Press Releases
Senators Introduce Legislation To Expand Vote By Mail, Save Money and Increase Voter Participation
Washington, D.C. - Looking for ways to expand voter participation and reduce the growing cost of elections, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a package of bills today that would make it easier for states to institute the same vote-by-mail process currently used in Oregon. Wyden - who is the first federal official to be elected entirely by mail - also introduced … Continue Reading
April 30, 2010
"Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Will Move Forward"
Washington, D.C. - A months-long stand-off came to a close today after the Deputy Secretary of Defense informed U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) that the Pentagon would no longer block construction of the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon's Gilliam and Morrow counties and would instead upgrade a nearby radar system which had until now put the project's future in doubt. The announcement would also eliminate the threat to other … Continue Reading
April 29, 2010
SENATE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL LEGISLATION TO LIMIT FALLOUT FROM SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ALLOWS UNLIMITED SPECIAL-INTEREST SPENDING ON ELECTIONS—ANNOUNCE PLAN FOR SENATE PASSAGE BY JULY 4
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Al Franken (D-MN) announced new legislation Thursday to blunt the harmful impacts from the Supreme Court's decision allowing corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. The lawmakers said their goal is for the Senate to pass the new measure by July 4 so the law can take effect in time for the 2010 midterm elections. The legislation … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010
Wyden, Murkowski Bill Would Lift Restrictions on Fishermen's Use of Capital Construction Accounts
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing changes in the commercial fishing industry and the need to create new jobs and prevent overfishing, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation today that will give America's fishermen greater flexibility in how they can use money set aside in special capital construction funds. "The Capital Construction Fund program was created in 1976 to help modernize the American fishing industry so it could compete with highly efficient … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010
Wyden Files Amendment to Force Financial Firms To Disclose Bets Made Against Their Clients
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to promote greater transparency between buyers and sellers, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) filed an amendment to the financial reform legislation today that intends to force financial institutions to clearly state any financial stake they have in seeing their product lose value. Wyden argued that transparency and accountability are essential to a functioning market and that this amendment will bring those attributes to an area of finance that has … Continue Reading
April 27, 2010
Wyden/Grassley Lead Bipartisan Effort to End Senate Secret Holds
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate's leading bipartisan voices for ending secret holds introduced legislation today that would make it even harder for individual senators to secretly obstruct the legislative process. For more than a decade, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Chuck Grassley have fought to eliminate secret holds and in 2007 a modified version of their proposal was included in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. In introducing the "Secret Holds Elimination Act" … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010
Wyden and Thune Bill Helps Native American Vets with Disabilities Receive Housing Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to make sure all of America's veterans are taken care of when they return from combat U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R- SD) introduced legislation that will correct a flaw in current law that excludes some disabled Native American Veterans from housing assistance programs. The Indian Veterans Housing Opportunity Act of 2010 will discontinue the counting of disability compensation as income, a practice that often pushes disabled … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010
Wyden Statement on the Release of ACTA Negotiation Text
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness released the following statement today regarding the decision made by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk to release the ACTA negotiating text: "The decision by Ambassador Kirk to release the ACTA negotiating text is a step toward greater transparency in an increasingly important area of trade. This move … Continue Reading
April 15, 2010
OR TREASURY DEPT: Major "Build America Bond" sale will create thousands of Oregon jobs, improve highways, and save $56 million thanks to lower loan costs
SALEM - Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden announced today the completion of the State of Oregon's successful first sale of Build America Bonds, which will pay to improve roads and bridges across the state while also saving Oregonians $56 million in financing costs. Now, they said, it's time to get Oregonians to work. The $580 million sale, with 93 percent of the total in Build America Bonds and 7 percent in tax-exempt bonds, will allow the Oregon Department of … Continue Reading
April 08, 2010
Senators Wyden and Gregg To Discuss Simplifying the U.S. Tax System On the Day Before Tax Day
Washington, D.C. - The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will host a panel discussion, "Reforming Our Tax Code: A Bipartisan Solution," with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) next Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the day before tax day. Senators Wyden and Gregg will discuss their recently introduced legislation, "The Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010." The discussion will be moderated by BPC Advisory Board Member and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle … Continue Reading
April 08, 2010
Economists agree, Wyden-Gregg "Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010" is a positive step for U.S.
Washington, D.C. - With less than 9 months remaining until the tax relief provisions of 2001 and 2003 expire, a bipartisan proposal to reform the tax code has turned the heads of economists and academics across the country. Introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), the "Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010" takes a comprehensive approach to reforming the tangled web of exemptions, deductions, credits and other preferences that currently … Continue Reading
March 22, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Win Singular Protection for Crater Lake from Air Tour Flyovers
Washington, D.C. - In order to preserve the unique quiet and solitude of Oregon's sole National Park, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today won greater authority for the National Park Service to ban air tour flyovers in Crater Lake. Their amendment, which was passed in the Senate as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, allows the Park Service the ability to deny air tours over the park without first having to prepare an air tour management plan, … Continue Reading
March 17, 2010
Wyden Successful in Efforts to Maintain Current Discount Levels for Seniors and Disabled Campers
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) welcomed a decision from Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, to abandon a proposal to severely reduce discounts for seniors and persons with disabilities staying at privately run Forest Service campgrounds. Wyden sent a letter in February urging the Forest Service to honor their commitment and maintain the current discount level. "Increasing the profits of private companies by taking money from the pockets of persons with … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Amendment Gives National Park Service Greater Authority to Regulate Air Tour Flyovers
Washington, D.C. - Continuing the fight to protect the solitude and unique character of America's national parks, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley took steps today to give the National Park Service greater authority to regulate air tour flyovers over most national parks, including Oregon's Crater Lake. Wyden and Merkley introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill that clarifies the role of the National Park Service in determining the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Wyden, Stabenow and Brown Tapped For Seats on President's Export Council
WASHINGTON, DC - Seeking the Senate's leading voices for lifting U.S. exports to create 2 million jobs as part of an economic recovery strategy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) appointed U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to seats on the President's Export Council. Senators Wyden and Stabenow currently influence international trade policy from their positions on the Senate Committee on Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
March 15, 2010
Wyden and Snowe Introduce Bill to Train Nanotech Workers
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers leading innovation in nanotechnology, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced the Promote Nanotechnology in Schools Act to help schools such as community colleges, universities, and even high schools purchase the advanced equipment needed to educate students and train workers in this emerging field. "Few if any fields hold as much growth potential as … Continue Reading
March 10, 2010
BLM Contract Extension Passes U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today passed the Tax Extenders Act of 2009, which incorporated the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act by amendment. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden introduced the Forest Harvest Opportunity Act in November 2009 to help timber companies remain competitive and sustain economic growth. The Forest Harvest Opportunity Act will extend already-existing contracts between timber companies and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) so the companies can harvest … Continue Reading
March 09, 2010
Merkley, Wyden Urge Obama Administration to Provide Immediate, Coordinated Drought Assistance for Klamath Basin
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden requested immediate and expansive drought assistance for Klamath Basin in anticipation of emergency drought conditions this year. In a letter sent today, the senators urged Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to take swift, coordinated action to address the projected water shortfall."The drought currently facing the Klamath Basin … Continue Reading
March 09, 2010
Senate Subcommittee To Hold Hearing on Wyden's Eastside Forestry Bill
Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 2:30 pm EST (11:30 am PST), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests focusing on Wyden's Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection and Jobs Act. The legislation represents an agreement between the timber industry and environmentalists over forest management and watershed and old growth protections on Oregon's eastside forests. The … Continue Reading
March 08, 2010
Wyden: Proposed NOAA Fleet Site in Bellingham, WA, Plagued with Environmental Hazards, Potential Health Problems
Washington, D.C. - Citing numerous environmental problems and health hazards at the Port of Bellingham (WA), Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Department of Commerce to cease consideration of the port as a proposed alternative site for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Pacific Fleet. "What has been missing from discussions about the Bellingham site is surrounded by myriad environmental problems and hazards," Wyden said in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "I … Continue Reading
