Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $750,000 Water Infrastructure Grant for City of Echo
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the City of Echo, Oregon will receive $769,875 in federal grant funding to upgrade and improve the efficiency of the city's wastewater treatment plant. The funding is being allocated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Water & Waste Disposal Program. "Safe, reliable, and efficient water infrastructure is a must for the health and safety of our families and our environment," said Merkley, … Continue Reading
August 04, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Senate to Reject Trump Administration Plan to Cut Funding to Schools that Follow Public Health Guidance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 28 of their Senate colleagues, are urging Senate leadership to reject the Trump administration push to condition education funds in the next coronavirus relief package on the reopening of elementary and secondary schools for in-person instruction. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), and … Continue Reading
August 04, 2020
“Unlawful, Unfair, Illogical, Impossible”: Oregon Members Call on U.S. Department of Education to Rescind Rule that Would Misdirect $11M from Oregon Public Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici,Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio and Earl Blumenauer called on the U.S. Department of Education to rescind a rule that would take up to $11,310,291 from Oregon public schools and redirect it to private schools, calling it unlawful, unfair, illogical, and impossible. The Representatives and Senators responded to an interim final rule from the U.S. Department of Education that incorrectly interprets the … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues to McConnell: Immigrants Are Essential and Deserve Support in Coronavirus Relief Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged Majority Leader McConnell to support tax-paying immigrant families who have Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITIN) in Oregon and across the nation by ensuring they have access to economic relief payments from the CARES Act and any future coronavirus relief package. An estimated 20 million immigrants work in essential industries. These immigrants, particularly undocumented workers, comprise a disproportionate … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Wyden, Cassidy and Bicameral Coalition Request FTC Investigate Advertisers Tracking Americans at Places of Worship and Protests
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., led a bipartisan group of 10 members today calling for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the online ad economy, particularly the tracking of Americans at places of worship and protests and then selling that information to advertisers, hedge funds and the government. Wyden, Cassidy and other members asked the FTC to investigate how personal data, including location information, collected from … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Wyden, Gillibrand, Booker and Sanders Urge Senate Leadership to Prioritize Direct Relief for Small Farmers in Response to Ongoing Economic Crisis
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are calling for direct relief for small farmers who have been hit hard by months of closed restaurants, schools, and farmers markets. In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the senators urged the Senate to include the Relief for America's Small Farmers Act in the next coronavirus response package. The comprehensive legislation would provide economic relief for small … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Wyden, Gillibrand, Booker and Sanders Urge Senate Leadership to Prioritize Direct Relief for Small Farmers in Response to Ongoing Economic Crisis
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are calling for direct relief for small farmers who have been hit hard by months of closed restaurants, schools, and farmers markets. In a letter sent to Senate leadership, the senators urged the Senate to include the Relief for America's Small Farmers Act in the next coronavirus response package. The comprehensive legislation would provide economic relief for small … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Wyden Demands Answers From Homeland Security Intelligence on Role in Tracking and Suppressing Portland Protests
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and his fellow Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee today demanded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) provide information to the Committee about the role it has played in responding to the protests in Portland. "We have grown increasingly concerned about the role and operations of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) in particular, with … Continue Reading
July 31, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Push to Support School Meal Programs Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to continue critical flexibility that has allowed students to access much-needed meals throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. If extended throughout the 2020-2021 school year, children would maintain access regardless of school opening status, and struggling school nutrition programs would benefit from additional financial relief. "The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools … Continue Reading
July 30, 2020
Wyden Opposes Trump Nominee to National Counterterrorism Center
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., opposed the nomination of Christopher Miller to be director of the National Counterterrorism Center, after Miller failed to meaningfully respond to concerns about the federal occupation of downtown Portland that has caused escalating chaos and violation of Oregonians' constitutional rights. Wyden, a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after the committee yesterday voted to advance Miller's … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Senate Indian Affairs Committee Advances Wyden and Merkley Bills to Support Oregon Tribes
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today passed 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 advanced 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 Tribes of Grand … Continue Reading
July 29, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Press Feds to Improve Hemp Farming Rules
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked federal officials to change costly and confusing rules for farmers in Oregon and nationwide that cover the growing and testing of hemp. "We fear that without these changes, our past work and efforts to support hemp farmers and the industry across the country may be for naught and we will not be able to achieve the growth and success we all know is possible with the right support and policies in place," Wyden and Merkley … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $15 Million in Federal Funding for Oregon Department of Forestry Following Garner Complex Fire
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Oregon Department of Forestry will receive nearly $15 million in federal reimbursements for costs associated with fighting the Garner Complex Fire, freeing up critical resources for future firefighting needs. The Garner Complex fire began in July 2018, when a lightning storm near Grants Pass set off a total of 12 fires that cumulatively burned more than 25,000 acres of land. "On behalf of all … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Announce $4.3 Million Grant to Crater Lake - Klamath Regional Airport
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Crater Lake - Klamath Regional Airport will receive nearly $4.3 million in federal grants to improve taxiways, storm drains, guidance systems and more. "Airports serving rural communities are critical in order to keep local economies running," Wyden said. "This multi-million dollar federal investment in the Crater Lake - Klamath Regional Airport provides essential help for people and small businesses in … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Wyden Statement on Republican Plan to Fast-Track Cuts to Social Security and Medicare in COVID-19 Relief Legislation
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a statement after Senate Republicans released the text of their COVID-19 relief legislation, which includes a provision that would set up privileged special committees with authority to make sweeping changes to Social Security and Medicare: "Instead of helping Americans who are struggling to pay rent and keep food on the table, Republicans want to put cuts to Social Security and Medicare in the fast lane. The TRUST Act … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Wyden Statement on DOD Nomination of Anthony Tata
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement regarding the nomination of Anthony Tata to serve in a senior policy making position at the Department of Defense (DOD): "Anthony Tata's long history of rampant Islamophobia, conspiratorial claims and hyper-partisanship make him entirely unfit to serve as the Pentagon's policy chief. He has shown such atrocious judgment that retired generals have publicly withdrawn their support for this nomination. "In addition to … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce $25 Million in CARES Act Business Support Grants Headed to Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced $25 million in Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants are being distributed among thirteen organizations across Oregon, which will use the funds to offer loans to businesses to help them mitigate the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus crisis. The grants, which total $25,268,000, were authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed in … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $350,000 in EPA Grants for Tribal Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission will receive $227,028 and $125,000 in federal grant funding, respectively, for environmental programs and studies. Both grants are being administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "Now is the time to not only make sure each of us is doing our part to fight the coronavirus crisis, but … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week joined Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Kamala Harris, D-Calif., to introduce a Senate resolution to declare racism a public health crisis. "The coronavirus has laid bare the racial inequities in our public health systems. It's clearer than ever that racism is a public health crisis in urgent need of federal intervention," Wyden said. "I hope that the Senate will swiftly pass this resolution to … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Press for Significant New, Flexible Funding for State and Local Governments in COVID-19 Response
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week joined U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and 34 other colleagues to urge Senate Republican leadership to support significant, new and flexible funding for state and local governments in Oregon and across the nation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., requesting that he support the funding amount and flexibility for state and local … Continue Reading
