Press Releases
Wyden Testifies on Strategies to Reduce Gasoline Price Gouging
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a longtime advocate for American consumers hit by unfairly high gasoline prices, testified today before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee at a hearing on energy pricing. In a 2004 report, Wyden sharply criticized the Federal Trade Commission for its failure to act on behalf of American consumers when oil company practices caused price spikes; in light of huge price increases following Hurricane Katrina he is suggesting more aggressive measures … Continue Reading
December 05, 2006
Wyden, Emanuel Join Forces for Middle Class Tax Reliefand Simpler, Flatter, Fairer Tax Plan
Washington, DC At a press conference today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) touted their comprehensive, bicameral tax reform legislation that contains major tax relief for Americas middle class as it makes the U.S. income tax code simpler, flatter and fairer. Wyden introduced the Fair, Flat Tax Act of 2005 in the Senate in October; Emanuel announced plans today to introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Specifically, the … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, Smith Take Aim at Oregon's Growing Meth Problem
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today took steps to stop the creation, distribution and use of methamphetamine, now the second most-treated drug addiction among Oregon teens. Wyden and Smith joined U.S. Senators Jim Talent (R-Mo.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to unveil the "Combat Meth Act." The legislation would provide resources and tools to help law enforcement officials and prosecutors to pursue and punish producers and distributors of meth, … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, Finance Committee Colleagues Seek Alternative Minimum Tax Repeal
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and a bipartisan coalition of his U.S. Senate Finance Committee colleagues, including Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), today introduced legislation to repeal the Federal individual alternative minimum tax (AMT). The AMT requires taxpayers to figure their tax bills both with and without certain deductions, then to pay the higher amount. It was originally enacted in 1969 to ensure that … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden Opposed Patriot Act Legislation in Intel Committee, Will Seek Further Changes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) opposed the Patriot Act legislation that was completed in a closed hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence yesterday, and says today that the bill as drafted fails to meet his goal of preserving Americans' privacy and civil liberties while protecting the nation aggressively against terrorism. On Monday, Wyden spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate to detail his concerns, particularly with a proposal to grant broad administrative … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, NW Senators Win Budget Provisions to Strike down BPA rate Hike Proposals
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that the Senate's FY2006 budget resolution now contains language that rejects the Bush Administration's proposal to force the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to increase rates to consumers. The budget language, coauthored by Wyden and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and agreed to by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Judd Gregg, (R-N.H.), explicitly states that there should be no additional income in the Federal budget from … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Grants from Healthy Forests Law Fund Oregon Biomass Projects
Washington, DC - The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) today announced more than $1 million in grants to fund forest projects in Oregon, thanks to a provision championed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) in the 2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act. Section 201 of the law authorized $5 million annually until 2008 to improve research and processing of smaller-diameter wood from forests, to create commercial value from this woody debris for Oregon's forest-related businesses … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, Smith announce $50 million in tax credits for Ecotrustto develop sustainable forest management projectsin rural communities
Portland, OR U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today announced that Ecotrust, a Portland-based non-profit organization focused on sustainable economic growth in the Northwest, has been awarded $50 million in federal tax credits to invest in sustainable forest management projects in rural communities under the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The awards were officially announced this morning.Ecotrusts experience shows that ecological forest management can create sustainable, … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden Seeks to Expose Ongoing Corporate Investment in Iran
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today outlined planned legislation to publicize information about American and foreign companies that continue to do business with Iran's energy sector. Wyden's legislation, "The Investor in Iran Accountability Act," seeks to curb corporate energy investment in Iran, one of the world's most dangerous and tyrannical nations, and to help the American public make informed choices about investing with companies still doing business there. The bill … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden, Smith Sponsor New Legislation to Keep Higher Education Saving Tax-Free
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) joined a bipartisan coalition of their Senate Finance Committee colleagues today to introduce legislation extending the tax-free status of programs that help families save for college, professional and vocational education. Wyden and Smith committed to work together on expanding tax breaks for the savings plans - known … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden's 'Build America Bonds' Would Ease Transportation Budget Crunch
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced the bipartisan Build America Bonds proposal with U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.). This major transportation construction initiative has the potential to create nearly 1.5 million new jobs, generate $171 billion in economic activity and save thousands of lives by improving transportation safety. Wyden and Talent were able to include a similar proposal in the Senate highway bill last year, and are working with bipartisan … Continue Reading
December 04, 2006
Wyden Introduces Budget Amendment to Allow HHS SecretaryTo Negotiate for Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced an amendment to the Budget Reconciliation Act that would strengthen the drug coverage offered to seniors under the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. The amendment, offered with Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), is based on the Medicare Enhancement for Needed Drugs (MEND) legislation Wyden and Snowe introduced earlier this … 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
December 04, 2006
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
