Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Rural Oregon & Natural Resources
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Boost Economic Development in Malheur County
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to provide Malheur County several economic development opportunities by maintaining and improving rangeland to support local ranchers and protecting the Owyhee River Canyonlands and surrounding lands for recreation and wildlife habitat. The Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act is introduced … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Wyden: The Recreation Not Red Tape Act is a Boost for Our Quality of Life and Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today highlighted the importance of protecting recreation opportunities for generations to come during a Committee hearing on his bipartisan Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act. The RNR Act would streamline the permitting process for guides and recreation enthusiasts, hold federal agencies accountable by making outdoor recreation a priority for the first time and increase … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Funding for Natural Resources, Emergency Preparedness
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations bill that provide critical investments in earthquake preparedness, water infrastructure, and wildfire suppression and recovery activities that are of particular importance to Oregon as wildfires become increasingly frequent and extreme. The Appropriations bill passed the full Senate today. "From flames that threaten homes to hazardous smoke … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Oregon Rural Priorities Funded in Spending Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill that will help Oregon's rural communities-from investments in rural housing; to research into the impacts of wildfire smoke on crops; to hemp, which is becoming a major cash crop for Oregon. The bill was voted out of the full Senate today. "Every year I visit every county in Oregon, and people everywhere want the same thing: a chance to earn a good … Continue Reading
October 02, 2019
Senators Call for Financial Certainty for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho and 27 of their Senate colleagues today requested that any end-of-year legislation include at least a two-year reauthorization of the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) and the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) programs. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, the senators wrote, " Congress has an obligation to … Continue Reading
October 02, 2019
Wyden Announces Statewide Effort for Wild and Scenic Rivers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is taking nominations from Oregonians through Jan. 20, 2020 for rivers in the state that deserve addition to the national Wild and Scenic Rivers list. "Whether you are a whitewater rafter, an angler or simply an Oregonian who believes strongly in protecting the river or stream that provides safe drinking water to your community, I want to hear from you," Wyden wrote in an open letter to Oregonians seeking river nominations for new … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Wyden Energy Storage, Hydro-Power Legislation Advances
Washington, D.C. - The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed a comprehensive energy storage package that includes provisions from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's Reducing the Cost of Energy Storage Act to promote the research and development of ways to lower the cost of energy storage technologies to make it possible for renewable energy to be used on a more reliable and affordable basis. The Committee also advanced Wyden's Marine Energy Research and Development Act, which would … Continue Reading
September 25, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Markey Reintroduce Legislation to Ban U.S. Oil Exports
Washington, D.C. - Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), have reintroduced legislation to reinstate the ban on sending American crude oil abroad. “The math simply doesn’t add up here. America shouldn’t be both importing and exporting millions of barrels of oil a day, wasting precious resources and time while furthering America’s dependence on oil,” Wyden said. “It’s time to stop propping up Big Oil and pivot, instead, to making a full-fledged … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Senate Democrats Press USDA to Justify Critical Honeybee Data Gaps
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined 21 Senate Democrats in writing to Sonny Perdue, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), expressing concerns over this summer's move by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to suspend the collection of honeybee data across the nation. While NASS recently reversed course under pressure, the decision-making that led up to that suspension remains a source of concern. "In July NASS announced … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Resolution to Protect Ambitious National Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., this week to reintroduce a resolution in response to the Trump administration's efforts to roll back federal fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards designed to fight climate change and protect Americans' access to clean air. The senators, along with 31 of their colleagues, reintroduced the resolution in advance of the administration's expected move to formally revoke California's … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Bipartisan Group of Western Senators Introduce Legislation to Provide Financial Certainty for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of Western senators today introduced legislation to provide long-term financial security for rural counties. The legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Cory Gardner, R-Colo., would reauthorize the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for ten years. The program provides critical resources to nearly 1,900 counties across 49 states. Counties … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Walden Press Feds on Large Air Tankers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden today pressed the Forest Service to explain why it has failed to award any "call when needed" (CWN) contracts to providers of wildfire-fighting large air tankers (LAT). The Oregon lawmakers noted in a letter to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen that the "call when needed" solicitation was originally issued in July 2018 and closed several months ago in April 2019. "As you are aware, CWN awards allow the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Funding for Rural Communities Hit by Severe Winter Storms
Portland, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $150 million is now available to help rural communities recover from substantial damages and losses caused by severe winter storms earlier this year, which closed roads and left countless families without power for weeks. Nine Oregon counties-Coos, Curry, Douglas, Grant, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Umatilla, and Wheeler-are eligible to apply for the grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which were … Continue Reading
September 03, 2019
Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Call on TriWest to Ensure Urgent Care Access for Veterans in Rural Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today pressed TriWest Healthcare Alliance on its implementation of the new urgent care benefit under the VA MISSION Act following reports that veterans in rural Oregon and Idaho are unable to access the benefit. The senators in a letter to the TriWest President and Chief Executive Officer David J. McIntyre, Jr. noted that veterans in rural communities in their state have … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Announce Investment in Conservation Program to Protect Whales Off Oregon Coast
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $26,205 federal grant awarded to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for its program to improve environmental conditions for whales off the Oregon Coast by reducing the risk of whales entangled in fishing gear. "Oregon has a proud history of conservation, and fishing is the lifeblood of our coastal communities economies," Wyden said. "This important investment is a win-win on both fronts, protecting threatened … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Wyden Introduces Bill to Improve Safety of Oil Trains, Protect Local Communities Against Derailments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., yesterday introduced legislation that would address safety concerns regarding the transport of oil via railways and to better prepare and empower local communities in the event of an accident. The Crude Oil Advanced Tracking Act would require railroads to share information regarding oil shipments with state emergency responders so they know what risk they face and allocate tens of millions in financial assistance towards emergency … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Urge Protection of Citizen Engagement in Public Lands Management
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged Donald Trump to protect vital, volunteer-led councils which currently inform Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public land management policy. Last month, Trump issued an executive order instructing all federal agencies to review their advisory panels and terminate at least one-third of existing committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Wyden and Merkley today in a letter to Donald Trump expressed concern … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Massive Investment in Central Oregon Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a massive, $60.4 million federal grant for a transportation project on the north side of Bend that will improve U.S. 97 and U.S. 20 highways and key local routes, while also incorporating multimodal connections like bike lanes and multi-use paths. "This is the kind of significant investment our country needs to be making in infrastructure and jobs," Merkley said. "By investing in infrastructure, we're … Continue Reading
July 23, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce Funding to Purchase New Electric Buses for TriMet
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a $2.1 million federal grant that will allow TriMet to purchase three new electric buses, advancing the transit authority's goal to convert its fleet of diesel buses to zero-emissions. "Climate chaos is threatening our future, and we need to act boldly and quickly to stop it," Merkley said. "Electric buses mean lower operating costs, as well as better health and less pollution. This federal support will not … Continue Reading
July 22, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Walden Urge Feds to Ensure Long-serving Local Fire Departments Can Continue to Battle Blazes on Federal Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden today expressed concern that a number of local fire departments may no longer be able to serve as partners to the federal government in fighting wildfires. The three Oregon lawmakers' letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary David Bernhardt follows the recent determination that Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service will allow existing cooperative agreements between … Continue Reading
