Press Releases
Wyden: Declassified Documents Show How Inaccurate Statements Have Misled Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding the declassified documents released by the Director of National Intelligence today: "The newly declassified briefing documents released today show that the executive branch repeatedly made inaccurate statements to Congress about the value and effectiveness of the bulk email records collection program that was carried out under the USA PATRIOT Act until 2011. These statements had the effect of … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Wyden Statement on Japan’s Decision to Resume Purchases of Oregon Wheat
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement today on the decision by the Japanese government to resume purchases of U.S. western-white wheat. The decision ends a two-month ban on the grain purchases following the apparent discovery of unapproved gene-altered crop on an Oregon farm. "With the wheat crop ready for harvest, the news that Japan will join South Korea and Taiwan in resuming purchasing of Oregon wheat comes at the perfect time for wheat … Continue Reading
July 29, 2013
Wyden Statement on Voting Present on the Nomination of James Comey to be FBI Director
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding his decision to vote "present" on the confirmation of James Comey to be the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation: "Today, I voted present on the nomination of James Comey to be the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The head of the FBI is responsible for approving and overseeing a large number of surveillance activities, and it is an unfortunate fact that the FBI's … Continue Reading
July 26, 2013
Wyden and Udall: Intelligence Community's Response Leaves Important Surveillance Questions Unanswered
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mark Udall, D-Colo., released the following statement after receiving a response from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to their June 27, 2013 letter sent along with 24 fellow senators: "This response is appreciated, but the intelligence community still has left many of the questions most important to the American people unanswered. Given the implications for the privacy of the millions of law-abiding Americans, intelligence … Continue Reading
July 25, 2013
Wyden, Thune Bill Protects Innovative Digital Goods from Multiple and Discriminatory Taxes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), both members of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced legislation to prevent discriminatory and duplicative taxes on digital goods and services, including online downloads of music, literature, movies, mobile apps, and cloud computing services. Their bill would clarify federal rules related to the taxation of digital goods and services, and prevent unfair and duplicative taxation. The potential for multiple … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Wyden Statement on Amash/Conyers Amendment to End Dragnet Collection of Americans’ Records
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding the amendment to the House Defense Appropriations bill offered by Reps. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and John Conyers (D- Mich.) that would have ended the NSA's dragnet collection of Americans' records: "Today the debate on warrantless surveillance of ordinary Americans finally took place where it should have been occurring all along: in public and on the floor of the Congress, rather than another closed … Continue Reading
July 22, 2013
Wyden Letter to Comey Seeks FBI Director Nominee’s Views on Surveillance Activities
Washington, D.C. - As former U.S. Deputy Attorney General James Comey's nomination to become the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is being considered by the U.S. Senate, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent Mr. Comey a letter seeking his views on current and former U.S. surveillance activities. Mr. Comey served as the Deputy Attorney General during the Administration of President George W. Bush and was involved in the legal debate surrounding Bush-era surveillance activities. If … Continue Reading
July 16, 2013
Wyden Statement on Bonneville Power Administration Inspector General Report
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued the following statement following an Inspector General report on allegations that the Bonneville Power Administration failed to follow federal rules for veteran hiring, and retaliated against whistleblowers. "Veterans have made a special commitment to our country, and it's only right that the government make the same commitment to them. The veterans preference in federal hiring is … Continue Reading
July 08, 2013
Sens. Wyden and Merkley, Rep. Walden, and Gov. Kitzhaber Form Klamath River Basin Task Force
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Congressman Greg Walden, and Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber today announced the creation of a task force to make recommendations on a long-term solution to water and power issues in the Klamath River Basin. The task force is charged with developing specific recommendations that build on prior basin agreements by September 10, 2013. In a bipartisan letter sent last week, Wyden, Merkley, Walden and Kitzhaber asked stakeholders to … Continue Reading
July 02, 2013
Wyden, Udall Statement on the Disclosure of Bulk Email Records Collection Program
Washington, D.C. - U. S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement regarding the recent disclosure by intelligence officials that the NSA operated a bulk email records collection program under the authority of the Patriot Act until 2011. This program is distinct from the internet-related collection carried out under section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act (which involves the PRISM computer … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Bipartisan Group of 26 Senators Seek Answers from DNI Clapper on Bulk Data Collection Program
Washington, D.C. - The recent public disclosures of secret government surveillance programs have exposed how secret interpretations of the USA PATRIOT Act have allowed for the bulk collection of massive amounts of data on the communications of ordinary Americans with no connection to wrong-doing. Reliance on secret law to conduct domestic surveillance activities raises serious civil liberty concerns and all but removes the public from an informed national security and civil liberty debate. In … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Bipartisan Legislation Would Provide $50 billion for Transportation Infrastructure
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Hoeven, R-N.D., and U.S. Representatives Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., and Allison Y. Schwartz, D-Penn., today introduced legislation that would make $50 billion available for transportation infrastructure projects by leveraging private investment. The bipartisan, bicameral Transportation and Regional Infrastructure Project (TRIP) bonds legislation would allow states to issue up to a total of $50 billion - $1 billion per state - in bonds for … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Wyden, Toomey’s Wireless Tax Fairness Act Protects Consumers and Promotes Wireless Phone and Internet Services as an Engine of Innovation
Washington, D.C. - Mobile technology is getting faster, smarter and more capable every year. The level and pace of innovation in the mobile wireless industry is unlike any other sector of the economy, but that innovation could be threatened by multiple and discriminatory taxes levied by state and local governments. In an effort to protect consumers from overbearing taxation and keep the mobile Internet as an innovation juggernaut, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) have … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Wyden Statement on SCOTUS Overturning DOMA
Washington - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act: "I voted against DOMA in 1996, and I've long said that if you don't like gay marriage, don't get one. Gay marriage isn't the government's business, and the freedom to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should not depend on who you choose to love. It's important to celebrate today's decision and the progress it signals, … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Strengthen Medicare by Keeping Seniors Healthy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and U.S. Representatives Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., Ron Kind, D-Wisc., Tim Griffin, R-Ark., and Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, today introduced legislation aimed at saving Medicare billions by encouraging seniors to get and stay healthy. The bipartisan, bicameral legislation would create the Medicare Better Health Rewards program. This entirely voluntary program is designed to help motivate Medicare beneficiaries to get and stay … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Wyden Introduces Much-Needed Reforms to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Washington, D.C. - As the Internet's influence on global commerce, culture and information continues to tread new ground, there is a need to update and reform outdated laws that threaten its continued development. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is a nearly 30-year-old criminal law with sweeping authorities that criminalize many forms of common Internet use. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has introduced legislation that reforms the CFAA to bring it in line with the needs of a 21st century … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Wyden, Merkley, Announce Passage of Devil’s Staircase Wilderness Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley celebrated the Senate passage of the Devil's Staircase Wilderness Act today, which will permanently conserve thousands of acres of pristine forest near the Southern Oregon coast. The bill now goes to the House. "The proposed Devil's Staircase Wilderness area is undoubtedly one of Oregon's treasures and the kind of special place truly deserving of permanent protection," Wyden said. "My forestry philosophy has always been to get the … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Wyden, Udall Issue Statement on Effectiveness of Declassified NSA Programs
Washington, D.C. - U. S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.) issued the following statement responding to comments made by members of the Intelligence Community about the value of certain NSA surveillance programs. Both Senators sit on the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Over the past few days the Intelligence Community has made new assertions about the value of recently declassified NSA surveillance programs. In addition to the concerns that we have about the impact of … Continue Reading
June 19, 2013
Wyden Statement on the Confirmation of Michael Froman to be United States Trade Rep.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the Senate vote to confirm Michael Froman as the United States Trade Representative. Wyden is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee's subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. "The United States needs a Trade Representative that understands the broad challenges that face American producers and who knows how those challenges can be addressed. The country needs a Trade … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Grassley, Wyden Introduce Medicare Claims Data Transparency Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to make Medicare claims data available to the public. The legislation is the product of the senators' combined efforts - each was working on a method of making the data public and combined approaches in this bipartisan legislation. "Taxpayers have a right to see how their dollars are being spent," Grassley said. "There shouldn't be a special exception for hard-earned dollars that happen to … Continue Reading
