Press Releases
Wyden Says Bipartisan Senate Internet Tax Deal Would Protect E-mail and Other Key Web Services From Being Taxed
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released the following statement regarding the agreement reached tonight by key Senators involved in the Internet Tax Debate."Today, I raised serious concerns about the legislation introduced in the Senate to renew the Internet Tax Freedom Act. I am pleased that steps have been taken to address some of the most immediate concerns and I will not object to further action on the legislation given the short time before the moratorium expires. "The … Continue Reading
October 18, 2007
Senators Question Administration Plan to Fill Strategic Petroleum Reserve
WASHINGTON - On the day that the price of oil reached an all-time high of $89.55 per barrel, seven U.S. Senators questioned the Administration's decision to reduce oil supplies by diverting millions of barrels of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "This action sends a message to the market place that the Administration is comfortable with current price levels," wrote U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and … Continue Reading
October 02, 2007
Wyden, Bennett Welcome New Senate Sponsors of the Healthy Americans Act
Washington DC - The bipartisan Senate effort to reform the nation's ailing health care system grew today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) announced that the Healthy Americans Act (S.334) gained four Senate co-sponsors, including two influential members of the Senate Finance Committee. U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) join a growing list of co-sponsors which already include: U.S. Senators Judd … Continue Reading
October 01, 2007
Wyden Provision Blocking Sale of F-14 Parts to Iran Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - Working to stop the sale of surplus aircraft parts to Iran, the U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which included a provision based on the "Stop Arming Iran Act" introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The provision will prohibit the Pentagon from selling surplus parts and equipment for F-14 fighter aircraft. Iran is the only country-other than the United States-that flies F-14s."This provision will keep crucial aircraft … Continue Reading
September 28, 2007
Wyden Amendment Enhances Prevention for Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Washington D.C. -- Working to enhance screening and prevention of childhood type 2 diabetes, U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today announced that an amendment giving states $15 million to combat the disease has been included in the final conference version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill (S-CHIP). Wyden is the amendment's sponsor. The S-CHIP conference report passed the Senate yesterday evening and will now be sent to the President for his consideration. "This amendment … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007
Senate Authorizes Oregon Water Projects
Washington DC -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) today announced the Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes $96 million in federal funding for water projects in Oregon. The legislation now moves on to the White House for signing by the President. "These funds will go to important infrastructure and watershed restoration projects across the state," said Wyden. "The long-term health of our environment is vital to the long-term health … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007
Administration Withdraws Nomination for CIA General Counsel
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today welcomed the administration's decision to withdraw the nomination of John Rizzo to be General Counsel of the CIA. "I opposed the nomination of John Rizzo to be the top lawyer at the CIA because he is the wrong man for the job," Wyden said. "I hope that the Administration's next nominee for the position demonstrates greater respect for the rule of law and a firmer … Continue Reading
September 19, 2007
Wyden Calls for Repeal of New S-CHIP Restrictions
Washington D.C. -- Calling the administration's policy a "cruel choice" for states that are working to expand coverage to the millions of children currently living without health care, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, today sent a letter asking Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt to repeal the Bush administration's recently announced eligibility restrictions for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). The … Continue Reading
September 13, 2007
Wyden, Smith Secure Over $50 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved over $50 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon. These funds are now included in the FY2008 Defense spending bill, which must now be approved by the full Senate."These projects are proof positive that Oregon can lead the way when it comes to the research and development of cutting-edge technology," said Wyden. "These funds will … Continue Reading
September 13, 2007
Wyden, Smith Secure Over $90 Million for Oregon Community Development, Transportation Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) announced today that the Senate approved the FY2008 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, which includes nearly $93 million for transportation and community development projects throughout the state of Oregon. After passage by the full Senate, the spending bill moves to a conference committee to work out differences between Senate and House versions of the legislation."By investing in … Continue Reading
September 10, 2007
Wyden, DeFazio Introduce Legislation to Protect Copper Salmon as Wilderness
Washington, DC - Working for the permanent preservation of the 13,700 acres that encompass the headwaters of the Elk River in Southern Oregon, today U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced the Copper Salmon Wilderness Act. Today's introduction is the culmination of more than a decade of cooperative efforts by local government, grassroots activists, community leaders, hunters and fishers, who have all advocated for the protection of Copper Salmon … Continue Reading
September 10, 2007
Wyden Statement on General Petraeus's Report
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) issued the following statement today in response to General David Petraeus's testimony before the U.S. House Armed Service Committee:"General Petraeus's focus on selective military successes in Iraq obscures the larger problem: military tactics are not bringing about political reconciliation. "For four and a half years, the Bush administration has been telling the American people that if we stay the course in Iraq conditions will change. … Continue Reading
September 06, 2007
Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Introduce Legislation to Restore America's Aging Roads, Rail Lines and Bridges
Washington, DC - In an effort to fund much needed new transportation construction and repair of the nation's aging roads, rail lines and bridges, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Thune (R-SD), Norm Coleman (R-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), David Vitter (R-LA), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced today the bipartisan "Build America Bonds" Act. By providing $50 billion in additional Federal transportation funding, Build America Bonds will empower all states to complete … Continue Reading
August 24, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Applaud Early Net Radio Agreements
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan), Senate sponsors of the "Internet Radio Equality Act" released the following statement in response to DiMA and Sound Exchange's announced agreement to cap the Internet radio "$500 per channel minimum royalty" at $50,000 per service."We are encouraged by the good faith efforts represented by this initial agreement. It is a promising first step in the negotiation process which we are hoping will make our legislation … Continue Reading
August 02, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Call CRB Rates for Webcasters "Unfounded"
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kan), Senate sponsors of the "Internet Radio Equality Act" released the following statement today regarding efforts to save Internet radio: "We sponsored the Internet Radio Equality Act because the Copyright Royalty Board's decision to dramatically increase royalties and apply what we see as unfounded minimum rates threatens to devastate the Internet radio industry. The fact is online radio services do not have enough … Continue Reading
August 01, 2007
"Combat Illegal Logging Act" Levels the Playing Field for American Business, Protects American Jobs and the Environment
Washington, D.C. - With the collective support of the timber and timber-products industry, organized labor, and the environmental community, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced the Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007 in order to halt the trade of illegal timber and timber products. American manufacturers are increasingly struggling to compete with the low-priced wood and wood products being harvested from illegal sources and illegal logging is a source of severe environmental damage … Continue Reading
July 27, 2007
9/11 Legislation Advances Transparency
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July 25, 2007
Senate Committee Approves Mount Hood Wilderness Expansion
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) announced that their efforts to expand permanent protections for wilderness surrounding Mount Hood and the Columbia River Gorge took a big step forward today when the U.S Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the "Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness Act of 2007." Committee members Wyden and Smith - who spearheaded the effort as coauthors of the legislation - called the Committee vote a "victory for … Continue Reading
July 19, 2007
Wyden Asks Secretary Kempthorne for Answers on Interior Ethics Concerns
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) asked Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne today to clarify the Department's ethical strategy in the wake of Mark Limbaugh's departure. In a June 27th letter to Wyden, Secretary Kempthorne identified Mr. Limbaugh-then Assistant Secretary for Water and Science-as chairman of the Department's newly constituted Conduct Accountability Board, which he wrote would be charged with reviewing the ethics issues raised in the Inspector General's report on … Continue Reading
July 11, 2007
Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation will Help National Guard and Reserve Physicians Serving Overseas
Washington, DC - In an effort to help National Guard and Reserve physicians maintain their practices during lengthy overseas deployments, members on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of Congress introduced legislation today that would exempt physicians serving in the Armed Forces overseas from a Medicare law that currently places a 60 day restriction on the amount of time one physician can fill in for a colleague on a leave of absence. This limit creates serious hardship for … Continue Reading
