Press Releases
Wyden Announces Retention Credit To Keep Workers On The Job
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced an employee retention credit to prevent further mass layoffs is included in the bipartisan agreement to respond to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration's failure to ensure widespread testing. "Our goal is to prevent as many layoffs as possible and keep workers on the job. If workers are kept on the payroll they will be able to pay their bills and stay … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Wyden Announces Historic Expansion Of Unemployment Insurance
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced the inclusion of an unprecedented expansion of unemployment insurance in the bipartisan agreement to respond to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the Trump administration's failure to ensure widespread testing. An expansion of unemployment insurance has been a top Democratic priority. The agreement would create a federally funded Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Wyden, Klobuchar Statement on Funding to Secure our Elections Included in Coronavirus Response Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., released the following statement regarding election funding included in the latest COVID-19 emergency package. "In times of crisis, the American people cannot be forced to choose between their health and exercising their right to vote. While this funding is a step in the right direction, we must enact election reforms across the country as well as secure more resources to guarantee safe and secure elections. We … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $2 Million in Awards to Oregon Health Centers to Boost Coronavirus Response
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will distribute nearly $2 million in funding among 30 health centers across Oregon to help address the coronavirus crisis. "Health care professionals in every corner of our state have been working around the clock to battle the coronavirus pandemic on the frontlines," said Merkley. … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Oregon Delegation Calls for Expedited Approval of Local Personal Protective Equipment Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, DC [03/25/20] - Today Oregon's Congressional Delegation - Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, and Kurt Schrader, and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley - called for the Trump administration to expedite and clarify the evaluation and approval processes for businesses to manufacture the personal protective equipment health care workers need to stay safe while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care providers responding to COVID-19 … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Wyden Calls for Access to Remote Education for All Students During Coronavirus Emergency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined 20 of his colleagues in urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker to support additional funding in the next version of the coronavirus relief package for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing pandemic. "Children without connectivity are at risk of not only being unable to complete their homework during this pandemic, but … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Raise Concerns About Harmful Medicaid Regulation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on the Trump administration to withdraw a dangerous proposal that would disrupt state Medicaid financing that helps cover costs for vulnerable low-income patients. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) proposed Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule (MFAR) makes complex technical changes that would limit the types of financing mechanisms states can use to pay for their non-federal share of Medicaid … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce New Funding to Provide Meals to Low-Income Seniors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that Oregon will receive more than $3 million to help provide home-delivered and pre-packaged meals to low-income older adults, as communities are ordered to stay home and avoid social contact in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus. "The federal government must be a full partner to our states as we work to contain this virus," Merkley said. "That means looking out for our vulnerable neighbors, … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Wyden Urges Administration to Help Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence During Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is urging the Trump administration to ensure service providers have the flexibility and resources they need to help domestic violence victims and survivors who face increased dangers during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. "We write to express our concern for the wellbeing of families who face an increased risk of domestic violence during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)," Wyden wrote in a bipartisan letter with 23 … Continue Reading
March 23, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from President Trump About Testing and Equipment Shortages
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have joined 45 of their Senate colleagues in pressing President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for answers about supplies and equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) critical to addressing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators asked the president and vice president to confirm any relevant supply equipment shortages in the SNS, to outline their strategy to close any such … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Wyden Statement on Status of Third Coronavirus Response Bill
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement of the status of the third coronavirus response bill: "Moving forward without a bipartisan deal that covers workers and small businesses, and includes needed health provisions will add insult to the injuries many Americans are experiencing due to COVID-19. Significant progress had been made, including on a major expansion of unemployment insurance, but rather than completing our work, Leader … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Wyden: Americans Experiencing Homelessness Must Also Have Access to Cash Payments Under Consideration in COVID-19 response
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he is urging Senate leadership to ensure that Americans experiencing homelessness can also get access to direct payments under consideration in response to the devastating economic impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Wyden wrote in a letter with four colleagues to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer that people experiencing homelessness are exceptionally vulnerable to the Coronavirus and face … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Schumer, Warren, And Wyden Unveil Plan To Increase Benefits By $200 Per Month For All Social Security Beneficiaries
Washington, D.C.- Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) today unveiled a plan to increase by $200 the monthly benefit for all Social Security, Veterans, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries through the end of 2021, which would improve the lives of millions of Americans and help our economy stabilize and recover from the national emergency caused by the spread of the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Wyden Urges Protections for Airline Employees and Contractors in Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today urged Senate leadership to include protections for employees and contractors in any financial assistance to the airline industry. The outbreak of coronavirus has dealt a financial blow to the country's airlines. However, the industry's business practices over many years have exacerbated the issues they currently face. Following years of corporate tax cuts and consolidation, airlines spent the last five years using 96 percent of their cash flow on … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Wyden Calls for Increased Funding for Schools and Education Support Professionals Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for increased federal funding for schools and school employees, such as cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and custodians, who are working overtime to support their communities during the coronavirus pandemic. As the pandemic continues, schools are continuing to provide essential services in their communities, from providing meals to implementing distance-learning to serving as community hubs. Given these demands, Wyden, U.S. Senator … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Oregon Delegation Announces Small Businesses Can Now Access Economic Disaster Loans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with Congresspeople Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden, today announced that, following their letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) supporting the governor's request, Oregon has been declared an economic disaster, giving small businesses access to emergency resources. The Small Business Administration Economic Injury Disaster Loan provides critical resources to small … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Push To Protect Working Families from Utility Shut Offs in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Senator Merkley's fellow co-chairs of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus and four other senators, today pressed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include protections for Americans against utility shut-offs in the next coronavirus relief package. "As closures and quarantines disrupt and eliminate income for many American families, low-wealth communities and … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Wyden Supports Bill Canceling Student Loan Payments During Coronavirus Emergency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will support an emergency student loan payment and relief plan that would provide much-needed relief to federal student loan borrowers through immediate cancellation of monthly student loan payments during the national emergency caused by coronavirus. The proposal would require that Congress authorize the U.S. Department of Education to make monthly student loan payments on behalf of borrowers, equivalent to the amount due for all … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Wyden Statement on FERC Decision to Approve Jordan Cove Energy Project in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., opposed today's decision of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve the controversial and complex Jordan Cove energy project in Oregon over the objection of all three of Oregon state environmental regulatory agencies and while the Commission remains imbalanced and the country is in the midst of a public health crisis. Wyden released the following statement: "A few days ago, Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Urge Federal Government To Expand Access To Telehealth Services For Rural Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase subsidies to health care providers through the Rural Health Care Program so providers have the resources they need to deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. "In this time of crisis, it is imperative we do our part to ensure the safety and security of our health care providers and patients," the Oregon … Continue Reading
