Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $5.4 Million Coming to Oregon for Natural Disaster Recovery
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Port of Brookings Harbor and the Oregon Department of Forestry will be receiving $5,417,255 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for disaster recovery efforts through its Public Assistance Program. "Oregon's devastating winter storms and wildfire season take a heavy toll on many communities across the state, and we need to continue to do everything we … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Portland & Habitat for Humanity of Oregon Earn Total of $4 Million in Federal Healthy Homes Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the city of Portland and Habitat for Humanity of Oregon have each secured a $2 million federal Healthy Homes Production grant to make health and safety repairs to local housing as well as support cost-effective and efficient healthy homebuilding methods in their communities. "Housing that's affordable must also be safe and free of environmental dangers for Oregonians who deserve to know they're not somehow exposing … Continue Reading
February 17, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Help Communities in the Klamath Basin Respond to Severe Drought
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced legislation that would support farmers and ranchers responding to severe drought and restoring fish and wildlife habitat in the Klamath Basin. "The farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin have weathered historic drought with significant federal investment and assistance, but the region is in desperate need of additional support, " said Wyden. "While I'm gratified Senator Merkley and I brought … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from Kroger on Widespread Wage Theft
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to push for accountability in a letter to Kroger after the company's shift to a new payroll system left thousands of workers across the country short on their paychecks. "We are writing today regarding alarming new reports of Kroger's involvement in the mistreatment of workers and consumers through widespread and unresolved wage theft. These reports indicate that 'systemic and widespread errors' by Kroger resulted in … Continue Reading
February 16, 2023
Wyden Delivers Floor Speech Calling on President Biden and the FDA to Keep Mifepristone on the Market, Regardless of Outcome in Texas Case
Wyden's call comes after decades of his advocacy for women to have access to abortion medication, holding the first ever congressional hearing on the basic healthcare issue Click here to watch video of remarks. As Prepared for Delivery On the first floor of the federal building in Amarillo, across the street from a grassy park and a few blocks away from the local minor league baseball stadium, is a United States District Courtroom for the Northern District of Texas. Presiding over that … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both regions. The senators' Oregon Recreation Enhancement (ORE) Act would create the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and prohibit destructive mining on pristine rivers in … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Wyden Applauds CBP for Upgrading Borders Security, With New Tech Wyden Requested To Detect Fake Passports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for following through on a long-overdue technology upgrade that detects forged passports. Wyden requested the upgrade nearly 5 years ago, during the Trump administration, in order to strengthen border security. "Upgrading passport security is a commonsense way to ensure people entering our country are who they say they are. It is already making America safer, without resorting to invasive … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Justice Adrienne Nelson Vote in Senate
Washington, D.C. - Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 52-46 to confirm Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson's nomination to the U.S. District Court. "Today's vote adds to the U.S. District Court an extremely qualified Oregonian who brings her powerful combination of comprehensive legal experience and commitment to justice for all. As the first Black woman to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court, Justice … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden Urges Confirmation of Adrienne Nelson to U.S. District Court on the Floor of U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of the confirmation of Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court. The final confirmation vote is expected to take place on Wednesday morning, Eastern Time. M. President, I want to use my time to offer my unwavering support on the confirmation of Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court. Through a powerful combination … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Prioritize Efforts to Combat PFAS Contamination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to urge the Biden administration to include funding in the upcoming budget request to more comprehensively address PFAS chemicals contamination in Oregon and nationwide. "The prevalence of PFAS combined with the adverse health impacts associated with exposure-including developmental effects, changes in liver, immune and thyroid function and increased risk of some cancers-requires a comprehensive approach. Specifically, … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Education Department to Inform Potential Students of Low-Financial-Value Postsecondary Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that he has joined Senate colleagues in asking the Education Department to provide input about the agency's process for compiling a list of low-financial-value postsecondary programs. This list would serve as a warning sign for students, parents, and educators about the certain higher education programs that do not produce a financial return on investment for attendees, especially as college costs and student loan debts are rising. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill Requiring SCOTUS to Follow Code of Ethics
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their Senate and House colleagues to introduce the Supreme Court Ethics Act, requiring the Judicial Conference of the United States to create a code of ethical conduct for the Supreme Court of the United States. The legislation would also require the appointment of an Ethics Investigations Counsel and require justices to publicly disclose recusal decisions. "The Supreme Court is making life-altering decisions … Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.8 Million Coming to Oregon for Habitat Restoration and Conservation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) will be receiving $1,818,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for habitat restoration and conservation through the National Estuary Program. "Climate chaos and human actions are threatening to lead to the permanent loss of plants and animals that have defined Oregon, including salmon and steelhead," said Senator Merkley, who, as Chair of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Cap Child Care Costs for Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined colleagues to introduce new legislation that would expand access to affordable child care to every American family, offer high-quality early education to every child, and create good jobs for our early educators. "There are countless parents who want to work to provide for their families but simply can't because there is no affordable child care option for them," said Wyden, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee who, during … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Cattle Market Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined U.S. Senators Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Jon Tester, D-Mont. to introduce the bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023. The legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information, including permanently authorizing a cattle contract library. "Family farmers and ranchers … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Question Defense and Education Departments About Reports of Students Forced into JROTC Enrollment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues this week asked top federal officials to answer questions arising from troubling reports of students forced to join the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. "The actions by schools to make JROTC mandatory are also not consistent with Pentagon guidelines. JROTC instructors told the Times they are 'creat(ing) problems with discipline and morale,"' Wyden and colleagues wrote in a letter to the Under Secretary of … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce “Ethan’s Law” Safe Gun Storage Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues to reintroduce Ethan's Law, legislation that would require gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. "Reducing access to unsupervised firearms with safe and proper gun storage will save lives in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "Congress must urgently pass Ethan's Law to protect our schools, communities, and fight the gun violence epidemic tearing through this country." … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Exempt Trafficking Survivors’ Restitution from Federal Taxes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week joined colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation that would to exempt civil damages or restitution given to human trafficking survivors from federal income taxes. The bill would also codify current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance that makes restitution payments made to survivors in criminal cases free from federal income taxes. "Human trafficking survivors have been through true horrors, and the last thing they need is a big … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Rising Catalytic Converter Thefts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues from both parties to introduce legislation that would combat the rise in catalytic converter thefts in Oregon and nationwide. "The theft of catalytic converters has soared in Oregon and across the nation, costing working families and small business owners valuable time and money," said Wyden. "This bill will bring us one step closer to solving this problem by strengthening local law enforcement's ability to locate stolen … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Communities to Receive Total of More Than $1.7 Million in Federal Funds for Safer Streets
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that a federal investment totaling more than $1.7 million has been secured for the cities of Hermiston and Ontario as well as Jefferson, Douglas and Lane counties to improve street safety in their communities. "The ability for all Oregonians to travel safely on the streets and roads they rely on every day plays a big part in quality of life and peace of mind for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists," Wyden said. "I'm … Continue Reading
