Press Releases
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
March 11, 2014
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
