Press Releases
Wyden Statement on Trump Budget Slashing Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security and Proposal to Privatize BPA
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the Trump budget: "For a president who makes himself out to be a champion of typical working Americans, Donald Trump has run the same old Republican playbook of giving tax handouts to the wealthy and slashing the safety net that supports everybody else. He started this con with his 2016 campaign promises not to touch Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, and now he wants to cut them by more than $1.5 trillion. Bottom … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Wyden Statement on U.S. DOJ Charging Chinese Hackers With 2017 Equifax Data Breach
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the U.S. Justice Department charging Chinese Military hackers in the 2017 Equifax data breach: "There's no separating privacy and national security. When companies like Equifax amass vast stores of sensitive personal information and then cut corners on security, they become irresistible targets for unfriendly regimes like China. Passing strong privacy legislation like my Mind Your Own Business Act is essential for our … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Wyden Receives More Than 15,000 Nominations for Wild-and-Scenic Rivers in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he has received more than 15,000 nominations for more than 4,000 miles of rivers and streams in Oregon that enthusiasts believe deserve to be added to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers designation list. Those named rivers, streams, and portions of rivers and streams came from more than 2,200 Oregon waterway fans - many submitting more than one potential designation -- to Wyden's office. They will now be considered by the senator as he … Continue Reading
February 07, 2020
Wyden Welcomes Risk Management Programs for Hemp Farmers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today the U.S. Agriculture Department announcement detailing two risk management programs protecting farmers' hemp crops from natural disasters takes a significant step to achieve a key piece of his hemp legalization bill. "Hemp farmers in Oregon and nationwide deserve the same certainty all farmers need of knowing solid insurance options exist if natural disaster strikes their crops," Wyden said. "I am gratified that predictability is now here, and … Continue Reading
February 06, 2020
Wyden Asks Oregon to Ban Insecure Mobile Voting Apps and Risky Internet Voting
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked Secretary of State Bev Clarno to warn Oregon counties about the security risks posed by mobile voting apps and other forms of internet voting, in a letter today. "We share a common goal of making it easier for Oregonians serving in the military or otherwise living overseas to vote. I look forward to working with you to explore ways to do so, including, if appropriate, introducing federal legislation to provide states with additional … Continue Reading
February 06, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Schrader Announce $1.2 Million Grant for New Pier at the Port of Newport
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with Representative Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05), today announced that the Port of Newport has received $1.2 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce for the construction of a new pier. The denigration of a decades-old wooden pier has forced the port to turn away new businesses and restrict pier access to halt further damage to the structure. "The Port of Newport has long been home to one of Oregon's largest … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Wyden Votes to Remove Donald Trump for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s vote to acquit Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment: “Today I voted to remove Donald Trump, for his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. His whole defense amounted to a fiction. The president was not fighting corruption in Ukraine, he was causing it.“There is no doubt in my mind that Donald Trump misused his office to extort a foreign nation to drum up sham … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Wyden Response to Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in response to Donald Trump's State of the Union address: "If you want to see what Donald Trump would do with four more years, look back at his record of ignoring the problems typical families face over the last three. "Trump's key legislative accomplishment is a tax handout for multinational corporations, special interests and the wealthy, and he expects working families to praise him for it. With another term, he'll send … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Wyden Co-sponsoring Suicide Prevention Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would designate 9-8-8 as a national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. Amid deeply troubling statistics about suicide in Oregon and nationwide, Wyden has been a long-time advocate of setting aside a three-digit number for people facing a mental health crisis and considering suicide. "Suicide is a public health crisis and requires this urgent step of building upon the … Continue Reading
February 03, 2020
Wyden: Trump Violated his Oath and Betrayed our System of Democratic Government
As Prepared for Delivery For the past two weeks, the president's defense team has spun bizarre legal arguments, conspiracy theories and flat out lies that are unbecoming of the Office of the President of the United States. We know the facts. The president pursued his personal and political interests in a manner that harmed the national security of the United States. He smeared our own ambassador to Ukraine. He promoted Kremlin propaganda on 2016 election interference. He sent his personal … Continue Reading
February 03, 2020
Wyden Demands Answers on Treatment of Pregnant Migrants in ICE, CBP Custody
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about the treatment of pregnant migrants, as there continue to be troubling reports alleging the mistreatment, abuse and neglect of pregnant women in U.S. detention facilities. "I continue to hear horrific reports about pregnant women subject to unsanitary conditions and left without the health care they need in U.S. … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Publicly Commit To Protecting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week joined their Democratic colleagues in demanding Donald Trump retract the alarming threats he made last week concerning cutting earned benefits like Medicare or Social Security to pay for his tax scam, which has been a handout to corporations at the expense of workers. "As a presidential candidate, you promised the American people that you would not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid. In fact, you criticized … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill To Stop Raid of Funds for Border Wall
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring legislation that would prohibit Donald Trump from diverting billions of dollars authorized for critical domestic priorities to instead waste on a needless border wall. "Donald Trump can't just invent a sham emergency so he can siphon off resources already committed to vital work, then misuse that money to slap up his unnecessary vanity project on the southern border," Wyden said. "This legislation would put a stop … Continue Reading
January 28, 2020
Wyden, Rosen Question White House on Granting Press Credentials to Known Anti-Semitic Organization
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., today questioned the White House about reports that Rick Wiles and other TruNews correspondents were issued press credentials despite a history of spreading anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. In a letter to acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, the senators wrote, "[m]ake no mistake: Rick Wiles and TruNews have repeatedly made statements that can only be characterized as virulently anti-Semitic, trading in … Continue Reading
January 27, 2020
Wyden Calls for Appointment of Full, Bipartisan FERC Before It Rules on Proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today expressed serious concerns about two current vacancies on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and called for Donald Trump to appoint a full and bipartisan commission before the independent regulatory agency rules on the proposed Jordan Cove Energy Project in Oregon. In a letter to Trump, Wyden noted that with only three of five commissioners in place the longstanding bipartisan tradition of FERC could be jeopardized as it … Continue Reading
January 24, 2020
Wyden Statement on Wine Tariffs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today released the following statement on wine tariffs: "All across our state I've heard from constituents, small business owners, and wine growers how harmful tariffs would be to Oregon's economy. I'm encouraged by a recent conversation I had with Ambassador Lighthizer about the impact of additional tariffs on the Oregon wine economy. It would be to everyone's benefit to resolve these trade disputes with Europe quickly. I discouraged an escalation … Continue Reading
January 23, 2020
Bipartisan, Bicameral Coalition Roll Out New Bill To Reform NSA Surveillance and Protect Americans’ Rights
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of lawmakers proposing strong new reforms to protect Americans' rights against unnecessary government surveillance. U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Reps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., sponsored the bill, which is the first comprehensive legislation this Congress to reform Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act and prevent abuses of the Foreign Intelligence … Continue Reading
January 22, 2020
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Protect Community Television
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week introduced the Protecting Community Television Act, legislation to ensure that community television operations continue to receive the resources they need to educate and inform viewers in the cities and towns where they operate. "Community television provides a critical resource to citizens in Oregon and nationwide, opening the door for non-profits and civic-minded groups to access and educate local audiences on the issues most important … Continue Reading
January 17, 2020
Wyden and Merkley: Trump Must Make Clear Saudi Arabia Must Immediately Stop Aiding Saudi Fugitives Fleeing U.S. Justice System
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on the Trump administration to take immediate action after the FBI revealed today in a newly declassified document that the government of Saudi Arabia is assisting its citizens accused of serious crimes in fleeing the United States. The document was declassified thanks to the Wyden-authored Saudi Fugitives Declassification Act, which became law in December. Wyden and Merkley have pressed the Trump administration … Continue Reading
January 17, 2020
Wyden, Brown, Eshoo Urge FTC to Investigate Firm Collecting and Selling Americans’ Financial Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., today demanded the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate Envestnet for possibly violating the law by recklessly selling Americans' personal data. Envestnet operates Yodlee, the largest consumer financial data aggregator in the United States. Financial technology apps, banks and other companies use Yodlee to access, collect and analyze transaction data from consumers' … Continue Reading
