Press Releases
Sen. Wyden co-sponsors no permanent bases resolution for Iraq
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today signed on as a co-sponsor of an amendment to express the sense of Congress that the United States should not establish permanent military bases in Iraq or exercise control over the natural resources of Iraq. The provision will be offered as an amendment to the emergency supplemental appropriations bill currently being debated in the U.S. Senate."We need to send a message to the Iraqi people and the rest of the world that the United States is not in … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
U.S. Senate passes Defense spending bill with millionsfor Oregon nanotech, other defense projects
Washington, D.C. - The full U.S. Senate last night approved its Defense appropriations bill, which includes millions of dollars in funding for Oregon projects advocated by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith. In addition to more than $11 million for Oregon nanotechnology projects through the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), the legislation includes significant funding for research and development of new medical, energy and other technologies with the potential … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Pension Reform Bill with Key Provision for PGE Employees Now Heads to President
Washington, DC A provision by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith to help Portland General Electric (PGE) employees catch up on their retirement savings was included in a major pension reform bill passed by the full U.S. Senate late last night.Many PGE employees lost much of their retirement savings through Enrons unforgivable actions, Wyden said. This catch-up language will help the folks hurt by Enron to rebuild their retirement savings."No one should be faced with a loss of their … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Dorgan Raise Security Concerns at Army Explosives Plant
Washington, DC - After learning of disturbing allegations of lax security at the Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Kingsport, Tennessee, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) are calling for an immediate investigation into the practices of Wackenhut Corporation, the private contractor responsible for security at the facility. The Holston plant produces explosives used in U.S. weapons systems, including the Sidewinder, Hellfire, Tomahawk and Javelin missiles. As one Army … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden Says Congress Must Vote on Iraq
Washington Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) went to the floor of the Senate to call for a vote on the Presidents plan and budget for Americans continued involvement in Iraq. Wyden, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, cited the need for Congress to have a role as a co-equal branch of government in the future of the war-ravaged nation.I rise today to offer a simple proposition: Congress should act like a co-equal branch of government and vote on whether or not to keep … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden blocks legislation to overturnOregon's physician aid in dying law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today took swift action to prevent the U.S. Senate from considering legislation that squarely takes aim at Oregon's physician aid in dying law and the will of the state's voters."We are just two months from Election Day in which local, state, and federal elections will be held. Many states will have numerous ballot initiatives covering every issue imaginable. Voters need to know they can debate even the most emotional wrenching issues through the … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Oregon Speaks Out for Net Neutrality
PORTLAND -- Sen. Ron Wyden today joined large and small business owners, labor leaders and consumer advocates in calling on Congress to protect Network Neutrality -- the endangered principle that ensures all Web sites and services are treated equally."The powerful interests that control the pipes are trying to take control of the Internet away from their consumers by creating discriminatory networks that play favorites," said Senator Wyden, the first member of Congress to introduce legislation … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden Urges Senate Energy Panel to Bring Kempthorne to Hill to Answer Questions about Interior Ethics Abuses
Washington, D.C. - In the wake of a scathing Inspector General's report and news accounts alleging serious charges against personnel at the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold a hearing so that Senators may question Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne about the allegations and what he has done to address ethics problems since becoming Secretary.Wyden, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Bond, Senators Ask for Review of Classified Information in Senate Intelligence Report, Say Documents Were Overclassified
Washington, DC - A bipartisan group of Senators who serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee today asked an independent board that oversees classification of information to review the documents to determine if in fact too much was kept secret in the recently released Senate Intelligence reports.in a letter to the head of the Public Interest Declassification Board, the Senators wrote, "The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on which we serve, recently released two reports addressing … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Smith-Wyden Unveil Health Care Plan
PORTLAND, OR - Today, U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) unveiled a proposal creating a pilot program to give access to provide health insurance to uninsured Americans and those with catastrophic health care costs. The Catastrophic Health Coverage Promotion Act creates at least four state-based pilot projects that target the uninsured and individuals with catastrophic … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden addresses national coalition,continues drumbeat for county payments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today called on Congress and the Administration to make a fully-funded, long-term extension of the county payments law a top priority in the year ahead. Wyden's remarks came at a speech before the National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition conference in Washington, D.C., today."We need to remind the rest of Congress and the Administration how much these funds mean to rural communities - for schools, for roads, and for basic county operations," … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden Amendment to End Secret Holds Approved by Senate
Washington, DC - After nearly a decade-long effort, the Senate today passed an amendment by a vote of 84-13 to end the process of secret holds championed by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), along with Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Ken Salazar (D-Colo.). The Wyden-Grassley-Inhofe-Salazar amendment requires a Senator who intends to object to a unanimous consent request to publish in the Congressional Record within three days a notice of the objection. It does not … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Salmon Fisheries Failure DeclaredEfforts turn to securing funding
Portland, OR - U.S. Department of Commerce officials met with Oregon salmon fishermen today and declared a salmon fisheries failure. The declaration reinforces Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden's (D-OR) efforts to secure direct aid for the fishermen."Oregon's fishermen now have priority for aid," Smith said. "The declaration clears the way for federal funds to be distributed to the fishermen and businesses supported by salmon fishing. I am going to continue pressing … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Smith Propose More than 125,000 Acres for Wilderness Designation on Mount Hood and in Columbia River Gorge
Portland, OR - More than two decades after the last wilderness areas were added to protect Mount Hood, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today unveiled their bipartisan proposal to permanently protect more than 125,000 acres of wilderness on Mount Hood and in the Columbia River Gorge - an increase of almost 70 percent over existing wilderness protections. It also would grant Wild and Scenic River protections to an additional 79.8 miles of rivers in Oregon and create more than 18,000 … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden: "It's d?j? vu all over again."
Washington, D.C. - As already reported voting difficulties continue to frustrate voters in another decisive election, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden renewed his proposal to simplify the way Americans vote. Wyden has introduced legislation to provide funds to help states adopt Vote by Mail election systems, such as Oregon's. "The great Yogi Berra said it best: 'It's Déjà vu all over again.' Except instead of the boys of October, we're talking about the long lines and … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden provision keeps companieswith ailing pension plans from hoardingcash for executives
Washington, DC A provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden to keep companies with significantly under-funded employee pension plans from locking away retirement funds for top company executives was included in a major pension reform bill passed by the full U.S. Senate late last night."Everyones retirement savings, whether theyre an executive or an entry-level employee, should be treated fairly, Wyden said. This provision will ensure that if a companys pension plan is in financial … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden blocks Telecom Legislationover ineffective net neutrality provision
Washington, DC-U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that he has placed a "hold" on major telecommunications legislation recently approved by the Senate Commerce Committee until clear language is included in the legislation that prevents discrimination in Internet access. The legislation as currently written does not provide an effective policy on net neutrality, and instead opens the Internet up to large telecommunications companies and cable providers to charge consumers and small … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Smith Secure FundsFor Oregon Natural Resource Projects
Washington, DC- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon could soon receive nearly $5 million, and share in additional funds for natural resource projects across the state. Wyden and Smith secured this funding as part of the Senate's FY2007 Interior funding bill, approved this week by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill will now be considered by the full Senate for approval. "Part of what makes Oregon so special is the unique combination … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Wyden, Bennett Launch Plan to Put Millions of Energy-Saving Vehicles on American Roads
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) today proposed a plan that would reward drivers for buying more fuel efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.The Oil Independence, Limiting Subsidies and Accelerating Vehicle Efficiency (OILSAVE) Act would offer consumers a tax credit for purchasing qualified energy saving vehicles. The credit would be fully funded by eliminating a single, unneeded tax deduction currently available to oil companies."By limiting just one … Continue Reading
December 06, 2006
Senators Bill Bradley and Ron Wyden Call forNew Tax Reform Push on Eve of Election
Washington, D.C.Twenty years after the last major tax reform act was signed into law, former U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today teamed up to urge President George W. Bush to join Congress in once again enacting real tax reform for the American people.Bradley, the original senator to push for tax reform and author of legislation that was a model for the 1986 Tax Reform Act, remains one of the nations leading advocates for a fairer and simpler tax code. Wyden is … Continue Reading
