Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley: More than $43 Million in Additional FEMA Funds to Oregon for 2020 Fire Recovery Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will receive more than $43 million in additional recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for continued hazard tree and debris removal after the 2020 fire disasters. “Recovery efforts from the catastrophic 2020 fire season have been steady, but too many small communities have carried the challenging and expensive burden of taking … Continue Reading
October 20, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $200,000 to Grant County to Curb Unauthorized Livestock Grazing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Grant County will receive nearly $198,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for riparian fencing to control unauthorized livestock grazing. “These funds will go a long way to help Grant County landowners maintain effective and appropriate grazing practices that enable their family businesses to continue growing and creating jobs in rural communities,” Wyden said. “Fencing is crucial to combat … Continue Reading
October 19, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $27 Million Headed to Oregon for COVID-19 Recovery
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $27,167,202.82 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding is headed to the state of Oregon for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As Oregon continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this FEMA support will help ensure that state and local first responders and public health agencies are ready to protect Oregonians when another … Continue Reading
October 19, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $350,000 to Adelante Mujeres to Support Latinx Farmers Produce and Market Specialty Crops
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Adelante Mujeres will receive more than $350,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support Latinx farmers in cultivating and marketing high value specialty crops for Washington County and the metro Portland area. “The results of Adelante Mujeres’ 20-year record of providing bilingual and culturally-appropriate support to Oregon’s Latinx community speak … Continue Reading
October 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation Secures $15.5 Million in Federal Funds for Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation (CTUIR) have secured more than $15.5 million for expanded high-speed Internet network deployment and digital skills training to improve access to education, jobs, and healthcare on Tribal lands. “Tribal communities deserve robust access to high-speed Internet so children are connected to classroom research, small businesses are linked to their … Continue Reading
October 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Voice Support for Justice Adrienne Nelson During Nominations Hearing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Associate Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson’s nomination to the U.S. District Court. Wyden delivered remarks to introduce Justice Nelson during the Judiciary Committee's hearing considering her nomination. "I’ve been a part of the selection process for a lot of judicial nominees. In that process, you look for candidates whose deep understanding of the law … Continue Reading
October 07, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Urge Federal Government to Deliver Drought Relief to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Bureau of Reclamation to prioritize Oregon as the agency develops its plans for the drought relief resources that Congress recently provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). "[W]e write to strongly urge the Bureau of Reclamation to provide critical funding to areas in Oregon that have been devastated by the historic, multi-year, extreme … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Applaud HHS Restoring Nondiscrimination Protections in Health Care, Push to Strengthen Proposal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today applauded the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule to prohibit discrimination in health care and urged HHS to strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and those seeking care for pregnancy and related conditions. “This proposal is an important step forward to help ensure no one in our country has their health care undermined by discrimination or bigotry, and we urge the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: Over $4 Million Headed to Portland Public Schools for its COVID-19 Response
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that Portland Public Schools will receive a total of $4,012,792.40 in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As Oregon continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this FEMA support will help Portland Public Schools with efforts to keep kids safe and healthy throughout the school year,” said Merkley. “With new COVID strains still … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $8 Million to Oregon Schools for Safe and Supportive Learning Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced an $8,265,004 million federal grant to schools in Oregon to help provide students with safe and supportive learning environments and opportunities to help foster their success. “Parents and students deserve the peace of mind that while at school students are safe and being cared for, while also gaining the important skills and knowledge that will support them throughout their schooling and adult lives,” … Continue Reading
October 03, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Oregon Based Development Fund Awarded $1.6 Million
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced Business Impact NW was awarded a federal grant totaling $1.6 million over the next four years to establish the Oregon Minority Business Development Agency Business Center (OBC). This award from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is intended to support the establishment of the OBC and its integration into the network of MBDA Business Centers and partners around … Continue Reading
September 30, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.1 Million to Oregon for Emergency Preparedness with Pipelines
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) funds for crucial emergency preparedness. “The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced the need to prepare our communities for emergencies like a pipeline incident threatening Oregonians and our homes, neighborhoods and small … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Key Committee Holds Hearing on Wyden Bill to Protect the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs from Wildfire
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today held a hearing on U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's legislation that would protect the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation from wildfire and empower the Tribe to restore cultural and forest resources on Mt. Hood. The legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. "This legislation is about honoring Tribal Treaty rights and making sure the deep knowledge of Tribes like the Confederated … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Wyden: Oregon Counties to Receive $113.1 Million in Federal Aid Over Next Two Years
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that all 36 Oregon counties will receive a combined $113.1 million in federal assistance over the next two years through a program he successfully fought to include in the American Rescue Plan. “This federal investment in rural Oregon and all parts of our state is timely and welcome news as counties work on their communities’ needs to support roads, schools and more that all add up to a quality of life families and small … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Wyden, Cortez Masto, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Support Economic Development in Tribal Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Catherine Cortez Masto and Brian Schatz today introduced the Native American Tax Parity and Relief Act of 2022 to help support economic development in Indian Country by removing unfair tax burdens on Tribal communities. This legislation would ensure that Tribal governments are treated similarly to state and local governments in the federal tax code and are consulted when federal tax legislation is drafted.“Tribes should have access to the same … Continue Reading
September 29, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce a Federal Investment of $6.8 Million to Improve Wildfire Resiliency in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced $6.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for wildfire prevention projects in Oregon on 49,039 acres of land across the state. The additional funding is intended to help complete fuels treatments on nearly 2 million acres nationwide this fiscal year, a substantial increase over the last year’s fiscal year.? “As Oregon’s wildfire seasons grow longer and hotter, they are a stark reminder … Continue Reading
September 28, 2022
Wyden Announces Hold On Nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will hold the nomination of Michael Ratney to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. When The Oregonian revealed the Saudi regime has systematically helped its citizens flee the United States after being accused of violent crimes, Wyden pressed the executive branch to win justice for the victims of these crimes, including the manslaughter of Portland teenager Fallon Smart. The Oregonian first reported that the man … Continue Reading
September 28, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $500,000 to Increase Access to Financial Services in St. Helens and Portland
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that three Oregon credit unions will receive a total of $520,659 in federal dollars to support small loans to families and businesses. The funding is coming from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) through the FY22 round of the Small Dollar Loan (SDL) Program. “Whether it’s a mortgage, a car loan, or a line of credit to launch a business, … Continue Reading
September 27, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $23 Million to Address the Opioid Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a total of $22,972,499 in Department of Health and Human Services grants to combat the opioid crisis is coming to the State of Oregon and Tribes. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2021, Oregon overdose deaths increased 41%, compared to a 16% increase nationwide. In 2020 non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native, non-Hispanic Black, male and people experiencing … Continue Reading
September 26, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.37 Million to Metro Area to Address Sexual Violence
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that three organizations and governments in the metro area will receive a combined more than $1.37 million from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to continue to provide temporary housing, victim services and criminal intervention after sexual violence. “Addressing the atrocity of sexual violence in our communities couldn’t be more urgent,” Wyden said. “I am gratified to see local organizations … Continue Reading
