Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues to Reintroduce the Marijuana Justice Act
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley last week joined Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and colleagues in reintroducing the Marijuana Justice Act to end the federal prohibition on marijuana. "The War on Drugs destroyed lives, and no one continues to be devastated more than low-income communities and communities of color," said Wyden. "There is a desperate need not only to correct course by ending the failed federal prohibition of marijuana, but to right these wrongs and … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Wyden: “Andrew Wheeler Fights for Those Who Endanger Our Health and Pollute Our Air and Water”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to the nomination of Andrew Wheeler as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "The mission of the EPA is to protect human health, and to fight for clean air and water, for everyone. Andrew Wheeler fights for those who endanger our health and pollute our air and water," Wyden said. "This isn't a tough call. I'm a no on this backward and dangerous nomination. And I urge my … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Introduce Comprehensive Child Care And Early Learning Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have joined 33 Democratic colleagues to introduce the Child Care for Working Families Act, a comprehensive early learning and child care bill to ensure affordable, high-quality child care for working middle class families and those living paycheck to paycheck. "I know firsthand that finding child care is stressful enough without worrying about how to afford a five-figure price tag for it," Merkley said. "For Oregon families, … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Wyden on House Passage of Bipartisan Public Lands Bill: “Another Proud Chapter of Oregon’s Conservation Legacy”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today welcomed House passage of the bipartisan public lands legislation that passed the Senate earlier this month. The bill is the largest public lands package passed by Congress in a decade and includes important conservation and wildfire protections for Oregon secured by Wyden. "At my town halls, and in line at the grocery store, I hear from Oregonian after Oregonian who wants our state's special places protected. Now, even more of Oregon's natural … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Wyden, Heinrich, Reed, Coons, Harris Reintroduce Bill Requiring Public Report on Khashoggi Murder by Saudi Arabia
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., introduced legislation today requiring a public report on the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The bill comes in response to the Trump administration's repeated refusal to release a public assessment about Khashoggi's murder at the hands of Saudi officials. "The Saudi government brazenly murdered a Washington Post … Continue Reading
February 21, 2019
Wyden, Murkowski, Cantwell, Gardner, Feinstein Reintroduce Bill to Help Prepare and Protect Communities from Landslides
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, Lisa Murkowski, Maria Cantwell, Cory Gardner and Dianne Feinstein recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation to improve the science and coordination needed to help local communities prepare for and respond to landslides and other natural hazards. S. 529, the National Landslide Preparedness Act, will help protect communities and property, save lives, and improve emergency preparedness and planning by targeting key gaps in current science and mapping … Continue Reading
February 21, 2019
Merkley, Wyden, Walden Push Changes to Law that Arbitrarily Excludes Rural Airports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR 2), are pushing the Comptroller General of the United States to consider the negative impact of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 on Klamath Falls and other rural airports in an upcoming study on reforms to the Essential Air Service program. The law limits the Essential Air Service (EAS) program to airports that were already participating in the program between Sept. 30, 2010 and Sept. … Continue Reading
February 15, 2019
Wyden, McConnell Urge USDA to Ensure Expeditious and Proper Implementation of the Hemp Farming Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) recently sent a letter to U.S Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging USDA to ensure that the provisions from the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 included in the 2018 Farm Bill are implemented expeditiously and follow Congressional intent. As authors of the Hemp Farming Act, Wyden and McConnell are encouraging proper implementation of the law by the USDA to support hemp's lawful future for … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Wyden Introduces Bill to Protect Government Contractors During Shutdowns
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Catherine Cortez Masto and Patty Murray have introduced legislation that would ensure federal contractors affected by a government shutdown can withdraw funds from their retirement savings without being penalized. "Federal employees who missed paychecks during the Trump shutdown will eventually get their back pay, but nobody should forget about the millions of contractors and their families left uncovered after a senseless five-week shutdown," said … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Wyden Introduces Rural Broadband Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden this week introduced bipartisan legislation that aims to ensure the success of current rural broadband initiatives and to remove barriers to future rural broadband growth in Oregon and nationwide. "All across Oregon, one of the top issues I hear about is the need to bring fast, reliable internet to our rural areas," Wyden said. "For education, for jobs, for medicine, broadband is really essential to helping rural communities thrive today. Creating a new … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Wyden, Feinstein, Merkley & Colleagues Press U.S. Forest Service for Update on Wildfire Prevention and Fuels Treatment Efforts Following Trump Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today led a group of their colleagues in seeking answers from the U.S. Forest Service on the recent Trump shutdown and its impact on the agency's critical wildfire prevention and fuels treatment efforts-answers that are especially pressing with the threat of another shutdown looming. In addition to Wyden, Feinstein and Merkley, the letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen was … Continue Reading
February 12, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Welcome Senate Passage of Public Lands Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed Senate passage of a bipartisan package of public lands legislation securing critical measures they achieved for Oregon, including improved flexibility for hazardous fuels reduction efforts and protections for wilderness and wild and scenic rivers in the state. "Managing our public lands is a matter of public safety, our local recreation economies and the health of the water we as Oregonians drink and air we breathe," said … Continue Reading
February 08, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Introduce ANTIQUITIES Act to Protect America’s National Monuments from Unlawful Attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined more than 100 Democratic Members of Congress to introduce legislation protecting America's treasured national monuments against the Trump administration's relentless attacks on public lands. The America's Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act of 2019 reinforces Congress' clear intent in the Antiquities Act of 1906: Only Congress has the … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Introduce Green New Deal Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY 14) to introduced a Green New Deal resolution in both the Senate and House of Representatives that would create millions of good, high-wage jobs in the United States; provide unprecedented levels of prosperity and economic security for Americans; and counteract systemic injustices-all while addressing the existential challenge of climate … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Wyden, Rubio ask Homeland Security to Investigate National Security Risks of Foreign VPN Apps
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., today requested the Department of Homeland Security conduct a threat assessment of the national security risks stemming from foreign virtual private network (VPN) apps. VPN providers route web traffic through their own servers, usually to provide extra privacy or security for users, or to save on data use. In a letter to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Christopher Krebs, Wyden and Rubio … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Wyden, Senators Press Power-5 Conferences to Toughen Sexual Assault Policies
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden today led colleagues in asking the commissioners of the Pac-12, ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 conferences to take serious and meaningful steps to address the misconduct and sexual violence within their athletics programs. In addition to Wyden, the letter to the commissioners of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Power 5 conferences was signed by Senators Patty Murray, Jeff Merkley, Maggie Hassan, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Wyden and Harris Lead Colleagues in Reintroduction of Legislation to Improve Resettlement Process for Unaccompanied Children, Protect Sponsors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), along with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), re-introduced the Families Not Facilities Act, legislation that would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using information gathered in the process of … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Press Power-5 Conferences to Toughen Sexual Assault Policies
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked the commissioners of the Pac-12, ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 conferences to take serious and meaningful steps to address the misconduct and sexual violence within their athletics programs. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, the letter to the commissioners of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Power 5 conferences was signed by Senators Patty Murray, Maggie Hassan, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Millions of Dollars for Oregon in Fight Against Homelessness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced nearly $3 million in Continuum of Care grants across the state, providing resources to help house and provide supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. "As communities in Oregon face their biggest housing affordability crises in decades, with rents dramatically outpacing incomes, we must do everything we can to make sure families have the supportive services they need," … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Wyden Response to Trump’s State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on Donald Trump's State of the Union Address: "It was stunning to hear a President plead with Congress to set aside its constitutional duty to conduct vigorous oversight. I walked out tonight reflecting on the sacred American principle that no one is above the law. The state of the union is clear: Donald Trump is steering America in the wrong … Continue Reading
