Press Releases
Wyden' "Mend" Act Will Enhance Seniors' Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage
WASHINGTON, DC - At a press conference this morning, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) unveiled the bipartisan Medicare Enhancement for Needed Drugs (MEND) Act, legislation he authored with U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) to strengthen the drug coverage offered to seniors under the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. The MEND Act directly addresses the crisis of skyrocketing drug costs in a number of ways, including giving the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human … Continue Reading
February 01, 2005
Wyden, Smith Support Development of Tsunami Warning System
Washington, DC - In the wake of the deadly tsunami in Southeast Asia, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today took a step toward the development of a national tsunami warning system to more fully protect Oregon and the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States. Wyden and Smith joined with Senators Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) and others in sponsoring the bipartisan "Tsunami Preparedness Act." The legislation would authorize the National … Continue Reading
January 27, 2005
Wyden Seeks to Stop Move to Transport Chemical Weapons
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today took a step to halt the possible transportation of dangerous chemical weapons materials across state borders and into Oregon. Wyden today joined with U.S. Senators Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) in sponsoring legislation to prevent the Department of Defense from funding a study on the feasibility of transporting the chemical munitions at the Pueblo, Colorado Chemical Depot to unnamed out-of-state sites to be destroyed. … Continue Reading
January 19, 2005
Wyden Obtains Promise from Energy Nominee to Oppose Privatization of Bonneville Power
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today asked for and received a commitment from Secretary of Energy nominee Samuel W. Bodman that Bodman does not support the sale or privatization of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Wyden and Bodman's exchange occurred during Bodman's confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Bodman also assured the Senator that to his knowledge, the Administration agrees that BPA should not be sold or … Continue Reading
December 09, 2004
New Funds Mean Every American Will Be Asked For Input on Changing Nations Health Care System
Washington, DC Americans will soon have a chance to help change Americas health care system for the better, thanks to funding signed into law today as part of the FY2005 omnibus appropriations bill. Congress has approved funding for the Health Care that Works for All Americans Act, authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and in 2005 citizens will be invited to take part in town hall meetings and online surveys to share their views on whether and how the nations … Continue Reading
December 08, 2004
Intelligence Reform Bill Gives Congress Ability to Appeal Classification Decisions
WASHINGTON, D.C. Intelligence reform legislation passed by the U.S. Senate today will for the first time give Congress an independent, standing body to which it can appeal national security classification decisions, said U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). This provision in the National Intelligence Reform Act of 2004 was authored by Wyden and U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), and gives Congress the authority to appeal classification decisions to the Public Interest Declassification Board. The … Continue Reading
December 06, 2004
Wyden to Join Senate Finance Panel
Washington, DC - Incoming Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced today that U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will take a seat on the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance when the 109th Congress convenes in January 2005. The panel oversees a number of key issues including Federal health programs, tax policy, Social Security and trade. Wyden plans three major areas of focus for his service on the Finance panel: reforming the nation's health care system, continuing to restore Oregon's … Continue Reading
December 03, 2004
Wyden Internet Tax Moratorium Bill Signed Into Law at White House
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden attended a White House ceremony today as President Bush signed the Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act (S. 150) into law. The legislation authored by Wyden, U.S. Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.) and U.S. Senator George Allen (R-Va.) extends the ban on multiple and discriminatory taxation on the Internet until October 31st 2007. The bill, which passed in the Senate earlier this year and cleared the House of Representatives last month, bans three types of taxes … Continue Reading
November 30, 2004
Federal Government Owes Oregonians Nearly $710,000 in 2003 Tax Refunds
Washington, DC The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) owes nearly $710,000 to more than 1,100 Oregonians whose 2003 tax refund checks were mailed to them but returned to the post office, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) said today.The refund checks were returned likely due to bad addresses, the Senators said, urging Oregonians to contact the IRS to check on any outstanding refunds. Taxpayers who think that they might be missing a refund check can call the IRS toll-free … Continue Reading
November 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Win $2.7 Million for Nanotech Research, North Macadam development in FY2005 Funding Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced $2.7 million in appropriations for nanotechnology- and biotechnology-related funding for Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and for affordable housing in the North Macadam area being developed as a hub for biotechnology in Oregon. The $2.25 million in funding for OHSU research, development, and facilities, as well as $450,000 in housing funds, are contained in the FY2005 omnibus spending bill … Continue Reading
November 21, 2004
Wyden, Smith, Secure Hundreds of Millions of Dollars for Oregon Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Sen. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that Oregon will receive several hundred million dollars in Federal funding for key projects throughout the state. Wyden and Smith secured this funding in the fiscal year 2005 omnibus spending bill, which has passed the Senate and the House of Representatives and is expected to move shortly to the White House for signature into law. The measure will fund numerous Oregon agriculture, energy and … Continue Reading
November 21, 2004
Congress Passes Wyden-Smith Provisions to Help Provide Eastern Oregon Residents with Access to Oregon Television Channels
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the fiscal year 2005 omnibus appropriations bill approved by Congress includes a Wyden-Smith provision to remove the legal obstacles that can prevent people in four rural Oregon counties from receiving TV channels from their own home state. Currently, "local stations" serving Grant, Wallowa, Umatilla and Malheur counties can mean stations from across the state border. Additionally, legal … Continue Reading
November 19, 2004
Congress Passes Final Legislation to Renew Ban on Unfair, Discriminatory Internet Taxes
Washington, DC -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and George Allen (R-Va.) and Rep. Chris Cox (R-Calif.) today hailed passage in the House of Representatives of the Allen-Wyden Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act (S. 150). The House action is the final step in a compromise to end the stalemate over extension of a ban on multiple and discriminatory taxation on Internet access and online sales; the legislation now moves to the White House, where the President has indicated he will sign the ban, … Continue Reading
November 16, 2004
Wyden Fights for Better End-of-Life Health Care
Washington, DC As part of his ongoing efforts to improve healthcare for all Americans, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced two pieces of legislation aimed at providing better care options for dying patients. The first Wyden bill, the Palliative Care Training Act, recognizes the need for a larger pool of health care professionals who know how to help terminally ill patients to have a better quality of life. The second bill, the Medicare Hospice Demonstration Act, seeks to test … Continue Reading
November 09, 2004
Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden on Department of Justice challenge to Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law
"I am extremely disappointed that Attorney General Ashcroft has chosen to continue ignoring the will of the voters of Oregon. The people of our state have spoken twice on the matter, and so have the Federal courts. I certainly plan to look into how many taxpayer dollars Mr. Ashcroft has wasted in his attempt to disenfranchise Oregon … Continue Reading
October 28, 2004
Oregon counties to receive $113 million today in installment of 2004 county payments
Portland, Ore. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced today that Oregon counties will receive more than $113 million through the 2004 county payments funds provided by The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Wyden and Smith have worked together to ensure continued funding to rural Oregon counties since passage in 2000 of the law, also authored by U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), to secure a stable source of funding for rural schools and … Continue Reading
October 08, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce Grant for Oregon Health Clinic
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that La Clinica del Carino Family Health Center will receive a $200,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funds are being provided through the HHS Community Program to Improve Minority Health to support outreach services and access for minorities in high-risk, low-income communities. "It is critical to support health centers like La Clinica del Carino … Continue Reading
October 06, 2004
GAO Drug Price Analysis Finds Huge Cost Jump for Seniors, All Americans
Washington, DC - New information from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) details skyrocketing prescription drug costs, particularly among brand-name medicines, and is prompting calls for action in Congress to reduce the cost of drugs for senior citizens and all Americans. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) released the GAO analysis today and pointed to increases of more than 20 percent in drug prices from January 2000 to June of this year - 26.4 … Continue Reading
October 06, 2004
Four Wyden Provisions Strengthen Final SenateIntelligence Reform Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. Intelligence reform legislation approved by the Senate today includes four key amendments offered by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Wyden, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, worked on a bipartisan basis to win approval of significant reforms to the intelligence classification system, oversight on data-mining of Americans personal information in Federal agencies, and two significant consumer protection provisions related to airline safety and passenger … Continue Reading
October 06, 2004
Senate Approves Wyden Amendment to Protect Economic Development Projects in Oregon's Small Communities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced Senate approval of his amendment to keep Oregon's distressed and rural communities from losing economic development opportunities because of burdensome financial requirements recently imposed by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Wyden's amendment was included in the EDA reauthorization legislation passed by the Senate today. Earlier this year EDA told communities that beginning immediately, they would need to … Continue Reading
