Press Releases
***ACTION ALERT: Call on House to Pass Sex Trafficking Bill***
Dear Friends, Today, we are one giant step closer to ending the scourge of human sex trafficking once and for all. The United States Senate has passed legislation that I sponsored with Senator John Cornyn of Texas that will help the victims of sexual trafficking and give law enforcement the tools it needs to prosecute those who prey on women and girls. Now it's time for the House of Representatives to go to work and not leave Washington before this job is done. I'm calling on all … Continue Reading
December 09, 2010
Wyden/Cornyn Sex Trafficking Bill Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - The United States Senate unanimously approved a bill to aid victims of modern sexual slavery and give law enforcement the tools to investigate and prosecute sex traffickers who exploit underage girls and force them into the sex trade. Sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act will create a six-state pilot program to help law enforcement crackdown on pimps and traffickers and … Continue Reading
December 09, 2010
Wyden to Honor Japanese American WWII Veterans; Open New Exhibit at Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center
Who: Oregon Senator Ron Wyden; 14 Oregon WWII veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service of World War II and their families What: Presentation of a framed copy of the legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the members of the 442nd "Go For Broke" Regimental Combat Team and of the Military Intelligence Service ; help open the Legacy Center's new exhibit titled "Taken" … Continue Reading
November 18, 2010
Wyden Calls for Senate To Vote for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal
Washington, D.C. - Alongside 13 Senate colleagues at a press conference this morning, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) called on the United States Senate to repeal the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy as part of the annual Defense Authorization bill making its way to the Senate floor after Thanksgiving. Wyden, who voted against Don't Ask Don't Tell 17 years ago as a member of the House of Representatives and has worked for its repeal in the Senate ever since, called Don't Ask Don't Tell a "toxic … Continue Reading
November 18, 2010
Wyden, Brown Introduce Bill to Move Up Date for Health Care Law’s State Waiver Provision
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing that what works in Springfield, Oregon, may not always work as well in Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Scott Brown (R- Mass.) introduced legislation that would give states the flexibility to implement their own health care plans when the bulk of the new law goes into effect in 2014. Under the current law, states won't be able to apply for waivers until 2017. The change would mean that states, with a history of innovating new … Continue Reading
November 17, 2010
Wyden Statement on Nominations for U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal
Portland OR - Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement today on The White House nominations of Oregon Assistant Attorney General Amanda Marshall as U.S. Attorney for Oregon and Lane County Sheriff Russel Burger as Oregon U.S. Marshal. "Amanda Marshall has been a successful criminal prosecutor in Coos County as well as an assistant attorney general in the Oregon Department of Justice where she earned the reputation as a tireless advocate for children and families. As U.S. Attorney, … Continue Reading
November 15, 2010
Wyden Letter to President Calls For Changes to H-2B Visa Hiring Regulations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to issue an executive order to ensure that American workers get the first shot at government funded jobs. Wyden is raising this issue with the President after it was revealed that four forestry companies used federal stimulus dollars to hire foreign workers without making a good faith effort to even alert Oregonians to the job openings. "By not listing their job openings with the Oregon State … Continue Reading
November 11, 2010
Wyden: Feds Issue Permit for In-Water Work at New NOAA Facility in Newport
Portland, OR -- Oregon Senator Ron Wyden announced today that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued the final review of the joint permit application necessary to complete dredging and piling work at the new NOAA facility in Newport. Work may start as early as today. Wyden called NMFS on last Friday after learning during a town hall meeting that critical in-water work at the NOAA facility was on hold until the necessary permits were issued. In-water work such as dredging … Continue Reading
November 10, 2010
Wyden Statement on White House Fiscal Commission’s Draft Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement regarding the draft report released today by the chairmen of the White House Fiscal Commission: "The Fiscal Commission demonstrates what Senator Gregg and I have spent the last year saying: By eliminating what amounts to tax earmarks for special interests, it is possible to simplify the tax code, promote economic growth and cut taxes for the vast majority of American families and businesses. Obviously, what … Continue Reading
November 09, 2010
Wyden Staff Uncover Chinese Suppliers Looking to Subvert U.S. Trade Laws
Washington, D.C. - To make the case for enhancing enforcement of existing U.S. trade laws, staff from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's Subcommittee on International Trade conducted an experiment to find out how easy it would be to find a Chinese supplier willing to engage in customs fraud to avoid paying U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD). Using a Gmail account to pose as a fictitious American company interested in importing Chinese products without paying U.S. duties, a single … Continue Reading
November 08, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Coos, Curry and Josephine Counties This Week
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold town hall meetings in Coos and Curry counties on Friday, November 12, 2010, and in Josephine County on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each Oregon county every year. Coos County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 12, 2010 Time: 10 a.m. Location: Coos Bay City Council Chambers 500 Central Ave. Coos Bay Curry County Town Hall … Continue Reading
November 02, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Malheur, Baker, Union, Wallowa, Grant and Harney Counties
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host town hall meetings on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, in Malheur, Baker and Union counties and on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, in Wallowa, Grant and Harney counties. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. Malheur County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 9, 2010 Time: 10 a.m. (Mountain Time) Location: Treasure Valley … Continue Reading
November 02, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Lincoln and Tillamook Counties This Friday
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold town hall meetings in Lincoln and Tillamook counties on Friday, November 5, 2010. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each Oregon county every year. Lincoln County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 5, 2010 Time: 11 a.m. Location: Newport City Hall 169 SW Coast Highway Newport Tillamook County Town Hall Meeting Date: … Continue Reading
October 30, 2010
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wyden Eastside Forest Legislation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2010 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack made the following statement in support of Senator Ron Wyden's Eastside Forest Legislation. "One of the most significant challenges we face in our National Forests is finding greater common ground among environmentalists, forest industry, and rural communities that allows us to support jobs in these communities and to restore our forests, to make them more resilient, to benefit water resources, to address climate change, to … Continue Reading
October 20, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $2 Million to Build Addition to Vets Home
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to improve the quality of life for Oregon veterans, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that the State Veterans Home in The Dalles will receive a $1.9 million Federal grant to construct an addition to the facility. The veterans home currently operates without a common room that can accommodate all of the residents, and the federal grant will be put toward constructing a facility to accommodate large gatherings of residents … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
Wyden Statement on USTR Investigation into Chinese Trade Violations
Washington, D.C. - In response to today's announcement from the United States Trade Representative that the U.S. has opened an investigation into possible Chinese violations of trade agreements regarding green technology, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - chair of the Finance Committee's subcommittee on International Trade - released the following statement: "China's willingness to subvert international trade agreements is becoming clearer and poses a serious risk to U.S. and global trading … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Praise $13.5 Million Grant to Restore Coos Bay Rail Line and Create Jobs in Southwest Oregon
Portland, OR - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statements Friday following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Port of Coos Bay with a $13.5 million grant to fully repair the Coos Bay rail line. "Rebuilding the Coos Bay Rail Line will help rebuild the economy in every community it touches. When CORP said this rail line and this community were worth nothing more than scrap metal, we said no. I'm proud to have led the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2010
Wyden Calls on BPA, PacifiCorp to Aid Facebook Expansion and Economic Development in Central Oregon
Portland, OR - Looking to create jobs and expand economic development in Central Oregon, Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Bonneville Power Administration and PacifiCorp to ensure that Facebook has the power it needs to expand its new facility in Prineville. "Facebook's decision to locate a server facility in Prineville is one of the bright spots in the Central Oregon economy and a harbinger of more construction and high-tech jobs to come," Wyden said. "Now, Facebook's effort to triple its … Continue Reading
October 13, 2010
CONGRESS URGES PRESIDENT’S DEFICIT REDUCTION COMMISSION TO LOOK TO CUTS IN THE PENTAGON’S BUDGET FOR SOLUTIONS
Washington, D.C. - As the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform reviews ways to address America's national debt crisis, Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) have brought together a large group of representatives and senators to call for a specific solution. In a letter sent Wednesday to members of the Commission, they call on the Commission to look closely at excessive defense spending in an effort to reduce the Federal deficit … Continue Reading
October 08, 2010
Wyden Statement on USTR Standing Up For Oregon Lumber Against Unfair Trade Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement today regarding the United States Trade Representative's announcement that it is beginning formal consultations with Canada over a de facto subsidy that British Columbia provides to its lumber producers in violation of the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement. Senator Wyden is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade. "The flood of subsidized Canadian lumber into the U.S. … Continue Reading
