Press Releases
Wyden, Crapo Celebrate Unanimous Senate Approval of the Bipartisan Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Mike Crapo, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today celebrated the Senate’s unanimous approval of the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act. The legislation approved this week is a package of 65 bipartisan reforms to modernize the Internal Revenue Service, strengthen taxpayer rights and improve the agency’s ability to administer the tax code predictably and efficiently. “The Taxpayer … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Press Officials for Answers on UAS Testing Pauses in Pendleton, McMinnville and Tillamook
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its designated administrator of unmanned aircraft system (UAS) test sites in Pendleton, McMinnville and Tillamook for an update about the recent suspension of all flight operations at those three Oregon locales. The Oregon senators said their letter comes after operations at those three UAS test sites were paused on Sept. 11 due to concerns at the University of Alaska … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Extend Secure Rural Schools Funding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both D-Ore., today were joined by their colleagues Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both R-Idaho, in introducing legislation that would extend funding for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program for three years, and clarify congressional intention for distribution of funding for counties in Oregon with Bureau of Land Management lands. Funding for the program expired yesterday, September 30, 2026. “Secure Rural Schools is a lifeline for … Continue Reading
October 01, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Abandon Plan to Strip Tax Credits from 700,000 American Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today led colleagues in demanding the Trump Administration abandon a plan that would prevent up to 700,000 Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and other tax-paying immigrants from claiming tax credits they are currently eligible to receive. The Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Treasury are proposing a rule change that would prevent hundreds of thousands of taxpayers from claiming the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
Wyden Introduces Bill to Ban Data Centers on Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would ban the development, sale or transfer of federally-owned public lands for the purpose of constructing new data centers and associated infrastructure in Oregon and nationwide. Introduction of the bill follows recent reports that the Trump administration is considering the transfer of more than 17,000 acres of public land across Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah to build 12 new data centers. Further … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
Senate Republicans Block Wyden Bill to Ban Data Centers on Public Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced and sought to pass legislation that would ban the sale or transfer of federally-owned public lands for the purpose of developing new data centers and associated infrastructure in Oregon and nationwide. Introduction of the bill follows recent reports that the Trump administration is considering the transfer of more than 17,000 acres of public land across Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah to build 12 new data centers. … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Hoyle, Dexter, Bynum Oppose Trump’s Undermining of Due Process and Politicizing Immigration Courts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum, today demanded the Trump administration end the practice of “mega master” immigration hearings that expedite the review of hundreds of immigrants’ cases in a day, resulting in a fast-track to removing immigrants without due process. “This unwarranted blitzkrieg of assaults on justice and fair treatment raises serious … Continue Reading
September 30, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Announce $100,000 for Central Oregon Wildfire Recovery
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum, today announced $100,000 in federal awards to support displaced Oregonians and wildfire recovery efforts for Central Oregon communities that lost homes in the 2026 wildfires. “As wildfires in central Oregon and statewide set new records every year in size and intensity, the rural communities on the front lines of these fights are the most in need of resources for recovery efforts,” Wyden … Continue Reading
September 28, 2026
Merkley, Bonamici, Wyden, Oregon Leaders Unlock $14 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Coast Project
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, U.S. Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Oregon’s U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, and Oregon State Representative Cyrus Javadi announced that, thanks to their efforts, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released $14,567,624 in federal funds for Clatsop County and Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) to build a tsunami-resilient hospital expansion in Astoria, … Continue Reading
September 28, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Impose Sanctions of Israeli Settlement Construction
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to impose targeted sanctions on companies, individuals, and other entities that facilitate the development of Israeli settlements in the E1 area of the West Bank. “Benjamin Netanyahu’s disgraceful policy of expanding West Bank settlements crosses a clear red line and makes Palestinian statehood and lasting peace even more difficult,” Wyden said. “The United States … Continue Reading
September 25, 2026
Wyden Warns an All-Republican FCC Could Violate Federal Law and Cause Partisan FCC Actions to be Overturned in Court
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. asked Federal Communications Commissioner Anna Gomez to issue a legal opinion addressing whether the Communications Act permits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to legally operate with members from a single political party. Wyden warned that federal law prohibits an all-Republican RCC and that any action taken by a partisan FCC could be overturned in court, based on the statutory history of the Communications Act. President Trump … Continue Reading
September 24, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle, Salinas, Dexter, Bynum Support Kotek Demanding Emergency Federal Assistance for East Evans Fire
Medford, OR - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Janelle Bynum (OR-05) to support Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urgently reconsider the agency’s denial of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) for the East Evans Creek Fire north of Rogue River, OR. At the time of the initial application earlier this … Continue Reading
September 22, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Kotek Announce $7.45 Million for Affordable Housing Support in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden—along with Oregon Governor Tina Kotek—today announced that $7,450,000 in federal funding is coming to Oregon to help people with disabilities access affordable housing and a range of supportive services. “Everyone deserves a safe, affordable place to call home, and these funds will support public housing authorities across Oregon in better serving people with disabilities,” said Senator Merkley. “As communities across our … Continue Reading
September 21, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Release Energy Bill Assistance for Low-Income Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said they joined Senate colleagues in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to release all available funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) ahead of the November 1, 2026 deadline as cold weather sets in. LIHEAP is a lifeline that provides financial assistance to low-income homeowners and renters to help cover the cost of energy bills. This program is more important than ever as energy … Continue Reading
September 18, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Demand Investigation into Trump Administration Voter Data Misconduct
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately and independently investigate wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower’s disclosure alleging DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security officers to impersonate voters in violation of state laws to access online voter data as part of its effort aimed at … Continue Reading
September 18, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Join Bipartisan Congressional Push to Stop Proposed Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, the lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing funding for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and former Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, respectively, joined a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in urging DOI to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park that would facilitate private access to and development of an 83-acre … Continue Reading
September 17, 2026
Wyden, Schiff Press Flock CEO for Answers on Troubling Abuse of Technology Amid Surveillance Network Concerns, Push to Protect Americans’ Privacy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said today they are pressing Flock for information regarding allegations of abuse of its surveillance platforms and whether its existing protocols are failing to protect Americans’ privacy. The inquiry follows increasingly troubling and documented reports of law enforcement officials abusing Flock’s nationwide license plate readers, camera network and sensors to carry out extensive, unauthorized … Continue Reading
September 17, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle, Dexter Announce $12 Million to Oregon for Habitat Restoration Projects
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) today to announce $12 million in federal funds for Oregon habitat restoration and coastal resilience projects through the Community-based Restoration Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA’s Community-based Restoration Program provides technical assistance and funding to partners implementing habitat restoration projects … Continue Reading
September 16, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle, Salinas Announce $9.1 Million for Affordable Housing and Water Infrastructure Upgrades
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas, today announced $9.1 million in federal awards and loans for water infrastructure and affordable housing projects in Curry, Yamhill and Union counties. “Every Oregonian deserves access to clean, reliable drinking water and an affordable place to call home,” Wyden said. “This federal investment will directly support rural communities across our state by upgrading critical … Continue Reading
September 15, 2026
Wyden, Veasey Introduce Resolution Recognizing September as National Voting Rights Month Ahead of Midterm Elections
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Marc Veasey, D-Texas, announced today they have introduced a bicameral resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.” “Trump is doing everything he can to disenfranchise American voters in this year’s midterms because he’s afraid his platform of jacking up costs is about to lose Republicans the midterms,” Wyden said. “Access to the ballot and the right to vote are the bedrock of our democracy, and … Continue Reading