Press Releases
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Multnomah, Benton counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls next week in Multnomah and Benton counties. Heading into these two town halls on Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1, Wyden has held 1,149 open-to-all town halls statewide - including 11 so far in 2026 -- in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “I’ve kept this town hall pledge because the First Amendment is a vital American muscle that builds … Continue Reading
February 19, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Won’t Attend State of The Union, Will Instead Hold Virtual Town Hall for Oregonians on February 24
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they will not attend the State of the Union speech on Tuesday, February 24 and will instead co-host a live on-line town hall that day with People’s Town Hall to offer all Oregonians the opportunity to ask questions as well as share their ideas and viewpoints. “Sitting through Donald Trump’s unhinged ramblings about his unconstitutional schemes does nothing to help Oregonians justifiably concerned about his attacks on … Continue Reading
February 19, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Investigate Trump’s Repeal of Bedrock Climate Safeguard
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues in launching an investigation into Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin’s decision to repeal the bedrock scientific determination underpinning the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. The endangerment finding, which was finalized in 2009, was repealed as a part of the Trump administration’s rollback of pollution standards for vehicles. The repeal … Continue Reading
February 18, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4.2 Million for Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Centers
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $4,250,606 in federal funding is coming to Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center to support critical health services for uninsured and underinsured Oregonians in Washington and Yamhill counties. "Access to quality health care should never depend on your ZIP code or ability to pay,” said Merkley. “These federal dollars will help Virginia Garcia continue delivering essential care to Oregon families—especially … Continue Reading
February 14, 2026
Wyden, Markey Urge Trump’s CBP to Reverse Course on Proposed Rule to Collect Social Media History from Visitors to the United States
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., said today they are urging Donald Trump to reverse the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol’s (CBP) dangerous proposed rule that would require visitors eligible for visa-free travel to the U.S. to provide five years of social media history before entering the country. The senators warned that such a policy would constitute a sweeping invasion of privacy and represent an unacceptable expansion of government data … Continue Reading
February 13, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Push FAA to Implement Emergency Safety Regulations Following Deadly Helicopter Crash
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to explain what it’s doing now to prevent another deadly helicopter crash like the one last month in Arizona that killed four Oregonians. “While a thorough investigation is necessary to develop comprehensive, data-based recommendations, it’s clear that immediate action must be taken to prevent another similar tragedy,” the senators wrote in their letter to FAA Administrator … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Administration Immediately End Deportation Flights to Iran
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues to demand Donald Trump immediately end deportation flights to Iran. Last month, reports confirmed that Trump resumed the deportation of dozens of Iranians, many of whom could be persecuted, tortured, or even executed if forced to return to Iran. That reporting came amid massive demonstrations in Iran, the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters, and threats from Trump to use U.S. military … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Expand Mental Health Care Workforce
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said that they are introducing a bill that would bolster the behavioral and mental health care workforce by providing high school and community college students with educational opportunities to learn about and pursue good-paying jobs in the health care industry. “A broken mental health care system is leaving millions of Americans struggling,” Wyden said. “This bill takes a solid step to tackling our country’s growing mental … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Wyden, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Attorney-Client Privilege in the Digital Age
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect digital communications between incarcerated individuals and their attorneys. “Attorney-client privilege is a constitutional right, not a suggestion,” Wyden said. “It’s time for the federal government to bring its outdated laws into the 21st century, which is why today’s legislation would once and for all ensure that all communications between incarcerated … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Wyden Celebrates End of Government Payouts to Deceased Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today celebrated the enactment of his legislation that would save Americans’ hard-earned taxpayer dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have died. “Today is the final lap of getting this bill across the finish line so that the personal data and Social Security benefits of millions of Americans are protected,” Wyden said. ““I am pleased to see the signing of our bipartisan bill into law, fixing our federal government’s payment … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Give Federal Workers Pay Raise
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would provide federal employees with a 4.1 percent pay increase in calendar year 2027. “The work that federal employees do day-in and day-out keeps Americans safer and healthier,” Wyden said. ”These workers have dedicated their lives to public service, but are shortchanged far too often. The FAIR Act would do just what its title says - ensure hard-working public employees in … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $92 million in Additional Funding for Critical Community Projects Across Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced they secured more than $92 million in federal investments for essential community-initiated projects in nearly every Oregon county in the final funding package that recently cleared Congress. Both Merkley and Wyden hold a town hall in each Oregon county every year and work hard to ensure that local feedback informs every aspect of their work in Washington, D.C. This local feedback is directly reflected in the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Hoyle, Merkley and Wyden Seek Coast Guard Study of Gold Beach and Bandon's Needs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley led a letter with Senator Ron Wyden to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requesting they conduct an updated assessment of Gold Beach and Bandon’s Search and Rescue Detachment Team (SARDET) existing stations rescue and safety needs along the coast. In their letter to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, the lawmakers shared that, “we have heard from our constituents, fishermen and local officials that the … Continue Reading
February 09, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Bynum Celebrate $3.8 Million in Federal Funding for Expansion of Redmond Airport
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum, today announced $3.8 million in federal funding to kickstart the expansion of Redmond Airport. "My visit to the Redmond Airport last fall showed me firsthand how this funding is a solid and key investment in infrastructure and economic growth in Central Oregon,” Wyden said. “From small businesses to fishing and hiking, this expansion will give more people the opportunity to explore the … Continue Reading
February 04, 2026
Wyden Expresses “Deep Concerns about CIA Activities” in Classified Letter
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, the longest-serving member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today transmitted a classified letter to CIA Director John Ratcliffe regarding CIA activities. “I write to alert you to a classified letter I sent you earlier today, in which I express deep concerns about CIA activities,” Wyden wrote in an unclassified letter to Ratcliffe. Read the unclassified letter … Continue Reading
February 03, 2026
Wyden, Warren, Sanders Launch Investigation into Credit Contractor’s Scheme to Profit from Republican Cuts to Medicaid, SNAP
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today that alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., he is launching an investigation into a credit contractor’s plan to profit off Republican policies designed to make it harder for Americans to get Medicaid coverage and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill now forces states to determine whether low-income adults qualify for Medicaid and SNAP based on their … Continue Reading
February 03, 2026
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Release Report of How Private Student Loan Lenders Expect to Profit from Trump’s Big Ugly Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a group of Senators in releasing a new report of their investigation into how private student loan lenders will reap the benefits from cuts to federal student loan access enacted in Republicans’ One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The report was led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and is the first congressional analysis of the impacts of … Continue Reading
February 03, 2026
Oregon Lawmakers Demand Homeland Security Withdraw its Federal Agents from Portland After They Tear-Gassed Oregonians
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today led a letter with U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) withdraw its federal agents from Portland and stop inflicting violence on the American people in Oregon, Minnesota and nationwide. The letter from the Oregon lawmakers to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem comes after the federal forces deployed by the Trump administration unleashed … Continue Reading
February 02, 2026
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Polk, Yamhill, Linn counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls this weekend in Polk, Yamhill and Linn counties. U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum will co-host the town hall in Linn County. Heading into these three town halls on Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7, Wyden has held 1,146 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “I’ve kept my promise to hold these town halls throughout Oregon … Continue Reading
February 02, 2026
Bynum, Wyden Lead Charge to Protect Healthcare in Central Oregon
Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, demanding the resolution of an issue facing St. Charles Health System in Bend, OR. When St. Charles merged two hospital campuses in 2022, an administrative mistake by CMS cost the hospital over $6 million in additional expenses. CMS has taken no action to alleviate this severe financial burden, which threatens … Continue Reading
