Press Releases
Wyden Works to Ensure Minority-Owned Small Businesses Are Not Shut Out From Paycheck Protection Program
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Treasury Department to ensure that minority-owned businesses are not shut out of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In a letter with 22 Senate colleagues, Wyden also urged the Trump Administration to amend guidance on PPP, to reaffirm lending institutions' obligation to comply with fair lending laws and to require lenders to report on the demographics of any PPP lending. "As we work to … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $42 Million in Funding for Rural Oregon Transit Options
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will receive nearly $42.7 million in funding to support rural public transportation operations and projects-including coronavirus response efforts-in communities throughout the state. The funding will be allocated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress approved last month. "As we continue to battle the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $38 Million in Child Care Development Block Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that Oregon will receive nearly $38.6 million in Child Care and Development Block Grant funding to help support families' child care needs and child care providers throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The funding, which will be administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, is authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress approved last … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Support Oregon Request Helping Homeowners During COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged the federal Treasury Department to support a request by Oregon officials that could help Oregonians stay in their homes during the COVID-19 crisis. The senators' letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin deals with the successful implementation of Treasury's Hardest Hit Fund (HHF) by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) after the 2009 financial crisis. Wyden and Merkley noted that the state's Oregon Homeownership … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Wyden to Introduce Bill to Make Small, Rural Communities Eligible for Relief Funds
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will join U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., to introduce legislation that would provide $250 billion in stabilization funds geared towards communities with populations under 500,000 that are struggling in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Rural communities across Oregon are facing huge health risks and stark economic uncertainty due to COVID-19," Wyden said. "It's critical that these small communities receive the relief … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Announce $140 Million in COVID-19 Relief for Oregon Airports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon airports will receive more than $140 million to help them respond to the economic fallout from the coronavirus public health crisis. The funding for airports from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and. Economic Security (CARES) Act allows them to cover operating expenses that arise from sharp air travel declines and other economic losses in the wake of COVID-19. "The economic impact from this global pandemic has … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Urge Support in Future COVID-19 Legislation for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined a bipartisan group of 38 colleagues requesting that any future legislation to address COVID-19 includes support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The Oregon senators' request comes amid reports from service providers that abusers are using COVID-19 to isolate their victims, withhold financial resources, and refuse medical aid; rape crisis centers are seeing increased need for services; and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Oregon Delegation Demands Trump Administration Provide Data Necessary to Address Health Disparities Amid Coronavirus Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), and Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), are pushing the Trump administration to monitor and address dangerous health inequities that are disproportionately causing coronavirus-related deaths in minority communities in Oregon and across the country. "We know that communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, women, and other currently and … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Urge Trump Administration to Distribute COVID-19 Relief Funding Swiftly and Fairly to Tribes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on the Trump administration to swiftly and fairly distribute COVID-19 relief funding to Tribes, while providing Tribes with the flexibility they need to address this unprecedented pandemic. In a letter to U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, and Indian Affairs Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney, Wyden and Merkley requested that Treasury reject any … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Wyden Will Hold On-line Oregon Town Hall on April 17
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall hosted by Town Hall Project open to all Oregonians beginning at 10:30 AM PT on Friday, April 17. A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP Award, Wyden has held 970 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "I always look forward very much to my open-to-all town halls where Oregonians in every part of our state can … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Wyden Will Hold On-line Oregon Town Hall on April 17
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall hosted by Town Hall Project open to all Oregonians beginning at 10:30 AM PT on Friday, April 17. A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP Award, Wyden has held 970 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "I always look forward very much to my open-to-all town halls where Oregonians in every part of our state can … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Better Distribution of Critical Medical Supplies, Personal Protective Equipment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 45 Democratic colleagues, are raising serious concerns with the Trump administration about its reliance on private companies to distribute desperately needed medical supplies during the coronavirus pandemic, which has created a system that lacks transparency, is inefficient, and could put lives at risk. Health professionals across America and in every corner of Oregon are reporting shortages of critical supplies … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Push for More Information, Transparency on Coronavirus Testing Across Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 45 of their Senate colleagues, are calling on Vice President Mike Pence and the Coronavirus Task Force, as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to conduct a national inventory of the coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic testing supply, publicly release data on testing results, and provide a detailed plan and timeline for addressing future shortages and gaps in the testing supply chain. "Over three … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Bonamici, Merkley, Wyden Call on Leadership to Provide $50 Billion for Child Care in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
BEAVERTON, Ore. [04/13/20] - Representative Suzanne Bonamici, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Ron Wyden called on House Leadership to provide $50 billion to support the already-struggling child care sector in the next coronavirus pandemic response package. "Even before the current COVID-19 pandemic, too many families were struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care," the Congresswoman and Senators wrote in a joint letter to Congressional leadership. "Since the pandemic started, … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Oregon Delegation Announces $291 Million in Funding to Boost Oregon Hospitals’ Coronavirus Response Efforts
WASHINGTON, DC- Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader, and Suzanne Bonamici, announced today that 3,454 hospitals and providers in Oregon will receive a total of $291 million in funding to enhance their coronavirus response efforts. The funds are being allocated through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Support (CARES) Act, which was passed by Congress last month. Hospitals may use … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Call on SBA to Issue Economic Emergency Loans and Grants to Small Businesses ASAP
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., along with 18 colleagues, today called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to ensure small businesses receive Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) associated with the COVID-19 crisis and the new Emergency Economic Injury Grants (EEIGs) within three days of application as mandated by Congress. The senators' letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza follows reports that small businesses across the country are not receiving EEIG … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Call for All Tribal Small Businesses to Receive Equal Access to Relief
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley called on the Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Treasury to provide immediate clarification on tribal eligibility for the new Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Emergency Economic Injury Grants (EEIGs). Wyden and Merkley's letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin follows concerns that recently issued interim guidance may be interpreted to exclude certain tribal … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $116 Million in Aid for College Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over $116 million will be distributed among 73 colleges, universities, and community colleges throughout Oregon to provide direct emergency cash grants to college students whose lives and educations have been disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. The funding will be allocated to colleges and universities who will then determine which students will receive the cash grants. The funding was secured through … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $14 Million in HHS Grants for Oregon Health Facilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over $14 million in grant funding will be distributed among 15 health facilities in Oregon to help with response to the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have a responsibility to make sure that the Oregonians working on the front lines of this public health crisis have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively," said Merkley. "These grants will help us make sure that our health facilities and … Continue Reading
April 08, 2020
Wyden: Administration Should Increase Number of Doctors in Rural and Other Medically Underserved Areas
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to resume premium processing for physicians seeking employment-based visas. Doctors on these visas increase access to health care, especially rural areas, through the Conrad 30 program, which allows foreign medical school graduates who have been trained in the United States to stay in the country as long as they serve underserved areas. On March 20, USCIS announced its … Continue Reading
