Press Releases
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
May 09, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Bill to Expand Access to SNAP, Repeal Republicans’ Punitive Eligibility Rules
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would help more Americans have access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a crucial safety net that stands between thousands of Oregonians and hunger. “Oregonians should not have to choose between putting food on the table and paying their bills,” Wyden said. “I am not going to stand by while Oregonians are forced to make that impossible choice because of … Continue Reading
May 08, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration to Reverse Plans to Eliminate Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) said today they have joined dozens of lawmakers from the Senate and House in urging the Trump administration to reverse plans to eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which develops and enforces product safety standards, facilitates recalls of unsafe products, and educates consumers and businesses about product hazards and best practices. “Since its inception, the CPSC has played a vital role … Continue Reading
May 08, 2025
Wyden Joins Bipartisan Tax-Free Pell Grant Act to Help Make Higher Education More Accessible and Affordable
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would simplify higher education assistance for students in Oregon and nationwide by better coordinating Pell Grants with higher education tax incentives. While Pell Grants have been a critical federal aid tool helping millions of young people cover college tuition and other fees, any additional education costs like living expenses are taxed. The current tax code is … Continue Reading
May 08, 2025
Wyden, Duckworth, Murray and Booker Lead Colleagues in Demanding Answers About Firings of Congressionally-Mandated CDC IVF Team
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Cory Booker, D-N.J., today led colleagues in demanding answers from Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for eliminating the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) team responsible for making sure people who are trying to become pregnant have the information they need to thoughtfully and safely grow their families - despite Donald Trump’s … Continue Reading
May 08, 2025
Wyden, Crapo Introduce Legislation to Modernize Short Line and Regional Railroad Tax Credit
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has reintroduced legislation with U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, to expand the Short Line Railroad Tax Credit that provides operators with essential resources to ensure communities and small businesses can rely on safe infrastructure. The bipartisan Short Line Railroad Tax Credit Modernization Act would increase the tax credit available for track rehabilitation and maintenance from $3,500 per mile to $6,100 per mile. The bill … Continue Reading
May 07, 2025
Amid Trump Tariff Uncertainty, Oregon’s Entire Democratic Delegation Rallies Behind West Coast Seafood Industry
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Janelle Bynum, Maxine Dexter, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas today rallied behind the West Coast seafood industry by asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to buy Oregon pink shrimp as soon as possible to help lessen the damage from Donald Trump’s tariffs. “Commercial fishing, seafood processing, and distribution is an integral part of the numerous small ports and rural communities … Continue Reading
May 06, 2025
Wyden Calls on DOJ to Investigate National Security Risks Posed by White House Officials Using Insecure Messaging App and Apparent False Claims from App Provider
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., requested an immediate investigation of the security and counterintelligence risks posed by White House personnel using TeleMessage Signal Archiver, and the apparent false claims that the app provider made to secure federal contracts, after a senior Trump administration official was seen using the app late last week. TeleMessage is a foreign company that claims to offer a secure tool to archive messages sent through Signal, the popular and … Continue Reading
May 06, 2025
Wyden, Crapo Introduce Bill to Improve Wetland Habitats in the Pacific Northwest
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today introduced bipartisan legislation that would improve wetland habitats in the Pacific Northwest. “Restoring our wetlands is about more than just providing habitat for birds and other wildlife living along the Pacific Northwest coast. It is about investing in the watersheds where Tribes, farmers, and other local Pacific Northwest communities have maintained their way of life for generations,” Wyden said. “Our … Continue Reading
May 05, 2025
Wyden Presses State Department for Update on Use of Fallon Smart Policy, Urges Trump to Reset U.S.-Saudi Policy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today asked the Trump administration to provide an update on the State Department’s implementation of the Fallon Smart Policy, which requires the department to identify and revoke visas of any foreign official helping foreign criminal suspects evade prosecution by absconding from the United States. The State Department policy secured by Wyden two years ago takes its name from a 15-year-old Portland girl struck and killed by a speeding car in 2016. The … Continue Reading
May 02, 2025
Wyden Demands Investigation into Trump Administration’s Potential Criminal Activity Against Harvard University
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today demanded an investigation into the Trump Administration for potential criminal activity related to its threat to weaponize the IRS to revoke the non-profit status of Harvard University. Wyden, along with Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), called on Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Heather Hill to conduct an immediate investigation into whether Trump is targeting … Continue Reading
May 01, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Halt Illegal Student Visa Revocations
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., said today they have joined Senate colleagues to demand the Trump Administration stop its illegal slashing of student visas. After learning federal agencies have been revoking student visas and terminating Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records across the country in violation of existing laws and policies that protect students’ status, the senators demanded the Trump Administration fully reverse … Continue Reading
April 30, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Reverse Public Safety Cuts in Oregon and Nationwide
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the Trump administration reverse cuts to vital federal public safety and law enforcement grants that help communities fight fentanyl and more throughout Oregon and nationwide. “These grants provide crucial funds for local law enforcement in Oregon and nationwide to support victims of crime, combat fentanyl trafficking, and prevent gun violence,” Wyden and Merkley wrote to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Hundreds of … Continue Reading
April 30, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Housing Affordability Crisis
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore today joined Senate colleagues in reintroducing a bipartisan bill that would expand the existing, successful Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and increase the supply of affordable housing units in Oregon and nationwide. “It’s time for Congress to meet the housing crisis with the bold solutions it demands and that starts with increasing housing supply,” said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. “Our bill will deliver some much-needed … Continue Reading
