Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce over $2.2 Million in Federal Funds Headed to Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) a $2,225,000 grant to update its existing veterans' shelter. This award comes after the announcement of MWVCAA's acquisition of a new property immediately adjacent to the existing shelter, a community project Senators Merkley and Wyden supported and requested funds for and which was later approved and … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Wyden: Bipartisan Legislation to Help Fix Supply Chain and Ease Shipping Backlogs Passes Senate
Washington, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today that bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored to help fix supply chains and ease shipping backlogs in Oregon and nationwide has passed the Senate by voice vote. "Oregon farmers and all other businesses exporting our state's world-renowned products need a level playing field to do what they do best -- compete successfully in a global economy so they can continue generating jobs here at home," Wyden said. "And all Oregonians need relief from … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on Department of Education, DOJ to Follow Through on Pledge to Improve Handling of Student Debt Bankruptcy Claims
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined colleagues in asking the federal Departments of Education and Justice for an update on efforts to improve how the agencies handle undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings. "The undue hardship exception (11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8)) currently serves as the only option in the bankruptcy code for discharge of student loans, and that exception has been narrowly construed by most courts. The federal … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Extend Student Loan Payment Pause and Cancel Student Debt
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosigned a letter to President Joseph R. Biden urging the administration to act now to extend the pause on federally-held student loan payments until at least the end of the year and to provide meaningful student debt cancellation. "Given the fast-approaching deadline for borrowers to resume payments, your administration must act as quickly as possible to extend the pause and make clear to the American public your intention … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Wyden Announces Statewide Town Hall Schedule For April
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have 12 live on-line town halls hosted by People's Town Hall in April for residents of Coos, Curry, Yamhill, Clatsop, Linn, Benton, Polk, Gilliam, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Morrow counties. Heading into this month's virtual town halls, Wyden has held 1,007 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "Keeping my commitment for town halls each year in … Continue Reading
April 01, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Bill to Extend Summer Meal Flexibilities to Feed Children
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would extend federal school meal flexibilities for children in Oregon and nationwide from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023. These flexibilities have been crucial to feeding children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And with 90 percent of schools still facing many challenges as they return to normal operations, these flexibilities give schools and summer meal programs … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Wyden Supports Jackson Nomination
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the United States Supreme Court: "Following today's meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, I'm pleased to officially announce my support of her historic nomination to the Supreme Court. "We had a productive meeting where Judge Jackson's deep knowledge of the law and fair-minded judicial temperament were clear. In particular, we had a good discussion about … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Recognize March 31 as International Transgender Day of Visibility
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues introduced a resolution to recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse communities around the world, and to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. "Today, we celebrate the lives-the joy, the contributions, the perseverance and so much more-of trans and non-binary people here in the United States and around the world," Wyden said. "As attacks … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $30 Million to Oregon for Home Weatherization to Reduce Energy Costs and Increase Resilience
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon will receive $30.6 million in federal funds for home weatherization to help reduce energy expenses for low-income families. "Due to climate change, Oregon is suffering more instances of extreme weather-from heat islands to ice storms-and the costly weatherization and high energy bills have hit families hard," Wyden said. "I am gratified this weatherization assistance can ease the financial burden for … Continue Reading
March 31, 2022
Wyden Renews Calls to Increase Domestic Critical Mineral Production, Reduce Dependence on Foreign Mineral and Energy Imports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today renewed his calls for an overhaul of domestic critical mineral production to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign mineral imports, as well as reliance on foreign energy. "It is past time for the United States to become a competitive producer of critical minerals and wean itself off of both foreign oil and gas imports," said Wyden, a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources … Continue Reading
March 30, 2022
Wyden, Western Colleagues Urge the Department of Interior to Fund Sagebrush Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and seven western colleagues from both parties this week urged the Department of Interior (DOI) to allocate a significant portion of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law toward sagebrush ecosystem restoration in the American West to boost wildfire mitigation efforts, create jobs and support the economy in Oregon and the West. "As Senators representing Western states, we urge you to allocate a significant portion of these funds to address the … Continue Reading
March 30, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $2 Million in Federal Funds headed to Northeast Oregon for Forest Resiliency, Wildfire Prevention
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced critical project funding headed to Northeast Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) will be investing $1.8 million into the La Grande Valley West Resilience Project over the next three years to support forest management and outreach to private forestland owners to support and promote resilient forests, helping prevent out-of-control wildfires. "The La Grande Valley West Resilience Project has multiple benefits, … Continue Reading
March 30, 2022
Wyden, Rubio, Warner Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Clarify Costs of Higher Education
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Warner, D-Va., today reintroduced legislation that would make the costs and outcomes associated with higher education clear in order to help students, families, policymakers and taxpayers. The bipartisan Student Right to Know Before You Go Act makes data available to prospective college students about schools' graduation rates, debt levels, how much graduates can expect to earn and other critical education and … Continue Reading
March 30, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Answers from Justice Thomas for Violating Federal Conflict-of-Interest Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week co-signed a letter with Senate and House colleagues to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts demanding answers regarding Justice Thomas's potential violation of federal ethics law, after last week's explosive reporting on the efforts of his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Justice Thomas was the lone dissenting vote in a Supreme Court case requiring … Continue Reading
March 29, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce $32 Million to Oregon for Drinking Water, Wastewater Infrastructure Advancements
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $32 million in federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headed to Oregon to fund safe drinking water projects and strengthen wastewater infrastructure. "Reliable access to clean drinking water is vital to the health and safety of any community-especially during an ongoing global pandemic," said Merkley, Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funds this … Continue Reading
March 28, 2022
Wyden, Fischer, Grassley, Tester, Unveil Updated Cattle Market Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and, Jon Tester (D-MT) today released an updated version of their Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The senators first introduced the bipartisan bill in November. "Oregon's ranchers shouldn't face an unfairly tilted marketplace that favors corporate meat packers and undercuts their small family businesses from producing nationally renowned beef for consumers," said Wyden, Chair of the … Continue Reading
March 25, 2022
Wyden Calls on Justice Clarence Thomas to Recuse Himself from Cases Related to January 6th and the 2024 Election
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement calling on Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from any cases related to the January 6th investigation and, if former President Donald Trump runs again, the 2024 election: "In light of new reporting from numerous outlets, Justice Thomas' conduct on the Supreme Court looks increasingly corrupt. "Judges are obligated to recuse themselves when their participation in a case would create even the appearance of a … Continue Reading
March 24, 2022
Wyden Bill to Expand Mammogram Screenings for Veterans Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to expand Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mammogram screening eligibility. The Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans in Combat Environments (SERVICE) Act would require the VA to conduct mammograms for all women who served in areas associated with burn pits and other toxic exposures regardless of age, symptoms or family history. "Women … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $46 Million in Federal Awards to Help Keep Oregonians off the Streets and in their Homes
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $46,017,563 in FY2021 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition awards headed to seven Oregon counties and multiple organizations to help people experiencing homelessness. These awards from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are part of approximately 7,000 renewed and new grants that will promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness. "Oregonians in every … Continue Reading
March 23, 2022
Wyden, Blunt Bill to Strengthen Protections for Small, Rural TV Stations Clears Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., today announced that their bipartisan Low Power Protection Act has passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill would strengthen spectrum rights for certain low power television (LPTV) stations, which fill important gaps in broadcast service, particularly in Oregon's rural communities outside the reach of a full power signal. "Yesterday's advancement of the Low Power Protection Act … Continue Reading
