Press Releases
Wyden Proposes Tax Fairness for Satellite TV
WASHINGTON, DC - Continuing to fight against taxes that make it harder for new technologies to compete against long-established ones, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the State Video Tax Fairness Act to ensure that the satellite television industry is not taxed at higher rates than other multichannel video program distribution (MVPD) services. The bill would end states' ability to charge discriminatory tax rates for satellite service over cable or Internet television."As the original … Continue Reading
July 31, 2008
Wyden and Smith Address Veterans Mental Health Care Failures
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Gordon H. Smith (R) and Ron Wyden (D) joined forces today in an effort to improve mental health care services for America's veterans by introducing the Healing Our Nation's Heroes Act of 2008. The bill will establish a commission to oversee services provided to veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and will recruit and train veterans to serve in the mental health care profession. "Whether it is referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder, shell … Continue Reading
July 31, 2008
Wyden, Collins, Dodd Seek Ban on Dangerous Novelty Lighters
WASHINGTON, DC - Responding to calls from fire prevention and child safety groups across the country, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) today introduced the "Protect Children from Dangerous Lighters Act" legislation banning cigarette lighters constructed to look like toys or regular household items. Commonly referred to as "novelty lighters," the toy-like devices, which naturally appeal to small children, have been the cause of deadly fires … Continue Reading
July 31, 2008
Wyden-Grassley Staff Proposes Level Playing Field for Oil Trade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to reduce excessive speculative trading in oil and other commodities, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) a member of the Senate Finance and Energy Committees and the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are circulating a staff discussion draft of tax fairness legislation today that would end lucrative tax breaks that speculators enjoy by taxing all the profits they earn on the oil commodities market at the same rate as ordinary … Continue Reading
July 28, 2008
16 Senators to McCain/Obama: "Work With Us on Health Reform"
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July 25, 2008
Wyden Seeks Declassification of FISA Court Opinions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an effort to better inform the ongoing congressional debate on intelligence surveillance law, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, sent the below letter today to the Public Interest Declassification Board. The letter asks the Board to review key opinions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court and determine which portions of these opinions should be declassified and publicly released. "It is impossible … Continue Reading
July 25, 2008
Wyden, Smith Announce Over $5 Million in Oregon Agriculture Projects
WASHINGTON, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced today that an agriculture appropriations bill headed for the Senate floor contains over $5 million for sustainable agriculture projects, infrastructure investment, and research. The bill has been passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the first step for appropriations funding."Oregon's agricultural producers have always been a pillar of the state's economy and we need to make wise investments to … Continue Reading
July 24, 2008
Wyden to Hold Town Hall Meetings in Wheeler, Gilliam, Sherman Counties on August 3
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host three town hall meetings on Sunday, August 3, 2008. Residents of Wheeler, Gilliam and Sherman counties are invited to attend the open forums to ask questions and voice their concerns.During his 1996 U.S. Senate campaign, Wyden promised to hold town hall meetings in every Oregon county each year. The events in Fossil, Condon and Wasco mark the 11th year of these meetings, which now total over 450.Wheeler County Town Hall MeetingDate: August 3, … Continue Reading
July 24, 2008
Wyden to Hold Town Hall Meeting in Klamath County on August 5
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host a town hall meeting on August 5, 2008, in Klamath Falls. Residents of Klamath County are invited to attend the open forum to ask questions and voice their concerns. During his 1996 U.S. Senate campaign, Wyden promised to hold town hall meetings in every Oregon county each year. The event in Klamath Falls is the 11th year of these meetings, which now total over 475.Klamath County Town Hall MeetingDate: August 5, 2008Time: 2:30 p.m. PDTLocation: … Continue Reading
July 23, 2008
Wyden, Grassley, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Fix Troop Pay Problem
Washington, D.C. - Working to ensure troops receive the pay they've earned on their tours in combat zones, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) today introduced a bill, which would fix a problem in the distribution of leave time under Post Deployment and Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA). Over 20,000 servicemembers have not received their earned leave due to a delay between the announcement of the leave program by the Department of Defense … Continue Reading
July 18, 2008
Wyden, Smith Announce Funds for Oregon Energy and Water Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced today that they are one step closer to securing critical federal funding for Oregon energy and water projects. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved these projects last week as part of the Fiscal 2009 Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which now heads for the Senate floor. "The management and protection of Oregon's abundant natural resources are vital to our state's economy and way of life," said Smith. … Continue Reading
July 17, 2008
Wyden, Smith Announce Funding to Boost Public Safety & Help Fight Meth
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced today that ten Oregon projects to improve emergency communications, fight methamphetamine use and prosecute cases of elder abuse are included in the FY 2009 Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS) funding bill recently approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill still requires Senate and House approval and the President's signature. "This funding will help Oregon remain a safe and secure … Continue Reading
July 16, 2008
Oregon Health, Education Facilities Slated for Federal Funds
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that $200,000 for repairs to the flood-ravaged Vernonia schools is included in an appropriations bill for Oregon health and education projects. The money is part of $3.1 million in Oregon projects in the recently approved Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. This is the first step for appropriations funding. Next the bill will come before the full Senate."From after-school programs in … Continue Reading
July 16, 2008
Wyden and Snowe Propose Prize Competition to Spur Nanotech Innovation
Washington, D.C. - Working to stimulate innovation and private investment in nanotechnology, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today introduced the Nanotechnology Innovation and Prize Competition Act. The bill would authorize the Department of Commerce to administer prize competitions in up to four nanotechnology categories: green nanotechnology, alternative energy, human health and commercialization of consumer products."This prize competition will prove that … Continue Reading
July 16, 2008
Conquer Childhood Cancer Act Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC - Honoring his friend, Jenessa "Boey" Byers, who earlier this year succumbed to childhood cancer, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) requested unanimous consent this evening to pass the Conquer Childhood Cancer Act. The bill was originally introduced by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) in 2007. After Ms. Byers began her one-girl crusade to secure passage of the bill in Congress, Wyden signed on as a co-sponsor of the legislation. She was only eight … Continue Reading
July 16, 2008
Wyden and Senate Colleagues Push for County Payments Funding
WASHINGTON, DC - Working to secure vital funding for hundreds of rural counties -- including 33 in Oregon -- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) along with twenty Senate colleagues sent a letter today to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) and Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) highlighting the broad support for a four year extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, commonly called … Continue Reading
July 15, 2008
Wyden Places Hold on Surface Transportation Board Nominee Husein Cumber
WASHINGTON, DC - Citing lack of qualifications and Oregon's CORP short line rail dispute, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced today that he will object to any unanimous consent agreement-a procedure known as placing a hold-on the nomination of Husein Cumber to the Surface Transportation Board. A former fundraiser for both President George W. Bush and Governor Jeb Bush, Cumber's regulatory experience in transportation is limited to two short-term political appointments at the Department of … Continue Reading
July 15, 2008
Wyden, Smith Announce $143 million for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Projects for Oregon
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONEMicrosoftInternetExplorer4st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-qformat:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}Washington, D.C. -- … Continue Reading
July 14, 2008
Wyden Praises Department of Homeland Security for Protecting Delivery of Immigration Documents
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden today praised the Department of Homeland Security for agreeing to change the method used to mail permanent residence cards in a move designed to prevent identity theft and reduce the number of lost or stolen cards."This is excellent news and I appreciate the attention to this important matter by Secretary Chertoff, the Department of Homeland Security and the Citizenship and Immigration Service," Wyden said. "This is a relatively simple change in … Continue Reading
July 11, 2008
Wyden, Snowe Introduce Legislation to Help Grow Nation's Telecommunications Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC - Working to help American telecommunications networks keep pace with rising international competition, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) introduced legislation today that would enact a five year moratorium on new or increased taxes on wireless telecommunications infrastructure and services. Currently, telecommunications services are taxed at a rate that rivals - and in some places exceeds - taxes on tobacco and alcohol."Americans are being hit hard … Continue Reading
