Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley: Hermiston Playground to Receive $250,000 Federal Grant to Rebuild after Fire
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that a Hermiston playground destroyed by fire in 2019 will receive $250,000 in federal funds to rebuild. "Oregonians prove time and again their resilience and commitment in the face of adversity, and these federal dollars are greatly needed to restore a much-beloved playground," Wyden said. "I am proud to team up with the leadership at Umatilla Electric Cooperative and Hermiston leaders who continue to build safe and … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $7.5 Million in Emergency Resources to Assist with Vaccine Distribution in Benton, Josephine Counties
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over $7.5 million of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding is headed to Benton and Josephine counties to boost the distribution of coronavirus vaccines to Oregonians. "One of the most important things we need to be doing right now to save lives and get to the other side of this crisis is getting vaccines into as many arms as possible, as quickly as possible," said Merkley. "We fought to get … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Oregon Lawmakers File Legal Brief to Support Oregonians' Access to Reproductive Health Care
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden last week led 148 Members of Congress, including Sen. Jeff Merkley, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Peter DeFazio and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, in filing a legal brief in a case challenging the in-person dispensing requirement of the abortion medication mifepristone during the COVID-19 public health emergency. "Lifting the in-person requirements for mifepristone is consistent with various FDA and HHS actions that encourage and promote the use of … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
After Windstorm-Wildfire Events Pummel the State, Oregon’s Congressional Delegation Urges President Biden to Send Additional Federal Assistance
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, in an effort led by Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04), whose committee has jurisdiction over FEMA, the entire Oregon congressional delegation called on President Biden to approve a February 9 request from Governor Kate Brown for additional federal funds to respond to recent windstorm-wildfire events. Damage from the unprecedented series of fires that began in September is estimated at nearly $1 billion, including more than $600 billion for debris removal alone. In the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2021
Wyden Statement on Trump Acquittal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump: "Senators swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Today 43 Republican senators have chosen Donald Trump over the Constitution, and in so doing they have betrayed their oath. There can be no doubting the evidence that Donald Trump inspired, fomented and ultimately called for the assault on the Capitol. Once it was happening, he stalled … Continue Reading
February 11, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Several Virtual Town Halls Next Week Throughout Oregon
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have multiple live on-line town halls next week hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Multnomah, Marion, Douglas and Jackson counties A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP award as well as a winner of Town Hall Project's Democracy Defender award, Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed … Continue Reading
February 11, 2021
Wyden To Senate Leadership: We Must Fund Summer Enrichment Opportunities For Low-Income Children In Next Covid-19 Relief Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is urging Senate leadership to include funding for summer enrichment opportunities for low-income children in the next COVID-19 relief package. "Due to COVID-19, millions of students have been learning remotely and missing out on extracurricular activities, sports, and summer camp in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines necessary to stem the spread of COVID-19. This interruption will result in academic achievement loss and … Continue Reading
February 10, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues to Reintroduce COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are joining colleagues to reintroduce the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS) and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed statistics about COVID-19 in federal, state, and local correctional facilities. "Nearly a year after lockdowns started to be implemented across America … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Wyden, Rubio Urge Biden Administration to Press Turkey on Its Troubling Human Rights Record
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today urged the new Biden administration to press the Turkish government to improve its human rights record, which includes an increasingly authoritarian crackdown on dissent both domestically and abroad. The bipartisan letter signed by more than 50 other senators cited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for marginalizing domestic opposition, silencing or coopting critical media outlets, purging independent judges … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1 Million in Federal Funding to Repair Detroit Water System Destroyed by Wildfire
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the City of Detroit is receiving a $1 million grant to support the rebuilding of the city's water system, which was destroyed by the Lionshead Fire in September 2020, during the state's unprecedented wildfire season. "When I went to Detroit to see up close the damage of the Lionshead fire and meet with affected Oregonians, I saw an unfathomable amount of destruction and heard heartbreaking stories of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Wyden Joins Colleagues to Introduce Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act to Allow Qualifying Recipients to Apply for Permanent Residency
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring the SECURE Act, which will allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. "Families facing threats in their native land deserve a path to citizenship, especially considering the danger and volatility they fled in their home countries," Wyden said. "I can't help but be reminded of how my Jewish parents lived in fear for … Continue Reading
February 08, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Amazon to Recognize Workers Seeking Union Representation Ahead of Key NLRB Vote
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging Amazon to do right by its workers and support their efforts to freely exercise their right to organize a union. "Amazon's profits have soared by 70 percent over the last year because of the hard work of your employees," Wyden and Merkley wrote in a Feb. 5 letter along with 11 Senate colleagues. "They have put in long hours and risked their own health during the COVID-19 pandemic to meet increased demand, and they … Continue Reading
February 08, 2021
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Bring Transparency to Presidential Pardons
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led three of his colleagues-including Senator Ron Wyden-today in introducing the Presidential Pardon Transparency Act of 2021, legislation that would require all current and future presidents to provide the American people with critical information about any and all pardons they issue. The legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) in January. "Our founding fathers … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Sponsor Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize and Make our Economy Work for Everyone
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues to introduce the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive legislation to protect workers' rights to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits and safer workplaces. "Some of our most vital rights and protections - child labor laws, sick leave, and even weekends - exist due to the tireless efforts of unions in Oregon and all over this country," Wyden said. "With wages … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Wyden Pushes to Ensure Stimulus Payments Reach Americans Experiencing Homelessness
Washington, D.C. - Oregon U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today joined his Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Department of the Treasury to ensure Americans receive the relief they are entitled to, including those who are experiencing homelessness. The bipartisan COVID-19 relief package enacted into law on December 27 of last year provided a round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult, and efforts are currently underway to provide additional direct payments in future relief … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Wyden, Gillibrand, Brown, Hirono and Eshoo Reintroduce Invest in Child Safety Act to Protect Children from Online Exploitation
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., today reintroduced legislation to confront online child exploitation and reverse a decade of underfunding key enforcement and prevention efforts. The Invest in Child Safety Act would direct $5 billion in mandatory funding to investigate and target the predators and abusers who create and share child sexual abuse material … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: President Biden Can and Should Cancel up to $50,000 in Federal Student Loan Debt Immediately
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues in reintroducing a resolution outlining a bold plan for President Biden to tackle the student loan debt crisis by using his authority to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for Federal student loan borrowers. The resolution calls on the President to use executive authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel student loan debt and ensure there is no tax liability for Federal student loan … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Wyden Supports $5 Billion Library Modernization and Investment Plan to Connect More Americans to Opportunities for Advancement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced his support for legislation to invest $5 billion nationwide to build and modernize public libraries to better serve local communities, boost economic development and connect more families to opportunities for advancement in Oregon and across the country. Wyden was joined by U.S. Senators Jack Reed, D-R.I., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in introducing the Build America's Libraries Act. This legislation … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Wyden Asks President to Remove Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today requested that President Joe Biden remove Dr. Robert Marbut from his post as the Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH). Wyden wrote that Dr. Marbut -- a holdover appointee from the Trump administration -- has repeatedly stonewalled the progression of permanent housing solutions for Americans and has failed to work with local leaders and service providers, allowing important partnerships to decay. And … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Unveil Groundbreaking Legislation to Boost Sustainability Among America’s Ports
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is leading five of his Senate colleagues-including U.S. Senator Ron Wyden-in introducing the Climate Smart Ports Act-legislation that would create a $1 billion per year federal program dedicated to improving sustainability measures at America's ports. The legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragan. Greenhouse gas pollution from mobile sources at ports is on the rise. The … Continue Reading
