Press Releases
Wyden Defends Hanford Whistleblowers, Blasts Culture of Secrecy in Senate Roundtable
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., today stood up for whistleblowers and expressed his ongoing concerns about the culture of secrecy at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation site in a roundtable discussion before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight. The subcommittee held a roundtable discussion prior to a hearing on the same subject to allow two whistleblowers, Dr. Walter Tamosaitis and Donna Busche, an opportunity to … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Wyden Statement on CIA Search of Computers Used by Senate Intelligence Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein's floor speech on the CIA's searching of computers used by the Senate Intelligence Committee: "I commend Chairman Feinstein for shining a light on the unprecedented invasion by the CIA into computers used by Senate Intelligence Committee investigators. The CIA's own recent court filing makes clear that the work product on these computers … Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Wyden, Reid, Feinstein and Franken Commend FERC’s Move to Secure the Power Grid
Washington, D.C. - Four lawmakers commended the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on taking a step toward greater electric grid security after FERC directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to propose minimum grid reliability standards to strengthen the grid against possible physical attacks. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Harry Reid, D-Nev., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., sent a letter to FERC and NERC in February asking the agencies to … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Brennan Letter to Wyden Acknowledges that CFAA Applies to the CIA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following letter from Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan acknowledging that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act applies to the CIA. The question was asked of Brennan by Wyden in a public hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 29, 2014. Wyden is a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Wyden asked Brennan: "Does the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act apply to the CIA?" Brennan Letter … Continue Reading
March 01, 2014
Wyden Reveals New Safety Risks From Flawed Nuclear Waste Storage Tanks At Hanford, Calls For Immediate DOE Response
Washington, D.C. -Up to six storage tanks holding dangerous radioactive nuclear waste at the Hanford Site in Southeast Washington State are at a higher risk of leaking, according to previously undisclosed inspection reports released by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Saturday. Wyden called for Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to outline within 45 days how the Department of Energy will address these newly revealed construction problems, and the implications for DOE's larger plan for cleaning up … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Wyden, Udall, Heinrich Statement on Reported Bulk Collection of Private Videos
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Martin Heinrich (D- N.M.) issued the following joint statement in response to reports that a large number of individuals, including Americans, may have had private online webcam videos intercepted in bulk by British intelligence agencies. "We are extremely troubled by today's press report that a very large number of individuals - including law-abiding Americans - may have had private videos of themselves … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Wyden, Merkley Water Bills Advance
Washington, D.C. - Three bills to secure the safety of Oregon water supplies, upgrade Scoggins Dam to provide certainty for Washington County employers, and spur development of next-generation hydropower moved forward in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Oregon Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today. Wyden and Merkley said they were encouraged by the step forward three of their bills took when a subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources … Continue Reading
February 24, 2014
Wyden, Merkley Applaud President For Endorsing Federal Wildfire Funding Reform Plan
Washington, D.C. -Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, applauded the news that President Obama will endorse their plan to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires. "The largest wildfires are natural disasters, no different from tornadoes or earthquakes," Wyden said. "For too long, Oregon forests have suffered from a failure to invest in fire prevention work that can create … Continue Reading
February 24, 2014
Wyden, Crapo Applaud White House Endorsement of Wyden-Crapo Federal Wildfire Policy Reform Plan
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, applauded the news that President Obama will endorse their plan to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires. "The largest wildfires are natural disasters, no different from tornadoes or earthquakes," Wyden said. "For too long, Oregon forests have suffered from a failure to invest in fire prevention work that can … Continue Reading
February 21, 2014
Wyden to Hold Annual Multnomah County Town Hall on Saturday, March 1st
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual Multnomah County town hall on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at the Multnomah Arts Center on Capitol Highway. Senator Wyden has held town hall meetings in every Oregon county every year since he joined the Senate in 1996. This will be town hall No. 688. Multnomah County Town Hall Date: Time: Location: Saturday, March 1, 2014 2 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center 7688 Southwest Capitol … Continue Reading
February 18, 2014
Wyden Assumes Co-Chairmanship of Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has been named co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus, which includes 20 members of the Senate from 14 states. "With 161 brewing companies in Oregon employing 6,400 full and part-time employees, the small brewers are an important part of the Oregon economy," Wyden said. "Leading this caucus with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) at a time when small breweries are becoming a part of communities across the nation is an opportunity to … Continue Reading
February 14, 2014
Wyden Statement on Finance Chairmanship
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after becoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee: "As one of the original Senate committees, Senate Finance has helped shape America's growth and prosperity over its 200-year history. It has been led by some of the nation's most prominent Senators. Many of those who held the gavel are household names: Russell Long, Bob Packwood, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Bob Dole. Max Baucus should be included in that … Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
Wyden Statement on Overturning Veteran Pension Reductions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after voting to pass legislation that will protect current military retirees and servicemembers from the cost of living adjustment (COLA) reductions adopted late last year. The bill passed the Senate 95-3 and passed the House of Representatives earlier in the week. "Changing the rules in the middle of a game isn't right. Unfortunately, Congress did just that when it reduced the COLA for working-age military … Continue Reading
February 11, 2014
Oregon Senators Introduce Drought Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden this week teamed up with Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-CA) to introduce drought relief legislation to help farmers, businesses and communities suffering from historic drought conditions in Oregon and California. The legislation establishes emergency provisions to assist drought-affected areas, as well as $300 million in emergency assistance. "Even though the Willamette Valley was hit hard by snow over the weekend, … Continue Reading
February 06, 2014
Wyden O&C Bill Moves Forward in Energy Committee
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden's bill to create stable jobs, sustainable forestry and permanent conservation gains on Oregon's O&C Lands took a step forward today, when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on the bill. Wyden, D-Ore., is the chairman of the committee. Wyden said the bill offers a fresh approach to increasing timber harvests, while creating ironclad protections for clean drinking water, wildlife and old growth trees. By using the best science … Continue Reading
February 05, 2014
Pacific Northwest Research Station, OSU, Chosen to be Climate Change Research Hub
Washington, DC - Today, Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio and Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley applauded the Obama Administration's selection of Oregon State University to be one of seven Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change. As announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the OSU Hub will address increasing risks due to climate change such as fires, invasive pests, devastating floods and crippling droughts in the Pacific … Continue Reading
February 04, 2014
Wyden Applauds Passage of Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden applauded today's final passage of the 2014 Farm Bill and commended Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow for moving the legislation forward. "Chairwoman Stabenow did a remarkable job of showing how it's still possible to get things done in Washington," Wyden said. "The Farm Bill provides certainty and a strong safety net for the agricultural community for the next five years." The Agricultural Act of 2014, known … Continue Reading
January 31, 2014
Wyden Cosponsors Bill to Provide Justice to Servicemembers Discharged Over Sexual Orientation
WASHINGTON - More than two years after the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, the military records of many servicemembers forced out of service due to their sexual orientation do not reflect an honorable discharge. After serving their country, these folks now carry a mark on their permanent record and are often unable to access veterans benefits they would otherwise receive. In the most extreme cases, they are even legally barred from calling themselves a veteran. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden … Continue Reading
January 29, 2014
Wyden Statement at Senate Intelligence Committee’s Open Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) delivered the following statement prior to questioning senior Intelligence Community officials during the Senate Intelligence Committee's open hearing. Wyden is a senior member of the Intelligence committee. "The men and women of America's intelligence agencies are overwhelmingly dedicated professionals and they deserve to have leadership that is trusted by the American people. Unfortunately, that trust has been seriously undermined by senior … Continue Reading
January 23, 2014
Wyden Statement on PCLOB Report on Bulk Collection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board's report on bulk collection. Wyden is a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. "The privacy board's findings closely mirror many of the criticisms made by surveillance reform advocates. The bulk collection program was built on a murky legal foundation that raises many constitutional questions and has been proven to be an ineffective tool … Continue Reading
