August in Oregon
Senator Wyden spent August in Oregon hearing first-hand from Oregonians and community leaders on the issues that matter most to them.
With less money being spent on fire prevention and forest management, this summer proved to be one of the worst and most expensive fire seasons on record. Senator Wyden traveled to the Douglas Complex fire camp in Glendale & the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise to meet firsthand with the firefighters and the Forest Service. Senator Wyden, as Chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is pushing hard for improved forest management and investment in fire prevention so wildfires will be fewer, smaller, and less expensive and dangerous to fight.
To see an example of a wildfire prevention project that works, Senator Wyden visited the Deschutes National Forest and met with leaders of the Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project. The Deschutes Project is an innovative, effective approach that should serve as an example for other forests. Through partnerships of government agencies and community and timber industry leaders they have made huge strides in preventing wildfires.
At a Portland City Club Friday Forum, Senator Wyden and Representative Blumenauer participated in a discussion on the recently revealed National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance programs. From the audience’s questions, it was clear that Oregonians believe they do not have to sacrifice their civil liberties in order to have security -- you can have both. Senator Wyden also explained his plans for reforms to make review of surveillance programs more transparent and better protect the civil liberties of law-abiding Americans.
August wrapped up with celebrating Oregon’s working families at the Northwest Oregon Labor Council’s annual Labor Day picnic. In a topsy turvy world, working families are Oregon's rock- building bridges, taking care of sick folks, and making Oregon better for all. Senator Wyden then returned to Washington for briefings on the situation in Syria.
Click through the slideshow below to see what else Senator Wyden’s been up to this past month. Highlights include visiting Laika Studios in Hillsboro, honoring Oregon’s Japanese-American World War II veterans, and holding a health care town hall with Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith.
