Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Economic Opportunity for All
Wyden Statement on President’s Address to Joint Session of Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the president's first address to a joint session of Congress: "At town halls all across Oregon last week, I heard from thousands of people who are hungry for real solutions. They believe in the Oregon Way, where it doesn't matter what your party is, it matters that you have good ideas, and the willingness to fight for them. Unfortunately, the president has not kept the promises he made to millions of … Continue Reading
February 20, 2017
Wyden Questions Misguided Digital Border Searches
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked the Department of Homeland Security to explain reports of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agents demanding access to Americans' locked phones and other digital devices when crossing the U.S. border. Wyden also asked about the department's plans to require visitors to the United States to turn over their private social medial passwords as a condition of entry. "These digital dragnet border search practices weaken our national and … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Senate Democrats Join Entrepreneurs, Advocates, Consumers in Defense of Net Neutrality
Washington (February 7, 2017) - Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), joined Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.), and entrepreneurs, advocates and consumers at a press conference where all pledged to oppose legislative and regulatory efforts to weaken net neutrality rules. Two years ago, after hearing from nearly four million individuals and companies, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Wells Fargo CEO Steps Down from Federal Reserve Panel After Call from Wyden and Merkley
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed news that Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf has stepped down from the Federal Reserve's Federal Advisory Council. Yesterday, Wyden and Merkley had joined colleagues in calling on the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's Board of Directors not to reappoint Stumpf to another term on the Council. The Council is responsible for consulting with and offering direct insight to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve … Continue Reading
December 15, 2015
Wyden Secures Major Provision of Recently Introduced College Affordability Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced a bipartisan deal on a major part of a bill he introduced to lower the cost of college by providing much-needed tax relief and greater economic certainty for students and their families in Oregon and across the country. A centerpiece of Wyden's PARTNERSHIPS Act was included in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act of 2015, which congressional leaders released tonight. The bill helps working families and makes … Continue Reading
September 15, 2015
Wyden, Barrasso Introduce Bill to Help American Soda Ash Producers Compete in Global Market
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., introduced bipartisan legislation to maintain competitive royalty rates on America's natural soda ash, which is critical in manufacturing industrial products like glass. The Soda Ash Competitiveness Act will set the royalty rate on sodium compounds (and related products) produced from federal land at 2 percent for five years. "Natural soda ash produced in the United States directly supports hundreds of jobs … Continue Reading
July 28, 2015
VIDEO: Wyden, Baldwin, Brewers: Pass Legislation to Boost Craft Beverage Businesses & American Economy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., hosted a "Happy Half-Hour Hangout" on Google yesterday with craft brewers Gary Fish, owner of Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon, and Jeff Hamilton, President of Sprecher Brewing Co. in Glendale, Wisconsin. "From our discussion, it's clear our laws should be helping breweries and other craft beverage makers grow, not cut them off with redtape and taxes," Wyden said. "I look forward to working with Sen. Baldwin and … Continue Reading
June 29, 2015
Wyden to Visit All of Oregon’s Seven Wonders in Seven Days
Portland, OR - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden joined with Travel Oregon officials on Monday to kick off his weeklong tour of the state's 7 Wonders, spotlighting the huge economic role each natural icon plays in creating recreation and tourism jobs throughout Oregon. Wyden's news conference with Travel Oregon and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer was at KEEN, one of the many Oregon businesses that benefits from the economic spinoffs of the state's recreation economy. Wyden's trip through Fourth of July weekend … Continue Reading
June 24, 2015
Wyden, Markey, Franken, Blumenthal, Cantwell, Call on FCC to Boost Mobile Competition in Spectrum Auction
WASHINGTON - Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) today sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging it to craft spectrum auction rules for the upcoming incentive auction that increase competition, innovation and consumer choice in the mobile phone marketplace by ensuring that companies of all sizes have access to spectrum. With demand for data-driven wireless devices … Continue Reading
June 12, 2015
Wyden Sponsors Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act
Portland, Ore. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has introduced legislation that would promote continued job creation in the growing craft beverage, cider, wine and distillery industries throughout Oregon and the country. The Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act, S.1562, introduced Thursday would cut taxes and modernize outdated regulations for craft brewers, cider makers, vintners, and distillers. In Oregon, those industries are responsible for an estimated 40,000 jobs collectively and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2015
Wyden: Senate Renews a Lifeline for Rural Oregon Roads, Schools and First Responders
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., praised the Senate's move tonight to extend a lifeline to rural Oregon communities with passage of a two-year renewal of the Secure Rural Schools program. "This extension ends months of uncertainty for Oregon's rural communities, who have grappled with on-again, off-again funding for roads, schools and first responders," Wyden said. "Renewed county payments buy us time to build support for solutions that address the broader economic issues … Continue Reading
March 24, 2015
Wyden: Glad House Leadership Decided to Stop Playing Politics with Rural Oregon Safety Net
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the importance of extending the Secure Rural Schools and County Self-Determination Act. "It is good news the House Leadership has decided to stop playing politics with the safety net for Oregon counties. Their decision is a concrete recognition that linking the safety net to unsustainable and unacceptable logging practices can never become law," Wyden said. "As the author of the bipartisan Secure Rural … Continue Reading
February 13, 2015
Oregon Senators Announce Restoration of Veterans Employment Program
Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced more than $1.4 million for an Oregon National Guard program that helps servicemembers and veterans find jobs when they return home. When funding for the Joint Transition Assistance Program (JTAP) lapsed late last year, the Senators asked the National Guard Bureau to work with them to provide emergency resources. Today's announcement represents the fruit of the Senators' labor and is especially timely given that … Continue Reading
February 12, 2015
Wyden, Crapo Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Renew Safety Net for Rural Counties
Washington, D.C.- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today introduced a bipartisan bill to renew the Secure Rural Schools program, which supports schools, law-enforcement and roads in more than 700 rural counties across the country. "County payments are a lifeline for cash-strapped rural communities that are already facing shortfalls to pave roads, keep teachers in schools and firefighters on call," Wyden said. "This bipartisan bill keeps up the commitment the government … Continue Reading
February 11, 2015
Wyden: Oregon Cidermakers, Brewers, Vintners, and Distillers Would Benefit from Bills Heading to Senate Floor
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said that the state's economy is well-positioned to benefit from two bipartisan bills passed today in the Senate Finance Committee. Wyden, the Finance Committee's top Democrat, said one of those two bills would help Oregon's growing cider industry by updating antiquated excise taxes. Those excise taxes are outdated because their current definition of hard cider sets alcohol and carbonation levels that are too low, unfairly triggering higher tax rates … Continue Reading
January 20, 2015
Wyden’s Response to the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - "Tonight the President set out a new test for sustained economic growth," Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said. "This Congress will be measured by how much it increases wages for middle-class and all working families and expands opportunities in education and housing. I'm glad the President spent so much of his speech walking us through his ideas for providing opportunity in pay, housing and education and providing help for middle-class and all … Continue Reading
January 16, 2015
Leading Senate Democrats Join Together To Support Consumers, Open Internet For All
WASHINGTON - Democratic Senators Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Al Franken (Minn.), and Cory Booker (N.J.) issued a joint comment Friday in response to proposed legislation released by Republican members of Congress. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon vote on updated open Internet rules that will affect millions of Americans, and Republicans recently unveiled proposed legislation intended to preempt the FCC from enacting new net neutrality rules. The Democratic … Continue Reading
January 08, 2015
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Roll Back Hemp Restrictions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would allow American farmers to grow and profit from industrial hemp. The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2015 would remove federal restrictions on the domestic cultivation of industrial hemp. The bill would remove hemp from the Schedule I controlled substance list under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, and would define it as a non-drug so long as it contained less … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
Wyden: Rural Counties Lose Out After County Payments Left Out Of Spending Bill
Washington, D.C. - Today House Republican leaders rejected Sen. Ron Wyden's efforts to fund and pass county payments for one more year. The decision will leave cash-strapped Oregon counties with little money to fund law-enforcement, schools and roads. "Rural Oregonians deserve better than to have politics put on hold this essential lifeline for funding roads, firefighters and schools," Wyden said. "I will not stop fighting for Oregon's rural counties. I'll be back at it when Congress returns … Continue Reading
December 08, 2014
Wyden: Ensure Fair Trade for Oregon Workers and Businesses
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., testified today before the International Trade Commission to ensure fair trade practices and a level playing field for Oregon workers and businesses, including SolarWorld. The commission is examining the impact of unfair trade practices by Chinese and Taiwanese businesses as a result of a trade case filed by SolarWorld. The Oregon-based business successfully demonstrated that China was providing illegal subsidies to its solar producers, and filed … Continue Reading
