Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $35 Million to Support Salmon Recovery Efforts in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Oregon—as well as the Klamath Basin—is receiving $35,148,287 from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), a federal grant program to help restore Pacific salmon and steelhead. “Oregon’s salmon population is critical in sustaining our commercial and recreational fisheries and empowering the well-being and cultural heritage of Tribes … Continue Reading
August 20, 2024
As Wildfires Devastate the West, Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Make Grazing Flexibility and Recovery Assistance Available
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are urging the Department of the Interior to support Governor Kotek’s request for emergency authorizations to allow flexibility in grazing schedules and use alternative grazing areas in response to the current wildfire disaster in Oregon. “The grazing flexibility requested by Governor Kotek will be an incredibly important lifeline to our rural communities that have been devastated by these wildfire disasters,” Wyden … Continue Reading
August 19, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Federal Funding for the Klamath Tribes’ Efforts to Curb Pollution
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Klamath Tribes received $545,000 for programs that improve water and air quality and reduce pollution. The investment is an initial award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address environmental and public health concerns.? “Tribal families and community members rely on clean air and water for the health, safety, and economic growth of their communities,” Merkley said.?“It is vital … Continue Reading
August 16, 2024
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Gilliam and Wallowa Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls next week in Wallowa and Gilliam counties. Heading into these two town halls, Wyden will have held 1,097 town halls throughout Oregon - including 32 so far this year -- in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. “Hearing directly from Oregonians helps me represent every nook and cranny of our state,” Wyden said. “In the nearly 1,100 town halls … Continue Reading
August 15, 2024
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Justice Department to Protect Election Workers in Upcoming Election
Washington, D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues are urging the U.S. Department of Justice to take further action to counter threats targeting election workers ahead of the upcoming election. “We write to express serious concern about ongoing and persistent threats against election workers and to call on the Department of Justice to take additional steps to protect election officials, workers, and volunteers as we approach the election in November,” the … Continue Reading
August 15, 2024
Wyden Urges Biden Administration to Develop a Reliable Energy Grid in Communities Awarded CHIPS Act Funding
Washington, D.C. — As the CHIPS Act provides investments in high-tech manufacturing in Oregon and nationwide, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he is urging the Departments of Energy and Commerce to work closely together in ensuring communities earning those federal funds also receive support to develop a robust grid that can reliably meet growing energy demands. Pacific Northwest utilities expect energy demand will increase by about 30 percent over the next 10 years. Driven largely … Continue Reading
August 14, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $7.8 Million Investment in Oregon Schools
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $7.8 million investment in rural Oregon school districts to support energy improvement projects like new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, lighting upgrades, alternative fuel (such as electric) vehicles, and renewable energy technologies. “In the nearly 1,100 town halls I've had throughout Oregon, I've heard from teachers, families and students about the need for updated infrastructure in our schools … Continue Reading
August 14, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $840,000 Investment in Oregon Ranchers
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $540,523 for the Coast Fork Willamette Watershed Council and $300,000 for Wallowa Resources to expand Oregon ranchers’ access to enhanced conservation practices on grazing lands. “Ranchers know firsthand how important conservation techniques are, particularly given the clear climate crisis we face,” Wyden said. “At a time when so many Oregon ranchers are facing extreme drought, substantial … Continue Reading
August 13, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce Investment in Three Oregon Museums’ Cultural and Educational Programs
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment totaling nearly $750,000 for the High Desert Museum, Oregon Musuem of Science and Industry (OMSI) and the Portland Art Museum. “These iconic Oregon museums have been sharing our local history, culture and science for decades to the benefit of Oregonians and visitors alike,” Wyden said. “They are creating programming that people from around the world come to experience while spending money … Continue Reading
August 09, 2024
Wyden Joins Colleagues in Urging Federal Home Loan Banks to Contribute More to Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined with six other senators to urge each of the 11 Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBanks) to contribute more of their net income to affordable housing and other critical community grant programs. “We write to ask that the Federal Home Loan Bank[s] voluntarily contribute at least 20 percent of its net income to grants that support affordable housing and community economic development investments by increasing support for your … Continue Reading
August 09, 2024
Wyden, Senators Call for a National Framework Promoting Employee Stock Ownership Plans
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined a bipartisan letter calling on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to complete a final regulation governing employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), which would provide the clarity needed to promote them nationwide. “Employee ownership, and specifically ESOPs, is a proven way to benefit businesses, workers, and local economies,” the senators wrote. “Studies confirm that employee-owned firms experience stronger overall … Continue Reading
August 09, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Lawmakers Raise Concerns About Abusive Practices in the Electronic Monitoring and Private Probation Industries
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with five senators and 12 House members, sent a letter to eight private probation and electronic monitoring (EM) companies, expressing concern about the industries’ abusive business practices, which often drive poor and vulnerable communities into cycles of debt or jail time. In the criminal system, EM technology is used to track and analyze the location of people under court supervision. Since 2005, EM usage in the United … Continue Reading
August 08, 2024
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle Urge EPA to Investigate Landfill Concerns in Benton County
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to thoroughly and expeditiously complete its investigation into concerns about Republic Services Coffin Butte Landfill in Benton County. “This 178-acre landfill accepts over 1 million tons of waste annually from nearly two dozen Oregon counties and southwest Washington. Surrounding communities have long been concerned about methane leakage that … Continue Reading
August 08, 2024
On Second Anniversary of CHIPS and Science Act, Lawmakers Urge Top Federal Officials to Visit Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas today urged top federal officials to visit Oregon this month so the state can showcase the jobs and investment generated by the CHIPS and Science Act as the landmark legislation marks its second anniversary. “In keeping with our excitement about Oregon’s thriving semiconductor industry and its potential, we respectfully invite you to join us in Oregon on a mutually … Continue Reading
August 08, 2024
Wyden, Senators Urge DOJ to Reschedule Marijuana
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today announced that he and six other senators have sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Administrator Anne Milgram, expressing their strong support for the DEA’s proposal to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Under the DEA, Schedule I drugs are classified as substances with a high potential for abuse, such as heroin or LSD, and they are not accepted for … Continue Reading
August 07, 2024
Merkley and Wyden Announce Over $5 Million to Realize New Renewable Energy Projects in Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $2,182,023 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, and $3,176,875 in a REAP loan, to support renewable energy projects in the state. The investments—much like the $4.5 million for other REAP projects the Senators announced in April—will help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Join Legislation to Restore Accountability for Presidents Who Violate the Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and 31 other senators in introducing legislation that would reaffirm that presidents and vice presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law. The legislation also clarifies that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied. On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Join Bill to Protect Workers from Harassment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined the reintroduction of a bill that would address workplace harassment and ensure workers can seek accountability and justice. Workers across the country continue to face sexual harassment at work. Women file a disproportionate number of sexual harassment charges, making up nearly 80 percent of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints between 2018 and 2021. This Bringing an End to Harassment by … Continue Reading
August 05, 2024
Wyden, Senators Call for Transparency, Accountability from New Student Loan Servicing Platform
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are urging Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to address potential problems with a new student aid servicing platform. In an effort to modernize and improve student loan servicing, the Department of Education is transitioning towards a centralized Federal Student Aid servicing platform for all federal student loans, known as the Unified Servicing and Data … Continue Reading
August 05, 2024
Wyden, Jayapal Support Effort to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) are leading more than 25 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief urging the Federal District Court for the District of Oregon to grant the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction in the Kroger-Albertson’s merger case. The brief outlines three major concerns with the merger: harm to consumers, harm to workers, and the growing consolidation of grocery chains leading to … Continue Reading
