Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Economic Opportunity for All
Merkley and Wyden Announce $8.4 Million to help Oregonians Get Back to Work
Washington DC - Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Oregon $8.4 million to help get unemployed Oregonians back to work. The grant awarded to Worksystems Inc. is part of the Ready to Work Partnership and will help recruit, train, support and place individuals who have been struggling with long-term unemployment. "Getting Oregonians to work is my number one priority and this money does exactly that," said Senator Merkley. … Continue Reading
July 30, 2004
Wyden Statement on Majoras Recess Appointment
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today following the Bush Administrations recess appointment of Deborah Majoras to be the chair of the Federal Trade Commission:The anti-consumer record of the Federal Trade Commission on oil company mergers and other issues that are significant factors in raising gasoline prices at the pump is a sorry one, and there is no evidence that Ms. Majoras will change this course. I hope I am wrong and that this … Continue Reading
July 14, 2004
Doggett, Wyden Introduce Bill To Stop Tobacco Smuggling
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation this week to combat illicit trafficking in tobacco, a key strategy for addressing worldwide nicotine addiction. The legislation, called the Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act (SToP), puts new and stronger requirements on tobacco labeling, tracking and reporting on all tobacco packages manufactured in or imported to the U.S. It would require each package of tobacco products manufactured for … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden Wins Approval on Amendment to Keep Hopper Dredges Working in Pacific Ports
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won passage of his amendment to eliminate artificial restrictions on the operation of the two Northwest hopper dredges, as the restrictions do not save taxpayer dollars and in fact have led to inadequate maintenance of Pacific ports. The Wyden amendment, approved today by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, directs the Secretary of the Army instead to operate the dredges to the maximum extent practicable and in the manner … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden Amendment Protects Economic Development Projects in Oregon's Small Communities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won approval of an 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). Earlier this year EDA informed communities that, beginning immediately, they would need to raise $22 in private funds for every $1 they requested in government funds - a significant increase in the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce more than $6.2 Million for Oregon Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced that today, 34 Oregon counties will receive payments totaling $6,245,153 as part of the federal government's Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The PILT program is designed to compensate local communities for tax revenue lost because of nontaxable federal land in their counties. "It is critical for the federal government to provide the proper amount of funding to communities that support federally … Continue Reading
June 16, 2004
Wyden Legislation Will Target Offshore Outsourcing
Washington, DC - Companies that outsource American jobs would lose tax benefits, and outsourced service sector and technology employees would for the first time see training and income relief, under legislation introduced today by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The "Keep American Jobs at Home Act" would eliminate tax deductions for businesses that ship American jobs overseas, provide wage insurance and training assistance for service sector workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas, and … Continue Reading
June 01, 2004
Forest Service Agrees to Wyden Request to Split Biscuit Plan
Washington, DC Today, the Forest Service agreed to pursue U.S. Senator Ron Wydens proposal to split its salvage plans (Records of Decision) in the Biscuit fire area so some salvage can proceed while more controversial plans are likely to be contested in the courts.In April of this year, Wyden wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman (text follows) asking that the Biscuit salvage plan be broken down to three separate proposals one each for matrix, Late Successional Reserves (LSRs), and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2004
Wyden Placing "Hold" on FTC Nominee Deborah Majoras
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced his intention to place a "hold" on the nomination of Deborah Majoras to become Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Wyden, who has called on the FTC in the current and previous Administrations to take action to protect consumers from high gasoline prices, received no indication from Majoras that under her leadership the agency would take any steps to end numerous and well-documented anti-competitive practices … Continue Reading
May 07, 2004
Senators: Heavy Filling of Strategic Petroleum Reserve Drives up Gas Prices
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and twenty-nine colleagues in the U.S. Senate today called on the Bush Administration to, at a minimum, slow the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The Senators cited recent reports that filling the SPR at a very high rate contributes to higher crude oil and gasoline prices. In a letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, the senators questioned why the administration has sped filling the SPR to 300,000 barrels per day, … Continue Reading
May 05, 2004
Portland Community Development Projects to Receive Nearly $200 Million in Tax Credits
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced that three Portland community development programs have been awarded federal tax credits totaling almost $200 million to invest in Oregon's low-income communities under the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program. The awards will be announced officially tomorrow, May 6. "This is a great example of how private enterprise can be used in the public interest," Smith said. "These credits will make it possible to restore historic … Continue Reading
April 02, 2004
Wyden calls on Administration to move quicklyand protect Oregon jobs in Biscuit salvage
Washington, DC Saying that "time is clearly of the essence," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today called on the Administration to move quickly on salvage operations in the Biscuit fire area. In doing so, Wyden also urged the Administration to give a "strong preference" in jobs to Oregonians, who bore the brunt of the Biscuit fire."I believe the people of my state, who bore the burden and fears of the Biscuit fire, and who now bear the burden of a half million acre burn area, should have a strong … Continue Reading
March 23, 2004
Wyden Presses FTC Chair to Review Agencys Orders on Bakersfield Refinery
Wyden Presses FTC Chair to Review Agencys Orders on Bakersfield RefinerySenator calls on Muris to provide answers, determine whetherFTC orders from Chevron-Texaco merger make facility less viableMarch 23, 2004Washington, DC Continuing his strong criticism of the Federal governments inaction on rising gas prices across the country, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today called on Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Timothy Muris to review previous oil company mergers and FTC orders that may be … Continue Reading
March 17, 2004
Smith, Wyden Announce Emergency Agriculture Aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $620,500 through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to Oregon farmers and ranchers facing the consequences of natural disaster.This aid is another clear example of the Bush Administrations steadfast support of American family farmers, Smith said. Oregons farmers and ranchers deserve that, especially when facing unforeseeable disaster.The damages and … Continue Reading
February 18, 2004
Federal economic development agency threatensto leave distressed rural areas behind
Portland, OR U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today questioned a new Economic Development Administration (EDA) policy that threatens to change the focus of federal funding designed to help distressed rural areas, and instead use it to benefit areas with significant private-sector resources.David Sampson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, discussed the fact that EDA has adopted new internal performance standards at a February 11 conference in Medford, Oregon. One of the new … Continue Reading
February 17, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce Employment Aid for Klamath First Bank Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced a federal grant for as much as $668,790 to assist workers affected by the closure of the Klamath First Bank in Klamath Falls, Oregon. The Oregon State Board of Education, which will administer the grant, will receive $248,796 initially in Workforce Investment Act emergency grant funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. Funds will help to provide employment-related assistance such as individual … Continue Reading
February 17, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce Employment Aid for Viking Industries Workers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced a federal grant for as much as $245,345 to assist workers affected by the closure of Viking Industries in Gresham, Oregon. The grant of Workforce Investment Act emergency funds is being awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor to the Oregon State Board of Education, which will administer the project. The funds will help to provide employment-related assistance such as individual counseling, career … Continue Reading
February 11, 2004
Wyden Calls on President to Reject Report PraisingOutsourcing of U.S. Jobs
Washington, DC At a time when thousands of Oregonians need work, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today called on the President to reject the position of his Administrations Council of Economic Advisors that the outsourcing of U.S. jobs to workers overseas is good for our nation's economy. Wyden joined a number of Senators in writing to the President to express their concern about the Councils position, and encourage instead an examination of ways to protect American jobs from outsourcing.Each … 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 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
