Press Releases
Oregon Legislators Introduce Bill to Conserve Water,Better Serve Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) have introduced legislation to allow the North Unit Irrigation District located in Jefferson County to participate in conservation projects funded by the State of Oregon. Some of the conserved water will be returned to instream flows on the Deschutes River to support fish and wildlife. The district will also have the option of distributing a portion of the conserved water to farmers and … Continue Reading
March 30, 2006
Wyden Cosponsors Legislation to Fully Fund County Payments Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced he is cosponsoring legislation introduced by U.S Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that will fully fund a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, commonly known as the county payments law, by closing a tax loophole that allows government contractors to avoid their tax obligations. In 2005 Wyden, along with U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), introduced a bill to reauthorize the county … Continue Reading
March 28, 2006
Wyden and Smith to Drug Czar: Where is the plan?
WASHINGTON, DC In a meeting on Capitol Hill today with the White House Drug Czar John Walters U.S. Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) pressed the administration to step up their efforts to stop the spread of the deadly and fiercely addictive drug Methamphetamine.Meth is creating a crisis for Oregon families, and we wanted Mr. Walters to hear that bipartisan message from two Senators who have seen its impact, said Wyden. The White House has got to be a better partner, and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2006
Wyden Statement on the Feingold Censure Resolution
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today regarding the Feingold Censure Resolution:Senator Russ Feingold recently introduced a resolution of censure of President Bush in response to allegations of illegal government surveillance on American citizens without a warrant. I understand the frustration that led Senator Feingold to introduce this resolution and support his right to do so without becoming the target of personal attacks questioning his … Continue Reading
March 16, 2006
Wyden, Graham Unveil New Senate Campaign Finance Reform Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) today unveiled bipartisan legislation to limit campaign fundraising for incumbent Senators. Specifically, the Senate Campaign Reform Act of 2006 would change Senate rules to prohibit Senators and their staffs from fundraising for re-election before the eighteen months prior to the date of the next general election for that office. Amidst a culture of lobbying reform and scandals involving money in politics, the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2006
Snowe-Wyden Measure to Allow HHS Secretary to Negotiate for Prescription Drugs Passes Major Hurdle
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) today won approval of language in the Senate's FY2007 budget resolution that is a critical step in strengthening the drug coverage offered to seniors under the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. The amendment, adopted today by a vote of 54-44, and co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), is based … Continue Reading
March 09, 2006
Wyden, NW Senators Win Budget Provision to Protect BPA Customers from Rate Hike
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won approval of language in the Senate's FY2007 budget resolution that is a critical step towards blocking an effort by the Bush Administration to force the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to increase rates to consumers. The budget language, authored by Wyden along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and adopted by the Senate Budget Committee today, clears the way for the Energy Committee to pass … Continue Reading
March 02, 2006
Wyden Moves to Ensure Fairness of Internet Usage with New Net Neutrality Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today unveiled ground-breaking new legislation that would ensure "net neutrality," or equal delivery of content on the internet, for consumers and business interests. Under Wyden's bill, the Internet Nondiscrimination Act of 2006, network operators would be prohibited from charging companies for faster delivery of their content to consumers over the internet or favoring certain content over others. "Creating a two-tiered system could have a … Continue Reading
February 28, 2006
Report Lauds Significant Successes of County Payments Law
WASHINGTON, DC -- Landmark, bipartisan county payments legislation authored by U.S Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was lauded in a new report released today by the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. The report also recommended that the Wyden-Craig legislation be renewed before it expires later this year.Todays report by the Sierra Institute highlights the significant community development thats occurred nationwide because of this law, said Wyden. Counties, … Continue Reading
February 27, 2006
Wyden Demands Intelligence Committee Fully Investigate NSA Domestic Surveillance
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement regarding the delays in the Intelligence Committee's efforts to investigate the NSA domestic wiretapping program:"The job of a congressional committee is to provide oversight, which is why it is vital that the Intelligence Committee investigate the NSA domestic surveillance program - it is our job. The committee has a responsibility to get the full … Continue Reading
February 22, 2006
Wyden, Dorgan Urge President to BlockDubai Ports World Company From Taking Control of U.S. Ports
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today sent the following letter to the White House urging the President to block immediately the Dubai Ports World company from taking a controlling interest in the operations of a number of U.S. ports. Wyden, who sent the letter along with U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), also requested that the Administration make publicly available all documents that led to the Administrations decision to approve of the sale of port security contracts to a United Arab … Continue Reading
February 06, 2006
Wyden and Smith announce $8 millionfor Nanotechnology Center in Oregon
Washington, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today announced White House approval of a proposed Oregon nanotechnology center and $8 million in funding over three years in the Presidents 2007 budget, which was released today. Inclusion in the Presidents budget is a major milestone for the state's burgeoning nanotechnology efforts and reflects the growing national recognition that Oregons nanotechnology sector is generating.Nanotechnology involves the use of materials on the atomic … Continue Reading
February 02, 2006
Wyden Questions Intelligence Chiefs on Domestic Surveillance, Terror Threats
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) questioned Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte and NSA Chief General Michael Hayden at a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today on issues of domestic surveillance and terrorist threats worldwide. In today's hearing, Wyden said that the right position on NSA wiretapping should be to say "trust, but verify," allowing Congress the opportunity to do effective oversight to verify citizens are being adequately … Continue Reading
January 31, 2006
Statement by U.S. Senator Ron WydenFollowing the Presidents State of the Union Address
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tonight commented following President Bushs State of the Union address:Oregon families have been talking to me mostly about issues where the second word is bill such as tax, medical, housing and college and they would see little relief from those bills as a result of what was proposed tonight.Im pleased to hear that the President is concerned about Americas addiction to oil. I hope he will work with me to break the habit and end the fix, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2006
Wyden, Allen Blast GAO Report on Internet Taxes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and George Allen (R-VA) today criticized the latest General Accountability Office report on internet taxation, noting that by failing to consult with the authors of the law, the report's conclusions about the impact of suspending taxation of wholesale internet services were flawed. The report, mandated under the 2004 Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, aimed to examine the effect of the internet tax moratorium on state and local revenues. "As … Continue Reading
January 20, 2006
Wyden To Oppose Nomination Of Judge Samuel Alito To The U.S. Supreme Court
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today announcing that he will vote against the nomination of Judge Samuel A. Alito, Jr. to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court when it comes to the floor of the Senate:"After days of hearings before the Senate and a meeting this week in my office with Judge Alito, I cannot reconcile the seemingly moderate and amiable jurist of the past few weeks with his two decade record of federal service. At this time when the … Continue Reading
January 18, 2006
Wyden Informs Senate Leadership He Will Block Legislation Overturning "Death with Dignity"
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today informed U.S. Senate leadership that he will block any Federal legislative efforts that would impact Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, which the U.S. Supreme Court upheld yesterday. In a statement submitted to the Congressional Record and in a letter to Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Wyden stated his intention "to use every legislative and procedural tool at my disposal as a United States Senator to block any attempt to … Continue Reading
January 17, 2006
Wyden Praises Supreme Court Decision Upholding Oregon's Physician Aid in Dying Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praised the 6-3 decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court today upholding Oregon's twice-approved physician aid in dying law. Last year, Wyden, along with U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) and David Wu (D-Ore.) filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court opposing efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice to overturn Oregon's Death with Dignity Act, enacted by the state in 1997. In that … Continue Reading
December 22, 2005
Oregon to Receive Federal Fundsfor Oregon Nanotechnology, Defense Projects
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon will soon receive $67.3 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon, including significant funding for a number of Oregon nanotechnology projects. The state will also share in $10.2 million for semiconductor research. These funds are included in the FY2006 Defense appropriations conference report, which now moves to the White House for signature into law.Oregon nanotechnology … Continue Reading
December 05, 2005
Wyden to Oppose Patriot Act Renewal
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced his intention to vote against and support efforts to filibuster the conference report reauthorizing the USA Patriot Act, citing concerns about numerous provisions that could compromise Americans' privacy rights that would be made permanent under the legislation. Specifically, Wyden announced his intention today to oppose the legislation because it does not include sunsets for controversial powers and diminishes congressional … Continue Reading
