Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $10 Million in Head Start Grants for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Head Start programs in Multnomah, Jackson and Yamhill counties will receive more than $9.9 million in federal grants. "As a long-time supporter of Head Start, I know these investments in Oregonians at an early age produces lifetime dividends for them and their communities," Wyden said. "Providing preschool children with early educational opportunities increases their opportunity to move up America's economic ladder, … Continue Reading
November 02, 2018
Senators Call for Additional Funding to Ensure Effective Responses to Massive Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in requesting funding to modernize firefighting assets so the U.S. Forest Service can more effectively respond, in a cost-effective manner, to devastating wildfires. The senators, in letters to Senate Committee on Appropriations leadership and the U.S. Forest Service, highlight the need for a modern, highly capable large air tanker and water-scooper fleet-proven to be … Continue Reading
November 01, 2018
Wyden Releases Discussion Draft of Legislation to Provide Real Protections for Americans’ Privacy
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released a discussion draft of sweeping new legislation that would empower consumers to control their personal information, create radical transparency into how corporations use and share their data, and impose harsh fines and prison terms for executives at corporations that misuse Americans' data. "Today's economy is a giant vacuum for your personal information - Everything you read, everywhere you go, everything you buy and everyone you talk to is … Continue Reading
October 31, 2018
Wyden Blasts Director of National Intelligence for Refusal to Publicly Answer Questions About Election Interference
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats refused to provide an unclassified answer to Senate questions about Donald Trump's claims regarding Chinese interference in US elections. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence provided only a classified response today. "You can't have it both ways. If the president is making public statements about intelligence issues, there's no excuse for the DNI to hide … Continue Reading
October 31, 2018
Wyden Joins Blumenthal & Warren to Demand Interior Secretary Zinke Reimburse Taxpayers for Personal Use of Public Resources
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to demand Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke cease using taxpayer-funded activities for personal gain and reimburse the federal government for his private uses of public resources. Last week, the Department of the Interior's Inspector General issued a report showing that Zinke repeatedly skirted agency policy in order to allow family members, friends, and other special … Continue Reading
October 30, 2018
Wyden, Merkley Seek Answers from Interior on Public Land Advisory Group Vacancies & Nomination Process
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley requested that the Department of the Interior explain the high number of vacancies to advisory groups dedicated to ensuring critical community input in Oregon and nationally on public land management issues-and its failure to reappoint well-qualified, well-regarded and widely-supported volunteers. The Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Resource Advisory Committees (RACs) are comprised of 10 to 15 members with diverse backgrounds and … Continue Reading
October 29, 2018
Wyden, Durbin, Murray & Colleagues Urge FDA to Protect Kids from Tobacco Use and Addiction
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., today led a group of their colleagues in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take stronger action to reduce youth use of addictive electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) by immediately requiring manufacturers to remove kid-appealing flavored e-cigarettes from the market. More than two million middle and high-schoolers are using e-cigarettes today, making them the most popular … Continue Reading
October 26, 2018
Wyden, Merkley & Senate Colleagues Oppose Trump Administration’s Proposed Fuel Economy Roll-back
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined their colleagues today in opposing the Trump administration's recent proposal to roll back fuel economy standards, which would harm consumers, and lead to increased oil consumption and the emission of more global warming pollution. In a letter sent today to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT), the Senators urge the agencies to reject the preferred alternative of freezing the fuel … Continue Reading
October 26, 2018
Merkley, Wyden Announce Renewable Energy Grants Across Oregon
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that nearly $428,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grants will support renewable energy projects across Oregon. "By making a one-time investment in renewable energy, these Oregon farms, ranches and other businesses together will save over $100,000 on their utility bills each year," said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. "Investing … Continue Reading
October 25, 2018
Merkley, Wyden Announce Grants for Rural Business Development
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced nearly $560,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development grants were awarded to projects across Oregon. "Oregon can't be successful if we don't have good jobs and vibrant communities in rural parts of the state," said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. "Small businesses are the anchor of our rural economies, and the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2018
Wyden, Markey, Merkley Question White House Use of Air Force One and Other Taxpayer Resources for Campaign Events
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., questioned whether the president has fully repaid taxpayers for his use of government resources to conduct political and campaign events, in a letter sent to the White House today. The senators noted that Donald Trump has specifically called for the election of political candidates in events in Illinois, Missouri and Florida that were designated as official, non-campaign activities. Federal law … Continue Reading
October 23, 2018
Wyden, Heinrich, Harris Seek Intelligence Related to Trump’s Statements About Chinese Interference in 2016 Election
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, today asked whether U.S. intelligence supports Donald Trump's claims that China interfered in the 2016 election. In a letter to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, the senators asked if the intelligence community concurs with the president's claim on 60 Minutes that China "meddled" in the 2016 election." The senators also reiterated … Continue Reading
October 23, 2018
Wyden Applauds Governor Brown’s Executive Order Banning Oil Drilling Off Oregon Coast
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to Governor Kate Brown's executive order today banning oil drilling off the Oregon coast. "I applaud the governor for her leadership ensuring that oil derricks will not be dropped into the Pacific Ocean off our iconic Oregon Coast," Wyden said. "Oregonians and visitors to our world-class coastline should never have to worry about Big Oil wrecking the state's natural treasures." Wyden is a senior member … Continue Reading
October 18, 2018
Wyden, Warren Question Misleading HHS Statements on Child Separation Database
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., demanded answers on whether HHS misled Congress and the public about the implementation of President Trump's "zero tolerance" policy and the agency's ability to track separated parents and children, in a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) released today. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report concluding, among other troubling findings, … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Senator Wyden Welcomes Strengthening of VA Pension Program to Protect Aging Veterans from Financial Scams
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for making changes he has long advocated to better protect aging veterans from financial scammers known as "pension poachers." The reforms will help stop scammers who pose as "advisors" and profit by selling unsuspecting veterans financial products they don't need and pushing them to apply for benefits for which they would not normally qualify. These poachers convince elderly veterans to … Continue Reading
October 16, 2018
Senator Wyden Statement on Cannabis Legalization in Canada
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the legalization of cannabis in Canada, taking effect on October 17, 2018: "Canada has recognized what Oregonians already understand: cannabis prohibition is a failed policy that wastes resources and destroys lives. Here in the United States, more and more states are following the lead of Oregonians and legalizing cannabis. Americans across the country, and across party lines, support ending this … Continue Reading
October 15, 2018
Wyden, Merkley Seek Answers on Railway Safety Standards
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today requested an update from Union Pacific and BNSF on the railway companies' plans to ensure trains carrying hazardous material have updated braking systems. "Too often our constituents in the Pacific Northwest have seen trains carrying crude oil crashing within and around their communities," the lawmakers wrote. "We have seen these trains crash near school buildings, small businesses, and homes, causing extensive damage to … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Wyden, Tester Lead Charge to Overturn Controversial Dark Money Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are leading the charge to overturn a controversial dark money rule that allows special interest groups to hide their donors from authorities. "Restoring this donor disclosure rule is simply common sense. Without it law enforcement officials won't know whether dark money is corrupting our elections," said Wyden, Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee. "The Senate must act immediately to reverse the Trump … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Wyden Introduces Wildlife Anti-Trafficking Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would toughen federal penalties for illegal wildlife trafficking and international conservation violations. Wyden said his Wildlife Conservation and Anti-Trafficking Act would classify wildlife trafficking operations under federal racketeering and organized crime statutes, enabling U.S. prosecutors to administer substantial fines and prison time to violators. "These brazen wildlife traffickers deserve much … Continue Reading
October 11, 2018
Wyden & Colleagues Press Administration On LGBTQ Diplomatic Discrimination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined colleagues in calling on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to amend a new Department policy that will halt the provision of diplomatic visas for unmarried, same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and employees posted to the United States or at U.S.-based international organizations. "To bar LGBTQ diplomats from bringing their partners to the United States is to condone the discriminatory policies of many countries around the … Continue Reading
