Press Releases
Wyden Statement on the U.S. House Impeaching Donald Trump
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The articles of impeachment now go to the U.S. Senate, which will hear arguments and vote on whether or not Trump should be removed from office. "A senator has no weightier responsibility than to judge a president impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. As a juror in impeachment proceedings, I intend … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Bill Demanding Answers About Saudi Fugitives Slated to Pass in Year-End Spending Package
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Wyden's Saudi Fugitives Declassification Act, which requires the FBI to declassify any information it may possess about the Saudi government's role in helping accused criminals leave the United States, was added to the year-end spending bill that is slated to pass Thursday. "It is long past time to stop treating Saudi Arabia as if it were above the law," Wyden said. "My bill will finally force the federal … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Wyden, Colleagues Demand HUD Review Facial Recognition Technology Use in Federally Assisted Housing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Cory Booker, D-N.J., Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Kamala D. Harris, D-Calif., and U.S. Representatives Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., today asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to review policies regarding the use of facial recognition technologies in federally assisted housing. In a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, the legislators pointed … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader filed an amicus brief in federal court making the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a proven and effective way to keep Native children connected to their communities and cultures. The bipartisan brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the court re-opens its August ruling … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Tillamook People’s Utility has received a 30-year loan of over $42.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program for critical line expansion and improvement. “This loan will help ensure that Tillamook’s electricity needs are met for years to come, and help hundreds of Oregonians gain access to new lines,” said Merkley, the top Democrat … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted against a massive defense policy bill today, in opposition to the measure's misplaced priorities, including $740 billion in military spending, the creation of Donald Trump's Space Force, and its failure to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's brutal war in Yemen, overturn Trump's ban on transgender troops or block the trumped-up emergency at the border. "While this bill contains a number of worthwhile provisions, including more than a dozen that … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Merkley, Wyden, Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Greg Walden (R-OR-2), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), today announced a major, bipartisan victory for West Coast trawlers in the 2020 spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Wyden Introduces SAFE SEX Workers Study Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to introduce the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, a bill to require the first ever national study on the health and safety of sex workers, including impacts from SESTA/FOSTA - legislation that dealt with sex work and websites. Wyden was one of only two members of the Senate to vote against SESTA/FOSTA. Today, December 17, is also the International Day to End Violence … Continue Reading
December 16, 2019
Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law. The legislation would enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make … Continue Reading
December 16, 2019
Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today announced that a two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is included in the end-of-year funding package that will be considered by Congress this week. This significant win for rural communities in the Northwest and nationwide follows calls from the senators to reauthorize the lapsed program and provide financial certainty for counties containing … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
Wyden, Warren and Paul Ask Credit Reporting Agencies for Transparency About Their Handling of FBI Requests for Consumer Financial Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., yesterday sent letters to the Chief Executive Officers of the three major credit reporting agencies - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - regarding the companies' lack of transparency in their handling of consumer financial information requested through national security letters (NSLs) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The letters follow the recent release of documents gained via a … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Western Tribes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon. Native American tribes in Oregon and across the West are suffering from inadequate water infrastructure, with aging drinking water treatment and distribution systems subjecting these communities to serious problems such as failed pressure relief valves, burst pipes and unsafe drinking water. Wyden and Merkley's … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Senators Request Update on Federal Steps Towards Critical Medical Marijuana Research
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined six of their Democratic colleagues today in writing to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to request an update on the issuance of manufacturing licenses necessary for the completion of long-awaited federal research on medical marijuana. The senators seek guidance on how the DEA will make these … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Welcome Step Forward for Secure Rural Schools Program, Recreation Opportunities and Wildfire Prevention in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today welcomed passage of legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to ensure much-needed funding for rural counties, as well as legislation to boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County and strengthen wildfire prevention work in both of those regions. Both bills are now eligible to be considered by the full Senate. The Committee … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Wyden, Grassley Introduce Bill to Help Youth Aging Out of Foster Care System
Washington - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced the Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act, bipartisan legislation to improve services for older youth aging out of the foster care system. The Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act builds on the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, created by Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.) in 1999 to better support youth who age out of the foster care … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards totaling more than $7.4 million for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy infrastructure that will help lower their monthly energy costs. The awards, which are allocated through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), will provide 15 grants to install solar array systems, one grant to upgrade greenhouse vents … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Resolution in Support of U.S. Commitment to Paris Climate Agreement
Washington, D.C. - As international negotiators continue discussions at the 25th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Madrid, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced a resolution to express support for the Paris climate agreement. The resolution notes the growing scientific urgency around the need for action to combat the climate crisis, and details the bold steps that states, municipalities and businesses are taking … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Demand Aung San Suu Kyi Cooperate with International Court of Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined a bipartisan group of senators today in writing to Burmese State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi to express their concern that she will publicly excuse the actions of the Burmese military, or Tatmadaw, at a meeting before the International Court of Justice at The Hague, Netherlands. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council's Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, the military likely conducted … Continue Reading
December 10, 2019
Wyden, Merkley, Walden Welcome Good News on Large Air Tankers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden today welcomed news that the Forest Service has awarded "call when needed" (CWN) contracts to providers of wildfire-fighting large air tankers. In a September 2019 letter to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, the Oregon lawmakers had pressed the Forest Service to award the contracts, which had been issued for solicitation back in July 2018. CWN awards allow the Forest Service to put approved aircraft into … Continue Reading
December 09, 2019
Wyden, Sanders Demand More Accountability Following Pentagon’s Second Financial Audit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., today released the following statement regarding the completion of the Pentagon's second financial audit: "The Pentagon has just completed its second full financial audit and the results look a lot like a Sergio Leone western: there's some good, some bad, and some ugly. "The good news is that the Pentagon was able to complete an audit for the second year in a row. We give David Norquist credit for putting the … Continue Reading
