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June 13, 2012

Wyden Statement on President Obama Signing Air Tanker Legislation

Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today after President Obama signed legislation (introduced on June 4th by Senator Wyden and cosponsored by Senators Bingaman, Mark Udall, Tester, and Feinstein) allowing the U.S. Forest Service to speed up contracting of additional air tankers needed to fight forest fires. "Congress and the President acted quickly to address the need to get more planes in the air to fight forest fires that are getting larger and more … Continue Reading


April 17, 2012

Wyden Statement on the Forest Service’s Decision to Withdraw Plans to Close Roads in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest

Portland, Or - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement on today's decision by the Forest Service to withdraw its plans to close roads in the Wallowa-Whiteman National Forest. "Today's decision by the Forest Service recognizes the importance of rural Oregonians and demonstrates that their voices have been heard. As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, it became very clear to me during meetings last week in the communities that surround the … Continue Reading


March 22, 2010

Wyden, Merkley Win Singular Protection for Crater Lake from Air Tour Flyovers

Washington, D.C. - In order to preserve the unique quiet and solitude of Oregon's sole National Park, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today won greater authority for the National Park Service to ban air tour flyovers in Crater Lake. Their amendment, which was passed in the Senate as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, allows the Park Service the ability to deny air tours over the park without first having to prepare an air tour management plan, … Continue Reading


March 17, 2010

Wyden Successful in Efforts to Maintain Current Discount Levels for Seniors and Disabled Campers

Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) welcomed a decision from Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, to abandon a proposal to severely reduce discounts for seniors and persons with disabilities staying at privately run Forest Service campgrounds. Wyden sent a letter in February urging the Forest Service to honor their commitment and maintain the current discount level. "Increasing the profits of private companies by taking money from the pockets of persons with … Continue Reading


March 10, 2010

BLM Contract Extension Passes U.S. Senate

Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today passed the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, which incorporated the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act by amendment. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act in November 2009 to help timber companies remain competitive and sustain economic growth. The Forest Harvest Opportunity Act will extend already-existing contracts between timber companies and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) so the companies can harvest … Continue Reading


March 09, 2010

Senate Subcommittee To Hold Hearing on Wyden's Eastside Forestry Bill

Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests focusing on Wyden's Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. The legislation represents an agreement between the timber industry and environmentalists over forest management and watershed and old growth protections on Oregon's eastside forests. The … Continue Reading


December 16, 2009

Wyden Brings Oregon Timber and Conservation Groups Together for Central, Eastern Oregon Forests and Families

Washington, D.C. - After decades of warring over Oregon's national forests, representatives from Oregon's timber industry and conservation groups joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today to introduce legislation that will promote active management of 8.3 million acres in six national forests east of the Cascades. The agreement would resolve decades of bitter disputes over harvest levels and watershed and old growth protection, and lead to a significant and sustainable increase in harvest … Continue Reading


December 16, 2009

***AUDIO AND VIDEO AVAILABLE*** Wyden Held Press Conference with Oregon Timber and Conservation Groups to Announce Federal Forestry Legislation

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) held a press conference with representatives from Oregon's timber industry and conservation groups to announce their support of the "Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act" which Wyden will introduce today. The legislation represents an agreement between the timber industry and environmentalists over the decades-old dispute over harvest levels and watershed and old growth protections, and will lead to a … Continue Reading


December 15, 2009

*** TOMORROW ***Historic Foes Join Forces to Restore Oregon Forests and Jobs

Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 10:30 am EST, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will hold a press conference with representatives from Oregon's timber industry and conservation groups to announce their support of the "Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act" which Wyden will introduce immediately after the press event. The agreement would resolve the timber industry and environmentalists' decades-old disputes over harvest levels and watershed and old growth … Continue Reading


December 04, 2009

Wyden: Time to Bring Energy Policy in Line with 21st Century

Seattle, WA - Recognizing that renewable, efficient energy is good for both job creation and improving forest health, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today called for a change in energy policy that would open the doors for greater use of biomass from federal forests. "It's also time to bring the rest of America's energy policies into line with our 21st Century economic and environmental needs," Wyden said in recorded remarks for the White House-sponsored Oregon-Washington Energy Forum in Seattle. "In … Continue Reading


December 03, 2009

Federal Economic Recovery Money will Help Retrain Workers Laid Off from Tillamook Lumber Company

Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that Oregon has been awarded an initial $501,000 in economic recovery funds to help retrain 75 workers who lost their jobs following layoffs at the Hampton Affiliates' Tillamook Lumber Company."It is vital that we invest in these skilled, productive workers who have lost their jobs due to market conditions and not through any fault of their own," Wyden said. "The intent of the economic recovery act is to get people … Continue Reading


November 17, 2009

Senate Subcommittee To Hold Hearing on Managing Federal Forests in Response to Climate Change

Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the U.S. Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to discuss the Administration's response to climate change as it pertains to management of federal forest land. The subcommittee will hear testimony from Interior Department and Forest Service officials as well as forestry experts from Oregon State University and the … Continue Reading


September 22, 2009

Wyden, Merkley Join Effort to Set Aside Money to Fight Major Forest Fires

Washington, D.C - Recognizing the high cost of fighting large-scale forest fires, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today co-sponsored an effort to set aside millions of dollars to help pay the cost of fire suppression on federal land."These large fires are not only devastating to forests, wildlife and property, they are causing havoc with budgets, forcing the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to take money from other programs to pay for wildfire suppression," Wyden said. "A … Continue Reading


September 09, 2009

Wyden, Merkley Announce More Than $17 Million for Forest Health Projects

Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to create jobs for Oregonians, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that Oregon will receive more than $17 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to protect forests on the South Coast and in Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon from wild fires, invasive species and disease outbreaks."Oregon's forests are among the most important natural resources we have," Wyden said. "We have an enormous backlog of forests that need to … Continue Reading


July 21, 2009

Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $29 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Oregon Forests

WASHINGTON D.C. - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that nearly $29 million in Recovery Act funds will go to facility infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades, and trail maintenance in Oregon's forests. The funding also includes $3 million for the Oregon Youth Employment Initiative. This program puts youth to work in the woods and helps conserve natural resources in Oregon's forests. "Our forests are integral to our way of life. They create jobs, provide recreation … Continue Reading


April 16, 2009

Wyden's Proposal to Increase Thinning of Federal Forests and Protect Old Growth Moves Closer to Introduction

Portland, OR - Citing the need to jumpstart federal efforts to make forests healthier and more fire resistant, Senator Ron Wyden today released draft legislation that will create jobs through increased thinning of over-grown federal forests while permanently ending the harvest of old-growth trees in Oregon. "We believe that the Wyden proposal will create well in excess of 5,000 new family-wage jobs. Equally as important, it will, if pursued consistently, eliminate the backlog of threatened … Continue Reading


April 02, 2009

Wyden Urges End to Ban on Using Forest Waste for Alternative Fuels

Washington, D.C. - As a way of reducing America's dependence on foreign oil, Senator Ron Wyden is urging Congress to change "the current myopic policies" that prohibit the use of biomass taken from federal lands for renewable fuel."Right now, instead of being part of the solution to our nation's dependence on foreign oil, biomass from federal lands is allowed to build up in the woods or worse become fuel for catastrophic fires." Wyden said in testimony on Wednesday before a Senate … Continue Reading


March 31, 2009

Amendment Would Increase Funding for Forest Health Projects in Oregon

Washington, D.C. - Pursuing long-promised tools to help prevent wildfires, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to introduce an amendment to the FY 10 Budget Resolution in the Senate today to fully fund the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA) for the first time since its implementation. The amendment will authorize an additional $200 million in funding for Hazardous Fuel Reduction on Federal land, in order to fully … Continue Reading


June 18, 2008

Wyden Seeks Greater Protection for Rogue River and Oregon Caves Monument

Washington, D.C. - Working to ensure that the natural beauty of Oregon is perpetually protected, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced two separate pieces of legislation today to extend Wild and Scenic River protections to waters that feed the lower Rogue River and to expand the boundary of the Oregon Caves National Monument. Companion legislation is being introduced today in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Darlene Hooley … Continue Reading


May 15, 2008

Farm Bill Passes with Illegal Logging Provision Intact

Washington, D.C. - Protecting ecosystems across the globe and businesses here at home that are being devastated by the practice of illegal logging, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today praised the inclusion of an amendment to the Farm Bill based on the "Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007" which the senator introduced last year to halt the trade of illegal timber. American manufacturers are increasingly struggling to compete with the low-priced wood and wood products being harvested from … Continue Reading

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