Press Releases
Wyden Calls for Mandated Redeployment of U.S. Troops from Iraq
Washington, DC - Calling for the redeployment of American forces in Iraq, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced his support today for the Feingold-Reid amendment, which would require the President to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008."For more than four years, the Bush administration has been telling the American people that conditions in Iraq would change. They have, but for the worse. Today it is up to Congress to let the President and his administration know that using … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Wyden Follows up on Veterans' Concerns
Washington, DC - Following a series of meetings with Oregon veterans and their families, veterans' organizations and VA officials during the April Congressional recess, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined several colleagues today in introducing The Rural Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act of 2007, which addresses many of the concerns Wyden heard in his meetings."Too many Oregon veterans, especially in rural parts of our state, are having trouble accessing the health care they were promised when … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Wyden, Brownback Propose Bill to Keep Internet Radio in Play
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) today proposed legislation to keep Internet radio alive by vacating a Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) decision that could increase Internet radio sound recording royalties by 300 percent to 1,200 percent.According to an Arbitron and Edison Media Research, 52 million people listened to Internet radio at least once a month in 2006. Bridge Ratings and Research predicts that number will double within three years and reach … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Senators: Provision Seeks to Help Colleges, High Schools Buy Nanotechnology Equipment through Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), John Kerry (D-MA), Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Mark Pryor (D-AR) have successfully added a provision to U.S. competitiveness legislation to authorize the use of National Science Foundation grant funds to acquire nanotechnology equipment and software designed for teaching students about nanotechnology in the classroom."I have seen the nanotechnology equipment that folks will be able to use these funds to purchase, and it will help attract talented … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Wyden Statement on New Health System Comparisons Report by the Commonweal Fund
Washington, D.C. - "This new report confirms what I hear from folks at town hall meetings all across Oregon: they want access to quality health care that can't be taken away, even if they lose or change their job," said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. "We have the best health care professionals in the world. We spend enough money on health care. We just don't spend it in the right places. Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) and I and two of our House colleagues have … Continue Reading
May 22, 2007
Emerald Express to Receive Funding a Year Ahead of Schedule
Washington, D.C. - Eugene will receive $14.8 million in funding one-year ahead of schedule for the Emerald Express expansion, Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden noted today. The Senators are top proponents for funding the project, which will create a new hybrid-electric bus line between Eugene and Springfield. "The new line will boost job opportunities and bring communities closer together," Senator Smith said. "Project planers are smartly buying hybrid-electric busses, showing … Continue Reading
April 25, 2007
Dorgan, Wyden Call for GSA Administrator to Resign
Washington, D.C. - As evidence of serious alleged ethics and possibly legal violations at the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) continue to mount, U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today called for the resignation or firing of GSA Administrator Lurita Doan. Doan has held the top GSA job since May 31, 2006, and has come under fire from bipartisan congressional critics.Wyden said two incidents have troubled him the most: Doan's efforts to undermine the Office of … Continue Reading
April 25, 2007
Smith-Wyden Look at Options to Cover the Uninsured
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced legislation today that would improve access to health insurance for uninsured Americans and those with catastrophic health care costs. The measure, the Catastrophic Health Coverage Promotion Act, would create at least four state-based pilot projects that target the uninsured and individuals with catastrophic health care costs. Under the legislation, Oregon is guaranteed to be awarded at least one of the … Continue Reading
April 25, 2007
Wyden Applauds ITC Investigation into Possible Hardwood Plywood Abuses
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today announced that the U.S International Trade Commission (ITC) has formally opened an investigation "into the competitive conditions affecting the U.S. wood flooring and hardwood plywood industries."Wyden, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, had requested that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus request the investigation by the ITC. Baucus did so in a February 28, 2007, letter. The ITC's report is due by June 6, 2008.Nearly … Continue Reading
April 25, 2007
Wyden Calls Administration Plan to Abandon Tax Reform "Bad Judgment"
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today said the Bush Administration was turning its back on millions of American taxpayers just one day after Tax Day in announcing it was abandoning much-needed reform of the nation's confusing and special-interest heavy tax code. News of the Administration's decision to walk away from tax reform came during today's Senate Finance Committee hearing at which U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson - responding … Continue Reading
April 17, 2007
Wyden, Emanuel Provide Real Tax Relief for Middle Class in "Simpler, Flatter, Fairer" Reform Plan
Washington, DC - As millions of Americans scramble to finish their taxes on the eve of Tax Day, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) today introduced comprehensive tax reform legislation that contains major tax relief for America's middle class by making the 1.4-million word U.S. income tax code simpler, flatter and fairer. Wyden is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Emanuel is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.Wyden and Emanuel's bill, the … Continue Reading
April 06, 2007
Statement by U.S. Senator Ron WydenRegarding America's Eventual Withdrawal from Iraq
It is my belief that we should withdraw our military from Iraq as soon as we are able to ensure that our departure will not be followed by a Rwanda or Darfur of our own making.While I was one of 23 U.S. Senators who voted against going to war in Iraq, I also acknowledge that -- once the President invaded that nation -- we inherited a moral obligation to attempt to leave Iraq with a more peaceful and prosperous future. While I will not and cannot defend the misleading information used by … Continue Reading
April 06, 2007
Wyden Statement on White House Veto Threat to Proposed Medicare Drug Reforms
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement this evening following the President's threat to veto legislation seeking to reform the Medicare prescription drug benefit:"Spiraling costs and the low levels of participation we've seen so far may jeopardize the survival of the hard-won Medicare drug benefit. Ignoring those obvious problems and threatening to veto any solutions isn't a productive or responsible reaction. Making changes to contain costs and … Continue Reading
April 06, 2007
Wyden Statement on Commerce Panel Vote on FTC Chair Nominee
Washington, DC - In a meeting of the Senate Commerce Committee today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) voted against the nomination of Deborah P. Majoras, President Bush's nominee to head the Federal Trade Commission. Wyden also indicated today that he would maintain his procedural hold blocking a full Senate vote on her appointment to a full five-year term."I am disappointed that the Commerce Committee approved Ms. Majoras' nomination for a full term," said Wyden. "There is still no evidence … Continue Reading
April 06, 2007
Statement of Senator Ron Wyden on Passage of Budget Reconciliation Legislation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today voted against final passage of budget reconciliation legislation under consideration by the Senate, and released the following statement this evening: "This budget reconciliation bill takes exactly the wrong approach to reducing America's deficit - instead of repealing tax cuts that benefit only the fortunate few, it gives the middle class more burdens to bear. At the same time, it undermines much-needed programs from Medicaid to … Continue Reading
April 06, 2007
Senator Ron Wyden's Statement on Veteran's Day
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day:"Today, Oregonians once again come together to remember the service and sacrifice of America's veterans."Veterans know the price of freedom. Each has a story of sacrifice - of families left behind, of brothers and sisters lost in battle, of battle scars that that often dwell far beneath the skin. Yet Americans serve, as is inscribed at Arlington Cemetery, 'Not for fame or reward, … Continue Reading
April 04, 2007
Wyden, Davis Push Vote by Mail
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA) today announced that they have introduced legislation to help states transition to vote by mail (VBM) election systems. S. 979, the Vote Mail Act of 2007 and its House companion, H.R.1667, would create a three year, $18 million grant program to help states adopt vote by mail election systems like the one that Oregon voters have been successfully using for some time now."As the Oregon experience demonstrates, vote by … Continue Reading
April 04, 2007
Wyden Protests Advanced Closure of the 939th Air Refueling Wing "Pulling the rug out from underneath these brave reservists is unfair"
Washington, D.C. - Protesting the Air Force Reserve Command's announcement today that it is accelerating the closure of the 939th Air Refueling Wing, based in Portland, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent the following letter to Air Force Reserve Chief, Lieutenant General John A. Bradley:February 2, 2007Lieutenant General John A. BradleyChief, Air Force Reserve 1150 Air Force PentagonRoom 4E160Washington, DC 20030-1150Dear Lt. Gen. Bradley:I am writing to formally protest your announcement that the … Continue Reading
April 04, 2007
Senators Continue Fight for Rural Communities
Washington, D.C. - Working to reinstate vital funding for the nation's rural schools, roads and services, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith are filing amendments to authorize and fully fund a one-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, commonly known as the county payments law.Despite the Administration's commitment to enact a one-year … Continue Reading
April 04, 2007
Wyden Blasts DoD Response on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, today said he was extremely troubled by the response he received last night in a letter from the Pentagon concerning its "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This is the second time the Pentagon has avoided answering the question of whether there is any military reason for maintaining the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy."As we send men and women to fight overseas, it is more important than ever that we address … Continue Reading
