Press Releases
Wyden Votes ‘No’ on Flawed Military Bill to Fund Trump’s Idiotic War in Iran, Raise Gas Prices and Threaten Americans’ Privacy
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today voted no on the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, a massive bill that would have greenlit Trump’s endless war in Iran, devoted billions in unchecked military spending and included a host of provisions that would threaten Americans’ privacy and security. The bill failed to advance on a procedural vote. “I cannot support an outrageous $1.15 trillion in military spending while Donald Trump engages in an idiotic war with … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Oregon Delegation Welcomes Major Federal Investment in State’s Semiconductor Industry
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senate and House members welcomed today’s announcement that Frontiers of Advanced Semiconductor Technology (FAST), an Oregon consortium including nearly 100 partners from across the state, will receive up to $160 million from the U.S. National Science Foundation over the next decade to grow the state’s semiconductor ecosystem. Oregon State University is the administrative home for FAST. “It’s always a good day when Oregon takes our deserved spot in the “FAST … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Oregon Lawmakers Demand Trump Reverse Course on Plan to Suppress Oregon Voters
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, Val Hoyle, Maxine Dexter and Janelle Bynum today sounded the alarm on the Trump administration’s threat against Oregon election officials unless they adhere to the administration’s plan to create a national voter database, potentially nullifying the voter registration of millions of registered Oregon voters. “It is clear that after these attempts to secure access to sensitive … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Wyden, Pallone Sound Alarm on Devastating Impact of Big Ugly Bill on Maternal Health Care
Text of the Report (PDF) Washington, D.C. — Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., are sounding the alarm on the devastating impact that Trump and Republican’s Big Ugly Bill is having on the already weak maternal health care system in the U.S. “Maternity wards across America are shuttering their doors as a direct result of Republican Medicaid cuts,” said Wyden. “For all their talk about … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Wyden, Senate Democratic Leaders Blast Trump Family Greed Following New Financial Disclosures
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined Senate Democratic colleagues in sounding the alarm on the Trump family’s blatant and unprecedented misuse of the office of the President to line their pockets with billions of dollars from the cryptocurrency industry. Joining Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, in sending the letter were the ranking members of four other influential committees in the Senate. These include Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Wyden, Merkley Ask State Data Center Advisory Committee to Consider Multiple Issues Raised by Oregonians
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote Gov. Tina Kotek’s data center advisory committee to convey concerns both senators have heard from Oregonians as the state panel works on solutions that balance data centers’ economic benefits with their financial impacts on utility consumers and environmental impacts on entire communities. “Thank you for coming together to tackle the challenges posed by the rapid expansion of data centers in Oregon,” Wyden and Merkley … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Merkley, Oregon Delegation Decry Sudden Loss of Columbia River Hatchery Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of … Continue Reading
July 01, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Reinstate EPA Employees Attacked for Exercising their Right to Free Speech
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump administration to reverse disciplinary actions taken after about 270 current and former Environmental Protection Agency staff signed the "Declaration of Dissent” in defense of scientific integrity, whistleblower rights and constitutional protections last year. “In light of recent evidence showing a violation of constitutional and whistleblower rights, we demand that you reverse the … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $52 Million in PILT Payments to Support Vital Services in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced counties throughout Oregon will receive a combined total of $52,016,022 in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2026. Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT funding helps to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services in counties with federal lands. “Rural communities shouldn’t have to wonder if they will have the resources they need to pay for … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
During Pride Month, Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Apologizing for Government Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Civil Servants, Servicemembers
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a resolution led by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to acknowledge and apologize for the mistreatment of and discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals who have served in the uniformed services, as civil servants, or in the Foreign Service. “America is at its best when everyone can live as their authentic self—no matter who they are or whom they love,” said Merkley, author of the Equality … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Wyden Cosponsors Resolution to Protect Disability Rights and Condemn Trump Administration’s Latest Attack
Washington, D.C. - In the wake of the Trump administration’s latest attack against people with disabilities, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he is cosponsoring a Senate resolution that would protect disability rights and uphold the true promise of the Supreme Court’s landmark Olmstead decision protecting the rights of Americans with disabilities to live full, independent lives in their own homes and communities. “This is yet another attempt by Trump and Republicans to roll back … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Landmark Bill to Raise the National Minimum Wage to a Living Wage of $25 an Hour
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would phase in an increase of the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour. The Living Wage For All Act would change the lives of tens of millions of American workers and their families. An estimated 45 percent of American workers make less than $25 an hour. Under the bill’s two-track phase-in, large corporate employers would be required to implement a $25-an-hour wage floor by 2032, … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Landmark Bill to Raise the National Minimum Wage to a Living Wage of $25 an Hour
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would phase in an increase of the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour. The Living Wage For All Act would change the lives of tens of millions of American workers and their families. An estimated 45 percent of American workers make less than $25 an hour. Under the bill’s two-track phase-in, large corporate employers would be required to implement a $25-an-hour wage floor by 2032, … Continue Reading
June 26, 2026
Wyden, Cloud Secure Major Privacy Victory as ATF Cancels Warrantless Location Data Contract
Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Michael Cloud, R-Texas, today announced that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has canceled a controversial contract for Americans’ commercial location data following bipartisan oversight. Following bipartisan questioning by Wyden and Cloud’s offices, the ATF informed the lawmakers on June 18 that the agency’s director decided to terminate a contract with the data broker Penlink for its … Continue Reading
June 26, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers on Failed Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Rehabilitation Project
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues in demanding answers from the Trump administration about its rushed rehabilitation project of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The lawmakers note that the issues facing the reflecting pool are not simply maintenance concerns, but failures by the Department of the Interior in project execution and government oversight. "The American people deserve to know why the rehabilitation project has failed and the … Continue Reading
June 26, 2026
Oregon Delegation Submits State Items for Congressional Time Capsule to Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senate and House members this week submitted for a congressional time capsule to celebrate America’s 250th birthday multiple items that sample from the state’s natural treasures, history, culture, sports, music and more. Among the items included in the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule to be sealed at the Capitol Visitor Center and opened on July 4, 2276 are the following: A ballot and envelope, to celebrate Oregon’s status as America’s first … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Direct Care Workforce and Family Caregivers
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would provide funding to states and other eligible entities that supports direct care workers and family caregivers who provide essential daily care and support for many older adults and people with disabilities. “One of the top concerns I hear consistently from Oregonians is access to healthcare and support services, especially for older folks in rural areas,” Wyden said. “With … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Major Credit Bureau CEOs Protect Student Loan Borrowers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Democratic Senate colleagues today in demanding the CEOs of three major credit report bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion, immediately take steps to fix their firms’ administrative and technical issues that have burdened student loan borrowers with inaccurate credit report errors and higher interest rates. “If just one data point is reported incorrectly by the servicer and the credit reporting company does not address … Continue Reading
June 23, 2026
Wyden Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Housing Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to address the housing crisis: “The housing crisis deepens every year in Oregon and across the country, dimming people’s dreams of homeownership and pushing more working-class families onto the street because they can’t afford rent,” Wyden said. “There are some good provisions in this bill, but this crisis demands bolder solutions. I remain committed to … Continue Reading
June 23, 2026
Wyden Announces Six July Town Halls in Eastern Oregon
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls in six Eastern Oregon counties from July 6-8. Heading into these four town halls, Wyden has held 1,168 open-to-all town halls statewide in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “Eastern Oregon is thousands of miles away from Washington, DC but these open-to-all town halls shorten that distance so everybody can make their voice heard,” Wyden said. “I … Continue Reading