Press Releases
On National Voter Registration Day, Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Legislation to Make Registering to Vote Easier for All Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined with colleagues today on National Voter Registration Day to co-sponsor two pieces of legislation that would make it easier for Americans to register to vote and to know their registration status. The Same Day Voter Registration Act would require states to offer same-day registration at polling locations on Election Day and during early voting. The Stop Automatically Voiding Eligible Voters Off Their Enlisted Rolls in … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers about the Collection and Potential Disclosure of Women’s Reproductive Health Information
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to call on Heartbeat International, an anti-abortion organization that supports thousands of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) across the country, to answer questions about its collection and use of women’s personal data, including sensitive health care information. “Heartbeat International - which is explicitly opposed to abortion rights - appears to be in a position to collect a significant amount of personal … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Wyden Announces Town Halls for Lake, Wheeler and Wallowa Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced upcoming live on-line town halls hosted Sept. 30-Oct. 2 by People’s Town Hall for residents of Lake, Wheeler and Wallowa counties. Heading into these upcoming virtual town halls, Wyden has held 1,024 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “Listening to Oregonians’ priorities in town halls like these in Lake, Wheeler and Wallowa counties … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $20 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Relating to COVID, 2020 Labor Day Fires Emergency Measures
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that Oregon will receive a total of $20,054,430.5 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help replenish costs related to emergency protective measures throughout the state of Oregon in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 Labor Day fires. “As Oregon continues to recover from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and devastating wildfire events, we cannot let up on providing federal … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: Over $3.2 Million in Federal Funds to Address Domestic Violence and Expand Services for Survivors
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $3,282,231 in federal grants to help protect Oregonians from domestic violence and stalking and to support survivors. “All of us want to feel safe in our homes and as we go about our lives, and these grants will help protect more Oregonians from domestic violence,” said Merkley.? “I’ll continue working to secure resources that provide safety, support, and protection for people in these … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: $350,000 in Pollution Prevention Planning Headed to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality $350,000 to implement two pollution prevention projects in the state. These awards are intended to help states and tribes provide businesses with technical assistance to help develop and adopt practices to prevent or reduce pollution before it is created, while reducing business and liability costs. … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Wyden Reveals New Details About U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s ‘Egregious Violations’ of Americans’ Rights During Warrantless Electronic Device Searches
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today revealed new details about how U.S. Customs and Border Protection violates Americans' rights during warrantless searches of phones and other electronic devices, and called for immediate reforms. Wyden recently learned that when thousands of Americans' phones are searched at the border every year, their contents are downloaded into a central database, where information is held for 15 years and can be accessed by roughly 2,700 Department … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Wyden Further Presses USDA and Interior for Detailed Plans on Firefighter Shortage and Wildfire Prevention
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., requested again that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the Interior (DOI) provide detailed plans on how the agencies will use the recent increases he secured in funding for wildfire prevention and to further address wildland firefighter staffing shortages. Wyden's letters to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today follow the agencies' responses to his initial request on these matters. "[Increased] … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Wyden Speaks Out Against Republican Proposal for Nationwide Abortion Ban
M. President, there's a lot to say about the latest radical proposal restricting the right to an abortion for every woman in this country. I'm going to focus on a few key points. First of all, Senator Graham and the Republicans want the American people to believe this is a "moderate" proposal. Wrong, wrong, wrong. This is a national abortion ban. This is exactly what Republicans had in mind when they hand-picked Supreme Court nominees to overturn Roe versus Wade. Senator Graham's bill … Continue Reading
September 14, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $900,000 to Fire Departments for Operations, Safety & Vehicle Costs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that four Oregon fire departments will receive a combined more than $900,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) for crucial operations, safety and vehicle costs. “Local firefighters who have been working hard this past week and year-round to protect lives and livelihoods throughout Oregon deserve topnotch equipment to stay safe while they’re putting themselves at risk,” Wyden said. … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Push Biden Administration to Strengthen Privacy Protections for Women Seeking Reproductive Health Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today with colleagues called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take immediate action to strengthen federal privacy protections about abortion and other reproductive services, bolster enforcement of the protections, educate providers about their obligations, and ensure patients understand their rights. “Our nation faces a crisis in access to reproductive health services, and some states have already … Continue Reading
September 13, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $180,000 to Oregon State University for Pest Control Research in Hops Plants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon State University (OSU) will receive more than $180,000 to research and develop management strategies for the fusarium canker fungus killing hops in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. “Since 98% of U.S. hops are grown right here in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon State University’s topnotch researchers are well-positioned to provide key insights into how to manage the growing threat this fungus poses,” … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Wyden: Oregon the First State To Earn Federal Approval for Medicaid Reimbursement of Mobile Crisis Intervention Services
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that Oregon is the first state to earn federal approval for Medicaid reimbursement of community-based mobile crisis intervention services that help people struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. The approval by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of Oregon’s Medicaid state plan amendment to provide qualifying mobile crisis intervention services is the first since the American Rescue Plan … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $2.6 Million in Federal Funds for Oregon Firefighting Aid
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that 10 Oregon fire districts will receive a combined $2.58 million in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). “Local firefighters working hard to protect lives and livelihoods throughout Oregon deserve topnotch equipment to stay safe while they’re putting themselves at risk defending communities around the state,” Wyden said. “The importance of this federal investment in Oregon is especially timely … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Centro Cultural Secures $366,000 Federal Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Centro Cultural has earned a $366,150 federal grant to improve community food security by increasing production of fresh fruit and vegetables year-round for the Washington County organization’s clients. “Centro Cultural has proven itself over the past 50 years to be an essential resource that Washington County can count on to improve health and create economic opportunities for underserved communities,” … Continue Reading
September 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Over $200,000 to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs for Services to Prevent Sex Crimes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs will receive nearly $211,000 from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to protect the community and prevent sex crimes. “The U.S. government can do more to protect children from predators on and off tribal land, and it is long past time for that to happen,” Wyden said. “This funding provides a dedicated administrator and crucial training that the Warm Springs tribal … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Senate Vote for Natalie Wight to be U.S. Attorney for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following joint statement after the Senate today voted by unanimous consent to approve President Biden’s nomination of Natalie Wight to be U.S. Attorney for Oregon. “Natalie Wight has long been a community leader with an exemplary record of integrity and independence, and we’re gratified the entire Senate has confirmed her nomination to be U.S. Attorney for Oregon. We thank President Biden for nominating this … Continue Reading
September 08, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: Over $2 Million in USDA Awards Headed to Strengthen Oregon’s Specialty Crop Industry
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $2,098,097.03 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) awards to Oregon Department of Agriculture for 16 different projects. The SCBGP funding is intended to support farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops. USDA’s support works to strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and … Continue Reading
September 07, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $41 Million to Strengthen Oregon’s Mass Timber Industry
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition will receive over $41 million from the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) as one of 21 American Rescue Plan Build Back Better Regional Challenge (BBBRC) winners. Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, led by the Port of Portland, will use the funding to implement projects across the state to expand the regional mass timber industry cluster, which creates … Continue Reading
August 30, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $100,000 to Oregon for Firefighter Equipment and Training
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that three Oregon fire districts will receive a combined nearly $100,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). “Every day, firefighters in local fire districts—both union and volunteer—put their lives on the line to protect our communities in Oregon,” Wyden said. “Local firefighters have been on the front lines of fire season this year and every year. They deserve the equipment and training to do … Continue Reading
