Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues in Bipartisan Letter to USPS Opposing Consolidations, Operational Changes Across the Country
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan group of their colleagues in Congress in a letter led by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) to United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, opposing the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) recent nationwide consolidation and review announcements that could severely diminish mail service reliability for postal networks across the country. “A common theme of these announcements is … Continue Reading
April 18, 2024
Senators Wyden, Markey, Cantwell, Eshoo Join FCC Chair Rosenworcel to Highlight Upcoming FCC Net Neutrality Rule
Rule would reclassify broadband as a telecommunications service and reinstate net neutrality protections Washington (April 18, 2024) - Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Representative Anna Eshoo (CA-16), today at a press conference praised the upcoming FCC rule reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the … Continue Reading
April 18, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Support Oregon’s School-Based Health Services Financed by Medicaid
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week urged federal health officials to award a planning grant up to $2.5 million to Oregon that would strengthen school-based health services financed by Medicaid in the state. The senators’ letter to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services comes in support of the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) grant application. “This planning grant would help OHA and the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to prepare … Continue Reading
April 17, 2024
Merkley, Wyden: Immediate Drought Relief Headed to the Klamath Basin, Pushing for Long-Term Recovery Solutions
Washington, D.C.- Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden released the following statement today following the Bureau of Reclamation’s recently announced water allocation for the Klamath Project, as well as $8.5 million in immediate drought relief aid for Klamath Basin communities and $5 million in technical assistance for Klamath Basin Tribes impacted by prolonged drought: “We remain committed as ever to working together to ensure Klamath Basin communities have the resources they … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Wyden Urges Colleagues to Reject Expanding Warrantless FISA 702 Surveillance
Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here As prepared for delivery Washington, D.C. — I rise in strong opposition to this FISA bill. There is a key question here: who should be forced to help their government spy? The legislation coming from the House gives the government unchecked authority to order millions of Americans to spy on behalf of the government. Under current law - section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act - the government can order the telephone … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Wyden, Sanders, Jacobs, and 40 Democrats Urge Hospitals to Protect Patients’ Sensitive Medical Records from Partisan Fishing Expeditions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., with 42 members, urged hospitals and health care providers to take action to protect sensitive medical records from partisan fishing expeditions carried out by extremist state attorneys generals by using the tools already available to them under federal law, in letters sent today. “These thinly veiled political assaults come at the expense of vulnerable patients. We are concerned that hospitals are feebly complying … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Update: Oregon Delegation Applauds Approval of Federal Disaster Declaration for Ice Storms
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s Congressional delegation—U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. House of Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Cliff Bentz—applauds the approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in response to the deadly ice storms that prompted her to declare a statewide emergency in January. The … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Wyden Announces Four Town Halls in Josephine, Curry, Coos and Douglas counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold in-person town halls in Josephine, Curry, Coos and Douglas counties on April 23-24. Heading into these four town halls, Wyden will have held 1,081 town halls throughout Oregon - including 16 so far this year -- in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. “I’ll always keep my pledge to hold open-to-all town halls each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties because it’s … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Merkley, Wyden: Nearly $4.5 Million for Renewable Energy Projects to Lower Costs in Rural Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $4,459,297 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants to support 20 renewable energy projects in rural communities across the state. The investments will be used to help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct critical energy audits, and cut costs and carbon pollution with energy … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Wyden Statement on Attack Against Israel
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to Iran’s attack on Israel: “I strongly condemn Iran’s attacks against Israel. Tehran’s brazen actions not only threaten innocent Israeli lives, but also U.S. personnel and our partners in the region. I support President Biden’s steadfast commitment to Israel’s security, and his administration’s efforts to minimize casualties and prevent further escalation of hostilities in the region. “Republicans … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Wyden: “I Will Do Everything In My Power” to Stop Bill Expanding Government Surveillance Under FISA 702
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., vowed to oppose legislation passed by the House of Representatives that would reauthorize Section 702 of FISA and expand warrantless surveillance, in a statement today. “The House bill represents one of the most dramatic and terrifying expansions of government surveillance authority in history,” Wyden said. “It allows the government to force any American who installs, maintains, or repairs anything that transmits or stores communications to … Continue Reading
April 10, 2024
Wyden Statement on Cybersecurity Threats to Critical Water Infrastructure
Video of Senator Wyden’s remarks can be found here As prepared for delivery Every critical infrastructure sector faces threats, including healthcare, pipelines, and water treatment plants. The dams that generate our hydropower are no exception. Countries like China and Russia present a significant national security concern, as they have the ability to shut down core functions of society, and even cause death, by hacking critical infrastructure. Today the subcommittee is being told by the … Continue Reading
April 10, 2024
Wyden, Warren Call on Education Department Contractor General Dynamics to Provide Answers on Failures of New FAFSA Launch
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today wrote to the CEO of General Dynamics seeking answers on the company’s role in the “bungled launch” of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In the letter, the Senators noted that despite General Dynamics receiving a $121.8 million contract to modernize the process, the new FAFSA has been riddled with technical issues, drastically hindering students seeking financial aid. “These … Continue Reading
April 10, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $500,000 for CRITFC to Advance Salmon-Friendly Clean Energy Efforts in the Columbia River Basin
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is receiving $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Future Grants (EFG) Program to advance river and energy system models adapted to the Columbia River Basin that will strengthen the protection and restoration efforts of native salmon. “Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest have been stewards for the Columbia River and its … Continue Reading
April 09, 2024
Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Airports Secure Total Federal Aid of $1.45 Million
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that airports in Lake, Columbia, Deschutes, Linn and Wasco counties have secured a total of more than $1.4 million in federal grants for construction, infrastructure rehabilitation and more. “Oregonians count on local airports in their communities for jobs, economic vitality, public safety and much more that strengthen quality of life,” Wyden said. “I’m glad these Oregon communities have earned these federal airport … Continue Reading
April 08, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.5 Million towards Solar Projects over Canals in Central Oregon
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the North Unit Irrigation District (NUID) in Central Oregon has secured a $2.5 million federal award to build and monitor solar panels on the main canal of its Deschutes project. The irrigation district is proposing to build floating photovoltaic solar panels on the main canal of the Deschutes project located near Bend. The project will allow the novel technology of floating solar panels on a canal to be evaluated, … Continue Reading
April 05, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $90 Million Coming to Oregon for Drinking Water and Wastewater Advancements
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $90,393,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is headed to Oregon to fund safe drinking water projects and strengthen wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, which will protect public health and treasured bodies of water across the state. “Reliable access to clean water is essential for the health and safety of every community in Oregon,” said Merkley, Chair … Continue Reading
April 01, 2024
Wyden, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Urging Supreme Court to Affirm that Federal Law Requires Hospitals to Provide Emergency Stabilizing Care Including Abortion Care
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate and House colleagues in leading an amicus brief submission to the U.S. Supreme Court in Moyle v. United States and Idaho v. United States, two consolidated cases concerning the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) that the Supreme Court will hear this month. The act requires hospitals that receive Medicare funding to provide necessary “stabilizing treatment” to patients experiencing medical … Continue Reading
March 28, 2024
Wyden Praises FCC Move To Protect Consumers and Government Personnel from Hackers and Foreign Spies Exploiting Wireless Carriers’ Lax Security to Track Phones
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Federal Communications Commission and Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel for requesting public comments on the effectiveness of industry’s efforts to protect Americans against unwanted spying over wireless phone networks. The announcement comes in response to a request by Sen. Wyden last month for the Biden Administration to plug well-known weaknesses in America's phone networks, referred to as SS7 or Diameter, and prevent … Continue Reading
March 28, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $250,000 for The Meating Place for New Processing and Packaging Equipment
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that The Meating Place will receive $250,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Local Meat capacity grant program. Both Merkley and Wyden have toured The Meating Place’s retail shop and custom-exempt beef, hog, sheep, and wild game processing facility in Hillsboro, Oregon, which is the first operational Oregon Department of Agriculture slaughter and processing plant in the state. This allows … Continue Reading
