Press Releases
Wyden Statement on Israel and Iran
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement in response to Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iranian retaliation: “Iran’s nuclear ambitions are a threat to peace and stability and I support Israel’s right to defend itself from these threats. I call on the Trump administration to commit to serious diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program, which is the best path to durable peace and security in the region. Americans are clear … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Markey, Schumer Release Data Detailing Hundreds of Rural Hospitals Across U.S. at Risk Due to Republican Health Care Cuts
Washington (June 12, 2025) - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) today joined with U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) to release new data concluding that health care cuts in the Republican budget bill could place more than 300 rural hospitals across the U.S. at disproportionate risk of closure, conversion, or service reductions. The data from the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Wyden Statement on Trump Administration Decision to Pull out of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today issued the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s decision this week to pull out of the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement. “Donald Trump proves yet again his irrational preference for litigation and mindless destruction of actual achievements like this settlement agreement,” said Wyden a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “His approach will make life more difficult for businesses and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Fight Back with Bill to Reverse Trump, Hegseth Ban on Transgender Service Members in the Military
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that they have cosponsored the Fit to Serve Act, a bill to support our military readiness and national security by prohibiting discrimination against transgender service members. The lawmakers’ bill comes as the Trump Administration is taking actions that undermine our national security and dehumanize the thousands of transgender service members who have made meaningful contributions to our armed forces. “Service … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
As Wildfire Season Approaches, Wyden, Budd, Schrier and Valadao Unveil Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Impacts of Wildfires
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ted Budd, R-N.C., and U.S. Representatives Kim Schrier, D-Wash., and David Valadao, R-Calif., today introduced bipartisan legislation that would support prescribed burns as an essential, cost-effective, science-based strategy to save lives and property, and address the harmful impacts of the recent wildfires across the nation. In 2024 alone, 8.9 million acres of land were burned by wildfires, one of the highest totals on record. Since … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Reproductive and Sexual Health Data
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined colleagues to reintroduce the landmark My Body, My Data Act, which would create a new national standard to protect reproductive and sexual health data. “Anti-abortion Republicans are restricting abortion state-by-state, and they’re not going to stop until they get a national abortion ban,” Wyden said. “The way MAGA prosecutors and politicians enforce their cruel assault on women’s rights is by going after their privacy … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Class Act to give Students Cheated by For-Profit Colleges Their Day in Court
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined colleagues to reintroduce legislation designed to strengthen students’ ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act would enhance accountability for for-profit colleges and safeguard taxpayer dollars by prohibiting an institution of higher education from receiving Title IV federal student aid if the school’s enrollment agreement … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden Urges Trump to Stop Plan to Eliminate Funds that Target Fentanyl Trafficking
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged Donald Trump to stop his administration’s plans to eliminate funds used by law enforcement to crack down on fentanyl trafficking and dismantle major criminal organizations in Oregon and across America. For more than three decades, the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) has been a vital law enforcement entity to counter organized crime and major drug trafficking by coordinating among … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Dexter, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Repeal Gun Industry’s Legal Liability Shield
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas and Maxine Dexter, said today they have joined colleagues in introducing legislation that would ensure victims of gun violence have their day in court and that negligent gun companies and gun sellers are not shielded from liability when they disregard public safety. The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act—co-sponsored by the Oregon lawmakers—would … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden Asks Dr. Oz to Come to Eastern Oregon on June 20 Before Any Senate Vote on Republican Budget Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today again asked Dr. Mehmet Oz to honor his commitment to join him in Malheur County so the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator could hear directly about Medicaid’s importance in the county with Oregon’s highest share of residents enrolled in the federal-state program that helps seniors, children, families and more cover medical and home care costs. Wyden’s fresh request for a June 20 visit by Dr. Oz during the upcoming Senate … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Eastern Oregon, Columbia Gorge
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls next week in Malheur, Baker, Union and Hood River counties. Heading into these four open-to-all town halls from June 19-21, Wyden has held 1,120 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. “Oregonians throughout our state count on elected officials to be available in their communities to answer questions and hear their views and … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Wyden Presses VA to Reinstate Contract Helping Veterans with Cancer Care in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reverse its recent decision unilaterally ending a contract for the Cancer Registry Services to provide staffing and resources essential to maintain and operate VA’s Cancer Registry database services in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska. “This database is key to spotting trends across cancer patients, and allows our medical community to develop better guidelines to diagnose, treat, and beat … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Wyden, Warren Seek Answers from Contractor that Stands to Profit as Millions Lose Health Care Coverage
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said today they have written to Maximus, the largest contractor for Medicaid eligibility determinations, regarding the company’s potential profiteering under a Republican plan to cut Medicaid. In a warning of what could come if so-called “work requirements” pass into law, the senators pressed Maximus on its business strategy of kicking millions of low-income Americans off their Medicaid coverage—even when they … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Shaheen, Schumer Lead Amicus Brief Supporting Oregon Attorney General Rayfield Challenging Trump Administration Abuse of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today led their colleagues in filing an amicus brief in Oregon v. Department of Homeland Security, a key case led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield challenging the Trump Administration’s abuse of emergency powers to impose tariffs. The brief—which Wyden spearheaded with Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)—opposes the Administration’s request for a stay of a recent court … Continue Reading
June 09, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, 38 Senators Fight Trump’s Cuts to the Job Corps Program
Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration attempts to shutter the nation’s largest jobs training program for low-income and at-risk young people, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and 38 Senate colleagues demanded U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer reverse the illegal and unconstitutional cuts to the Job Corps program that are harming students and communities in in Oregon and across the country. “The Administration’s decision to illegally and abruptly terminate Job … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
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
