Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Secure Funding for Public Safety, Health, and Jobs Projects in Central Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 includes nearly $250 million for Oregon projects including $2 million to purchase land in the Columbia River Gorge, $300,000 for an updated 9-1-1 service in Wasco County, $238,000 for a project to aid families to improve the physical and mental health of disadvantaged children, and $232,000 to boost the growth of central Oregon's technology industry. These funds are part of … Continue Reading
March 10, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Secure Millions for Coastal Dredging Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announce today that the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 includes nearly $250 million for Oregon projects including $23 million to funds integral waterway maintenance and dredging projects up and down the Oregon coast. These funds are part of the annual funding for Fiscal Year 2009, and will complement the funding provided through the economic recovery legislation last month to improve our nation's infrastructure and allow the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2009
Bipartisan Legislation Would Secure Back Pay for U.S. Troops
Washington, D.C. - Working to ensure that U.S. service members receive all of the pay earned while serving in combat, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tom Harkin (D- Iowa), Ben Nelson (D-Ne), Pat Roberts (R-Ks) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced legislation today to retroactively pay soldiers for leave earned under the Post Deployment and Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA). Over 20,000 service members have not received their earned leave due … Continue Reading
March 10, 2009
Senators Announce Health, Education and Energy Funding for Southern Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 includes nearly $250 million for Oregon projects including $1.5 million to construct a geothermal power plant and $700, 000 for improvements to 9-1-1 services. These funds are part of the annual funding for Fiscal Year 2009, and will complement the funding provided through the economic recovery legislation last month."It is essential that Oregon remain on the cutting edge … Continue Reading
March 10, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Bring Much Needed Transportation Funds to Portland and the Willamette Valley
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 includes nearly $250 million for Oregon projects including $81.6 million for the Portland Mall Light Rail Project and $45 million for the Portland Streetcar Loop Project. These funds are part of the annual funding for Fiscal Year 2009, and will complement the funding provided through the economic recovery legislation last month to create jobs through new investments in … Continue Reading
March 09, 2009
Wyden to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Clackamas County
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host a town hall meeting on Saturday, March 14, 2009, at Willamette Falls Hospital, Community Education Center, in Oregon City. Clackamas County residents are invited to attend the open forum. Wyden holds town halls in every Oregon county every year. The Oregon City town hall helps kick off the 14th year of these meetings. Clackamas County Town Hall Meeting Date: March 14, 2009 Time: 5:30 … Continue Reading
March 05, 2009
Wyden to hold Town Hall Meetings in Columbia, Clatsop Counties
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host two town hall meetings on March 15 in Astoria and Vernonia. Residents of Clatsop and Columbia counties are invited to attend the open forums to ask questions and voice their concerns. Clatsop County Town Hall Meeting Date: March 15, 2009 Time: 1 p.m. Location: Oregon Seafood Center 2021 Marine Dr. … Continue Reading
March 05, 2009
Wyden Opens the Door for New Biofuels
Washington, D.C. - In a step that will encourage America's energy independence and improved forest health, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation today that would open the door for biomass from federal lands to become a source of fuel for cars and trucks. Biomass is a renewable energy source derived from trees, plants, animal and agricultural waste, and other organic materials. Wyden's legislation would lift a Clean Air Act restriction on the use of biomass from federal lands … Continue Reading
February 19, 2009
Oregon Leaders Welcome Navy Decision to Hold Public Meeting on Its Plans for Coast
Washington, DC- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley, along with Oregon Congressmen Kurt Schrader, David Wu, Peter DeFazio, and Earl Blumenauer, welcomed the Navy's decision today to hold a public meeting on February 26, 2009, in Tillamook, Oregon so that the public can respond to its environmental impact statement regarding future Navy operations along the Northwest coast. The meeting will take place at the Tillamook County Fairgrounds Auditorium at 4603 E. 3rd Street in … Continue Reading
February 18, 2009
Wyden Holds 500th Town Hall Meeting
Fossil, OR - Marking a milestone in a promise he made to Oregonians 13 years ago, Senator Ron Wyden held his 500th town hall yesterday in the Wheeler County community of Fossil, the site of his first town hall in 1996. County Judge Jeanne Burch welcomed Wyden and read a proclamation from Governor Kulongoski declaring February 17, 2009 to be "Ron Wyden 500th Town Hall Day." "The people of Fossil along with the tens of thousands of Oregonians who have attended these town halls over the years … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Wyden to hold Town Hall Meeting in Marion County
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host a town hall meeting in Salem on February 21, 2009. Residents of Marion County are invited to attend the open forum to ask questions and voice their concerns. During his 1996 U.S. Senate campaign, Wyden promised to hold town hall meetings in every Oregon county each year. The event in Salem helps kick off the 14th year of these meetings, which now total more than 500. Marion County Town Hall Meeting Date: February 21, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
U.S. SENATE CELEBRATES OREGON'S SESQUICENTENNIAL
Washington D.C. - The United States Senate today unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley celebrating 150 years of Oregon statehood. The action comes two days before Oregon's sesquicentennial."Since its first days, Oregon has embodied the pioneering spirit of our nation. It has always attracted people who are exploring for new ideas and new ways of life," Wyden said. "As we celebrate its 150th year as a state, I'm honored to work for the Oregon … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
NEWS CONFERENCE on Monday, February 16: Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, County Chair Ted Wheeler, Metro Council President David Bragdon, City Commissioner Nick Fish, and others
WHO: Senator Ron WydenSenator Jeff MerkleyMultnomah County Chair Ted WheelerMetro Council President David BragdonPortland City Commissioner Nick Fish Cathy Mincberg, COO, Portland Public Schools Matthew Garrett, director, ODOTOther local appointed and elected officials WHAT: News conference on what the economic stimulus package means for Oregon WHEN: Noon, Monday, February 16, 2009 WHERE: Multnomah County Office Building (lobby), 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland Portland, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Wyden-Inspired Program to Create Jobs Included in Economic Recovery Package
Washington, D.C. - Fighting to make sure all Americans can "get in on the ground floor" of the economic recovery, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) announced today that a version of his Build America Bonds program was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The program will create much-needed jobs for Oregon and the nation through investment in infrastructure construction and repair."This is an innovativesolution to a national problem that rewards Americans for … Continue Reading
February 13, 2009
Senate Passes Economic Recovery Package
Washington, D.C. - Helping move the country towards more solid financial footing, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today cast his vote in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The compromise package was the result of a conference committee between House and Senate negotiators and passed the Senate by a vote of 60 to 38. The package includes at least $1.78 billion in funding for Oregon to create and save thousands of good-paying jobs, upgrade the state's roads and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2009
Wyden Won't Quit Effort to Recover Wall Street Bonuses for Taxpayers
Washington, D.C. - Thanking his cosponsors Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) for their leadership in fighting for the recovery of employee bonuses to financial institutions that took "federal bailout" funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said that he would find an opportunity to reintroduce the Wyden-Snowe-Lincoln amendment which was stripped from the final language of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act … Continue Reading
February 11, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Petition for Education Stimulus Funds
Washington, D.C. - Citing the crippling effect budget shortfalls will have on education in Oregon and around the country, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) asked Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today to restore reduced education funding in the economic recovery package. The House version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contains more than $60 billion more in state education assistance than the Senate version which passed yesterday. Wyden and Merkley … Continue Reading
February 10, 2009
Wyden Fights for Oregon in Economic Recovery Package
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February 06, 2009
Wyden Returns to Wheeler County to Hold 500th Town Hall on Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, keeping to a promise he made to Oregonians in 1996, will hold his 500th town hall meeting in the Wheeler County community of Fossil on Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Fossil was the site of Wyden's first town hall meeting as a United States senator on the same date in 1996. Since then, he has held a town hall meetings in every Oregon county every year. The Fossil town hall will be preceded by a town hall meeting earlier that day in Condon in Gilliam County … Continue Reading
February 06, 2009
Oregon Delegation Asks Ag Secretary for Disaster Declaration for Oregon Nurseries
Washington, DC- Listening to the concerns of Oregon's nursery industry, which is currently facing steep production losses in the wake of this winter's extreme weather, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader, Peter DeFazio, David Wu, and Greg Walden, today asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to grant Oregon Governor Kulongoski's request for a disaster declaration. Governors request such declarations after examining damage … Continue Reading
