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July 10, 2019

Merkley, Wyden Push VA Secretary Wilkie to Protect Veterans’ Health Care as New Program Goes Into Effect

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today pressed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to not repeat the same mistakes of the Veterans Choice Program when establishing the new Veterans Community Care Program. Congress passed the VA MISSION Act in 2018 to strengthen VA Community Care programming, after critical issues within the Veterans Choice Program jeopardized the quality of veterans' care. "We believe strongly that … Continue Reading


June 28, 2019

Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Restore Honor to Service Members Discharged Due to Sexual Orientation

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week reintroduced legislation that would correct the military records of service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they earned. "Don't Ask Don't Tell may be a thing of the past, but far too many Americans are still fighting to correct their military records and receive the benefits they've earned," Wyden said. "Our bill would help correct … Continue Reading


May 03, 2019

Merkley, Wyden Press Veterans Affairs on Clinic Wait Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are pressing Veterans Affairs about wait times at the Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Salem, which, according to a report by the Statesman Journal newspaper, is subjecting veterans to multi-month waits for routine appointments. According to the most recent information in the VA database, veterans who are new primary care patients will to wait an average of 80 days for an appointment. … Continue Reading


March 06, 2019

Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Veterans Agent Orange Bill

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill that would provide health care benefits to additional veterans who served decades ago in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Their bill would move the start date for the presumption of service connection to all veterans exposed to Agent Orange in the Korean Demilitarized Zone from April 1968 to September 1967. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) presumes that veterans … Continue Reading


August 31, 2016

Wyden and Merkley Announce $4.7 Million to Help Homeless Veterans Across Oregon

Washington, DC- Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded over $4.7 million in grant funding for homeless veterans in Oregon. The funding comes from the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) program and will be distributed to organizations across the state. "Honoring veterans requires a steadfast commitment to extend a helping hand if they are struggling to afford housing when they return to Oregon," Wyden … Continue Reading


June 11, 2015

Wyden, Brown and Merkley Block Veterans Affairs Nominee Confirmation Until Adminstration Responds to Demands for Benefits for C-123 Reservists Exposed to Agent Orange

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, blocked the confirmation of David J. Shulkin, President Obama's nominee for Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The senators' hold on his confirmation will remain in place until the VA releases a final decision on qualifying reservists who served on Fairchild UC-123 Provider (C-123) aircraft, that were previously contaminated with Agent Orange, as veterans so they can … Continue Reading


February 13, 2015

Oregon Senators Announce Restoration of Veterans Employment Program

Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $1.4 million for an Oregon National Guard program that helps servicemembers and veterans find jobs when they return home. When funding for the Joint Transition Assistance Program (JTAP) lapsed late last year, the Senators asked the National Guard Bureau to work with them to provide emergency resources. Today's announcement represents the fruit of the Senators' labor and is especially timely given that … Continue Reading


February 03, 2015

Wyden Praises Senate Passage of Bill Helping Veterans At Risk of Suicide

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement after the Senate unanimously approved the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act: "I was proud to cosponsor and to vote for this bipartisan bill, which I'm convinced will save lives in Oregon and across the country," Wyden said. "Today the Senate sent a strong message that more must be done to reach veterans at risk of suicide. Veterans endure physical and emotional trauma in service to our nation and we have a … Continue Reading


January 08, 2015

Wyden and Brown Reintroduce “Gold Star Fathers” Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), today reintroduced the Gold Star Fathers Act, legislation that would extend the same federal hiring preference to fathers that is currently available to mothers of servicemembers killed in action or permanently and totally disabled. Parents whose children are killed in action are referred to as "Gold Star parents" because they traditionally display a Gold Star flag as a symbol for their loss and sacrifice. The federal … Continue Reading


October 22, 2014

Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Urge VA Secretary To Oversee Selection of Next Roseburg VA Director

Washington, DC- Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Congressman Peter DeFazio today to urge VA Secretary Bob McDonald to oversee the selection of the next director for the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (VARHS). Because of long-standing concerns about management, unacceptable delays in care, and allegations of unethical practices at VARHS, the Oregon lawmakers asked in a joint letter that the VA Secretary personally "oversee this critical hiring decision." In their letter to … Continue Reading


June 09, 2014

Following New Report, Oregon Senators Call for Changes at Local VA Hospitals and Accountability for Those Who Let Down Oregon’s Veterans

WASHINGTON - Following the release of a new report that revealed vast numbers of Oregon veterans have been unable to access care at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden called Monday for renewed accountability and dramatic action to turn around a system they described as failing Oregon's veterans. The report revealed that both the Portland VA Medical Center and the Roseburg VA Medical Center were among the worst in the nation … Continue Reading


February 12, 2014

Wyden Statement on Overturning Veteran Pension Reductions

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after voting to pass legislation that will protect current military retirees and servicemembers from the cost of living adjustment (COLA) reductions adopted late last year. The bill passed the Senate 95-3 and passed the House of Representatives earlier in the week. "Changing the rules in the middle of a game isn't right. Unfortunately, Congress did just that when it reduced the COLA for working-age military … Continue Reading


January 31, 2014

Wyden Cosponsors Bill to Provide Justice to Servicemembers Discharged Over Sexual Orientation

WASHINGTON - More than two years after the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the military records of many servicemembers forced out of service due to their sexual orientation do not reflect an honorable discharge. After serving their country, these folks now carry a mark on their permanent record and are often unable to access veterans benefits they would otherwise receive. In the most extreme cases, they are even legally barred from calling themselves a veteran. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden … Continue Reading


October 18, 2013

NEWS CONFERENCE, 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 18

PORTLAND, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 18, 2013, at the Bonneville Power Administration Offices in Portland. Wyden will discuss the BPA's hiring practices as well as the future of the federal power marketing agency. He will be joined by Scott Corwin, executive director of the Public Power Council, and a veterans' representative. Wyden will also be available to discuss other matters. Who: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden Scott … Continue Reading


April 17, 2013

Burr and Wyden Seek to Strengthen VA’s Pension Program and Protect America’s Veterans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at ending abuses of a low-income veterans' pension program. The Veterans Pension Protection Act seeks to combat a growing niche industry that profits by preying on elderly veterans. So-called "pension poachers" are convincing veterans with substantial assets to hide those assets in trusts and annuity products in an effort to qualify for the maximum allowable needs-based … Continue Reading


March 26, 2013

Wyden Statement on Full Funding of Tuition Assistance Programs for National Guard Members

Portland, Or - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today following President Obama's signing of a continuing appropriations bill that includes full funding of tuition assistance for veterans. "Earlier today, President Obama signed the continuing appropriations bill into law. I supported this important piece of legislation because it will fund the government through October and avert a senseless and unnecessary showdown. As part of this effort, I was proud to cosponsor an … Continue Reading


December 21, 2012

Wyden NDAA Amendment to Hold Contractors Accountable Sent to the President

Washington, D.C. - With the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon will not be able to sign agreements freeing defense contractors from liability for their actions without justifying such an agreement to Congress. The provision, authored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), was maintained in the House-Senate Defense Authorization Conference report and agreed to by the Senate today. The House agreed to the report yesterday. The bill now goes to the President for … Continue Reading


December 13, 2012

Veterans Affairs Department Agrees to GI Bill Housing Allowance Fix for OIT Students

Washington, D.C. - In a good first step toward fairer housing allowances for veterans going to school on the post-9/11 GI bill, the Department of Veterans Affairs is allowing veterans studying at the Oregon Institute of Technology's Wilsonville satellite campus to receive a housing allowance more in line with their cost of living. The move could open the door for GI Bill students at colleges and universities in Oregon and nationwide to be given housing allowances that accurately represent … Continue Reading


December 07, 2012

Oregon Lawmakers to Pentagon: Don’t Put Taxpayers on the Hook for Contractors’ Negligence

Portland, OR - Six members of Oregon's congressional delegation are urging The Pentagon to resist efforts by military contractor Kellogg Brown and Root (KBR) to stick American taxpayers with the estimated $100 million bill for the company's negligence in the 2003 poisoning of members of the Oregon National Guard serving in Iraq. "Contractors that put our servicemen and women, as well as innocent civilians, at risk should be held accountable," the letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary … Continue Reading


December 04, 2012

In Letter, Oregon Lawmakers Seek to Have VA’s GI Bill Housing Allowance Calculated Based on Where Veterans Live and Study

Washington, D.C. - Oregon lawmakers wrote to the Veterans Administration to object to regulations which shortchange Oregon veterans going to college under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. In a letter to VA Director of Education Services Robert Worley, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) along with Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) and Greg Walden (R-Ore.) urged the VA to change the regulations governing how the Post 9-11 GI Bill housing allowance is paid to reflect the cost of living … Continue Reading

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