Press Releases
Senate Support Growing For Wyden's "Build America Bonds" as Highway Legislation Moves Forward
Washington, DC - As the U.S. Senate considers major highway funding legislation this week, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today said there is growing support for his bipartisan Build America Bonds proposal - a major transportation infrastructure initiative with U.S. Senator Jim Talent (R-Mo.) that has the potential to create 2.5 million new jobs, generate $319 billion in economic activity and save thousands of lives by improving transportation safety. Joining Wyden and Talent in a press … Continue Reading
February 03, 2004
Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden on Senate Ricin Incident and Closure of Senate Office Buildings
"Today the U.S. Capitol Police closed all of the Senate office buildings due to the ricin that was discovered in Senator Frist's office. While this has closed my Washington, D.C. offices, my D.C. staff and I are at still at work, some working in my small office within the Capitol building, and some are working from home. In addition, my offices in Oregon are all open and are assisting constituents. Every member of my staff - and all members of Congress and their staffs -- go to work each day … Continue Reading
January 26, 2004
Wyden Redoubles Efforts to Extend Unemployment Benefits for Oregonians
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today threw his support behind the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act (S. 2006), legislation to extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks or more for out-of-work Oregonians whose benefits have expired. Oregon has one of highest unemployment rates in the nation, and more Oregonians lose their benefits each week as their state unemployment insurance runs out. In addition to making 13 weeks of Federal funds available to those whose … Continue Reading
January 23, 2004
Hood River Head Start to receive more than $700,000 for Operations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today that the Mid-Columbia Children's Council in Hood River will receive $704,701 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue providing Head Start services to children aged 3 to 5 years. "Head Start is a terrific program that provides lasting benefit in Oregon communities," said Smith. "Children in Hood River have a great opportunity to learn the skills and lessons that will take … Continue Reading
January 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Win $474 Million for Oregon Transportation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced more than $474 million for Oregon transportation projects. These funds were included in the end-of-the-year omnibus spending measure that will now be signed by the President. Overall, the bill includes more than $374 million in federal highway funds for the state and more than $100 million for Oregon-specific transportation projects. "This funding is the right prescription for clearing Oregon's … Continue Reading
January 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Secure $250,000 to Protect Victims of Child Abuse
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced $250,000 for the Multnomah County Children's Receiving Center, a facility providing professional care and support to children up to 18 years of age who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children are cared for in a home-like setting until they can transition to foster or alternate family placement. These funds are included in the omnibus funding measure that will now be … Continue Reading
January 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Win Millions for Oregon Infrastructure Projects, Estuary Protection
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon will receive more than $6.5 million in economic development and infrastructure funds, including $1.2 million for redevelopment of the South Waterfront area in Portland, and also will share in a $24.5 million multi-state appropriation for estuary protection. These funds are included in the Fiscal Year 2004 omnibus funding measure that will now be signed into law by the president. "These … Continue Reading
January 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Secure Millions for Oregon, OSU Agriculture Research
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced that agricultural projects in Oregon and the entire Northwest will receive nearly $11 million in federal funds. Oregon State University, a regional agriculture research leader, will directly receive more than $2.2 million in new funding and increases over Fiscal Year 2003 amounts, and will share in more than $7.1 million in new funding and increases. These funds were included in omnibus funding measure … Continue Reading
January 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Secure $100 Million for Oregon Groundfish, Salmon Recovery Efforts
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced final approval of more than $100 million for West Coast groundfish and salmon recovery efforts. Oregon will receive a significant portion of this money, which was included in the omnibus spending measure that will now be signed into law by the president. "Oregon's fishing communities are part of our heritage and an important part of our state's economic future," said Wyden. "This … Continue Reading
January 21, 2004
Wyden: Country-Of-Origin Labeling Empowers Consumers, Must go Forward
Washington, DC - As reports about bovine spongiform encephalopathy or "mad cow" disease have raised questions about America's food supply, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called on Congress to fix faulty legislation that would delay "country of origin" labeling on food sold in the United States. The 2002 Farm Bill requires country of origin labeling to begin this fall, but retailers and other powerful interests successfully included a provision in the Fiscal Year 2004 omnibus spending … Continue Reading
January 20, 2004
Statement by Senator Ron WydenFollowing the President's State of the Union Address
"The message Congress heard tonight was 'stay the course,' but Oregonians are saying they want to change the fiscal course that's cost our state more than 50,000 jobs and created economic chaos."Oregonians share my view that the only real solutions are bipartisan ones. Therefore, I believe the president and his administration should work with Democrats to protect overtime pay instead of gutting it. The president and his administration should work with Democrats to provide health care for all … Continue Reading
January 20, 2004
Statement by Senator Ron Wyden
The message Congress heard tonight was stay the course, but Oregonians are saying they want to change the fiscal course thats cost our state more than 50,000 jobs and created economic chaos.Oregonians share my view that the only real solutions are bipartisan ones. Therefore, I believe the president and his administration should work with Democrats to protect overtime pay instead of gutting it. The president and his administration should work with Democrats to provide health care for all … Continue Reading
January 15, 2004
Wyden Comments on Requested Halliburton Probe
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praised the Defense Contracts Auditing Agency (DCAA) today for its decision to request further investigation into whether the Halliburton company and its subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root, overcharged American taxpayers in the execution of a fuel delivery contract in Iraq. Wyden, who has criticized large no-bid and limited-bid contracts for Iraq reconstruction, won passage with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) of bipartisan legislation to … Continue Reading
January 13, 2004
Wyden to President: Fully Fund Healthy Forests
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today urged President Bush to fully fund the Healthy Forest Restoration Act's hazardous fuels reduction efforts in the Administration's budget for the coming year. In a letter to the president, Wyden, and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Tim Johnson (D-S.D.), requested that the president's FY 2005 budget include the full $760 million authorized for hazardous fuels reduction under the Healthy Forests … Continue Reading
January 06, 2004
Tri-Met Will Receive Nearly $1 Million in Homeland Security Funds
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced that the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (Tri-Met) will receive $926,394 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve transit system security and emergency preparedness. "In today's world greater safety and security for urban commuters is an absolute must," said Smith. "Improving security measures and instituting effective, proven response plans will help keep Oregon safe." "It is … Continue Reading
January 06, 2004
Clackamas Country to Receive Nearly $700,000 for Head Start
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today that the Clackamas County Children's Commission will receive $672,970 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue providing Head Start services to children aged 3 to 5 years. "Head Start teaches life skills to Oregon's youngsters and provides communities with lasting benefits," said Smith. "Clackamas County Head Start programs will now continue to give kids a better chance at … Continue Reading
December 14, 2003
Statement from Senator Wyden regarding the capture of Saddam Hussein
"Saddam Hussein's capture proves once again that the United States has the best and most tenacious fighting forces in the world, and they've done their job superbly in capturing this dangerous man. This is a day to congratulate the American military on a job well … Continue Reading
August 01, 2003
Wyden & Smith Announce Funding For Celilo Village
WASHINGTON, D.C.Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today the successful passage of the Native American Technical Correction Act of 2003 which contains a provision authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to rehabilitate Celilo Village in the Columbia River Gorge.Celilo Village is one of Oregons unique historical treasures, but it is in desperate need of appropriate restoration, said Smith. This legislation ensures the rehabilitation process will begin, and that the … Continue Reading
July 31, 2003
Wyden, Dorgan Continue Call for Closure of "Terrorism Information Awareness" Program
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) issued a brief statement today following the resignation of Dr. John Poindexter, director of the Terrorism (formerly Total) Information Awareness (TIA) Program at the Department of Defense. On Monday, Wyden and Dorgan drew attention to a proposed program under Dr. Poindexter's authority that would have sold futures contracts on assassinations, coups and military strikes in an attempt to predict terrorist events. The … Continue Reading
July 23, 2003
Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wydenregarding International Trade Commission determination for Hynix
"The key question before the International Trade Commission today was whether the DRAM industry in the United States has been materially injured or threatened with material injury by Hynix's exports to the United States. Despite the fact that Hynix's exports to the United States actually fell during the overall period investigated, the Commission's vote indicates it believes there was harm."With this finding, today's Commission vote, in effect, imposes the unreasonably high tariff rate set by … Continue Reading
