Press Releases
Energy Committee Passes Wyden Eastside Forest Bill
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that would boost timber harvests while protecting and restoring old growth forests in Oregon. "The eastern part of my state is down to only a small handful of surviving timber mills," Wyden said. "Yet without them, there's going to be no restoration of Oregon's eastside forests, and none of the jobs - none of the jobs - that they provide in rural … Continue Reading
December 19, 2013
Wyden, Crapo Introduce Bipartisan Wildfire Funding Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Today Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced a bill to reform federal wildfire policy, target more funding for fire prevention, and treat the largest wildfires as natural disasters. "This is about as common-sense as it gets: Congress needs to fund the biggest, most catastrophic wildfires like the natural disasters they are, and free up funding to break the destructive cycle that underfunds … Continue Reading
December 18, 2013
Wyden Statement on Report from the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding today's report from the President's Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies. "I was particularly pleased with the Review Group's finding that the information collected by the NSA bulk phone records collection program 'was not essential to preventing attacks and could readily have been obtained in a timely manner using conventional section 215 orders.'* I have been arguing for two … Continue Reading
December 16, 2013
Wyden Statement on U.S. District Court Ruling on Bulk Collection of Phone Records
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court's ruling on bulk collection of phone records. "Judge Leon's ruling hits the nail on the head. It makes clear that bulk phone records collection is intrusive digital surveillance and not simply inoffensive data collection as some have said. The court noted that this metadata can be used for 'repetitive, surreptitious surveillance of a citizen's private goings on,' that creates a … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Chaffetz, Wyden Ask Holder to Release Unredacted Geolocation Memos
WASHINGTON- Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting the release of the two Department of Justice (DOJ) legal memoranda written in the wake of the 2012 Supreme Court case, United States v. Jones. In Jones, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that physically attaching a GPS device to a vehicle constituted a search under the 4th Amendment. However, the Court did not specify whether the government was required … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Wyden, Portman Anti-Trafficking Measures Move Forward
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio today applauded the inclusion of provisions aimed at fighting domestic child sex trafficking within a larger child welfare bill. The Senate Finance Committee today marked up the Supporting At-Risk Children Act, which includes key provisions from the Wyden-Portman Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act of 2013. The Wyden-Portman provisions require state child welfare workers to identify and document victims of sex … Continue Reading
December 12, 2013
Grassley, Wyden Applaud SGR’s Medicare Payment Transparency Provisions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded inclusion of language that would make Medicare claims data available to the public as part of legislation aimed addressing the Medicare's physician payment formula. Both the House and Senate versions of legislation addressing the Medicare physician payment formula include the key provisions from Grassley and Wyden's Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act (Medicare DATA Act). This … Continue Reading
December 10, 2013
Wyden, Thune Introduce Bill to Promote Strong Rules to Protect the Digital Economy and Global, Open Internet
WASHINGTON-Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, today introduced legislation to protect the Internet from restrictive measures that obstruct the free flow of data in the global economy. The Digital Trade Act of 2013 would establish negotiating … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Wyden, Udall, Heinrich: Use of Lethal Force Against Anwar al-Aulaqi Was Legal; Public and Congress Deserve More Info on Targeted Killing Rules
Washington, D.C. - After considerable review of both the decision to use lethal force against Anwar al-Aulaqi and the rules governing such "targeted killings," U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have concluded that the use of lethal force against al-Aulaqi - an American -- met legal standards. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the senators - all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - said the lethal action against … Continue Reading
November 26, 2013
Wyden Releases O&C Legislation that Increases Timber Harvest, Creates Private-Sector Jobs, Protects Old Growth and Sensitive Areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seeking to improve the management of O&C lands and boost timber harvests while upholding bedrock environmental laws, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today announced legislation that takes a science-first approach to managing 2.1 million acres of federal land, streamline environmental review of timber sales and protect old growth trees, clean water, fish and endangered species. "This new foundation will more than double our timber harvest across 18 timber counties and ensure … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Udall, Wyden, Heinrich Urge Solicitor General to Set Record Straight on Misrepresentations to U.S. Supreme Court in Clapper v. Amnesty
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli today to answer a series of questions regarding statements and oral arguments the government made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Statements made in the recent case Clapper v. Amnesty International inaccurately described how the government collects Americans' private communications, specifically omitting recently declassified collection criteria. Udall, Wyden … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Udall, Wyden, Heinrich Challenge Effectiveness of Dragnet Surveillance Program in NSA Court Case
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today challenged the effectiveness of the National Security Agency's bulk phone records collection program. The senators' amicus curiae brief, filed in theFirst Unitarian Church vs. National Security Agency U.S. District Court case, questioned a central premise of the government's argument. The brief argues that after extensive review, … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Wyden Continues to Lead Fight Against Child Trafficking
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Representatives Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at combatting child trafficking. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would support and protect victims of child trafficking with increased resources for law enforcement and victim services that would be funded through fines on offenders. The bill would establish a "Domestic Trafficking … Continue Reading
November 18, 2013
Wyden to Hold Curry, Coos Town Halls
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual Curry and Coos County town halls in Brookings on Saturday, November 23, 2013, and Coos Bay on Sunday, November 24, 2013. Senator Wyden has held town hall meetings in every Oregon county every year since he was elected to the Senate in 1996. Curry County Town Hall Meeting Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013 Time: 2:30 p.m. Location: Chetco Activity Center550 Chetco … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
Video: Wyden Questions Elmendorf about Eliminating “Flagrant Tax Loopholes” at Budget Conference Meeting
Washington, D.C. - Below is a transcript as well as links to audio and video of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's round of questioning at today's meeting of the House-Senate conference committee on the federal budget. Wyden: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Director Elmendorf, I think we know traditionally, when you are trying to find a consensus for a conference like this, you look to both sides in areas where they are on record as supporting changes. For example, Chairman Camp in the House and … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee-along with Senators Ron Wyden, (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)-today introduced theStrong Start for America's Children Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality … Continue Reading
November 08, 2013
23 Northwest Lawmakers: The Bonneville Power Administration Must Remain Independent
Washington, D.C. -Every lawmaker representing Oregon, Washington and Idaho urged the U.S. Energy Department to maintain an independent Bonneville Power Administration that puts Northwest power users first, in a bipartisan letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz sent today. Led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., the 23 members emphasized the importance of correcting discrimination … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Wyden Applauds Senate Passage of ENDA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden applauded Senate passage of new workplace protections, and congratulated U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley for successfully shepherding the non-discrimination legislation through the Senate. Today, the Senate voted 64 to 32 to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) with Wyden voting in favor. ENDA would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire, or discriminating against those employed or seeking employment, on the basis of their perceived or actual … Continue Reading
November 05, 2013
Wyden Statement of Support for the USA FREEDOM Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a leader of the surveillance reform movement -- issued the following statement in support of the USA FREEDOM Act introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). "Today, I am proud to add Chairman Leahy as a co-sponsor of our Intelligence Oversight and Surveillance Reform Act. Our bipartisan legislation sets the bar for real, meaningful reforms to … Continue Reading
November 01, 2013
Wyden Statement on Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement on cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): "Sadly, automatic cuts in food stamp benefits begin today at a time when millions of American families continue to struggle to recover from this long recession. SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger and provides a true safety net. Families in every state will be hit by these $5 billion in cuts, and there's an ongoing struggle against … Continue Reading
