Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden: Trump’s Budget Proposal to Eliminate U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Threatens Oregon Coastal Communities
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today sounded the alarm over the Trump Administration’s budget proposal to eliminate federal funding for the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and undermine Oregon’s coastal communities, Tribes, and maritime stakeholders that rely on this critical data and forecasts to promote the region’s blue economy, enhance safety in coastal communities, and inform navigation for mariners. Their letter to U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Make Graduate Education More Affordable
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would help students afford advanced education by restoring graduate students’ eligibility for receiving subsidized federal loans. The Protecting Our Students by Terminating Graduate Rates That Add to Debt Act would prevent graduate students from accruing interest on their subsidized graduate loans while in school, just like their undergraduate counterparts. “There is a huge … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Cancellation of Protected Status for Afghans Living in U.S.
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined Senate and House colleagues in pressing for answers from the Trump administration about its decision to end Temporary Protected Status for Afghan nationals living in the United States. The lawmakers note the devastating impact of this decision, including on the many Afghans who supported the U.S. military during the war in Afghanistan and who face significant danger upon their return. “We write with deep concern … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Seek Information on Republican Budget Bill’s Potential to Close Rural Hospitals
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in requesting important information about the impact of House Republicans’ budget bill’s dangerous proposed cuts to federal spending on health programs, rural hospitals and their surrounding communities. “In short, the House-passed budget reconciliation bill is expected to have substantial and devastating impacts to … Continue Reading
June 02, 2025
Oregon Delegation: Over $80 Million to Support ODOT’s Natural Disaster Recovery Efforts
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05)—announced the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving to $83,215,245 for work it completed to repair roads and other critical infrastructure that were deeply damaged during natural disasters. The federal funds from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will … Continue Reading
May 29, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Lead the Charge to Establish Binding Code of Ethics for U.S. Supreme Court
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today they joined their colleagues to reintroduce the bicameral Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act. The legislation would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct and create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws. Led by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), the SCERT Act would … Continue Reading
May 28, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Fight Trump’s Illegal Gutting of ENERGY STAR Program
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined 20 of their Senate colleagues to demand the Trump Administration immediately reverse course on its plan to illegally and unilaterally terminate the ENERGY STAR program. In their letter, the Senators highlight the cost-saving benefits of the program, which is projected to save the average American household $450 on utility bills each year simply by choosing ENERGY STAR certified products. “For over three decades, the … Continue Reading
May 27, 2025
Wyden, Smith Celebrate The “Kids to Parks Day” Resolution Passing in the Senate
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today celebrated passage of their bipartisan resolution in the Senate that encourages children to get outdoors and promote healthy outdoor recreation by designating May 17, 2025, National Kids to Parks Day. Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. The day encourages kids and families to take advantage of their local parks and public lands to promote … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Press for Federal Support in Harney County’s Flooding Recovery
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are calling on President Trump to urgently approve Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for Individual Assistance (IA) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the Harney County community as they continue to recover from the worst flooding the region has seen in nearly 70 years. The flooding left hundreds of rural homes damaged and overwhelmed the City of Burns’ sewer system which required many … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Push for Federal Disaster Declaration in Response to Severe Flooding
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), are calling for swift approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The push comes in response to devastating flooding and other damaging weather-related events that severely impacted Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Harney counties in March. “Given the extent of the damage to both physical and … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Wyden Reintroduces Bill to Allow All Americans to Vote at Home
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced that he has reintroduced his bill to ensure Americans can more conveniently and securely vote at home. The Vote at Home Act would allow all eligible voters to vote by mail, provide pre-paid envelopes to return ballots, and automatically register citizens to vote at DMVs. The bill follows Republican efforts to dismantle voting rights for millions of Americans. Most recently, House Republicans passed the Safeguard American … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Wyden Reveals Which Phone Companies Protect Privacy by Telling Customers About Government Surveillance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today revealed which wireless carriers protect the privacy of their customers by notifying them about government surveillance requests for their information, in a letter he sent to his colleagues today. He urged senators to choose a phone company that will notify them about government surveillance requests. “If law enforcement officials, whether at the federal, state, or even local level, can secretly obtain Senators' location data or call … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Urge Samaritan Health to Keep Full Labor and Delivery Services for Oregonians
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), are calling on Samaritan Health Services to maintain rural and coastal Oregonians’ full access to labor and delivery services. Amidst internal discussions by the Samaritan Health Service’s board, the lawmakers sent a letter to new President and CEO Marty Cahill, expressing concerns over Samaritan’s reported plan to close its labor and delivery unit in Lincoln City and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025
Wyden Sounds Alarm on Harmful Impacts of SAVE Act, Trump’s Anti-Voter Executive Order, in Native Communities
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has written the Trump administration about the challenges Native communities will face under Trump’s “election integrity” executive order and the SAVE Act, including requirements documenting proof of citizenship and restricting mail-in voting. The SAVE Act passed by the Republican-controlled House and Trump’s executive order would require Native Americans to use a government issued state ID to register to vote instead of their … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Slam Trump Administration’s Attacks on Senior Nutrition Programs
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore, said today they have joined fellow Senate leaders to call on Republicans to reconsider disastrous cuts and attacks on programs and agencies that support seniors with food assistance among other necessities. “We are writing today to express our serious concerns regarding efforts by the Trump administration and the potential of cuts proposed in your budget resolution to debilitate our nation’s beloved nutrition programs for … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Demand Reinstatement of Critical Disaster Mitigation Program for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)—joined over 80 of their Senate and House colleagues in a bipartisan effort to demand that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem reinstate the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This essential program supports local efforts to protect and harden communities in Oregon … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Coos, Curry and Jackson Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls on Saturday, May 24 in Coos and Curry counties with U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle, and one more on Sunday, May 25 in Jackson County. Heading into these three open-to-all town halls, Wyden has held 1,117 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “As we remember our fellow Americans over Memorial Day weekend who made the ultimate sacrifice, I know … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Wyden Demands Senate Vote on Trump’s Compliance with Anti-Corruption Foreign Emoluments Clause
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) said today he is demanding Senate Republican leadership hold a vote to stop Donald Trump from accepting payments and gifts from foreign governments after Senate Republicans blocked a resolution led by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). The resolution followed Trump’s acceptance of a $400 million luxury jet from the royal family of Qatar and foreign agents potentially funneling millions directly to the Trump family through a cryptocurrency … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Oregon Delegation: Seven Airports In State Earn More Than $22 Million in Federal Grants
Washington, D.C. - Oregon lawmakers today announced that seven airports in the Portland metro area, the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon and Eastern Oregon have secured about $22.7 million combined in federal grants for infrastructure improvements to taxiways, drainage, snow removal equipment and more. “These federal investments to modernize and improve airports large and small throughout our state benefit Oregonians relying on these facilities for their communities’ economic health and for … Continue Reading
May 13, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Legislation to Ban Conversion Therapy
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore) today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would ban so-called “conversion therapy,” a practice fraudulently claiming to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. “Forcing Americans into sham therapy for a non-existent illness is medieval quackery, not modern science,” Wyden said. “This legislation protects the LGBTQ+ community from forced treatment for something that doesn’t need … Continue Reading
