Press Releases
Bipartisan Members of Congress to UK Spy Court: UK Gag Orders for Surveillance Backdoors Threaten Americans’ Security and Privacy, Impede Congressional Oversight
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., today called for transparency from the U.K.’s top surveillance court about the UK government’s reported order to Apple to build a backdoor into encrypted iCloud backups to enable government surveillance of messages, photos and other files. Under U.K. law, Apple is barred from confirming the backdoor order to the public or even … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Slam Trump’s Layoffs of Vital Agricultural Researchers for Rural and Coastal Communities
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today continue to sound the alarm over staffing shortages at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the impacts of these disruptions on the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen, and ranchers in Oregon and around the country who rely on ARS findings to maintain productivity and competitiveness. Merkley and Wyden wrote to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins after illegal mass layoffs by … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand HHS Secretary Kennedy Launch National Vaccination Campaign to Stop Spread of Measles and Save Lives
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called for immediate action from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr. to stop the spread of measles and save lives after our country experienced the first measles deaths in a decade. Measles, once declared eliminated in the U.S. over two decades ago, has infected at least 223 individuals in 13 U.S. jurisdictions. “Unfortunately, two of these cases have resulted in the tragic deaths of a child in Texas … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Halt and Reverse Contract Cancellations that Harm Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined 16 Senate colleagues to demand the Trump administration reverse its cancellation of 585 contracts with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), including those that help veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins access lifesaving health care. This care is guaranteed under the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act (PACT Act), which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, 20+ Senators Swing Back at VA Secretary Collins' "Blatantly Dishonest" Claims that Cutting 83,000 VA Employees Will Have No Impact on Veterans' Care and Benefits
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to blast Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins’ plans to cut more than 80,000 VA employees this year—including at least 20,000 veterans—and stressing the harmful impact it will have on veterans’ earned care and benefits, which have been dramatically expanded since 2019 thanks to laws passed with bipartisan support such … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Wyden, Sanders Blast Trump Administration for Abruptly Freezing All Student Loan Repayment Programs
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., led 23 Democrats in sending a letter to the Department of Education blasting the Trump administration for abruptly freezing all income-driven student loan repayment programs, leaving Congress and the millions of working class borrowers in the dark. In their letter to Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Wyden and Sanders … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Push to Expand Smith River National Recreation Area to Include Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today introduced the Smith River National Recreation Area Expansion Act, legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres. This legislation is critical to protect the diverse ecosystems of the rivers, streams, and adjacent lands of the North Fork Smith River watershed and help boost the local fishing and recreation industries that many Oregonians rely on. This legislation is also cosponsored by … Continue Reading
March 10, 2025
Wyden, Sanders, Warren Demand Answers About Big Pharma Influence on RFK Jr. Following “Million-Dollar” Dinners at Mar-a-Lago
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), today demanded answers from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his promises to “clean up corruption” and “stop the revolving door between industry and government.” Despite Kennedy proclaiming himself a Big Pharma critic, the Wall Street Journal has reported that Kennedy attended several dinners with healthcare executives who paid millions of dollars to … Continue Reading
March 10, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Call for Investigation into Trump’s Purge of Workers Protecting Americans’ Health and Safety
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden urged the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) to launch an investigation into how the recent mass firings of probationary federal workers have impacted Americans’ health and safety. In recent weeks, President Trump has fired at least 25,000 probationary federal employees. Despite termination letters from many agencies citing “poor performance,” probationary employees appear to have been fired in … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Sound Alarm on EPA’s Plot to Rollback Decades of Scientific Findings on Greenhouse Gases
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today led 12 Senate Democrats in raising the alarm over reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to roll back its findings that greenhouse gases endanger people’s health and welfare. In their letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the senators emphasized, “It is difficult to understand how the nation’s lead official responsible for protecting human health and the environment could seriously entertain the idea of undoing … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Bipartisan Colleagues Push to Protect the Rights of Oregon, America’s Workers
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Congressional and labor leaders to reintroduce the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). This bipartisan legislation protects the rights of workers in Oregon and nationwide to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The legislation was named in honor of late AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka. “As the son of a … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Legislation to Update Antiquated Mining Law to Protect Public Lands and Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they are co-sponsoring legislation that would modernize the 1872 Mining Law that has let mining companies exploit public resources for free, pass environmental costs on to taxpayers, and engage in speculation with minimal government oversight. “This bill makes responsible mining possible, while protecting Oregon’s treasured public lands from irresponsible mining companies and foreign nations with no respect for the … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Linn, Clackamas, Crook and Deschutes Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls on Sunday, March 16 in Linn and Clackamas counties with U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, and two more on Tuesday, March 18 in Crook and Deschutes counties. Heading into these four open-to-all town halls, Wyden has held 1,106 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. “Given the unprecedented times, it’s more important than ever that elected officials … Continue Reading
March 07, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand FEMA Responds to Questions about Disaster Victim Data, Mass Firings, and Funding Freezes
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their colleagues to call on the leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to respond to unanswered questions about Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) and its reported access to sensitive disaster victim data. The Senators also demanded answers about how FEMA's firing of hundreds of personnel and freezing of certain grants will impact the agency’s capacity to mitigate … Continue Reading
March 06, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Secure Fair Pay for Truckers Working Overtime
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation that would ensure truckers are compensated fairly for the hours that they are on the clock, including overtime. “Truck drivers are a central part of Oregon’s fast-moving economy, and they should be fairly compensated for their labor,” said Wyden. “I’ve heard throughout my nearly 1100 town halls how rural areas especially need career opportunities for young Oregonians and … Continue Reading
March 06, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River
Washington D.C.— - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both regions. The senators’ Oregon Recreation Enhancement (ORE) Act would create the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and prohibit destructive mining on pristine rivers in … Continue Reading
March 05, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reaffirm Congress’ Authority to Maintain Trade Restrictions on Russia
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., today led Senate colleagues, including Senator Jeff Merkley, in a letter to Donald Trump reaffirming Congress’ authority to maintain trade restrictions on the Russian Federation while it continues its war of aggression against Ukraine. “Vladimir Putin is a ruthless dictator who has led the Russian Federation into a war of aggression against Ukraine with the explicit goal of denying Ukraine and its people their … Continue Reading
March 05, 2025
Lawmakers Raise Questions about Proposed Trump Administration Selloff of Federal Properties in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Janelle Bynum and Maxine Dexter today asked why the Trump administration proposed earlier this week to dispose of federal properties paid for by taxpayers in Baker City, Eugene, Medford, Portland and Troutdale. “Given Donald Trump’s checkered legacy in the private sector of multiple bankruptcies and real estate deals gone awry, forgive me if I’m more than a little … Continue Reading
March 04, 2025
Wyden, Castor, Tonko Unveil Legislation to Rescind Trump’s Day-One Executive Orders on Energy
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., along with U.S. Representatives Kathy Castor, D-Fla., and Paul Tonko, D-N.Y., today introduced legislation to nullify Donald Trump’s day-one executive orders on energy. The Defending American Jobs and Affordable Energy Act would reassert America’s clean energy leadership, keep energy costs for families as low as possible, and unfreeze critical Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to protect jobs and support rural … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Oregon Delegation Demands Reversal of Trump Attacks on Programs Serving Tribal Communities
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)—joined over 100 Members of Congress to demand that the Trump Administration stop and reverse its dangerous efforts to fire employees and defund programs that serve Tribes and Tribal members. The lawmakers directed President Donald Trump, U.S. Department of the Interior … Continue Reading
