Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on DOJ Inspector General to Conduct Comprehensive Review of Bureau of Prison COVID-19 Deaths
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to conduct a comprehensive review of all COVID-19-related deaths of incarcerated individuals in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and BOP staff since the beginning of the pandemic. In a letter from Wyden, Merkley and several colleagues to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the lawmakers requested information about whether incarcerated … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Department of Education to Issue Guidance for Summer Enrichment Programs
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today urged the U.S. Department of Education to issue guidance for how to use funding from the American Rescue Plan to provide summer enrichment programming for children and families. In a letter with 10 colleagues to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the senators stressed the importance of the department's leadership in ensuring that states maximize the potential of these funds to address the academic, emotional, and social needs of students, … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Nine Oregon Tribes to Receive $10.5 Million for Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that nine Oregon tribes will receive more than $10.5 million in affordable housing grants under the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to help with the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Tribes in Oregon have been rocked by COVID-19, and affordable housing is a must to keep community members safe during this pandemic and beyond," Wyden said. "I'm proud to have helped pass the American Rescue Plan … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Wyden, Neguse Ask President Biden to Prioritize Support for Conservation Corps in FY22 Budget and Build Back Better Infrastructure Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR); and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) today sent a letter to President Biden, requesting that funds for a Civilian Climate Corps be included in the FY2022 budget and that their 21st Century Conservation Corps Act be included in the upcoming Build Back Better infrastructure plan. Wyden and Neguse unveiled their 21st Century Conservation Corps Act earlier this year, a plan which would create a reimagined civilian conservation corps, make major … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: OSU Earns Federal Grant to Study Feeding Spent Hemp Biomass to Cattle
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that Oregon State University has earned a $299,950 federal Agriculture Department grant to study feeding spent hemp biomass to cattle. "OSU's world-renowned hemp research plus the crop's ongoing growth possibilities add up to a potential big win for farmers and ranchers in our state and nationwide to feed their cattle with this biomass byproduct," said Wyden, who led the successful fight to ensure farmers and ranchers could … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Wyden and Leading Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Expand Emergency Broadband Benefit Access
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with 15 leading democrats introduced new legislation building on the Emergency Broadband Connections Act to ensure working families can stay online through the current economic and health crisis. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Edward Markey, D-Mass, Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., … Continue Reading
March 17, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Send Bipartisan Letter to President Biden Urging Funding for Energy Efficiency Programs to Combat Climate Change & Create Jobs
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today signed a bipartisan letter to President Biden urging him to prioritize robust investments in programs that promote energy efficiency in his upcoming budget proposal to Congress. In the letter, Wyden and the senators noted these investments would combat climate change by reducing harmful emissions and pollution and stimulate our economy by creating sustainable jobs and reducing energy costs for consumers. "We applaud your commitment to restoring our … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Legislation Closing Loophole to Protect Domestic Abuse Survivors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence. "Back in 2018, Oregon closed the 'boyfriend loophole,' protecting domestic abuse survivors from gun violence at the hands of their abusers. Domestic abuse survivors in every single state deserve the same level of protection as Oregonians," Wyden said. "Congress must swiftly pass this needed public safety measure to help keep our most vulnerable … Continue Reading
March 16, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill to Tackle Homework Gap, Provide Wi-Fi on School Buses
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would provide E-Rate support for school bus wi-fi to help close the homework gap while students travel on their daily school bus routes in Oregon and nationwide. "Oregon students in rural and Tribal communities taking long bus rides to and from school need wi-fi during those long stretches to keep up with daily assignments and tackle homework," Wyden said. "All students regardless of their zip code should … Continue Reading
March 12, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Nine Oregon Health Centers to Join Federal Vaccine Program
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that clinics in Portland, Oregon City, Grants Pass, Eugene, Tillamook, Prineville and Medford will be invited to join the Health Center COVID-19 Vaccine Program over the next six weeks. The nine clinics join Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, the Neighborhood Health Center in Portland, Multnomah, and Lane counties in the program. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Affordable High-Speed Internet
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced comprehensive broadband infrastructure legislation that would expand access to affordable high-speed internet for all Americans. "In my town halls across Oregon, I've seen first-hand how reliable broadband can lift up rural towns. And I've seen how rural and lower-income communities without first-class infrastructure are being left behind," Wyden said. "Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Clyburn's legislation is a strong … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Wyden Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of the Nomination of Deb Haaland to be Interior Secretary
Mr. President, on Monday the Senate will vote on the nomination of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior. This is truly an historic moment. I've voted on a lot of nominations over the years. I've never felt more proud to support a nominee than I do right now supporting Congresswoman Haaland. I could be here all weekend talking about what she represents and the opportunities that lie ahead for the Interior Department, public lands and rural communities. But I'll … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Ensure More Disaster Resilient Power Grid
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would provide incentives to utility companies to do more to protect against power outages and wildfires as the climate emergency hits communities in Oregon and nationwide with extreme weather events. Wyden and Merkley's Disaster Safe Power Grid Act would ensure that power companies do their part to reduce the risks of power blackouts and wildland fires through power system upgrades, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Long-Term Student Needs Related to COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would help accelerate academic progress and address students' social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs related to COVID-19. "Before this pandemic even began, students in Oregon and around the country were rightly demanding more support for their emotional, mental and physical health. This crisis has only made these needs even more acute, especially for marginalized communities that … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $40 Million in Federal Funding to Help Maintain Healthy Pacific Northwest Forests and Support Local Recreation Economies
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service will invest up to $40 million in projects that will maintain healthy national forests in the Pacific Northwest Region. The funding will also support projects to improve transportation and recreation infrastructure in the forests, which will boost accessibility and help support local economies. The funding announced today is part of a $285 million … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Permanent Daylight Saving Time Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today reintroduced legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country. "The Sunshine Protection Act takes a common-sense step to provide some much-needed stability for families in Oregon and across the nation," Wyden said. "Springing forward and falling back year after year only creates unnecessary confusion while harming Americans' health and our economy. Making Daylight Saving permanent would give folks an … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Defend Property Owners’ Rights from Eminent Domain Claims for Natural Gas Pipelines
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would strengthen the rights of landowners facing eminent domain claims from private companies exploiting public interest provisions to confiscate property in Oregon and nationwide for natural gas pipeline development. The bills, which Wyden and Merkley first introduced last fall, come in response to the natural gas industry's increased use of eminent domain for pipeline development … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Online Clatsop County Town Hall on March 13
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall for Clatsop County residents beginning at noon on Saturday, March 13 hosted by People's Town Hall. Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that a large open-to-all public meeting poses no unusual health risk … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce “No Check, No Sale” Bill to Close Charleston Loophole
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is introducing a bill that would close a loophole allowing gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly 2015 attack at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. "Firearm buyers should be able to clear a background check … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
DOE Deputy Secretary Nominee Commits to Wyden to Improve Power Grid Resiliency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked Deputy Secretary of Energy nominee David Turk about his commitment to improve power grid resiliency following recent extreme weather events leaving hundreds of thousands of Oregonians without power. "Last year, Mr. Turk, wildfires hit Oregon like a wrecking ball, and just last month a winter storm left thousands of Oregonians with no power," Wyden said during Turk's nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and … Continue Reading
