Press Releases
Wyden Presses Federal Health Officials for Answers On Nursing Homes Evicting Residents Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden joined with 11 colleagues in calling on federal health officials to act in response to nursing homes evicting residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) cites New York Times reports that nursing homes have evicted more than 6,400 residents since the beginning of the pandemic. "Such evictions have been of great concern for many years, but they … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Wyden Joins Colleagues on the Senate Floor to Demand Assistance for Renters During COVID-19
Madam President, I'm joining my colleagues here this afternoon to talk about the avalanche of evictions that may be headed our way in a matter of weeks if the Senate does not act. The pandemic is getting worse. Yesterday Dr. Fauci talked about soon possibly seeing 100,000 new cases a day. You cannot have a healthy economy in a country suffering from mass illness and death. There are already tens of millions of Americans out of work as a result of a pandemic that's only continuing to spread. … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Wyden Statement on First Publicly Reported COVID-19 Cases at Oregon Child Care Center
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on Oregon's first publicly reported cases of COVID-19 at a child care center in the state: "Tragically, this issue is not unique to Oregon or to this specific center, as child care centers across America are grappling with how to keep children and families safe. Like most businesses, child care centers have lost revenue with kids staying home and higher operational costs to keep their centers safe. As the country slowly … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Wyden: New Version of EARN IT Would Do Little to Stop CSAM; Continues to Threaten Encryption and Free Speech Online
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement, after Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pulled the EARN IT Act today and replaced it with an entirely new bill, one day before a scheduled markup in the Senate Judiciary Committee. "After widespread condemnation of the EARN IT Act as a dangerous attack on encryption and free speech, the bill's authors are attempting to replace their deeply flawed bill with an entirely new piece of … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Wyden, Merkley to Barr: Reverse Anti-LGBTQ Position, Protect Transgender Workers from Discrimination
Washington, D.C. - Following the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., which held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination, Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined their colleagues to demand the Department of Justice (DOJ) reverse its anti-LGBTQ position that federal law does not shield transgender workers. In a letter to Attorney General William Barr, the senators called for DOJ to immediately … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Passage of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Senate has passed a critically needed fix to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that will provide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought. In 2018, WRDA included language that was essential for irrigators in the Klamath Basin to effectively use $10 million in drought relief funds that the lawmakers had previously secured. The new technical correction … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Wyden Statement on Senate Passage of Legislation to Extend PPP Loan Application Deadline
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on Senate passage of legislation to extend the Paycheck Protection Program loan application deadline through August 8, 2020. The legislation now advances to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration. "Oregon's small businesses are struggling to stay afloat as the COVID-19 public health emergency continues," Wyden said. "The Paycheck Protection Program has proven to be a lifeline for these businesses and the workers … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce $6.5 Million in Federal Funding to Support Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Capabilities in Southwest Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Southwest Oregon Regional/Coos County Airport District will receive $6.5 million in federal funding to construct a 12,863-square-foot aircraft rescue and firefighting building. "As our communities continue fighting to keep the lights on while slowing the spread of the coronavirus, it's critical that we focus on doing everything we can to build a strong foundation for a prosperous and safe future," … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Wyden, Cardin Lead Senate Finance Democrats Urging Treasury/IRS to Send Missed COVID Relief Payments to Non-filers with Dependents
Washington, DC - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today led their Senate Finance Committee colleagues in a letter urging Trump administration officials to immediately distribute further supplemental economic impact payments to those who are in need rather than make them wait until tax time next year. The senators wrote in their letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig that Economic Impact Payment recipients who … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $200,000 in Farm to School Grants for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Oregon will receive nearly $200,000 in Farm to School grants to support partnerships between local farms and school districts. The funding will allow farms to supply schools with local produce, support hands-on agricultural education, and promote healthy eating through family programming, including cooking demonstrations and farm work parties. The funding is being distributed by the U.S. Department of … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill to Support Homeowners, Renters Struggling Amid COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Fallout
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has joined colleagues in introducing the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act to expand access to critical information, assistance programs and services for millions of families struggling to remain in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout. "COVID-19 is forcing families in Oregon and across the country to make tough decisions - balancing how to get food on the table and keep a roof over their heads, all … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Wyden Leads Colleagues on Senate Floor in Calling for Greater Assistance for State and Local Governments During COVID-19 Crisis
Mr. President, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown this country into a nightmare-level crisis of joblessness. The Congress has not done enough to stop it and to save people's jobs. I've come to the floor this evening with the Democratic Leader to call for the Senate to pass legislation that's all about saving key public-sector jobs that form the backbone of our local communities - our teachers, firefighters, first responders and many others. They need our help, and they need it now. Democrats … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Wyden, Blumenthal, Hirono and Schumer Introduce Bill To Ensure Americans Keep Broadband Access During the Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., today introduced a bill to ensure that millions of Americans can access essential broadband access in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Broadband Connections Act - sponsored by 26 Senate Democrats - would provide a $50/month benefit to workers who have been laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, along with a range of other assistance to … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Legislation to Extend Nationwide Moratorium on Evictions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today co-sponsored legislation that would extend the federal eviction moratorium by nearly eight months to March 27, 2021, and expand it to cover nearly all renters. The Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act extends the federal eviction moratorium from July 24, 2020 to one year after the March 27, 2020 enactment of the CARES Act, and would also prohibit fees, fines and extra charges due to nonpayment of rent. The HEROES Act, … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Four Oregon Airports to Receive More Than $9 Million in Federal Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that airports in La Grande, Cave Junction, Prineville and Gleneden Beach have earned a total of more than $9.1 million in federal grants for improvements to runways, taxiways, guidance systems and more. "Oregonians living and working in rural communities throughout our state know full well that small airports are essential centerpieces to build their economy and quality-of-life," Wyden said. "These federal investments … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Call for HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Funding in Next COVID-19 Response Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next COVID-19 pandemic response package. The letter with 18 colleagues comes on the eve of the 25th anniversary of National HIV Testing Day on June 27. "This additional support for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs is critical for ensuring that we can respond to two different pandemics that … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $500,000 Investment to Help Oregon School Districts Replace Old Diesel School Buses
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) will receive $507,425 in federal funding to support the repowering or replacement of 15 diesel powered school buses, and at least three other pieces of diesel powered equipment, with lower emitting alternatives. The switch to more sustainable buses and equipment will reduce emissions of diesel particulate matter, in addition to other pollutants like … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues, Introduce Legislation to Rename All Bases, Other Military Assets Named for the Confederacy Within One Year
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 34 of their colleagues, have introduced legislation requiring the Pentagon to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America and anyone who voluntarily served it from all military bases and other assets of the Department of Defense. The bill would require the Pentagon to rename the assets within one year. The senators emphasized that … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Holds Hearing on Wyden and Merkley's Bills to Support Oregon Tribes
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs yesterday held a hearing on the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act of 2019, legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon. The Committee also discussed legislation sponsored by Merkley and Wyden that seeks to correct an error made in a 1994 piece of legislation to correct an old survey error. This legislation would allow the Confederated … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Wyden, Murray Demand End to Seizure of Tax Refunds from Americans Shouldering Federal Student Debt During COVID-19 Crisis
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patty Murray, D-Wash. today led a group of 26 other Senate Democrats in demanding the Trump administration halt the seizure of tax refunds from federal student loan borrowers in default and refund any payments seized contrary to CARES Act requirements. In a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the senators raised concerns about the reported garnishment of federal tax and state refunds from … Continue Reading
