Press Releases
Senators Dorgan and Wyden Introduce Bill to Safeguard Against Abuse of Government Credit Cards, Prevent Fraud During Hurricane Clean-Up
WASHINGTON, D.C --- U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced legislation that would reverse language included in the emergency Hurricane Katrina spending bill that they say paves the way for potential abuse of certain government credit cards, which have been grossly mismanaged in the past. Government procurement rules allow small purchases to be made with a government credit card, bypassing some bidding procedures that govern larger purchases. The rules are … Continue Reading
September 30, 2005
Intelligence Authorization Bill Supports Funding for Declassified Board
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today announced that the FY2006 Intelligence Authorization legislation approved by the Committee now recommends ongoing funding for the government's Public Interest Declassification Board. Every year the government spends billions of dollars to classify millions of documents, often without justification. Wyden and U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) were successful last year in expanding … Continue Reading
September 29, 2005
Wyden, Smith Securing Funds for Oregon Defense Projects
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved at least $109 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon, including significant funding for a number of Oregon nanotechnology projects. These funds are now included in the FY2006 Defense spending bill, which must now be approved by the full Senate.Oregon is a leader in using new technologies like nanotech for the benefit of the U.S. … Continue Reading
September 28, 2005
Wyden, Allen Call on DHS to Implement Communications, Tech 'National Guard' in Wake of Recent Hurricanes
Washington, DC - In the wake of communications failures caused by the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and George Allen (R-Va.) today sent a letter urging Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Michael Chertoff to finally implement the National Emergency Technology Guard, or "NET Guard," authorized in the Homeland Security Act passed in 2002. "NET Guard," or a "technology equivalent of the National Guard," is to be comprised of teams of local … Continue Reading
September 22, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure FundsFor Oregon, OSU Agriculture Projects
Washington, DC Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith announced the U.S. Senate has passed legislation providing agricultural projects in Oregon with millions of dollars in federal funds. The Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill now enters into conference with the House of Representatives.Farm operations are the backbone of rural Oregon and research fuels their long-term prosperity, said Smith. Oregon has a rich tradition of agricultural production, but its a changing industry and … Continue Reading
September 22, 2005
Senate Approves Fundingfor Oregon Military Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate has approved more than $7 million in funding for Oregon military facility construction projects. The funding was included in the FY 2006 Veterans Administration and Military Construction appropriations bill; the legislation now moves to a conference committee to work out differences between it and the House version of the bill.Oregons military personnel play an important role in … Continue Reading
September 15, 2005
Senate Approves Funding for Salmon Recovery, Ocean Research in Oregon
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the U.S. Senate has approved funding for the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund and for Oregon State University (OSU) for oceanic observation research. The funding approved today was included in the Senate's FY 2006 Commerce/Justice/Science (CJS) funding bill; the legislation now moves to a Conference Committee to work out differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, and to direct … Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
Wyden, Fellow Democrats Call for Safety Measuresto Protect Consumers Against Gas Price Gouging
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today joined fellow Democratic leaders to fight gas price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Measures called for today by U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Wyden and others would give the President the authority to declare a national energy emergency and strengthen the hand of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) when fighting illegal price gouging that hits Oregonians and all consumers hard at the pumps.Before Hurricane Katrina, years … Continue Reading
September 14, 2005
Wyden Seeks to Implement New Recommendationson Title IX Compliance at Federal Agencies
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced today that he will seek to amend the Commerce, Science and Justice Appropriations legislation currently before the U.S. Senate to implement new recommendations from the RAND Corporation on Title IX compliance in the awarding of grant funds from Federal agencies. A report commissioned by a 2002 Wyden amendment and released by RAND today found that many Federal agencies do not keep adequate track of whether Federal research grants at … Continue Reading
August 24, 2005
Wyden, Smith Applaud Move to Close Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today welcomed the vote of the Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission to accept the Pentagon's recommendation to close the Umatilla Chemical Depot once its current mission is complete. Including Umatilla, the Army has eight installations currently storing chemical weapons in the United States; in a letter to BRAC Chairman Anthony Principi earlier this year, Wyden and Smith supported continued funding and … Continue Reading
August 08, 2005
Wyden: Energy Bill a Series of Missed Opportunities
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee and a member of the Senate Energy Committee, criticized the Energy Policy Act of 2005 today upon its signature into law as not doing enough to reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil, and calling the bill a series of missed opportunities, stuffed with a smorgasbord of subsidies for energy industries like oil, coal, nuclear and ethanol. Wyden voted against the legislation in late July, arguing … Continue Reading
August 01, 2005
Statement Of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden On Recess Appointment Of John Bolton
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement on President Bush's announcement today that he would grant a recess appointment to John Bolton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations:"It is disappointing that the President would make this move in the face of strong bipartisan concern in the Senate about Mr. Bolton's long history of combative and un-diplomatic behavior. The President's unfortunate decision leaves unaddressed widespread concerns that … Continue Reading
July 29, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure Federal Funds for Oregon Natural Resource Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced Congressional appropriations of more than $13 million for Oregon natural resource projects in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2006, and an additional $5.6 million for projects in which Oregon will participate. The funding is included in the FY 2006 Interior appropriations conference report, approved by both the Senate and the House of Representatives this week. The bill now goes to the President for his … Continue Reading
July 29, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure $115 Million in Oregon Projects as Congress Passes Highway Bill
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced the final Congressional approval of the Transportation Equity Act of 2005. That legislation reauthorizes the Federal-aid surface transportation program, which includes federally aided highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. The bill will now be sent to the President for signature into law. The Senators released the list below of $115 million in approved Oregon projects earlier this … Continue Reading
July 27, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure Approval for $115 Million in Oregon Projects in Final Highway Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced the authorization of $115 million for Oregon transportation projects in the conference report for the Transportation Equity Act of 2005. That legislation reauthorizes the Federal-aid surface transportation program, which includes Federally aided highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs. The Senate's version of the "highway bill" was approved in May and has now been reconciled with the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2005
Key Wyden-Backed Measure Blocks Double Standards for Executives in Pension Reform Legislation
Washington, DC - A key provision championed by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) that would keep companies with significantly under-funded employee pension plans from locking away retirement funds for top company executives was included today in pension reform legislation being considered by the Senate Finance Committee. Specifically, the Wyden-backed provision would prohibit companies from giving executives deferred compensation - or retirement funds held in accounts outside of the same program … Continue Reading
July 26, 2005
Wyden-Talent E-Waste Legislation Moves Forward with Key Senate Committee Hearing
Washington, DC - Legislation sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jim Talent (R-Mo.) to combat the growing nationwide problem of electronic waste received a hearing by the Environment and Public Works Committee, a key step toward the bill being enacted into law. Wyden and Talent testified at today's hearing on their bipartisan Electronic Waste Recycling and Promotion and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which would provide consumer and industry tax incentives to create the … Continue Reading
July 22, 2005
Wyden, Smith Secure Funds for Community Development, Transportation Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that they have obtained more than $38 million for various projects throughout Oregon as part of the FY 2006 Transportation, Treasury, Judiciary, and Housing and Urban Development (TTJHUD) Appropriations bill. The legislation approved this week by the Senate Appropriations Committee includes funding for transportation and community development projects. The TTJHUD Appropriations bill must now be … Continue Reading
July 21, 2005
Wyden, Smith Win Funds for Oregon Military Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C.U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon could soon receive more than $7 million for military facility construction projects. The funding was included in the FY 2006 Veterans Administration and Military Construction Appropriations bill approved today by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The VA/MilCon Appropriations bill must now be approved by the full Senate.It is important that we recognize Oregons role in defending our nation, … Continue Reading
July 20, 2005
Wyden, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Hooley and Wu Enter Brief with Supreme Court on Upcoming Assisted Suicide Case
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.) and David Wu (D-Ore.) today filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in opposition to efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice to overturn Oregons Death with Dignity Act. In the brief, the Oregon delegation members maintain that the 1971 Controlled Substances Act (CSA) did not provide former Attorney General John Ashcroft with the … Continue Reading
