Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Ask Agriculture, Interior Secretaries for Emergency Grazing Rights on Federal Land in Southeastern and South Central Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Faced with another year of drought conditions in Southeastern and South Central Oregon, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are asking the Department of Agriculture extend emergency grazing of cattle on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land. "Given the severity of the drought and the disastrous conditions faced by these Oregon farmers and ranchers, we ask that you expeditiously consider extending emergency grazing opportunities on Forest Service and … Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
Wyden to get Wildland Fire Briefing in Portland on Friday, May 10, 2013, at 10 a.m.
Portland, OR -With dry conditions across Oregon and an early start to the 2013 fire season, Senator Ron Wyden, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, will receive a wildland fire season briefing from federal and state officials on Friday, May 10, 2013, at the Northwest Coordinated Fire Center in Portland. Last year, Oregon experienced a near-record amount of acres burned. This year, the early start to fire season is the result of a drier-than-normal spring and a week of … Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
House and Senate Lawmakers Announce Legislation to Help Students Choose Between Colleges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Mark Warner, D-Va., and U.S. Representatives Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and Robert Andrews, D-N.J., today introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation that would ensure that a wide range of accurate, comparative and easy to understand data about colleges would be readily available online for prospective students and their families. The Student Right to Know Before You Go Act of 2013 would streamline existing institutional … Continue Reading
May 03, 2013
Wyden Schedules Town Halls in Klamath and Lake Counties
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town halls in Klamath and Lake counties on May 11, 2013. The meetings will be held in Klamath Falls and Lakeview. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996. Klamath County Town Hall Meeting Date: May 11, 2013 Time: 10:30 a.m. Location: Oregon Institute of Technology College Union Auditorium 3200 Campus Drive Klamath Falls Lake County Town … Continue Reading
April 23, 2013
Wyden and Murkowski Unveil “Follow the Money” Reform Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, today introduced bipartisan campaign finance reform legislation to address the influx of anonymous federal election spending and bring transparency and consistency to campaign finance law. The Follow the Money Act of 2013 creates a simple and universal system of disclosure for independent spending in federal campaigns. The legislation would require the source of independent spending to be disclosed in a manner … Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
NEWS CONFERENCE: On Eve of Earth Day, Wyden in Medford on Sunday to Discuss Economic and Environmental Benefits from Lower Natural Gas Prices
WHO: Senator Ron Wyden RVTD Director Julie Brown Mike Montero, board chair of RV Clean Cities Steve Gambee, Rogue Disposal WHAT: News conference on the environmental and economic benefits of lower natural gas prices. WHEN: 11:15 a.m., Sunday, April 21, 2013 Medford, OR - On the eve of Earth Day, members of the Rogue Valley Clean Cities Coalition will join Oregon Senator Ron Wyden at a news conference on the economic and environmental benefits of … Continue Reading
April 18, 2013
Wyden in Eugene on Saturday for Earth Day Events, Opening of New UO Student Veteran Center
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will be in Eugene on Saturday, April 20, 2013, to attend the annual EWEB Earth Day Celebration and the grand opening of the new University of Oregon Student Veterans Center. Wyden will also visit Arcimoto, the Eugene-based electric vehicle company and drop in at Sprout!, the regional "food hub" in Springfield. April 20, 2013: 10:15 a.m., Arcimoto, 544 Blair Boulevard, Eugene. 11:15 a.m., EWEB Earth Day Celebration, River's Edge Plaza, 500 E. … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Baldface and Rough and Ready Creeks named to “Most Endangered Rivers” List
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley renewed their call for federal agencies to prevent environmentally damaging mining operations at Baldface and Rough and Ready Creeks in Southwestern Oregon, after American Rivers named the two creeks to its "Most Endangered" list, on Wednesday. Wyden and Merkley have urged the federal Bureau of Land Management to administratively withdraw the creeks from mining multiple times since 1998. Wyden and Merkley sent their most recent … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Burr and Wyden Seek to Strengthen VA’s Pension Program and Protect America’s Veterans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at ending abuses of a low-income veterans' pension program. The Veterans Pension Protection Act seeks to combat a growing niche industry that profits by preying on elderly veterans. So-called "pension poachers" are convincing veterans with substantial assets to hide those assets in trusts and annuity products in an effort to qualify for the maximum allowable needs-based … Continue Reading
April 16, 2013
Wyden Testifies on Behalf of Hermiston Wastewater Bill, Drought Relief Act
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power today held a hearing on two bills by Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore.: S. 693, the City of Hermiston Water Recycling and Reuse Project, and S. 659 - Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act reauthorization. The City of Hermiston Water Recycling and Reuse Project would authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to share a small portion of the costs to build a new wastewater treatment plant. "This is … Continue Reading
April 12, 2013
U.S. Navy to Name New Ship the USS Portland
PORTLAND, Or -- The U.S. Navy will name the next San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship the USS Portland, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today. "Oregon has a long history with the U.S. Navy going back to the construction of hundreds of World War II Liberty and Victory ships at three Portland-area shipyards," Wyden said. "I want to thank Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus for naming a ship for Oregon's largest city. It is an honor for the City of Portland and for all … Continue Reading
March 29, 2013
Wyden, Merkley Applaud Sustainable Fisheries Decision
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., are applauding a federal decision that will help commercial fishermen profit while encouraging sustainable fisheries. "It's a good decision that reaffirms what fisherman needed - a sound, science-based solution that protects the environment as well as fishermen's bottom line," Wyden said. "Our fishing economy depends on a sustainable fishing management plan that provides for a healthy ecosystem and healthy yields for … Continue Reading
March 28, 2013
Wyden and Merkley Statement on Secure Rural Schools Money
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration's decision to ask rural counties to return $18 million in Secure Rural Schools money due to sequestration. $3.6 million of that would come from Oregon counties. "The administration clearly failed to plan for the impact of the sequester on Secure Rural Schools funding for rural counties, as demonstrated by the contradictory approaches taken by Bureau of Land … Continue Reading
March 26, 2013
Wyden Statement on Full Funding of Tuition Assistance Programs for National Guard Members
Portland, Or - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today following President Obama's signing of a continuing appropriations bill that includes full funding of tuition assistance for veterans. "Earlier today, President Obama signed the continuing appropriations bill into law. I supported this important piece of legislation because it will fund the government through October and avert a senseless and unnecessary showdown. As part of this effort, I was proud to cosponsor an … Continue Reading
March 26, 2013
CMS Responds to Wyden on Resolving the Family Glitch
WASHINGTON - Despite the Administration's effort to provide states with greater flexibility to allow employees to shop for health insurance using employer contributions, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden says millions of workers' dependents will still be left without options for affordable family health coverage. "Without action, millions of hard working Americans are going to be squeezed by the family glitch," Wyden said. "Many people will be left with a false choice of taking family coverage through … Continue Reading
March 25, 2013
Wyden Schedules Six Eastern Oregon Town Halls in Harney, Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa and Malheur Counties
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town halls in Harney, Grant, Baker, Union, Wallowa and Malheur counties from April 2 to April 5. The meetings will be held in the cities of Burns on April 2, John Day and Baker City on April 3, La Grande and Joseph on April 4 and Ontario on April 5. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996. Harney County Town Hall MeetingDate: Tuesday, April 2, 2013Time: 5 p.m.Location: Harney County … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Wyden and Reed Seek to Boost Palliative and Hospice Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jack Reed, D-R.I., today introduced legislation aimed at readying the health care workforce for the growing need for palliative and hospice care. "The age wave is already straining access to hospice and palliative care for many Americans," Wyden said. "Providing more training and incentives to study and practice palliative and hospice care would mean fewer patients suffering from the symptoms, stress and pain of serious illnesses." "We must … Continue Reading
March 21, 2013
Bipartisan Legislation Institutes Warrant Requirements to Track Americans with GPS Data
Washington, D.C. - Recent reports indicate that by the end of 2013 smart phones could account for 70 percent of all mobile phones in the U.S. Each of these cutting-edge devices includes built-in GPS technology collecting more personal geolocation data than ever before. However, the rules governing how law-enforcement can acquire and use this data to track individuals are unclear. To add to the confusion, courts in different jurisdictions have applied the law inconsistently - with some courts … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Wyden Urges NIH to Reexamine Policies
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today released a letter to National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Francis S. Collins regarding concerns about achieving a reasonable balance between getting breakthrough pharmaceuticals to market quickly, making sure patients can afford these medicines and protecting the interests of taxpayers. The text of the letter is here: Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Director National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville PikeBethesda, Maryland 20892 Dear … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Senators Introduce CCF Reforms for Fishermen
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced bipartisan legislation to allow commercial fisherman - in Oregon, Alaska, Washington and nationwide - to use their Capital Construction Fund (CCF) savings without incurring significant tax penalties. "CCF has been an important part of strengthening the U.S. fishing fleet," Wyden said. "But the rapid changes … Continue Reading
