregonians -- will receive a combined $21 million in federal funds to help cover the cost of repairs to infrastructure damaged by wildfires in September 2020. "The need for federal resources to help Oregonians rebound from these wildfires was clear from the destruction I witnessed statewide, and the powerful accounts I heard … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge SCOTUS to Protect Reproductive Rights by Upholding Roe and Rejecting Mississippi’s Blatantly Unconstitutional Law
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate and House colleagues in an amicus brief in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, urging the Supreme Court to uphold nearly 50 years of precedent in Roe v. Wade and protect the constitutional right to abortion care. After the Court refused to block the dangerous, cruel abortion ban in Texas from going into effect, Dobbs represents yet another case that could undermine nearly 50 years of precedent … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Four Oregon Colleges to Receive More than $400,000 for Child Care for Student Parents
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that four Oregon colleges will receive a combined more than $400,000 from the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program to support parents as they complete their higher education. "Completing a degree program is challenging under most circumstances, but can be especially difficult when trying to navigate child care," Wyden said. "I am gratified that Oregon State, Lane Community College, OSU-Cascades and … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Wyden Applauds $952,951 CAHOOTS Planning Grant for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today applauded the Biden administration for announcing a $952,951 planning grant award for Oregon's Medicaid program to support the development of mobile crisis intervention service programs to help those struggling with mental health and substance use disorder crises. "This grant will kick-start the effort to help those experiencing a mental health crisis in Oregon get the services they need and reduce the prospect of an encounter with law … Continue Reading
September 17, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Lane and Douglas Counties to Receive More than $1.7 Million in Housing Choice Vouchers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Lane and Douglas Counties will receive a combined $1.7 million in housing choice vouchers from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). "Housing is a human right," Wyden said. "Since we are in this COVID-19 pandemic for the long haul, it is imperative to continue to ensure that basic human needs are being met-and that starts with housing. I'm gratified to see Lane and Douglas counties putting federal dollars to good … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Essential Work to Reduce Youth Homelessness in Three Oregon Counties to Receive $7 Million
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Lane County and the Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance serving Marion and Polk counties will receive a combined $7 million in federal funds aimed at reducing youth homelessness. "Every child in America needs a roof over their heads and a floor under their feet so they can focus on learning in school, enjoy good physical and mental health and have the opportunity they deserve for a happy childhood," … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Press President Biden to Redirect Defense Funding to Assist Afghans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today requested that in response to the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Biden administration reallocate unspent funds previously appropriated for the Department of Defense's Afghanistan war effort to meet the vast Afghan humanitarian and relocation needs. There is an estimated $2.9 billion in unspent funds appropriated for Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 and 2021 intended to support the Afghan National Army, National Police, … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $280,000 Investment in Renewable Energy Infrastructure from USDA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that farms and rural businesses in Oregon will receive $280,000 to help rural communities transition to renewable energy systems and improve climate infrastructure while lowering energy costs. The low-cost loans are coming from a program championed by Merkley as one of his top priorities during his years as the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture … Continue Reading
September 13, 2021
Wyden Statement on Reported Nomination of Bedoya to FTC
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the reported nomination of Alvaro Bedoya to a seat on the Federal Trade Commission: "Alvaro Bedoya has been a perceptive, energetic champion for the privacy of everyone who uses or is impacted by technology, especially the most vulnerable in our society. I applaud President Biden's reported decision to choose someone who truly understands the need to safeguard Americans' privacy and security - and to fight against intrusive … Continue Reading
September 13, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: PSU to Receive More Than $200,000 for Special Education Teaching Doctoral Program
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Portland State University (PSU) will received $200,000 grant for a doctoral program to tackle the shortage of special education teacher leaders. "All children deserve the opportunity to get a top-notch education that takes into account their needs and abilities," Wyden said. "I applaud PSU for doing its part to tackle the shortage of special education teacher leaders, and hope this program continues to … Continue Reading
