Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Push to Include 12 Weeks of National Paid Family and Medical Leave in President Biden’s Budget
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues in urging the Biden administration to advance a national paid family and medical leave program in the FY2024 budget. "We thank President Biden for his commitment to expanding paid leave and urge that the administration's FY24 budget request meaningfully reflect that commitment. The United States is the world's only industrialized nation that does not guarantee workers paid leave, even though nearly all workers … Continue Reading
January 12, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Housing Authorities Receive more than $900,000 in Housing Vouchers for Oregonians with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that six Oregon counties will receive 80 vouchers from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to fund permanent affordable housing assistance to Oregonians with extreme mental health concerns and disabilities.? "As the weather continues to be wet and cold, I'm gratified to see more Oregonians get a roof overhead," Wyden said. "Housing is a basic human need. These permanent housing vouchers are … Continue Reading
January 10, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $200,000 Coming to Oregon for Water Efficiency Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $198,668 is coming to Oregon from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for project to improve water efficiency in Bend, Morrow County, and Klamath County. "Reliable water supply is vital for communities, farmers and ranchers, and for many iconic wildlife species?to thrive," said Merkley. "I'm pleased these funds are going to help improve water efficiency improvements in Oregon's agriculture industry so there's more … Continue Reading
January 06, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $20 Million to Oregon School Districts to Hire More Mental Health Providers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that four Oregon school districts will receive a combined nearly $20 million in competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education to hire additional licensed mental health providers over the next five years. "Students, teachers and counselors across Oregon tell me just how crucial school-based mental health services are to young people facing challenges at home and in the classroom-but these services are … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
UPDATED: Wyden Kicks Off 2023 with 11 Town Halls Throughout Oregon
This release has been updated with a new location for the Clackamas County town hall. Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have 11 open-to-all, in-person town halls between Jan. 7 and Jan. 20 for Oregonians in Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln, Clackamas, Linn, Lane, Polk, Marion, Yamhill, Multnomah and Washington counties Heading into these first town halls of 2023, Wyden has held 1,027 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each … Continue Reading
January 04, 2023
Wyden: Cuban Private Sector Small Businesses Should Get Strong U.S. Support
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is calling on the Biden Administration to strengthen support for Cuba's small and medium-sized private enterprises by creating more general licenses, as well as giving the private sector access to international banking, following his fact-finding trip to Cuba. Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee and was the first Senator to visit Cuba in four years, intends to discuss his ideas with Senate colleagues over the weeks ahead. "During my … Continue Reading
December 23, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Essential Investments for Oregon Families in Government Funding Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce critical investments in housing, health care, mental health, education, and transportation services across the state as part of the year-end funding package. The legislation passed in the Senate and is expected to clear the House of Representatives this week before being signed into law by President Biden. "At a time when Oregon's working families are struggling with the high costs of everything from rent to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022
Wyden, Blunt Celebrate Passage of Bill to Strengthen Protections for Small, Rural TV Stations
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Roy Blunt (D-MO) today announced that their bipartisan Low Power Protection Act will soon become law, after it passed the House of Representatives on a voice vote. "The Low Power Protection Act is a bipartisan way to support diverse, locally oriented broadcasting that is so important to rural and remote communities in Oregon and across the country," Wyden said. "I'm proud that Senator Blunt and I got this bill across the finish line … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Homeless Veterans in Willamette Valley to Receive Federal Housing Vouchers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that homeless veterans in the city of Salem as well as in Linn, Benton and Lane counties will receive a total of nearly $700,000 in federal vouchers to help them secure affordable housing and have access to support service from the Department of Veterans Affairs. "Veterans who served our country fully deserve our support when they return home to Oregon to live and work," Wyden said. "Every veteran has earned the right … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Call for Review of MV Realty’s Deceptive Listing Agreements
Washington, DC - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) this week urged federal regulators to review real estate brokerage firms' use of exclusive listing agreements. The letter from Wyden, Brown and Smith follows several reports of companies like MV Realty misleading families into entering 40-year exclusive listing agreements, which can make it difficult for homeowners to refinance and often result in them losing out on up to three percent of their home's … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments for Oregon's Agriculture and Rural Communities in Year-end Funding Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce major investments in Oregon agriculture, rural housing, food assistance, and rural business priorities, which are included in Congress's fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package. The legislation passed in the Senate and is expected to clear the House of Representatives this week before being signed into law by President Biden. "As I hold a town hall for each of Oregon's 36 counties every year, I hear … Continue Reading
December 22, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments for Oregon's Coastal Communities in Year-end Spending Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce Senate passage of major investments for Oregon's ports, waterways, and coastal, fishing, and tribal communities included in Congress's fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package. The legislation passed in the Senate and is expected to clear the House of Representatives this week before being signed into law by President Biden. "As I hold a town hall for each of Oregon's 36 counties every year, I hear from … Continue Reading
December 21, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Secure Funding for Critical Projects Across Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced they secured funding for essential community projects across Oregon in Congress's fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations package, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week. With the support of members of Oregon's congressional delegation in the House of Representatives-Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, and Kurt Schrader-a … Continue Reading
December 21, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Continue Transformative Federal Investments in Wildfire Prevention and Response in 2023 Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that they have secured major investments for wildfire suppression and forest health in the 2023 funding bill that is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week. The new funding comes on top of record investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act earlier in the year. The new legislation announced by the Senators also includes … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Wyden Statement on Passage of End Child Exploitation Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the passage of the End Child Exploitation Act Monday evening, with new cybersecurity provisions to prevent child exploitation images and videos from being stolen and further spread online: "Senators Cortez Masto and Blackburn deserve tremendous credit for writing this important legislation and bird-dogging it across the finish line. The End Child Exploitation Act will give law enforcement more time to respond … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Wyden Statement on Republican Leadership Blocking SAFE Banking Action this Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the SAFE Banking Act: "I am frustrated and disappointed that after coming so close to meaningful cannabis reform this Congress, the Republican Leader and a handful of Republican senators thwarted our efforts to improve public safety. Because when you are forcing businesses to operate as cash only, it is a public safety issue. While action on SAFE Banking may no longer be possible in 2022, you better believe … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Wyden Calls for Transparency on Government Hacking of Americans’ Devices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., requested basic transparency about the frequency of government hacking and legal justifications for use of hacking methods, including the possible use of foreign malware, in a letter to FBI Director Chris Wray. Earlier this year, the New York Times reported that the FBI seriously considered using a controversial hacking tool made by the foreign spyware firm NSO Group, and revealed that fact months after it claimed it only reviewed NSO's tool … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce $3 Million Coming to OHSU for Overdose Prevention Research
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) is expected to receive $3.17 million over five years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study the effectiveness of different harm reduction strategies at preventing overdoses and ways to expand access to these services for diverse communities. "The impact of the opioid crisis across Oregon's communities is immeasurable," said Senator Merkley. "This … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Wyden, Portman Urge National Science Foundation to Secure Americans’ Data with Encryption Technology
Washington, D.C. - To ensure government agencies can use data for research while protecting Americans' privacy and security, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, today urged the National Science Foundation (NSF) to secure Americans' information within the National Secure Data Service (NSDS) platform using advanced encryption technology. "The NSDS platform will enable government agencies to collaborate by using data for research projects. This research will help policy … Continue Reading
December 20, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Eastern Oregon Receives $168,570 Home Repairs Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Communities in Action nonprofit has earned a $168,570 federal rural development grant to help low-income homeowners in Harney and Malheur counties make home repairs critical to health and safety. "Keeping up with essential home repairs can pose a significant challenge for low-income Oregonians, and this federal investment in Eastern Oregon will help ensure rural families can be safe in their homes," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
