Press Releases
Wyden, Blunt Bill to Strengthen Protections for Small, Rural TV Stations Clears Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Roy Blunt, R-Mo., today announced that their bipartisan Low Power Protection Act has passed the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The bill would strengthen spectrum rights for certain low power television (LPTV) stations, which fill important gaps in broadcast service, particularly in Oregon's rural communities outside the reach of a full power signal. "Yesterday's advancement of the Low Power Protection Act … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Heinrich Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Clean Drinking Water, Safe Sanitation for Underserved Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., today introduced legislation that would expand access to safe sanitation and clean drinking water for rural and underserved communities. "Between historic drought and increasingly outdated infrastructure, Western communities are in desperate need of federal help to shore up access to clean drinking water and safe sanitation," Wyden said. "Access to clean drinking water is a human right, and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Wyden, Daines, Booker and Lee Introduce Bill To Create New Transparency of Court-Ordered Surveillance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., today introduced legislation to require public reporting and notice of the hundreds of thousands of criminal surveillance orders issued by courts each year, which are typically sealed, indefinitely, keeping government surveillance hidden for years, even when the targets are never charged with any crime. The Government Surveillance Transparency Act is co-sponsored by Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Mike Lee, … Continue Reading
March 22, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Over $1.5 Million in Federal Funds Headed to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $1,524,951.53 in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is headed to Oregon to help fund the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) acquisition of five properties in the floodplain. "I saw firsthand how the flood in February 2020 was devastating to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and other residents in Umatilla County," said Merkley. "I am … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
Wyden, Warren Demand Answers About Wells Fargo’s Discriminatory Mortgage-Refinancing Practices Against Black Homeowners
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have sent a letter to the CEO and President of Wells Fargo, after a report found the bank was the only major lender in the United States to accept less than half of mortgage-refinancing applications from Black homeowners. Wells Fargo's acceptance rate for White homeowners was 25 percentage points higher than for Black homeowners. "This shocking disparity-layered upon Wells Fargo's long history of scamming and … Continue Reading
March 21, 2022
Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer Announce Funding for Earthquake-Resilient Runway at PDX
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and Representative Earl Blumenauer today announced that Portland's airport will receive a major federal investment to ensure its runway survives a major earthquake. The funding was among a range of federal investments in Oregon's emergency preparedness, public safety, and economic development included in the 2022 omnibus spending bill, which has now been signed into law by President Biden. Senator Merkley, a member of the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers by Ensuring Right to Repair
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., and Ben Ray Luján, D- N.M., this week introduced legislation that would protect consumers, farmers, and small businesses by ensuring the right to repair. "When you buy something, you shouldn't have to pay extra, or ask special permission from a corporation just to get it fixed," Wyden said. "The Fair Repair Act is a common-sense step to put users in control of the phones and other electronics … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Urge White House to Include $4 Billion in Homeless Assistance Grants in its FY2023 Budget
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week urged President Biden to include $4 billion in homeless assistance grants in his Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget so Oregon and the entire country can make additional progress towards sheltering unhoused people and ending homelessness. "Nationwide, nearly 600,000 people experience homelessness on any given night, and around one-third of them are unsheltered: living somewhere unfit for a person, like a car or tent," Wyden and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Three Oregon Communities Selected to Build Cutting-Edge Energy Storage Capacity
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Warm Springs, Talent and Pendleton have been selected by federal officials to participate in a cutting-edge energy storage program to increase energy resilience in the face of increasingly dangerous weather events and a changing climate. "Building out energy storage capacity is key as families in Oregon and across the nation have suffered severe impacts in recent years from the climate emergency in their … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Merkley, DeFazio, Wyden Lead Members of the Oregon Delegation in Requesting Federal Funding for Oregon International Port of Coos Bay
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Peter DeFazio, are joined today by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader in a letter to President Biden requesting federal funds from the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) be allocated towards a proposal to create a major new west coast container port in Coos Bay. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight the importance of investing in our country's rural … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce an Additional $16 Million in Emergency Rental Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced an additional $16 million in federal emergency rental assistance funds allowing the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) to keep the Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program (OERAP) open through March 21, 2022. The portal was originally scheduled to close March 14, 2022. "Everyone-regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, or their income-deserves a safe, affordable roof over their … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $17.5 Million in Transit Grants for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $17,688,999 in federal funding grants headed to Rogue Valley Transportation, Cottage Grove, and Lane Transit. "Our public transportation systems keep Oregonians connected and have kept vital services within reach for our communities," said Merkley. "These grants will help make our transit districts stronger and help cut down on dangerous air pollution and improve public health. I will continue … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Warm Springs Housing Authority Secures $1 Million Federal Housing Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Warm Springs Housing Authority has secured a $1.03 million federal grant from the American Rescue Plan to rehabilitate 11 rental units for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. "Tribal communities in Oregon and nationwide have been hammered by this public health crisis that's magnified already serious housing challenges for their members," Wyden said. "I'm gratified the Warm Springs Housing Authority has … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Funding for Nurses, Educators in Congressional Funding Deal
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce key provisions for education and health care in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education bill that will fund programs supporting Oregon's frontline health care workers and educators, who have suffered through the strain of a global pandemic for nearly two years. The bill, which is included in the omnibus funding bill for fiscal year 2022, is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Vital Funding for Housing and Transportation Projects in Government Funding Deal
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce they have secured investments that will support critical housing and transportation services and projects across the state. The investments are included in a broader funding package that is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President Biden this week. "I joined the Appropriations Committee to bring solutions to the issues Oregonians care most about, and this bill tackles two … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Investment Wins to Create Oregon Jobs, Building Foundation for Prosperity in Federal Funding Deal
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce key provisions that will help create jobs and deliver essential services in Oregon communities in the Senate Appropriations Committee's Energy and Water appropriations bill have been included in Congress's final funding package for fiscal year 2022. The victories for Oregon are in the Energy and Water portion of Congress's omnibus spending bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Crucial Funding to Support Oregon’s World-Class Agriculture
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a number of crucial wins for Oregon in the Senate agricultural spending bill, which will invest in agriculture, rural housing, food assistance, and rural business priorities that will benefit farms and families in every corner of the state. These wins have been included in Congress's final funding package for fiscal year 2022, the omnibus spending bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Funding for Scientific Research, Public Safety in Congressional Funding Deal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced federal funding for critical programs supporting economic development, research, and the safety of vulnerable populations in communities across Oregon in Congress's final funding package for fiscal year 2022. The victories for Oregon are in the Commerce, Justice, and Science portion of Congress's omnibus spending bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President … Continue Reading
March 09, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Vital Funding for Oregon Forest Health, Environmental Improvements, and Water Infrastructure in Senate Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announce critical funding that will help make Oregon's forests more resilient, support rural communities, protect public lands and the environment, bolster important programs for tribes, and more. The victories for Oregon are in the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations portion of Congress's omnibus spending bill, which is expected to pass both chambers of Congress and be signed into law by President … Continue Reading
March 08, 2022
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Expand Domestic Critical Mineral Supplies, Fuel Clean Energy Manufacturing and Reduce Dependence on Foreign Oil and Gas Imports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would support the processing, manufacturing, and production of critical minerals that would reduce imports of critical minerals, ease reliance on foreign oil and gas and support domestic manufacturing. "Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has provided a stark reminder of the urgent need to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and gas imports from countries ruled by tyrants like Vladimir Putin," Wyden said. "It's … Continue Reading
