Press Releases
BPA Customers Would Pay $2.5 Billion More Under President's Budget Proposal, Wyden Says
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today blasted the President's proposed budget for the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which would lead to higher electricity rates and less reliable service for customers of the BPA. "The Administration is proposing a $2.5 billion hit to the Northwest economy through BPA rate increases, while at the same time taking away the BPA's ability to improve the reliability of its transmission grid," Wyden said. "Low-cost power is the lifeblood of our … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wall Street to Washington: Social Security Privatization Would Endanger American's Retirement Security
New York, NY - Today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined members of Wall Street's financial services industry as they caution Congress against the privatization of Social Security. Financial leaders - including rising stars on Wall Street - unveiled a letter to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in which they detail the significant financial risks for individual Americans if Federal payroll taxes are diverted from Social Security … Continue Reading
September 27, 2006
Wyden, Smith: Clock is Ticking on Mount Hood Wilderness Bill
Washington, D.C. Speaking today before a congressional panel holding a hearing on their legislation to permanently protect more than 128,000 acres of wilderness on Mount Hood and in the Columbia River Gorge, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith said Congress should capitalize on the momentum behind the bill and pass the proposal before the end of the year.The Wyden-Smith legislation represents an increase of almost 70 percent over existing wilderness protections. The Senators bill also … Continue Reading
September 22, 2006
Senate Commerce Committee Delays Vote on Nominee to Head FTC
WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation today delayed further consideration of the nomination of Deborah Majoras to become the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Today, because of a procedural rule invoked by Senator Wyden (D-Ore.), the Committee was blocked from considering Ms. Majoras' nomination. "I took this extraordinary step to send a clear message that protecting consumers is of the utmost importance, especially in the face of record … Continue Reading
September 22, 2006
GAO Report Calls for Federal Enforcement to Ensure Equal Educational Opportunities for Women, Girls
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) today announced the release of a report that looks at whether women are receiving equal treatment and opportunities in the fields of math, science and engineering under the Title IX statute. After listening to testimony from concerned scientists at a Senate hearing in 2002, Wyden and Boxer requested a General … Continue Reading
September 22, 2006
Wyden introduces Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2004
Washington, DC Following several public forums and months of public review and discussion, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today formally introduced the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2004. Wyden first floated his draft proposal to designate additional wilderness in the Columbia River Gorge and in areas surrounding Mount Hood, as well as to designate several river segments under the Wild and Scenic River System, in late March.With millions of current visitors to Mount Hood and the … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Presses for Lower Gas Prices at Hearing for Federal Trade Nominee
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today indicated that he will continue to block the nomination of Deborah Majoras to head the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), after Majoras failed to offer concrete commitments at her confirmation hearing as to how she would lead the agency to fight high gasoline prices. Wyden has long called on the FTC to stop oil company mergers, refinery closures and anti-competitive gasoline marketing practices that have been proven to drive prices up for … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Bipartisan Bill Would Curb Patriot Act Powers
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today to introduce the bipartisan Protecting the Rights of Individuals Act, which will define and narrow the new powers given to government agencies by the USA Patriot Act, passed by the 107th Congress in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks.Right now, the Executive Branch has greater powers to pursue potential enemies to the U.S. than at any time since World War II powers granted in the days … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Dorgan, Wyden, Waxman, Dingell Call to End Outsourcing of Oversight for Iraq Reconstruction
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representatives Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) and John Dingell (D-Mich.) today called on the Pentagon to stop outsourcing the oversight of large Iraq reconstruction contracts to private companies. They said the arrangement is rife with potential conflicts of interest and opens the door to significant additional waste of taxpayer dollars in Iraq. In a joint report issued by the House Government Affairs Committee … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Research Shows Law Would Force Majoras to Recuse on some FTC Oil, Gasoline Cases
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released research from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) indicating that Federal law would require Deborah Majoras, the current nominee to chair the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to recuse herself from some oil and gasoline industry issues coming before the Commission. Majoras has personally represented the oil giant ChevronTexaco as outside counsel in the last year; according to CRS, such a "past association" requires … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Report Details FTC Failures to Fight High Gasoline Prices
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released a report detailing the Federal Trade Commission's role in allowing gasoline prices to reach historic highs across the United States. The report, entitled "Campaign of Inaction: The Federal Trade Commission's Refusal to Protect Consumers from Consolidation, Cutbacks and Manipulation in America's Oil and Gasoline Markets," draws on Wyden's years of investigating anti-consumer, anti-competitive oil industry practices in the Pacific … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Gas Price Competition Bill Sees Action in Senate Committee
Washington, DC - Continuing his efforts to reduce high gas prices, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today testified about his Gasoline Free Market Competition Act (S.1737) before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights. Wyden's legislation would compel the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to identify and stop market manipulation that drives up the price of gasoline. Also today, Chairman Timothy Muris failed to commit the FTC to an … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden, Smith Secure $600,000 to Fight Meth in Marion Country
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Marion County's Methamphetamine Lab Surveillance and Seizure Program will receive $600,000 in federal funds. The funds will purchase surveillance vehicles to help the Sheriff's Office crack down on methamphetamine crime rings, and are included in the omnibus spending measure that will now be signed into law by the president. "Every Oregonian has a stake in the war against drugs, and … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Senate Majority Blocks Gas Price Relief by Stopping Wyden OPEC Resolution
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called for immediate consideration of his resolution calling on President Bush to pressure OPEC nations to increase oil production. Senate Republicans subsequently moved to block debate on the measure. The resolution (S. Res. 330) , which Wyden introduced on Friday, mirrors legislation authored in 2000 by the current U.S. Energy Department secretary, then-U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.), and the current U.S. Attorney General, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Calls for Immediate Action by FTC, Congress to Fight Gas Price Spikes
Washington, DC Citing a coming "perfect storm" in gasoline markets that will push prices past today's near-record highs, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today called for immediate action by Congress on the Gasoline Free Market Competition Act (S. 1737), his legislation pushing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect American consumers from anti-competitive practices at the pump. Wyden cited the FTC's inaction to stop gas price spikes, Shell Oil's planned closure of a 70,000-barrel-per-day … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Department of Education Makes Wyden/Castillo-Recommended Changes to "No Child Left Behind" Law
Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Education announced today that it will make changes to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law as recommended by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction Susan Castillo earlier this month. Wyden and Castillo unveiled a proposal to improve several components of the NCLB law on March 2; today, U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige announced changes to requirements for rural teachers and teachers of multiple subjects. In … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Fights Waste in Iraqi Reconstruction as White House Requests Additional $60 Billion in Funds
Washington, DC As the Bush Administration announced plans today to request at least $60 billion in additional Federal funds to rebuild and occupy Iraq, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) renewed his call for more accountability in the spending of American tax dollars there. Wyden urged his Congressional colleagues to finally pass a measure requiring the Administration to explain why it chose to let billions of dollars in private contracts for Iraqi reconstruction without allowing open and … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden, Smith Secure $2.75 Million for Oregon Health, Education and Job Training Programs
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced $2.75 million in Federal funding for Oregon health and human services programs. These funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2004 omnibus funding measure that will now be signed into law by the president. The bill also requires a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study to consider the affordability of prescription drugs to American consumers when taxpayer-funded drug technologies are transferred to the … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
New government report criticizes current wildfire suppression budget practices
Washington, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Larry Craig (R-ID) and several colleagues today released a U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) report blasting current wildfire suppression budget practices. The report, commissioned by Wyden, Craig and other members of Congress, identifies problems created by the practice of transferring funding from one project to another within agencies when those agencies have insufficient budgets for fighting wildfires. For the last two years, Federal … Continue Reading
September 19, 2006
Wyden Calls on President Bush to Deliver Promised Education Funds
Washington, DC - As he continues statewide listening sessions on Federal education policy during visits to Redmond, Salem and Pendleton this week, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called on President Bush to "reverse course" on his decision to only partially fund the "No Child Left Behind" law, after a White House announcement indicated that the largest single program in the law will be … Continue Reading
