Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Receiving More Than $4.6 Million in Federal COVID-19 Health Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Tribal organizations in Oregon and the state Health Authority will receive a combined $4.66 million in federal COVID-19 for mental health and substance abuse treatment. "The mental health impacts from COVID-19 have been profound with isolation, substance abuse and more throughout Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "These health investments will help but much more needs to be done during this public health crisis to … Continue Reading
January 20, 2021
Wyden Supports Nomination of Avril Haines to be Director of National Intelligence
Mr. President, I rise to discuss the nomination of Avril Haines to be Director of National Intelligence. I also want to outline briefly, where I believe things stand on several sensitive issues with the 18 agencies that make up the Intelligence Community. The Biden administration and Ms. Haines have an opportunity and a responsibility to turn the page on the cover-ups and lawlessness of the outgoing administration. That is why the first question I asked Ms. Haines was whether she would abide … Continue Reading
January 20, 2021
Wyden Statement on President Biden's Inauguration Day Executive Actions on Immigration and Proposed Immigration Plan
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on President Joe Biden's inauguration day immigration-related executive actions and the President's proposed immigration plan: "Immigrant communities across America collectively breathed a huge sigh of relief when President Joe Biden took his oath of office. His actions today, his first day in office, signal the President's strong commitment to restore trust with those communities, close the chapter on xenophobia and cruelty, and … Continue Reading
January 20, 2021
Wyden Statement on President Biden's Inauguration Day Executive Actions on the Environment
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on President Joe Biden's inauguration day environmental executive actions: "President Joe Biden's action today sends a strong signal to the American people and the world that his administration is setting our nation's priorities right, putting the health of our communities and environment over corporate interests and science over politics. This administration understands the urgency of the climate crisis, the value of our public … Continue Reading
January 20, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Cascade Locks Earns $2.4 Million Federal Infrastructure Investment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the city of Cascade Locks has earned a $2.4 million federal investment to make power supply infrastructure improvements that will help support business growth in Hood River County. The news follows a letter to the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) from Wyden and Merkley in support of the project to help Cascade Locks become more resilient to natural disasters by placing circuits underground, hardening a … Continue Reading
January 19, 2021
Wyden Statement on Jan. 19 FERC Vote Affecting Jordan Cove
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden issued the following statement on today's unanimous FERC vote on Jordan Cove: "Today marks a big win for protecting the South Coast because it reinforces our state's environmental laws and reflects local community input," Wyden said. "From Day One with this project, I have insisted that Oregonians receive a fair, open, fact-based, and non-political process while FERC determines whether LNG projects are necessary and in the public's best interest -- … Continue Reading
January 19, 2021
DNI Nominee Haines Pledges to Release Unclassified Report on Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., secured a commitment from Director of National Intelligence nominee Avril Haines to release an unclassified report about who was responsible for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, in her nomination hearing today. "It was refreshing to hear a straightforward commitment to follow the law from DNI-nominee Haines, after a year of stonewalling by the Trump administration to conceal the identity of who ordered Jamal Khashoggi's … Continue Reading
January 19, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Secure Investigation Into White Supremacy and Extremism in the Military
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced the Department of Defense will heed the call from him and his colleagues and investigate and address white supremacy and extremist ideology in the ranks of the military following the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Several of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol have been identified as active duty servicemembers, reservists, retirees and veterans. "The issue of white supremacy and extremist ideology within the ranks of our military … Continue Reading
January 14, 2021
Wyden Statement on New DOJ OIG Report on Donald Trump's "Zero Tolerance" Immigration Policy
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on a new U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General report on Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions' "zero tolerance" immigration policy: "The Inspector General's investigation makes it clearer than ever: Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein and the Trump administration willfully disregarded the lives of innocent children in their xenophobic crusade to criminalize migrant families. The trauma of thousands of migrant kids is on their hands. … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $13.2 Million Broadband Investment for Linn and Polk Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that PEAK Internet (Casco Communications) is receiving $13.2 million in federal investments-a $6.6 million ReConnect grant and a $6.6 million ReConnect loan-to connect 5,265 people, 32 businesses, 13 farms, and two public schools in rural Linn and Polk Counties to high-speed broadband. "Now more than ever-as Oregonians seek telehealth services and work and attend school remotely in an effort to curb the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden, Boozman, DeFazio, Allred, Radewagen Law Passes to Help Veterans Cut Through Red Tape
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Colin Allred, D-Texas, and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, R-American Samoa, today announced that their bipartisan legislation to let Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) work study students work in congressional offices was included in the veterans legislative package signed into law on January 5. "This is a long-overdue, common-sense correction to help veterans that … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden Statement on Nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA Director
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement on President-elect Biden's nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA director: "Ambassador Burns is a strong choice to protect our country as the next director of the CIA. After his distinguished career on the front lines of foreign policy and national security, Ambassador Burns has first-hand knowledge of the threats facing the United States, and the judgment to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden Statement on Nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA Director
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement on President-elect Biden's nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA director: "Ambassador Burns is a strong choice to protect our country as the next director of the CIA. After his distinguished career on the front lines of foreign policy and national security, Ambassador Burns has first-hand knowledge of the threats facing the United States, and the judgment to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Receive Expanded Access to Wireless Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians have secured federal spectrum licenses that will help to close the digital divide by providing Tribes with expanded access to broadband and other advanced wireless services. The good news for the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians follows the granting of similar federal spectrum licenses in the fall to the Confederated … Continue Reading
January 08, 2021
Wyden Statement on Senators Cruz and Hawley
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement calling for the resignations of U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas: "Every member of the Senate takes a sacred oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Upholding that oath is a matter of conscience. The behavior of President Trump and Senators Hawley and Cruz culminating in the assault on the seat of our democracy shocks that conscience. "Any senator exhorting … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Wyden Statement on Capitol Lockdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden issued the following statement on the riot at the U.S. Capitol today: "What's happening today in our nation's Capitol is a direct assault on democracy, a riot by insurrectionists that caps off four years of Donald Trump fanning the flames of fanaticism. Every Republican lawmaker who supported his efforts to overturn a legitimate election shares responsibility for the violence at the heart of our democracy. All Americans must be able to elect House and … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Wyden Will Hold First Virtual Town Halls of 2021 Next Week
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have his first live on-line town halls of 2021 next week hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Coos, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Lane, Sherman, Washington and Wheeler counties A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP award as well as a winner of Town Hall Project's Democracy Defender award, 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 … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Wins for Everyone who Relies on Oregon’s Waterways and Ports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley-who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Senate Appropriations Committee-and Ron Wyden today announced that the full Senate has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes a number of key provisions that will benefit Oregonians. "As we continue to work to beat back the coronavirus and rebuild our economies after this devastating year, we must focus on creating the strong foundation … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Wyden, Crapo Short Line Rail Efforts Included in End-of-year Package
Washington, D.C.--A long-term, bipartisan effort by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to permanently extend a critical tax credit used to repair and upgrade short line railroads was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 omnibus package. "Shortline railroads play a critical role in creating good-paying jobs throughout Oregon," said Wyden. "Permanently extending this tax incentive to rehabilitate and maintain these tracks, after years of effort, is critical to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Oregon Communities Included in Spending Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley-who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee-and Ron Wyden today announced a wide range of investments that will benefit Oregon and are included in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill that has passed the Senate. The next step is for the president to sign the bill into law. Taken together, the investments announced by the senators impact virtually all communities in every corner of the state, addressing some of Oregonians' biggest … Continue Reading
