Press Releases
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing the Importance of Local News
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined colleagues this week in introducing a resolution to support the designation of April 2022 as "Preserving Local News Month." The resolution recognizes local news as a public good that serves an essential function in the democracy of the United States. "As the son of a journalist, I am proud to introduce legislation recognizing the importance of local news in our democracy," said Wyden, who also has introduced the Local Journalism Sustainability … Continue Reading
April 29, 2022
Wyden, Cornyn Bill to Exempt Trafficking Survivors’ Restitution from Taxes Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, released the following statements after the Senate this week unanimously passed their bipartisan Human Trafficking Survivor Tax Relief Act, which would exempt civil damages, restitution, and other monetary awards given to human trafficking survivors from federal income taxes as well as codify Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance that makes restitution payments to survivors in criminal cases free from federal … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Wyden to FTC: Publicize Fraud Hotline so Consumers Can Report Price Gouging and Fight Back Against Corporate Greed
Washington, D.C. - Amid numerous allegations of corporations padding their profits by raising prices to gouge consumers, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to ensure Americans are aware they can report suspected price gouging to the FTC, either at ReportFraud.FTC.gov or the fraud telephone hotline at 877-382-4358, or via traditional mail. "I write to express my concern that large corporations, particularly those in consolidated industries, appear … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Lead Colleagues in Push to Extend Federal Purchasing of West Coast Seafood
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today led colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the Department to continue purchasing seafood from the West Coast. Senator Merkley and Wyden were joined by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representatives Jared Huffman (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Kurt Schrader (D-OR), and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) … Continue Reading
April 28, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1 Million to Oregon for Conservation Efforts and to Protect Vulnerable Wildlife
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced Oregon has earned more than $1 million for conservation and protection of vulnerable wildlife from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "From preserving the habitats of the Western pond turtle to mapping wildlife connectivity corridors, I am gratified to see more federal dollars go toward the conservation of some of the animals, plants and insects that inhabit Oregon's world-renowned natural treasures," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Support Biden Proposal to Reverse Harmful Trump Immigration Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in support of the Biden administration's proposal to better support immigrants by updating the "public charge" regulation. The Biden administration's proposed regulation would replace the public charge rule enacted by the Trump administration in 2019, which made it significantly more difficult for many immigrants to become lawful permanent residents by lowering … Continue Reading
April 27, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Irrigation Project Funding Headed to Rural Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Tumalo, Owyhee, East Fork, and Ochoco Irrigation District projects will be receiving critical federal funding that will help drought-stricken communities make the most of limited water supplies. These projects-funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bill, both of which Senators Merkley and Wyden strongly supported-will combine strategies supporting … Continue Reading
April 26, 2022
Wyden Tests Positive for COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - The office of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on Senator Wyden testing positive for COVID-19: "As part of routine testing, Senator Wyden tested positive today for COVID-19. He is fully vaccinated and experiencing minor symptoms. He is in Washington, D.C. and working from his residence while following CDC guidance to … Continue Reading
April 22, 2022
Wyden, Blumenauer, DeFazio Applaud Administration’s Actions to Focus Efforts on Science to Support Actions to Protect Old Growth Forests
PORTLAND - Today, Senator Ron Wyden (OR), Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), and Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) commended the Biden Administration's executive order to protect old growth and mature forests. The announcement follows letters sent in 2021 and 2022 by the lawmakers urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of the Interior to include protection for old growth and mature forests as part of the agencies' carbon reduction planning efforts. Text of the … Continue Reading
April 19, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: $1.8 Million to Grant County to Increase Broadband Connectivity
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that the City of John Day has earned a $1.8 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to increase broadband connectivity in Grant County. "Reliable broadband is essential infrastructure for Eastern Oregon, just like the Rural Electrification Act opened new opportunities across the nation nearly a century ago," said Wyden, who supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which included $65 … Continue Reading
April 14, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.2 Million to Columbia Gorge Community College
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $1.2 million in CARES Act funds will be headed to Columbia Gorge Community College to expand their health science workforce. These federal funds will be used to train, support, and fund the health care workforce in the Columbia Gorge Region. "Health care workers have been the cornerstone of our COVID-19 response over the last two years," said Senator Merkley. "I'm pleased this federal funding is … Continue Reading
April 13, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce over $40 Million in Federal Funds Headed to Central Oregon to Combat Extreme Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $41.3 million headed to Central Oregon to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Senator Merkley, as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the U.S. Forest Service, and Senator Wyden, who is a senior member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, had a key role in authoring wildfire-related sections of the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is the source of this … Continue Reading
April 13, 2022
Merkley and Wyden Secure Critical Aid for the Klamath Basin, Urge Unity to Secure Long-Term Solutions
Washington, D.C.- Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden released the following statement today after the Bureau of Reclamation announced a water allocation for the Klamath Project, as well as $20 million in immediate drought relief for the Project and $5 million in technical assistance for Klamath Basin tribes: "We are committed to working together to help Klamath Basin communities face another extremely difficult water year. The funding that the administration made available this … Continue Reading
April 08, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: $153 Million to Oregon for Largest Ever Federal Investment in Transit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced a $153 million investment in Oregon transit, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The apportionment of these dollars represents the largest-ever investment in transit, giving riders better service while creating good-paying jobs in Oregon and nationwide. "A federal investment in transit systems is critical for Oregonians to get easily from Point A to Point B when they're commuting to work, heading to … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Wyden Delivers Floor Speech in Support of Jackson Nomination
Madam President, I've already announced that I will support Judge Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson's character and her qualifications are unassailable, but that hasn't stopped Senate Republicans from treating her disgracefully. Too often behavior in the hearings was simply shameful. It doesn't have to be this way and it wasn't always this way. For example, even though I disagreed with him on plenty of issues, I voted for Chief Justice Roberts, and he was treated very … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Call on FTC to Investigate Oil and Gas Market Practices that May Be Driving Up Gas Prices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week along with Senators Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called for federal action to ensure transparency and greater oversight of petroleum markets to protect consumers in Oregon and the West Coast from possible price manipulation. "High and volatile fuel prices are hindering our economy and burdening families," the senators wrote in a letter Tuesday asking the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate whether … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1 Million to Lane County for Protecting Water Supply during 2020 Holiday Farm Fire
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Lane County Emergency Management will receive $1.02 million in federal reimbursement for measures taken to protect the McKenzie River, the sole source of drinking water for the Eugene metro area, during the 2020 Holiday Farm Fire. "Lane County Emergency Management went above and beyond the call of duty to protect the crucial drinking water source during the devastating Holiday Farm fire, but these efforts were … Continue Reading
April 06, 2022
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
