Press Releases
Wyden Applauds Key Senate Committee for Advancing His Legislation to Combat Catastrophic Wildfires
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Senate Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee for advancing his bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act to support prescribed burns during the colder and wetter months as an essential, science-based strategy proven to save lives and property. “Today’s vote takes us much closer toward my goal of stopping wildfires before they devastate communities in Oregon and nationwide,” Wyden said. “With wildfires hitting record … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Wyden Statement on Trump Announcing DOE and DOI Nominations
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on Donald Trump picking Chris Wright to be nominated for Department of Energy secretary and Doug Burgum to be nominated for Department of Interior secretary. “It’s sadly not the least bit surprising that Trump’s picks to do his bidding at the Department of Energy and the Department of the Interior have long track records cheerleading for Big Oil, corporate America, and the ultra-wealthy gas executives plotting … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Merkley, Wyden: ODOT Receives $31.9 Million to Slash Pollution from Construction Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is receiving $31,933,577 to use cleaner construction materials on federally-funded projects statewide. The funding comes from the historic Inflation Reduction Act’s Low Carbon Transportation Materials Discretionary Grant Program, which supports continued growth in American manufacturing to boost the competitiveness of clean U.S. industries and the creation of … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Senate Confirmation of Magistrate Mustafa Kasubhai to U.S. District Court in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted today to confirm Magistrate Mustafa Kasubhai’s nomination to the U.S. District Court. “This is a great day for justice in America. Judge Kasubhai brings to the U.S. District Court an all-star résumé of legal accomplishment, judicial temperament and personal integrity," Wyden and Merkley said. "We are gratified the Senate has acted to confirm this standout jurist and are fully … Continue Reading
November 18, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $6 Million Heading to Oregon to Improve Street Safety
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that a total of $6,150,000 is heading to Polk, Wheeler, and Wasco counties for the development of safety action plans to improve road safety and to Metro for the identification of Safe Routes to School in Portland. “Whether walking, driving, or biking, Oregonians in every corner of the state deserve safe streets and roads in their communities to get where they need to go,” said Merkley. “These investments … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $5.4 Million for Hazardous Fuels Transportation Projects to Reduce Wildfire Risk in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $5,416,405 is coming to Oregon from the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest investment in clean energy and climate action ever—for hazardous fuels transportation projects across the state. The federal funding awarded by the U.S. Forest Service will reduce the risk of wildfires by moving hazardous fuels—smaller trees, live or dead brush, tree limbs, and other natural debris—from national forests and grasslands to … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, Risch Legislation Investing in Rural Schools Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. -- A bipartisan bill to reauthorize the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026 introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and has been unanimously approved by the Senate. Crapo and Wyden were joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and in reintroducing the legislation in 2024. “Building on a history of bipartisanship, today, the Senate reiterated its support for … Continue Reading
November 04, 2024
Wyden Announces Town Hall in Multnomah County
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold an open-to-all town hall on Friday, Nov. 8 in Multnomah County. This 10 am town hall at David Douglas High School’s Howard F. Horner Performing Arts Center (1400 SE 130th Ave, Portland) will be Wyden’s 1,101st overall -- honoring his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. “Town halls that provide Americans the opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with their elected … Continue Reading
November 01, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $10.1 Million Federal Investment for Tualatin Mountain Forest Project
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is awarding $10,180,000 to boost the Tualatin Mountain Forest Project through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Legacy Program. This new federal funding from the historic Inflation Reduction Act—the largest investment ever to tackle climate chaos—builds off the $3.63 million award Merkley and Wyden announced for the project earlier this year. The Tualatin … Continue Reading
October 31, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $600,000 for Rogue Valley International Medford Airport
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $600,000 for the Rogue Valley International Medford Airport to support the expansion of service to Dallas-Fort Worth. “Making sure our regional airports have the support they need to keep Oregonians connected and moving is essential for the local economy,” Wyden said. “I applaud this federal investment to Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, and will continue to fight for more resources … Continue Reading
October 30, 2024
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Hoyle: State of Oregon & Four Tribes Earn More Than $12 Million in Federal Funds for Grid Resilience
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Val Hoyle today announced that Oregon’s Energy Department has secured $10.9 million and four Tribes with members in Oregon have earned a combined $1.16 million in federal investment to modernize the electric grid and reduce the impacts of extreme weather while also ensuring power sector reliability. The four Tribes securing the federal funds are the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, Cow … Continue Reading
October 30, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $46 Million to Boost the Klamath Basin
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is investing a total of $46,191,133 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to boost ecosystem restoration and enhance water quality and reliability through 24 projects throughout the Klamath Basin—12 of which are taking place in Oregon. This latest federal funding wave from the landmark law will largely fuel the Klamath River’s recovery and habitat restoration … Continue Reading
October 29, 2024
Wyden, Merkley: Port of Portland Earns $2.77 Million Federal Award
Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $2.77 million toward the Port of Portland’s work to decarbonize as well as improve natural disaster resilience. “The Port of Portland plays an integral role in many Oregonians’ travel plans, and also a crucial element for small Oregon businesses who depend on the Port to ship their Oregon-grown goods around the world,” Wyden said. “Ensuring the Port of Portland has the long-term tools it needs … Continue Reading
October 29, 2024
Wyden, Merkley, Kaine, Markey, Van Hollen and Booker Warn U.N. Cyber Convention Could Justify Spying and Censorship By China, Russia and Other Authoritarian Regimes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and five Democratic senators urged the Biden Administration to make clear a United Nations cyber convention should not be used to justify censorship, spying and human rights abuses by authoritarian governments like Russia and China, in a letter released today. “We fear the Convention will legitimize efforts by authoritarian countries like Russia and China to censor and surveil internet users, furthering repression and human rights abuses … Continue Reading
October 29, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Celebrate Multi-Million Dollar Federal Investment in Rail Safety, Stronger Supply Chains Across Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $42,712,400 in federal funding is coming to Oregon for five projects to improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability across the state. The investment—funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which advances projects that modernize America’s freight and intercity passenger rail … Continue Reading
October 28, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $5.3 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding for TriMet and PDX Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $5,360,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are headed to the Portland metro region for two transportation projects. The federal grants awarded will support the deployment of new digital technology for Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) light rail vehicles and fund airport terminal reconstruction efforts at Portland International Airport (PDX). “Oregonians in every … Continue Reading
October 28, 2024
Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle: $10.2 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Boost Eugene Transportation Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle announced today $10,215,123 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds are headed to the Eugene area for two transportation projects. The federal grants awarded will support the deployment of a mobility app for residents and fund airport terminal reconstruction efforts at Eugene Airport (EUG), also known as Mahlon Sweet Field. “Oregonians in every corner of our state should be able to get where … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
Hoyle, Wyden, Merkley Announce Another $29 Million in Federal Funding for Port of Coos Bay Intermodal Project
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, announced $29,751,615 in federal funding for the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) Coos Bay Rail Line (CBRL) Upgrades Planning Project. The investment comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail and Infrastructure Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program. "Today’s award makes long overdue investments in the Coos Bay Rail Line and will improve sections of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2024
Wyden, Merkley: Conservation Projects in Central, Eastern & Southern Oregon Earn $95.7 Million in Federal Investment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that five rural Oregon conservation projects have secured a total of more than $95 million in federal investment to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand strategies that enhance natural resources while tackling the climate crisis. . “These significant federal investments add up to huge benefits for Oregonians working to achieve a more sustainable future in rural counties by reducing the risk of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2024
Oregon Delegation Seeks Federal Help for State’s Record Fire Season
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s entire congressional delegation today urged President Biden to grant Governor Kotek’s request that Oregon receive a major disaster declaration in response to record-setting wildfires that burned about three times the average acreage this year. “The 2024 wildfire season has been one of the most devastating and costly fire seasons on record,” U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Cliff Bentz, Val Hoyle, Andrea … Continue Reading
