Press Releases
Sens. Franken, Wyden to SEC: You’re Wrong to Tell Telecom Shareholders that Net Neutrality Not a “Significant Policy Issue”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/10/11]-Last night, U.S. Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) reached out to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Mary L. Shapiro to object to a recent SEC staff ruling that AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon could exclude a shareholder proposal from its annual proxy materials. Staff at the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance based their decision on a finding that net neutrality is not a significant policy issue. The senators disagreed with the … Continue Reading
March 03, 2011
Small Business Needs Tax Reform Too
Washington, D.C. - The President and CEO of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and small business owners joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Congressman Pat Tiberi today to explain why Democrats, Republicans and businesses of all sizes stand to gain from comprehensive tax reform. Tiberi - a Republican from Ohio - chairs the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Wyden - a Democrat from Oregon - chairs the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Trade, Customs … Continue Reading
February 23, 2011
Wyden Creates Agricultural Advisory Committee
Portland, OR - Reaching into every corner of Oregon and across all types of agricultural interests, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today announced the 28 members of an advisory committee that will help him develop ways to improve opportunities at home and overseas for Oregon's farmers and ranchers as the Senate considers the next Farm bill. "Agriculture is a cornerstone of the Oregon economy," said Wyden, who chairs the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. "If we … Continue Reading
February 22, 2011
Wyden Begins Effort to Amend PATRIOT Act
Washington, D.C. - As a three month extension of the USA PATRIOT Act makes its way to the President's desk, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said Congress must use the newly added time to hold the "debate it has spent ten years avoiding." "Americans deserve laws that strike the best possible balance between fighting terrorism ferociously and protecting the rights and freedoms of law-abiding American citizens," Wyden said. "The … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
Improved Commercial Air Service, Crater Lake Protections and UAV Testing Sites Included in FAA Bill
Washington, D.C. - With the Senate passage of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill late last night, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced several provisions that will benefit Oregon, including improved commercial air service between western states and Washington, D.C., protecting Crater Lake from air tour flyovers, increasing testing sites for civilian uses of unmanned aerial vehicles and a Wyden-authored measure to improve recycling at airports. "This means that the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2011
President’s Budget Includes Reauthorization Funding for County Payments Program
Washington, D.C. - As President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2012 budget this morning, members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation announced that it includes $328 million to fund the first of a multi-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, commonly known as "county payments." The Oregon members recognized that this is only one step in their long-term effort to ensure that county payments will continue to provide a stable source of funding for … Continue Reading
February 10, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Bill Will Safeguard Stock of Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to secure the pool of affordable housing units for low-income families, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation today to allow excess funds in the federal Section 8 program -- known as residual receipts -- to be used to keep current affordable housing stock from becoming market rate housing when contracts expire. The Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act allows for the Department of Housing and Urban … Continue Reading
February 07, 2011
Judge Marco Hernandez Confirmed as District Court Judge for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - In the latest step in a career described as a "billboard for the American dream," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) congratulated Oregon State Court Judge Marco Hernandez today for being confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Oregon. Judge Hernandez -- a former dishwasher, teacher's aide and deputy District Attorney - was nominated to fill a vacant position on the District Court by both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama and has enjoyed … Continue Reading
February 03, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Bills to Transfer Federal Property to La Pine and Wallowa
Washington, D.C. - Continuing to look for ways to help two of Oregon's hardest hit areas grow their economies, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced two bills today that will allow La Pine and Wallowa to have access to hundreds of acres of federal land for community attractions, preserve their history and improve their infrastructure. "These bills give the communities the tools they need for economic growth," Wyden said. "Where tourism is a money-maker, … Continue Reading
February 01, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Amendment Will Protect Residential Through the Fence Agreements
Washington, D.C. - Fighting back against an FAA regulation that seriously devalues homes that have agreements allowing secure, private access to some rural airports, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), as well as Senator Jim Inhofe (R- Okla.) have introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill to overturn the regulation banning Through the Fence agreements. The bipartisan Through the Fence amendment will make it possible for home owners … Continue Reading
January 27, 2011
Resolution to End Secret Holds Overwhelmingly Passes the Senate
Washington, D.C. - A ten year, bipartisan effort to end the practice of allowing senators to place secret holds on legislation or nominations before the U.S. Senate met success today, with Senate passage of a binding resolution that will require public disclosure, in The Congressional Record, within two legislative days of an objection being made by any senator to Senate action on legislation or nominations. The reform effort was initiated more than 10 years ago by Senators Ron Wyden and … Continue Reading
January 26, 2011
In Speech to Cato, Wyden Calls for Modernizing Law, Providing Clarity on Geolocation
Washington, D.C. - As more and more highly advanced smart phones and GPS devices are slipped into the pockets, purses and cars of American citizens every month, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke today at an event sponsored by the Cato Institute Policy Forum about the stunning lack of legal clarity in digital intelligence gathering and ways to protect civil liberties without upending personal safety. "It seems clear to me that the explosion of portable electronic devices in our society … Continue Reading
January 25, 2011
Wyden: Calls on President to Start Different Conversation on Trade
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing the unique opportunity President Obama has to highlight the importance of global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, said he hopes that the president will use the State of the Union address to begin a candid dialogue about trade agreements. "The President has an opportunity tonight to speak candidly about the value of international … Continue Reading
January 24, 2011
Tiberi and Wyden: “Democrats and Republicans can work together on Tax Reform”
Washington, D.C. - Calling on President Barack Obama to rally Congress to tackle tax reform this year, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and the Republican Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Pat Tiberi, offered a list of reasons why they believe that Democrats and Republicans in Congress can and should work together on a major overhaul of the federal tax code similar to what President Reagan achieved with a divided House and Senate in 1986. "We … Continue Reading
January 19, 2011
Wyden Begins 112th Congress Without Long-Time Chief of Staff
Washington, D.C. After overseeing U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's (D-Ore.) successful reelection to the U.S. Senate, Josh Kardon - Wyden's long-time chief of staff, advisor and friend - announced that he will be retiring from his official role with the senator to focus on the consulting firm he began last year. "I can hardly think of a major decision that I have made over the last 18 years that didn't in some way involve Josh Kardon's advice," said Wyden. "Josh is the most gifted political mind … Continue Reading
January 13, 2011
Vernonia Schools to Receive $11.2 Million in FEMA Grants
Portland, OR -Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Congressman David Wu announced that the Vernonia School District will receive $11.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new grant comes in addition to the $150,000 in funding that the school district received through Congressional appropriations in fiscal year 2010. According to FEMA, the agency will acquire the existing Vernonia K-12 school buildings through its Flood Mitigation Assistance program. The $11.2 … Continue Reading
January 13, 2011
OREGON DELEGATION URGES SEC. SHINSEKI TO INTERVENE, REDIRECT ROSEBURG VA HOSPITAL STUDY
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-4) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki requesting that he intervene and correct a Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) study concerning the future of the Roseburg Oregon VA Medical Center (RVAMC). The letter states "We are troubled that the VA has spent $400,000 on this independent study that has little value for veterans or taxpayers. Rather it appears BAH worked … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Senator Wyden Urges Eligible Combat Vets to Enroll for VA Health Care Before Deadline
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is encouraging eligible combat veterans to sign up for enhanced health care services before the January 27th deadline. The enhanced enrollment window gave combat veterans who separated from service before January 28, 2003, an extra three years to be grandfathered in under Veterans Affairs health care rules that have since changed. "Since these men and women served, the VA's healthcare rules have changed in ways that could affect them," Wyden … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Wyden to Hold 13 Town Halls in Nine Days Starting January 14
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host town hall meetings in 13 Oregon counties starting Friday, January 14, 2011. Counties include Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Klamath, Jackson, Douglas, Lane, Benton, Polk, Marion, Clatsop and Columbia. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. Clackamas County Town Hall Meeting Date: Friday, January 14, 2011 Time: 10 … Continue Reading
January 10, 2011
Wyden to Address Human Sex Trafficking Conference in Portland on January 15th
WHO: Senator Ron Wyden WHAT: Welcome Address at the 3rd Annual Northwest Conference Against Human Trafficking WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 WHERE: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR Oregon Grand Ballroom #201 (corner of Halladay and MLK) Portland, OR - In a welcoming address at the 3rd Annual Soroptimist International Northwest Conference Against Trafficking in … Continue Reading
