Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Investigate and Hold Police Officers and Departments Accountable for Discriminatory Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined colleagues to reintroduce legislation that would strengthen the ability of the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) and state governments to investigate police departments with a pattern or practice of unconstitutional and discriminatory behavior. During the Obama administration, DOJ used its authority to investigate police departments with a track record of unconstitutional policing and hold them … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill to Require Equal Pay for U.S. Soccer Teams
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today co-sponsored legislation that would require the U.S. Soccer Federation to agree to providing equitable pay to both the women's and men's national teams in order to receive federal funds related to the 2026 World Cup. "The U.S. Women's National Soccer team working hard to represent our country and win on fields across the globe deserves a level playing field when it comes to equal pay here at home," Wyden said. "This legislation would achieve that … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Competition and Innovation Bill Includes New Tools to Target Chinese Trade Cheating, Spur U.S. Research and Manufacturing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the passage of the bipartisan United States Innovation and Competition Act today, which includes critical priorities to help workers and employers in Oregon and across the country level the playing field with China. "The Senate came together to deliver a massive, bipartisan win for U.S. workers and American innovation. From new incentives for tech R&D, to new tools targeting Chinese government trade cheating and stronger … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill to End LGBTQ+ and Religious Discrimination in the Child Welfare System
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would prohibit discrimination against prospective foster or adoptive parents, and children and youth in the foster care system on the basis of religion, marital status, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act also would bar harmful practices like conversion therapy for children participating in child welfare programs receiving federal funding, improve services … Continue Reading
June 05, 2021
Wyden Statement On DOJ Announcement That It Will No Longer Subpoena Reporter Communications In Leak Investigations
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the Department of Justice announcement that it will no longer seek reporter communications as part of leak investigations: "President Biden and Attorney General Garland are doing the right thing by turning the page on the Trump administration's abusive surveillance of journalists, as Congressman Raskin and I urged last month. As a longtime critic of unnecessary government surveillance, it is refreshing to see an … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
Wyden Statement on Rise of Anti-Semitic Hate
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement: "I have always stood against anti-Semitism, and other forms of hate and discrimination, and I do not care one iota whether this bigotry comes from the political right or the political left. So I note with dismay and anger that anti-Semitic attacks, harassment and rhetoric continue to spike around the world. Just this week, the European Union documented a surge in online anti-Semitism during the COVID-19 pandemic and the … Continue Reading
June 03, 2021
Wyden Statement on SCOTUS Van Buren v. United States Decision
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on the Supreme Court decision in Van Buren v. United States, which limited the reach of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act: "The Supreme Court recognized today that the terribly written CFAA crossed the line by criminalizing everyday activities like using your work computer to read the news or send personal emails. Today's ruling helps rectify the damage caused by that reactionary law. However, today's case highlights the … Continue Reading
June 01, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $500,000 in Federal Investments in the Arts Across Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $536,100 in National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) funding is headed to 22 schools, organizations, and museums in Oregon dedicated to art, dance, and music. "During the pain, uncertainty, and anxiety of this past year, many of us turned to music, books, movies, and other art forms for escape and comfort," said Merkley. "Art plays a critical role in enriching our lives, and it's important, especially right … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues to Introduce Resolution Marking May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced a resolution marking May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The resolution highlights the contributions to our country by generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. "This month, we celebrate the heritage, culture, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "As anti-Asian hate crimes … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Sen. Ron Wyden, U.S. Rep. Blake Moore Introduce the Bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape Act to Enhance Americans’ Ability to Access and Enjoy Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, today introduced the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act to remove barriers to outdoor recreation, making it easier for Americans to enjoy public lands and boosting rural economies across the country. This bipartisan legislation would require the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to review their permitting processes for guides and recreation enthusiasts and improve efficiency, encourage military branches to … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Sen. Ron Wyden, U.S. Rep. Blake Moore Introduce the Bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape Act to Enhance Americans’ Ability to Access and Enjoy Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, today introduced the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act to remove barriers to outdoor recreation, making it easier for Americans to enjoy public lands and boosting rural economies across the country. This bipartisan legislation would require the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to review their permitting processes for guides and recreation enthusiasts and improve efficiency, encourage military branches to … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues to Reintroduce Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have reintroduced the Reproductive Rights are Human Rights Act, which would direct the State Department to report on the status of reproductive rights in United Nations member states and countries receiving U.S. foreign aid in its annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Human Rights Reports). "Human rights include the right to reproductive choice. Reproductive freedom is fundamental to ensuring … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Wyden Introduces Bill to Help Improve Broadband Coverage for Small Ports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced a bill to help small ports in Oregon and nationwide get federal loans that would improve their broadband coverage, helping them to grow economically and ensuring they have real-time access to weather updates. Wyden's Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act would add small ports to the priority list for applications to the Agriculture Department's Rural Utility Service broadband access loan program, which funds construction and … Continue Reading
May 26, 2021
Wyden, Warren, Brown, Casey, Smith Introduce New Bill to Build Child Care Infrastructure and Availability
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Tina Smith, D-Minn., today introduced a new bill allocating mandatory funding to build child care availability over the long term and treat child care like the critical infrastructure that it is for families. Wyden, Warren and Smith, along with House members, last week released a new report highlighting the critical need to expand and … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Safe Gun Storage Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for firearm locks and firearm safes. "Storing guns safely can mean the difference between life and death," Wyden said. "Close to 20 percent of all gun injuries in our nation occur because of the high rate of improperly stored guns in homes. This problem can be easily remedied with proper and commonsense safety … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Online Town Hall June 5 for Benton County
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall hosted by People's Town Hall for residents of Benton County beginning at 1 pm on Saturday, June 5. Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that a large open-to-all public meeting poses no unusual health risk … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Wyden Calls for Treasury Department to Make More Communities Eligible for State and Local Broadband Grants
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to allow more underserved communities to deploy modern broadband networks with American Rescue Plan funds, in a letter sent today. In Treasury's interim rule, any community with more than 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload speeds would be ineligible for the funds. That outdated definition of broadband is inadequate for modern internet use, Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Regional Online Town Hall June 3 for Oregonians
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live regional on-line town hall hosted by People's Town Hall for residents of Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Sherman, Gilliam and Wheeler counties beginning at 1:30 pm on Thursday, June 3 Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Almost $7 Million in AmeriCorps Funding Coming to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that four organizations in Oregon will receive about $6.95 million in funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and community volunteerism. "AmeriCorps volunteers build stronger communities and earn experience that often inspires a lifetime of service," Wyden said. "These programs in Portland, Milwaukie and Bend are working hard to better their communities, and I'm positive will put the … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Wyden Statement on Unconstitutional Florida Social Media Law
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on Florida's unconstitutional new law requiring private websites to host politicians' posts online: "Following Donald Trump's lead, Republican-led states are determined to pass laws to force websites and apps to host lies, misinformation and other slime, with full knowledge that those laws are unconstitutional. The latest such example out of Florida - which compels online sites to host the speech of politicians - is … Continue Reading
