Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Security & Liberty
Wyden Wins Protection of Privacy Rights in Intelligence Authorization Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced that the FY2006 Intelligence Authorization bill has been rewritten to address serious concerns he expressed earlier this month about provisions that would have compromised the privacy rights of American citizens, and that he will remove the "hold" he placed on the legislation earlier this month to force a debate on the provisions. This move means that the legislation is likely to be passed by the full Senate today. … Continue Reading
December 05, 2005
Wyden to Oppose Patriot Act Renewal
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced his intention to vote against and support efforts to filibuster the conference report reauthorizing the USA Patriot Act, citing concerns about numerous provisions that could compromise Americans' privacy rights that would be made permanent under the legislation. Specifically, Wyden announced his intention today to oppose the legislation because it does not include sunsets for controversial powers and diminishes congressional … Continue Reading
July 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Secure Nearly $68 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced final Senate approval of $67.9 million for Oregon defense projects in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2005, and approval of an additional $29.4 million for projects in which Oregon companies will participate. After today's passage by the Senate, the same bill is expected to pass the House shortly, and will then be sent to the President for signature. "The funds approved today by the full Senate will help to … Continue Reading
July 16, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce $1.6 Million for Port Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Regional Maritime Security Coalition (RMSC) of Portland will receive $1.62 million for the research and development of port security enhancements in the Northwest. These federal funds are being provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the development of a model multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency Cargo Information Action Center (CIAC) for 22 ports in the Columbia-Snake … Continue Reading
July 15, 2004
Wyden, Lott Propose Revamping National Security Classification Systems
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) today introduced legislation to revamp the way intelligence information becomes classified. The proposed bipartisan legislation would create an Independent National Security Classification Board to review and make recommendations on altering the current classification standards and process, and also to serve as a standing body to reexamine classification decisions at the request of Congress and certain Executive Branch … Continue Reading
July 09, 2004
Wyden Releases Additional Views on Senate Intelligence Report
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released his Additional Views on the Committee's report on Intelligence Failures leading to the war in Iraq. On June 17, the Intelligence Committee members unanimously approved the findings and conclusions in the report released today. Wyden attached to the report his Additional Views, which expand upon the findings found in the report. His views provide a more complete … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden, Smith Securing Over $100 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved at least $103.5 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon. These funds are now included in the FY2005 Defense spending bill, which must now be approved by the full Senate."This funding for Oregon nanotech and other cutting edge … Continue Reading
May 12, 2004
Wyden, Lott Support 9/11 Families' Call to Declassify Entire Commission Report
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) today called on the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, more commonly known as the "9/11 Commission," to declassify and make public all sections of the Commission's upcoming report on the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Wyden and Lott, members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, made the request after speaking with leaders of the 9/11 victims' families groups … Continue Reading
May 05, 2004
Portland to Receive $8 Million for Homeland Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Oregon Department of State Police will receive $8,112,992 for homeland security preparedness in the Portland area. Funds are being awarded to help Portland prevent, deter, respond to, and recover from threats and incidents of terrorism. This grant is being awarded by the Urban Area Security Initiative Grant Program through the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness. … Continue Reading
April 13, 2004
Wyden Calls for Declassification of Bin Laden Documents Since 1998
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week called for the declassification of "all documents distributed to or created by officials of both the current and former [presidential] administrations regarding the threat posed by Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda organization, and the way in which policymakers perceived, considered, planned and responded to this threat, dating back to the August 1998 bombings of the United States Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania." In a letter to the … Continue Reading
February 03, 2004
Statement of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden on Senate Ricin Incident and Closure of Senate Office Buildings
"Today the U.S. Capitol Police closed all of the Senate office buildings due to the ricin that was discovered in Senator Frist's office. While this has closed my Washington, D.C. offices, my D.C. staff and I are at still at work, some working in my small office within the Capitol building, and some are working from home. In addition, my offices in Oregon are all open and are assisting constituents. Every member of my staff - and all members of Congress and their staffs -- go to work each day … Continue Reading
January 15, 2004
Wyden Comments on Requested Halliburton Probe
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) praised the Defense Contracts Auditing Agency (DCAA) today for its decision to request further investigation into whether the Halliburton company and its subsidiary, Kellogg Brown and Root, overcharged American taxpayers in the execution of a fuel delivery contract in Iraq. Wyden, who has criticized large no-bid and limited-bid contracts for Iraq reconstruction, won passage with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) of bipartisan legislation to … Continue Reading
December 14, 2003
Statement from Senator Wyden regarding the capture of Saddam Hussein
"Saddam Hussein's capture proves once again that the United States has the best and most tenacious fighting forces in the world, and they've done their job superbly in capturing this dangerous man. This is a day to congratulate the American military on a job well … Continue Reading
July 31, 2003
Wyden, Dorgan Continue Call for Closure of "Terrorism Information Awareness" Program
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) issued a brief statement today following the resignation of Dr. John Poindexter, director of the Terrorism (formerly Total) Information Awareness (TIA) Program at the Department of Defense. On Monday, Wyden and Dorgan drew attention to a proposed program under Dr. Poindexter's authority that would have sold futures contracts on assassinations, coups and military strikes in an attempt to predict terrorist events. The … Continue Reading
