Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $35.5 Million For High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure Headed to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $35,588,796 million in funding to deploy high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Polk counties. These awards are part of the round three investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Program, which received new funding from the?Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “I’ve worked for years to increase access to broadband around Oregon, … Continue Reading
November 01, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Urge FAA Action to Prevent Shrinking Plane Seat Sizes, Ensure Passenger Safety
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today joined with five colleagues to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to act to prevent further shrinking of plane seat sizes and to comprehensively ensure passenger safety in Oregon and nationwide. “We urge the FAA to comprehensively review the safety factors impacting seat pitch, width, and length and ensure that such safety factors take into account the entirety of the American public - including children, senior … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $1.5 Million for Habitat Conservation in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $1,519,627 in federal grants headed to Oregon to help support the development of habitat conservation plans to improve the management of state and private forestlands. “Forests in Oregon support rural economies and are also home to countless species including vulnerable salmon,” said Senator Merkley, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funded these grants. … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce over $24 Million Headed to the Port of Portland
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding the Port of Portland $24,360,000 to improve port infrastructure for current and future operations. The project will support current infrastructure by strengthening pavement for flexible cargo storage and upgrading pavement in the container yard. The funding will also support new stormwater treatment infrastructure to reduce pollutants entering the … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Wyden Releases New Details About Surveillance and Interrogation of Portland Demonstrators by Department of Homeland Security Agents
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released newly public information showing that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) surveillance of Portland protesters in 2020 was far broader than previously known, and included lists of friends, family and social media associates for people who posed no threat to homeland security. "Oregonians had a right to get a full accounting of the Trump Administration's twisted efforts to provoke violence in Portland for his political gain," Wyden … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: Over $5.5 Million Headed to Oregon Schools for Clean School Bus and Transportation Programs
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $5,530,000 to the Banks and Prospect school districts, through their new Clean School Bus Program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These awards are intended to support the districts in replacing existing schools buses with zero- or low-emission buses. “Every child should be able to travel to and from school without being exposed to dangerous … Continue Reading
October 26, 2022
Wyden, Moran Secure Commitment from Biden Administration to Reform Classification System, Continue Push to Update Executive Order on Classification System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., today applauded a new commitment from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to reform the classification system and invest in new declassification technology. "The failures of the current classification system make our country both more vulnerable and less transparent - it's a lose-lose proposition," Wyden said. "I'm pleased that the Biden administration is committed to reforming the classification system … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
Wyden: FTC Privacy Regulators Need Top Security Clearances and Classified Briefings to Protect Americans from Foreign Hacking Threats
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for more top-level security clearances for Federal Trade Commission officials, particularly those responsible for investigating corporate data breaches and crafting privacy rules, to better protect Americans against foreign hackers and other threats to security and privacy. As the primary federal regulator for data privacy and security, the FTC has responsibility and power to direct companies to strengthen their security … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
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
