Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Ensure Doctors Can Provide Legal Abortion Care, Protect Providers from Out of State Extremists
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that they and Senate colleagues have reintroduced legislation that would protect abortion providers in Oregon and nationwide from Republicans' attempts to restrict their practice and create uncertainty about their legal liability. "Abortion access in Oregon remains legal and I will fight with all my heart to protect providers in Oregon and nationwide from extremist Republican schemes to undermine reproductive care and … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: $3.7 Million in Federal Resources for Drought to Focus on Klamath Basin
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that the Klamath Basin will be the focus of an additional $3.7 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for drought resiliency. This Interior Department investment building on previous department investments to restore aquatic ecosystems and salmon in the basin comes in response to an October 2022 letter from Wyden and Merkley seeking drought relief for the Klamath Basin. "The major drought that's slammed the … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $2 Million Coming to Oregon for Fish Passage Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is awarding Oregon a total of $2,039,061 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support fish passage projects in Benton, Crook, Douglas, and Lane Counties. This funding will go to support removing barriers to Oregon rivers and streams. "Fish and wildlife play an integral part in keeping our ecosystems healthy, and the health of our communities goes … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Wyden Statement on Senate Republicans Blocking Veterans Bill Over Cannabis Research Provisions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after a group of Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan veterans bill over provisions requiring the U.S. Department of Affairs (VA) to study medical cannabis to help veterans suffering from PTSD: "This group of Senate Republicans is so caught up in 'reefer madness' they chose to deny health care and other essential benefits for our veterans, all because they don't want the VA to research cannabis. It's … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Wyden Co-Sponsors SAFE Banking Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today co-sponsored the SAFE Banking Act, legislation to ensure cannabis businesses in Oregon and other states with legal cannabis can access financial services. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Steve Daines, D-Mont., and U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. Wyden released the following statement: "It is absolutely mind-boggling that after decades of progress at the … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Boost Direct Care Workforce & Support Family Caregivers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues reintroduced legislation that would support the recruitment, training, and retention of direct care workers and family caregivers in Oregon and nationwide. "American families count on care workers, and a fair wage is the minimum that should be done to support these essential workers and keep our caregiving workforce strong," Wyden said. "I'm proud to support this legislation that would help address some of the root causes of care … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Hoyle, Salinas, Merkley, and Wyden Lead on Legislation to Renegotiate the Siletz and Grand Ronde Tribes’ Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering Agreements
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Val Hoyle (OR-04), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley introduced federal legislation to allow the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon to restore their traditional ability to hunt, fish, and gather, restoring fairness by revoking a decades-old discriminatory legal clause. The bills are cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Veterans and Low-Income Families from Housing Discrimination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is reintroducing legislation that would protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination on the basis of their income source. "No one should be denied housing based on how they pay rent," said Wyden, who last month also re-introduced legislation that aims to end homelessness in America and build up our nation's housing supply. "Our nation's veterans and families without means should have access to safe, affordable … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce Green New Deal Resolution
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that they and Senate colleagues have reintroduced the Green New Deal resolution, which recognizes the enormous threat of the climate crisis and directs Congress to act urgently to protect the planet for future generations while creating millions of good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. As the country recently celebrated Earth Day last weekend, this reintroduction of the Green New Deal both recognizes that Congress has … Continue Reading
April 25, 2023
Oregon Delegation Urges Commerce to Declare Fishery Resource Disaster in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas said today they are urging the Department of Commerce to issue an expedited declaration of a fishery resource disaster for Oregon, which would trigger immediate federal aid. "The value of salmon to Oregon cannot be overstated," the members wrote in a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "In addition to the economic … Continue Reading
April 25, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $500,000 to Burns Paiute Tribe for Communications Tower
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that the Burns Paiute Tribe will receive nearly $500,000 from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program to build a resilient communications tower that will help with rural broadband connection. "The future for rural Oregon depends on access to high-speed internet, and that blueprint for modern connections must include Tribal communities," said Wyden, who last month with colleagues pushed the FCC to ensure rural, … Continue Reading
April 24, 2023
Wyden Statement on Reset of VA Electronic Health Records Management program
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden released the following statement on the recent announcement from the Department of Veterans Affairs that there will be a program reset to address system-wide problems with the Electronic Health Record Modernization program. "Too many veterans and health care workers in Oregon and nationwide have been dealing with unnecessary headaches because of the VA's rollout of a deeply flawed Electronic Health Record program produced by Cerner Oracle. For rural … Continue Reading
April 24, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $900,000 Coming to Oregon to Support Students from Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker Backgrounds
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Education is awarding Oregon State University (OSU) and Treasure Valley Community College (TVCC) a combined total of $949,999 from the College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) to support students from migrant and seasonal farm work backgrounds to enroll and complete their first year in college and continue their post-secondary degree. "Higher education can open many doors for … Continue Reading
April 21, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Support FTC Proposed Rule to Limit Noncompete Agreements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to move forward with a proposed rule banning noncompete agreements to give people in Oregon and nationwide the opportunity to change jobs and create new businesses. "We urge the agency to resist calls for additional postponement and act quickly to protect as many workers under this rule as possible," Wyden, Merkley and colleagues wrote in a letter to FTC Chair Lina … Continue Reading
April 20, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill Allowing VA to Prescribe Medical Cannabis to Veterans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues this week reintroduced legislation that would allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prescribe medical cannabis to veterans in Oregon and other states and territories where there are established medical cannabis programs. "Veterans in Oregon and nationwide are unfairly and unacceptably stuck in a legal gray zone when discussing medical cannabis with their doctor," Wyden said. "Veterans deserve … Continue Reading
April 20, 2023
Oregon Delegation Urges Department of Education to Curb Opioid Use, Increase Fentanyl Awareness in Oregon Schools
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Earl Blumenauer, Andrea Salinas, and Val Hoyle are raising concerns with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that Oregon teens are dying of drug-related causes faster than any other state, and the lawmakers are pushing for action. The Oregon delegation members are urging the Department to work with school districts to combat the opioid crisis and substance misuse in … Continue Reading
April 20, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: More than $288,000 to Rural Oregon Airports for Crucial Runway Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that two rural Oregon airports will receive a combined more than $288,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for crucial runway improvements "Small airports in rural areas help drive our state's economy," Wyden said. "I am gratified to see these dollars go toward improving crucial runway infrastructure that will allow for safer and more regular air service. Investing in airport infrastructure lays the … Continue Reading
April 19, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: 18 Oregon Counties to Receive Nearly $26 Million in Secure Rural Schools Funds from BLM
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed nearly $26 million in federal investment from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for 18 Oregon counties to use for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. This $25.6 million from the Bureau of Land Management for these 18 counties is in addition to $45.6 million recently announced in Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funds … Continue Reading
April 19, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: More than $45 Million in Secure Rural Schools Funds to Oregon Counties
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon counties will receive more than $45 million in payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. "I'm glad the Secure Rural Schools law continues to pay huge dividends for rural America with Oregon leading the way and securing more than $45 million … Continue Reading
April 14, 2023
Oregon Congressional Democrats File Amicus Brief Urging Appeals Court to Prevent Dangerous Ruling Threatening Access to Mifepristone From Taking Effect
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas this week submitted an amicus brief with colleagues in support of the Biden administration's appeal of U.S. District Court judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk's ruling last week that suspends the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) more than 20-year-old approval of mifepristone. The Trump-appointed federal judge's ruling threatens access to mifepristone … Continue Reading
