Press Releases
Merkley, Bonamici, Oregon Delegation: FEMA Must Approve Waivers for Two Critical Disaster Mitigation Projects in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) led a letter with their Democratic colleagues in the Oregon congressional delegation—Senator Ron Wyden, Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve waivers for and to fully fund two projects in Oregon that were funded … Continue Reading
May 07, 2026
Wyden leads Oregon Democrats to Fight To Protect Mifepristone Access, Women’s Health Care, And FDA Authority
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is leading Senate and House colleagues, including U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter, in filing an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging them to overturn a Fifth Circuit decision that would upend the FDA approval process and restrict access to mifepristone. The lawmakers argued that mifepristone already undergoes a rigorous FDA approval … Continue Reading
May 07, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Press FTC on Anti-Competitive Business Practices That Raise Grocery Prices and Worsen Food Insecurity
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to demand the Trump administration crack down on anti-competitive restrictive covenants that raise grocery prices and worsen food insecurity in Oregon and nationwide. “When grocers leave a community, anti-competitive restrictive covenants further cement the harm caused by the initial loss of the store, leaving consumers without ready access to food or more exposed to high food prices with fewer choices to … Continue Reading
May 05, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Concerned About Eugene’s PeaceHealth Transitioning Emergency Medical Providers
Eugene, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04), expressed concerns about PeaceHealth’s decision to end its contract with local Eugene Emergency Physicians in favor of Lane Emergency Physicians, which is owned by an Illinois physician and managed by Georgia-based ApolloMD. “We are troubled after hearing of PeaceHealth's proposed changes to emergency department (ED) physician staffing across three Oregon hospitals,” wrote Merkley, … Continue Reading
May 05, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Lead Effort to Extend Legislation Improving Healthcare Access and Financial Stability in Remote Areas
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced legislation that would extend the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration (RCHD) for five years. The program improves financial stability for rural hospitals by paying the reasonable costs of Medicare inpatient services - including meals, rooms, and nurse care - to prevent hospital closures and maintain critical healthcare access. “Rural communities in Oregon and throughout America need and deserve … Continue Reading
May 04, 2026
Wyden Champions Bill Defending the U.S. Kombucha Industry
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), said today that he, along with Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) and Adrian Smith (R-Neb.), have introduced a bill that would exempt kombucha from taxes intended for beverages with much higher alcohol content. “A serving of kombucha contains about as much alcohol as an overripe banana, so there’s no reason to tax it like it’s a full-on alcoholic beverage,” Wyden said. “It’s past time to sober up our tax code and give kombucha producers … Continue Reading
May 04, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Dogs Under the Care of Breeders
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would strengthen protections for dogs under the care of breeders by ensuring they live in a safe environment, have access to outdoor spaces, and can regularly interact with other dogs and humans. “As the saying goes, ‘dogs are man's best friend.’ Yet, too many are living in small spaces without enough food or water before they find their forever home,” Wyden said. … Continue Reading
May 04, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $1.1 Million for Oregon Fish and Wildlife Conservation Efforts
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $1,059,961 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to support state fish and wildlife agencies. This funding comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) State Wildlife Grant program, which supports state agencies’ conservation efforts. “Our state’s lands and waters are integral to the futures of countless fish and wildlife, as well as many Oregonians’ quality of life and livelihoods,” said … Continue Reading
May 01, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Reverse Decision to Block Funding for Fentanyl Detection Strips
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today led 10 of his Senate colleagues in calling on the Trump administration to reverse new guidance issued this week that ends the ability of federal grant recipients under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to use federal funding for test strips that detect fentanyl and other illicit drugs and help reduce overdoses and drug-related deaths. “Your actions will directly undermine the work of law enforcement … Continue Reading
May 01, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Bynum, Salinas Announce Over $7.5 Million to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities Facing Wildfire Threats
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), and Andrea Salinas (OR-06), announced $7,538,176 is coming to four projects in Oregon to help make communities more resilient to severe wildfires. These investments from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will support disaster relief efforts and mitigate wildfire risk, protecting homes, businesses, and infrastructure in Oregon. For … Continue Reading
May 01, 2026
Oregon Airports to Receive More Than $3 Million in Federal Investment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter today announced that 10 Oregon airports will receive a combined federal investment of more than $3.1 million to improve their infrastructure. “Small airports throughout our state need and deserve federal investments so Oregonians can count on them for small business support, emergency response, secure travel and more,” Wyden said. … Continue Reading
May 01, 2026
Wyden Secures Commitment to Release Classified Surveillance Opinion Before FISA 702 Debate
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., secured a commitment today from the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee to declassify a crucial opinion by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court regarding violations of Americans’ constitutional rights. “Today the Senate proved that security and liberty aren’t mutually exclusive. I secured a commitment from the bipartisan leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee to ensure the declassification of a FISA court … Continue Reading
April 30, 2026
Wyden Demands Big Tech Execs Answer Questions About Data Centers’ Water Impact
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the heads of Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon to answer questions about their companies’ use of technologies -- including closed-loop systems -- that minimize groundwater withdrawals and local impacts to water from their data centers in Oregon. “Most data centers use large amounts of energy to operate and large volumes of water to cool servers and prevent overheating. This water is usually drawn from surface, ground, municipal or reclaimed … Continue Reading
April 28, 2026
Wyden on FISA Surveillance: “The Only Path Forward is Reform.”
The Senate is delaying a vote on FISA because members are waking up to the fact that this surveillance authority is too dangerous to hand any president without new reforms. Let’s face it, if there were the votes to advance this bill today, we’d be voting. When it comes to reauthorizing Section 702, the only path forward is reform. Let’s recount how we got here. Two weeks ago the leadership in the House of Representatives executed the oldest play in the book when it comes to surveillance. They … Continue Reading
April 27, 2026
Wyden Announces Lincoln County Town Hall on May 7
Portland -- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold an open-to-all town hall for Lincoln County on Thursday, May 7 at the Oregon Coast Community College campus in Newport. Heading into this 4:30 pm town hall on May 7 at the community college (400 SE College Way, Newport), Wyden has held 1,163 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “I made my town hall pledge because all Oregonians deserve … Continue Reading
April 27, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce $11.2 Million Federal Grant for Port of Coos Bay Rail Project
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced $11,250,000 in federal funds have been awarded for the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Terminal Connection Project. This funding will support the Coos Bay Rail Line triplicate track and run-around section of track on the North Spit of Coos Bay, improving the port’s rail operations. “When I was Speaker of the Oregon House, I helped save the rail line to … Continue Reading
April 24, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Fight Back Against Trump’s Executive Order Restricting Vote by Mail, Press USPS on Unconstitutional Executive Order
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined over 30 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act). The bill would defend the right to vote by mail, uphold the integrity of our elections, and block President Trump’s illegal, unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots. “Oregonians know that vote by mail has been a cornerstone in holding secure, accessible, … Continue Reading
April 23, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Forest Service Reorganization
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, led over 30 of his colleagues—including Senator Ron Wyden—in raising strong concerns about the reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We write with strong concerns regarding the announced reorganization of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS),” wrote the Senators. “While we have expressed support … Continue Reading
April 22, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Colleagues Demand USPS Uphold Federal Law Over President Trump’s Illegal Executive Order to Restrict Vote by Mail
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined over 30 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in demanding the United States Postal Service (USPS) uphold existing federal law over the executive order signed by President Trump. “The Constitution provides no role for the President in regulating federal elections. And no statute delegates to the President any authority to regulate elections or voter eligibility either, including via USPS,” wrote the Senators. “By … Continue Reading
April 22, 2026
Wyden Slams Trump Administration on Abandoning Tax Dodging Oversight of Ultra-Wealthy Partnerships
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today slammed the Trump administration for its schemes to give big businesses and ultra-wealthy Americans the green light to avoid reporting their taxes, which will prevent Internal Revenue Service auditors from spotting abusive transactions in wealthy businesses organized as partnerships. “Removing this reporting requirement will enable tax dodging by some of the wealthiest Americans, further tilting our tax code in favor of the rich and … Continue Reading
