Press Releases
Wyden Urges Congress to Reform Wildfire Funding Ahead of Fire Season
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., today issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior released a report stating this year's fire season is already projected to exceed the current budget by $470 million: "Today's news makes clear that the federal government has to change the way it funds firefighting and it needs to be done now," Wyden said. "It is time to break the destructive cycle that underfunds fire prevention and … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Wyden Announces Decision that Clears the Way for the Sale of Wine Growlers in Oregon
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today announced that the federal agency that regulates the sale of alcohol has agreed to rescind an order than would have blocked the sale of wine growlers in Oregon. In a letter to members of the Oregon delegation the administrator of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau Bureau's administrator wrote that he is immediately rescinding its ruling with respect to wine sold in growlers. "This is news that deserves a toast - Wine growlers are … Continue Reading
April 25, 2014
Wyden Welcomes FDA’s Common-Sense Pledge to Revise Flawed Rule on Brewers’ Spent Grains
Portland, OR - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued a statement welcoming the Food and Drug Administration's announcement it will rewrite its controversial plan to regulate spent grains from brewers. Spent grains - the result of the brewing process - are often given or sold to nearby ranchers and farmers to use as animal feed. At roundtables across Oregon over the past two weeks, brewers and ranchers told Sen. Wyden the FDA rule issued earlier this year would have created burdensome new regulations … Continue Reading
April 23, 2014
NEWS CONFERENCE: Senator Ron Wyden, Winery Owners and Oregon Winegrowers Association on the Selling of Wine Growlers
Portland, OR - Senator Ron Wyden, local winery owners and representatives of the Oregon Winegrowers Association will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m., Friday, April 25, 2014, to discuss what is being done to resolve the conflict between federal regulations and an Oregon law that allows the selling of wine growlers the same way as beer growlers. Who: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden Tom Danowski, executive director, Oregon Winegrowers Association Bill Sweat, Oregon Winegrowers … Continue Reading
April 23, 2014
Senator Wyden in Bend on Saturday for Oregon National Guard Officers Association Annual Conference, Receive Medal of Merit Award
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will be in Bend on Saturday, April 26, 2014, to attend the annual conference of the Oregon National Guard Officers Association and receive the Charles Dick Medal of Merit. The annual award recognizes the contributions to the National Guard by elected representatives. Who: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden Members of the Oregon National Guard Officers Association What: Speak … Continue Reading
April 22, 2014
NEWS CONFERENCE, 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 24th
Ashland, OR - The alliance between one of Oregon's oldest industries, agriculture, and one of the newest, craft beer, is at risk of being torn apart by federal regulators. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, members of the Oregon Brewers Guild and representatives of agriculture will hold a news conference at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Caldera Brewery & Restaurant in Ashland to review ongoing FDA attempts to regulate the longstanding use of brewing by-products, such as spent grain, by … Continue Reading
April 18, 2014
Wyden Hails Historic Upper Klamath Basin Agreement Signing Along Banks of Spring Creek
Klamath Falls - Senator Ron Wyden, Governor John Kitzhaber, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, Senator Jeff Merkley, Undersecretary of the Department of Commerce Kathryn Sullivan, California Resources Secretary John Laird, Klamath Tribal Chair Don Gentry, and members of the Klamath Basin Task Force gathered today along the banks of the Klamath River for the official signing of the Upper Klamath Basin Comprehensive Agreement. The historic agreement is the result of more than nine months … Continue Reading
April 18, 2014
Wyden Welcomes Secretary Jewell, Encourages Oregonians to Enjoy the Outdoors During National Parks Week
Washington, D.C. - In honor of National Parks Week, Ron Wyden, D-Ore., encouraged Oregonians to enjoy the state's natural treasures and take advantage of free admission to National Parks this Saturday and Sunday (April 19 and 20). Wyden also welcomed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who will kick off National Parks Week on Saturday, at one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon, Crater Lake. "It is truly fitting that Secretary Jewell will launch National Parks week at Crater Lake, which is a crown … Continue Reading
April 17, 2014
Senator Wyden in Eugene on Monday for Two Events: VA Clinic Groundbreaking and Investiture of U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will be in Eugene on Monday, April 21, 2014, to participate in the groundbreaking of the new Department of Veterans Affairs Community Based Outpatient Clinic and speak at the investiture of U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane. VA Clinic: 1 p.m., NW Corner of Chad Drive and Old Coburg Road McShane Investiture: 2:45 p.m. Federal Courthouse, 405 E. 8th Ave, … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Wyden Calls Former CIA Director’s Attack on Senator Feinstein “Outrageous”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to former NSA and CIA Director Michael Hayden's remarks suggesting that the Senate Intelligence Committee's landmark report on torture and coercive interrogations was not objective because the committee's Chairman, Senator Dianne Feinstein, is too "emotional." "General Hayden's suggestion that Chairman Feinstein was motivated by 'emotion' rather than a focus on the facts is simply outrageous. … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Wyden’s 700th Town Hall in Wheeler County, City of Fossil, on April 16th ; Other Town Halls in Hood River, Wasco, Gilliam and Sherman Counties
Portland, OR - On April 16, 2014, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his 700th town hall in the Wheeler County town of Fossil, site of his first town hall as a United States Senator in 1996. The Wheeler County town hall will be preceded by town halls in Hood River and Wasco counties on April 15 and Gilliam County earlier on April 16 and followed by Sherman County on April 17. Hood River County Town Hall Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Time: 12:15 p.m. Location: Hood … Continue Reading
April 04, 2014
Oregon Delegation Applauds Release of Timber Payments to Oregon Counties
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader, and Suzanne Bonamici applauded the Forest Service announcement that it will soon release $67.8 million in payments to 33 Oregon counties under the Secure Rural Schools program. Oregon is expected to receive more than $107 million in timber payments, once the Interior Department releases its funding to counties in the coming weeks. The program will distribute a total of $329 million … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Wyden Statement on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Vote to Declassify its Interrogation Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted to begin the process of declassifying the committee's 6,200 page report on CIA interrogations: "I believe the American people will be profoundly disturbed by the contents of this report. Today, I joined my colleagues in voting to begin the process of declassifying the findings. Though I can't provide any details until that declassification process is … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Wyden Cosponsors Resolution Condemning Turkish Government’s Stifling of Free Speech
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after cosponsoring a resolution condemning the Government of Turkey for blocking access to social media sites like Twitter and YouTube, the effect of which could stifle freedom of speech and expression. "No government should inhibit the ability of their citizens to speak freely or access information. Blocking Twitter and YouTube, among other forms of social media, will have a chilling effect on free speech … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Wyden, Udall on Revelations that Intelligence Agencies Have Exploited Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 'Loophole'
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who serve on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement following revelations that the National Security Agency has been exploiting a loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to search for Americans' private communications: "It is now clear to the public that the list of ongoing intrusive surveillance practices by the NSA includes not only bulk collection of … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Oregon Delegation Calls for Common Sense Rules for Wine Growlers
Washington, D.C. - Today, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader, Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and Greg Walden, R-Ore., called for the federal government to reverse course and respect an Oregon state law that allows consumers to buy wine in refillable containers, more often known as growlers. In a letter to the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the Oregon delegation asked the bureau to amend its recent decision, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Wyden: Strengthen European Allies By Aiding Europe’s Energy Development
Washington, D.C. - In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, Sen. Ron Wyden today called for the United States to reduce Eastern Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas, by giving allies like Poland the expertise and know-how they need to develop their own energy resources. "It is time to do something real to bolster Europe's energy security by helping them develop Eastern Europe's substantial natural gas reserves and reduce the leverage Russia has over its energy-dependent … Continue Reading
March 24, 2014
Wyden Applauds Approval of Jordan Cove LNG Terminal
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore, issued the following statement on the Energy Department's approval of Jordan Cove's application to export liquefied natural gas from Coos County, Oregon: "This announcement is exactly what Coos Bay, North Bend and America need: new jobs and new investment, while factoring in a changed geopolitical landscape through a case-by-case process. I urged DOE to consider this application without delay, and I am pleased the department decided that Jordan Cove … Continue Reading
March 21, 2014
Wyden Statement on Majority Leader’s Letters Regarding CIA’s Unauthorized Access of Intelligence Committee Computer Files
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to letters sent by Majority Leader Harry Reid to CIA Director John Brennan and Attorney General Eric Holder expressing concern over the CIA's searches of computers designated for the Senate Intelligence committee and allegations of misconduct against committee staff. "Senator Reid's letters are right on point, and it's incredibly valuable to have the Majority Leader standing up for congressional … Continue Reading
March 18, 2014
CMS Launches Wyden Initiative to Strengthen Hospice Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for moving forward with his initiative to increase access to hospice care for Medicare beneficiaries. Today, CMS launched the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM). The MCCM, authorized by the Affordable Care Act, will test whether more seniors who qualify for coverage under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, would choose to receive the services typically provided by a hospice if they could … Continue Reading
