Press Releases
DNI Nominee Haines Pledges to Release Unclassified Report on Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., secured a commitment from Director of National Intelligence nominee Avril Haines to release an unclassified report about who was responsible for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, in her nomination hearing today. "It was refreshing to hear a straightforward commitment to follow the law from DNI-nominee Haines, after a year of stonewalling by the Trump administration to conceal the identity of who ordered Jamal Khashoggi's … Continue Reading
January 19, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Secure Investigation Into White Supremacy and Extremism in the Military
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced the Department of Defense will heed the call from him and his colleagues and investigate and address white supremacy and extremist ideology in the ranks of the military following the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Several of the insurrectionists who attacked the Capitol have been identified as active duty servicemembers, reservists, retirees and veterans. "The issue of white supremacy and extremist ideology within the ranks of our military … Continue Reading
January 14, 2021
Wyden Statement on New DOJ OIG Report on Donald Trump's "Zero Tolerance" Immigration Policy
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on a new U.S. Department of Justice Inspector General report on Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions' "zero tolerance" immigration policy: "The Inspector General's investigation makes it clearer than ever: Jeff Sessions, Rod Rosenstein and the Trump administration willfully disregarded the lives of innocent children in their xenophobic crusade to criminalize migrant families. The trauma of thousands of migrant kids is on their hands. … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $13.2 Million Broadband Investment for Linn and Polk Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that PEAK Internet (Casco Communications) is receiving $13.2 million in federal investments-a $6.6 million ReConnect grant and a $6.6 million ReConnect loan-to connect 5,265 people, 32 businesses, 13 farms, and two public schools in rural Linn and Polk Counties to high-speed broadband. "Now more than ever-as Oregonians seek telehealth services and work and attend school remotely in an effort to curb the … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden, Boozman, DeFazio, Allred, Radewagen Law Passes to Help Veterans Cut Through Red Tape
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Boozman, R-Ark., and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Colin Allred, D-Texas, and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, R-American Samoa, today announced that their bipartisan legislation to let Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) work study students work in congressional offices was included in the veterans legislative package signed into law on January 5. "This is a long-overdue, common-sense correction to help veterans that … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden Statement on Nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA Director
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement on President-elect Biden's nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA director: "Ambassador Burns is a strong choice to protect our country as the next director of the CIA. After his distinguished career on the front lines of foreign policy and national security, Ambassador Burns has first-hand knowledge of the threats facing the United States, and the judgment to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden Statement on Nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA Director
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement on President-elect Biden's nomination of Ambassador William Burns to CIA director: "Ambassador Burns is a strong choice to protect our country as the next director of the CIA. After his distinguished career on the front lines of foreign policy and national security, Ambassador Burns has first-hand knowledge of the threats facing the United States, and the judgment to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians Receive Expanded Access to Wireless Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians have secured federal spectrum licenses that will help to close the digital divide by providing Tribes with expanded access to broadband and other advanced wireless services. The good news for the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians follows the granting of similar federal spectrum licenses in the fall to the Confederated … Continue Reading
January 08, 2021
Wyden Statement on Senators Cruz and Hawley
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement calling for the resignations of U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas: "Every member of the Senate takes a sacred oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Upholding that oath is a matter of conscience. The behavior of President Trump and Senators Hawley and Cruz culminating in the assault on the seat of our democracy shocks that conscience. "Any senator exhorting … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Wyden Statement on Capitol Lockdown
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden issued the following statement on the riot at the U.S. Capitol today: "What's happening today in our nation's Capitol is a direct assault on democracy, a riot by insurrectionists that caps off four years of Donald Trump fanning the flames of fanaticism. Every Republican lawmaker who supported his efforts to overturn a legitimate election shares responsibility for the violence at the heart of our democracy. All Americans must be able to elect House and … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Wyden Will Hold First Virtual Town Halls of 2021 Next Week
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have his first live on-line town halls of 2021 next week hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Coos, Curry, Gilliam, Grant, Lane, Sherman, Washington and Wheeler 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 … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Wins for Everyone who Relies on Oregon’s Waterways and Ports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley-who serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Senate Appropriations Committee-and Ron Wyden today announced that the full Senate has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes a number of key provisions that will benefit Oregonians. "As we continue to work to beat back the coronavirus and rebuild our economies after this devastating year, we must focus on creating the strong foundation … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Wyden, Crapo Short Line Rail Efforts Included in End-of-year Package
Washington, D.C.--A long-term, bipartisan effort by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to permanently extend a critical tax credit used to repair and upgrade short line railroads was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 omnibus package. "Shortline railroads play a critical role in creating good-paying jobs throughout Oregon," said Wyden. "Permanently extending this tax incentive to rehabilitate and maintain these tracks, after years of effort, is critical to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Oregon Communities Included in Spending Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley-who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee-and Ron Wyden today announced a wide range of investments that will benefit Oregon and are included in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill that has passed the Senate. The next step is for the president to sign the bill into law. Taken together, the investments announced by the senators impact virtually all communities in every corner of the state, addressing some of Oregonians' biggest … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Rural Communities Included in Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley-who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture and rural development-and Ron Wyden today announced that the Senate has passed a fiscal year 2021 agriculture spending bill that will benefit Oregon's farms and families. The next step for the bill is to be signed into law by the president. "In every corner of our state, I've heard about the need for investments in our farms and rural industries, … Continue Reading
December 20, 2020
Wyden Statement on the Broadband Provisions in COVID Relief Package
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on the broadband provisions in the COVID relief package, which include his Emergency Broadband Connections Act, providing $3.2 billion to keep working families connected to the internet. It provides a $50 a month emergency broadband benefit for anyone laid off or furloughed during the pandemic: "Broadband connections are essential for Americans seeking to get new jobs, and to access school, health care and other government services. … Continue Reading
December 20, 2020
Wyden: COVID Relief Bill Contains Multiple Wins for Oregon Families and Small Business
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said tonght that the COVID relief bill contains significant Oregon wins for top priorities he fought to include for families and small business -- broadband assistance, help for renters, improved access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses, and more. Those gains, he said, come in addition to the relief package's provisions Wyden negotiated on unemployment insurance for Oregonians who are out of work through no fault of their own, health … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Wyden Presses for Relief for Foster Youth Facing Unique COVID-19 Challenges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide relief for young people in the foster care system as they continue to face a number of unique challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. In a letter to Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, Wyden and 11 other senators asked that HHS work with states to extend relief to foster families and implement temporary and long-term changes to help foster youth weather this crisis … Continue Reading
December 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Senators Press Trump Administration On Decision Not to Pre-Order More Doses of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, Need for Transparent Plan Going Forward
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked top Operation Warp Speed officials about recent reports that earlier this year the Trump Administration declined to buy additional doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine when given the opportunity. The letter from Wyden, Merkley and 16 other senators to Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chief Advisor of Operation Warp Speed, and General Gustave Perna, Chief Operating Office of Operation Warp Speed, expresses concern about the Trump … Continue Reading
December 11, 2020
Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after voting against the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "I want to be clear that I support plenty of provisions in this NDAA. I even introduced or negotiated some of the language to improve the bill - like anti-money laundering provisions and amendments to push the Pentagon toward encrypting its computers and require the Army to provide a plan to finish cleaning up the … Continue Reading
