Press Releases
Wyden, Portman Lead Effort to Make Medicare Secondary Payer Program More Efficient, Save Taxpayer Dollars
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) are leading a bipartisan effort that includes U.S. Senators Ben Nelson (D- Neb.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) to make the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Program more efficient and cost effective to taxpayers. The Strengthening Medicare and Repaying Taxpayers (SMART) Act will speed up the rate by which Medicare and its beneficiaries are reimbursed for costs that should be borne by another party. "Streamlining third party … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Wyden to President: Isn’t Congress Supposed to Approve International Trade Agreements?
Washington, D.C. - As the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) prepares to ratify an international agreement related to the enforcement of intellectual property rights, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - chairman of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Trade - sent a letter to President Obama today asking why the administration believes the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) does not require Congress's formal approval. According to legal experts, cited by Wyden, if the USTR ratifies … Continue Reading
October 06, 2011
Wyden and McGovern Introduce Resolutions Blocking Arms Sale to Bahrain
Washington, D.C. - As the Arab Spring spread across the Arab world, ordinary citizens in the Kingdom of Bahrain began to rise up and demand political and economic rights from their government. The ruling family, members of a powerful Sunni minority, responded through violent suppression of dissent - jailing and sometimes killing those who spoke out against the regime and anyone who aided them. Today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative James McGovern (D-Mass.) have … Continue Reading
October 06, 2011
MERKLEY, MORAN, TESTER INTRODUCE PROTECTING RURAL POST OFFICES BILL
Washington, DC -A bipartisan coalition of Senators today introduced the Protecting Rural Post Offices Act, which would require that a post office closure cannot result in more than a ten mile distance between post offices, measured on roads with year-round access. The bill is sponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). "In Oregon, 80% of the post offices on the potential closure list are … Continue Reading
October 05, 2011
Oregon Leadership Unites Behind Legislation to Extend County Payments Program
Washington, D.C. - All six members of the Oregon Congressional delegation - U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden - and Governor John Kitzhaber expressed unified support today for a county payments agreement they called "essential to ensuring a lifeline for Oregon's rural communities." For months, Oregon's Congressional delegation has been working with Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman on a … Continue Reading
October 05, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Send Letter to Secretary Panetta Seeking Medal of Honor for Henry Lincoln Johnson
Washington, D.C. - For more than 90 years, Sgt. Henry Lincoln Johnson - an African American World War I hero serving in an all-black unit under French Command - has been denied the Medal of Honor for single-handedly fighting off a German raiding party and saving the life of a fellow soldier. His actions earned him the French equivalent of the Medal of Honor in 1918. Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, urging … Continue Reading
September 27, 2011
Wyden Statement on Amanda Marshall’s Confirmation as U.S. Attorney for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after the Senate unanimously confirmed Amanda Marshall, last night, to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon. Marshall was unanimously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month. "Amanda Marshall was a tireless advocate for children and families while serving in the Oregon Department of Justice, was a superb nominee for the post of U.S. Attorney for Oregon and I believe will be … Continue Reading
September 16, 2011
Wyden Letter Prompts DoD to Change Policy Denying Injured Guard and Reserve Members Medical Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Coming on the heels of a letter sent to DoD undersecretary Dr. Clifford Stanley on Tuesday calling on the department to fix a policy severely inhibiting the access to healthcare injured National Guard and Reserve members receive after leaving the service, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) announced that Undersecretary Clifford has instituted changes to the Transitional Assistance Medical Program (TAMP) that will ensure separating servicemembers injured in combat receive the … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Wyden Calls for Ethics Rules to Prevent Revolving Door for Internet Domain Name Regulators
Washington, D.C. - As the online community prepares for a massive expansion in potential domain names and the expiration of the contract with the non-profit, non-governmental organization responsible for domain name regulation, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) raised concerns about the potential for bias and unfair favoritism stemming from a revolving door between internet regulators and the multi-million dollar domain name industry they formerly regulated. In a letter to Acting Commerce … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Wyden Calls on DoD Undersecretary to Change Policy Denying Injured Guard and Reserve Members Transitional Medical Assistance
Washington, D.C. - After admitting that the Pentagon's policy for providing transitional medical assistance to some of the most severely injured National Guard and Reserve members returning from combat and separating from active duty was flawed, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Dr. Clifford Stanley has yet to amend the policy more than 150 days after agreeing to change it. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sent a letter to Stanley calling on him to keep his promise to … Continue Reading
September 14, 2011
Bipartisan, House-Senate Coalition Introduces Legislation to Prevent Medicare Waste, Fraud and Abuse
New Medicare card protects identities, takes printed Social Security number off front of the new Medicare card WASHINGTON - To combat a reported $60 billion lost to waste, fraud and abuse within the Medicare system, U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Jim Gerlach (R-PA-06), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-03) and John Shimkus (R-IL-19) introduced legislation today to use existing "smart card" technology to protect seniors. Similar to the 20 … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011
Wyden Statement on The President’s American Jobs Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement in response to the President's American Jobs Act: "As we heard from the President tonight, there is no silver bullet for economic recovery. It is a fight to be fought on several fronts and to be successful we must make strides toward putting Americans back to work rebuilding crumbling transportation infrastructure, improving our manufacturing by getting tough on trade cheats and making the tax code simpler and … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011
Wyden Recommends Actions to Combat Unfair Chinese Practices Crushing the U.S. Solar Industry
Washington, D.C. - The global market for renewable energy technologies is increasingly being dominated by Chinese manufacturers reaping the benefits of unscrupulous trade practices that give them an unfair competitive advantage against U.S. industries. This is a critical problem for the U.S. solar industry facing an expected 240 increase in the import of Chinese solar panels this year. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chair of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on Trade, called on … Continue Reading
August 30, 2011
Wyden Statement on Mark Prater’s Appointment as Staff Director for Budget Supercommittee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today in support of Mark Prater -- a Portland, Ore. native and long-time aide to the Senate Finance Committee -- being named the Staff Director for the budget supercommittee. Prater has spent more than 20 years working on the Senate Finance Committee on tax and health care issues and is considered an asset to members from both parties: "Mark is a superb choice to serve as staff director of the Joint … Continue Reading
August 18, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Announce $14 Million for Transportation and Recreational Infrastructure Projects
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing that investing in transportation infrastructure is among the most efficient and useful economic multipliers available, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have announced more than $14 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for transportation and recreational infrastructure projects throughout Oregon. The grants awarded today will improve transportation and recreation for Oregonians throughout the state. Projects to … Continue Reading
August 17, 2011
Wyden Commemorates 600th Town Hall Meeting with Web Video
Fossil, OR - On February 17, 1996, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) held his first town hall meeting as a U.S. Senator in Fossil, Oregon. It was the beginning of Wyden's pledge to hold a town hall meeting in each of Oregon's 36 counties each year. After nearly 16 years of keeping that pledge, Wyden will be returning to Wheeler County this afternoon to hold his 600th town meeting in Fossil. "In 1996, I pledged that if I was chosen Oregon's first new United States Senator in almost thirty … Continue Reading
August 11, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Announce Grants for Community Health Centers in Oregon
Washington, DC - Continuing efforts to improve health care access for underserved communities, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $1 million from the Affordable Care Act to three community health centers in Oregon. Wyden and Merkley have long advocated for funding of community health centers. These centers deliver quality care and services, driven by the needs of the communities … Continue Reading
August 08, 2011
Merkley, Wyden, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Schrader Express Concerns Over Potential Oregon Post Office Closures
Washington, D.C. - Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-4), Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), and Representative Kurt Schrader (OR-5) sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe Monday expressing concern over the possibility that as many as 41 post offices in Oregon could be closed by the United States Postal Service (USPS). "USPS recently stated that 90% of post offices in small communities (post offices with less than $100K in … Continue Reading
August 08, 2011
Wyden Statement on the Death of Former Oregon United States Senator Mark Hatfield
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today on the death of former Oregon United States Senator Mark Hatfield. Hatfield passed away yesterday in Portland at age 89: "Oregon has lost a great son. The United States Senate has lost one of its former giants. The nation has lost a man who represented honesty and decency. And I have lost a very good friend. Senator Hatfield was a colleague and friend to many who still serve in the United States Senate and he … Continue Reading
August 05, 2011
Merkley, Wyden Announce Grants for Veterans Job Training
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced two grants from the Department of Labor that will assist homeless veterans with job training for civilian careers. The grants, which were awarded on a competitive basis to state and local organizations, will go to Easter Seals in Portland and Central Oregon Veterans Outreach in Bend. "This is great news for our Oregon veterans," said Senator Jeff Merkley. "Servicemembers and their families have already made … Continue Reading
