Press Releases
Wyden Announces Advance of Key Rural Oregon Legislation
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden announced today that legislation to support rural air service and job growth in Eastern Oregon is heading to the full Senate for its consideration. He made the announcement after the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved full funding of $155 million for the Essential Air Program. The program supports key travel connections like commercial flights in and out of Pendleton's Eastern Oregon Regional Airport. The airport is the only commercial … Continue Reading
July 27, 2017
Wyden Supports Rural Wireless Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he supports new bipartisan legislation that would help build out cell service and wireless internet coverage throughout rural Oregon. "Wireless coverage is essential for law enforcement and healthcare providers to respond quickly to life-and-death situations and for precision agriculture as well as small mom-and-pop businesses to communicate with their customers in the global economy," Wyden said. "Simply put, the reliability of … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Wyden, Bishop Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Access to Outdoor Recreation Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee Rob Bishop, R-Utah, today introduced legislation in the Senate and House to remove barriers to outdoor recreation and boost rural economies across the country. Their bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR) Act, S. 1633, would promote access to outdoor recreation opportunities and allow more visitors to get outdoors. The RNR Act would streamline the permitting process for guides and … Continue Reading
July 24, 2017
Wyden Statement on Kushner Testimony
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for full transparency by Jared Kushner, in response to the statement Kushner released this morning. "It is imperative that the public hear Jared Kushner testify in an open session of the Senate Intelligence Committee, under oath, and support his claims with full transparency in the form of emails, documents and financial records," Wyden said. "Kushner's statement, which he released publicly to the press, raises far more questions than it … Continue Reading
July 20, 2017
Wyden Asks DOJ How Often the Government Searches for Americans’ Communications Under E.O. 12333
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked the Department of Justice a series of questions about how it uses Executive Order 12333 to conduct warrantless backdoor searches of Americans' calls, emails and other communications. Specifically, Wyden asked: How many times, in each of the calendar years 2011-2016, has the Attorney General provided this approval? Can the Intelligence Community conduct these searches "for the purpose of targeting a U.S. person or a person in the United … Continue Reading
July 19, 2017
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues in Introducing LGBT Data Inclusion Act
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined their colleagues in introducing legislation requiring federal surveys to include data collection on sexual orientation and gender identity, which would ensure the LGBT community does not face discrimination in federal programs. While some federal data on LGBT communities is currently collected, there is no centralized requirement prioritizing the collection of LGBT data in federal surveys, which the LGBT Data Inclusion … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Wyden Refutes Pai’s Mischaracterization on Net Neutrality in Comment to FCC
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., refuted the intentional mischaracterization of his net neutrality position by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, in a comment filed today. Pai has repeatedly cited a letter Wyden signed nearly 20 years ago as justification for rolling back strong net neutrality protections that ensure an open internet. Today Wyden reiterated his strong support for the 2015 Open Internet Order, and called on Pai to abandon both his mischaracterization … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Oregon Wildlands and Scenic Rivers, Supporting Rural Economies and Local Recreation Jobs
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced their bill to protect some of the state's most pristine and environmentally significant areas, which are essential for recreation jobs and the economies of rural areas across Oregon. The Wyden-Merkley Oregon Wildlands Act would designate more than 200,000 acres of land as wilderness or national recreation areas and add more than 250 miles to the Wild and Scenic River System. "When it comes to recreation … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Wyden Statement on Emails Released by Donald Trump, Jr.
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on emails released by Donald Trump, Jr., today: "Based on the emails that Donald Trump, Jr., released, the highest levels of the Trump campaign walked, eyes open, into a meeting designed to advance the Russian government's support for Donald Trump. These emails show there is no longer a question of whether this campaign sought to collude with a hostile foreign power to subvert America's democracy. The question is how far … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Wyden, Schatz Urge FCC to Prepare for Deluge of Comments On Net Neutrality Day of Action, July 12
Washington, D.C.-Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, asked the Federal Communications Commission to ensure its commenting system is prepared to withstand a cyberattack as well as a surge of comments expected on July 12, a day of action for supporters of net neutrality. "The FCC must be able to accept all comments filed to ensure that all voices are heard," the senators wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. The senators emphasized the FCC must prepare for the type … Continue Reading
July 06, 2017
Wyden, Boozman, Brown Push for Tactile Feature on Paper Currency for Americans who are Blind or Visually Impaired
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., John Boozman, R-Ark., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, today pushed for the United States to begin producing paper currency that includes tactile features to allow Americans who are blind or visually impaired to quickly differentiate between different monetary values. In a letter to the director of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the senators noted there are more than 180 countries that issue paper money, but the United States alone … Continue Reading
June 28, 2017
Wyden, Merkley Join Colleagues in Introducing Senate Resolution Recognizing June as Pride Month
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined their colleagues today in introducing the Senate's first resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution notes major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. Today, June 28, marks the 48th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. "This resolution is an important milestone in recognizing the courage and … Continue Reading
June 27, 2017
Wyden Criticizes Trump Administration for Covering Up Surveillance Report
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today slammed the Trump Administration for denying his request to publicly release a federal report on surveillance policies. On February 15, 2017, Wyden asked the then-Acting Director of National Intelligence to release to the public a report on Presidential Policy Director (PPD) 28, which establishes policies and procedures for safeguarding personal information collected from government surveillance. The report was written by the Privacy and Civil … Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Wyden, Merkley Push FERC for More Public Engagement on Jordan Cove
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to hold more public meetings and extend the public comment period as the agency considers the proposed Jordan Cove LNG project and Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline. In a letter to FERC Acting Chair Cheryl LaFleur, Wyden and Merkley requested the agency extend the public comment period from 30 days to 90 days-the typical length of public review for a project of this … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Wyden Emphasizes Costs of Congressional Inaction on Wildfire Funding
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today emphasized the costs of congressional inaction when it comes to fixing the broken system of wildfire funding, in a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this morning. Wyden, together with Sens. Mike Crapo and James Risch, both R-Idaho, has been working on a long-term solution since 2013 to fix the way the federal government funds wildfire suppression, in order to free up more funding for fire prevention and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Wyden Introduces Bill to Encourage Charitable Giving
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore,. today introduced the Charities Helping Americans Regularly Throughout the Year (CHARITY) Act, a bipartisan bill that would encourage charitable giving and make it easier for foundations and other tax-exempt organizations to conduct their charitable mission in Oregon and nationwide. Joined by Sens. John Thune, R-SD, Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., this legislation (S. 1343) builds on several significant charitable tax provisions that … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Wyden: Sessions’ Attacks on Medical Marijuana Again Show He only Values States’ Rights When He Thinks States Are Right
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after news reports that U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions requested that Congressional leaders reverse protections provided to legal marijuana states, which would allow the Justice Department to prosecute legal medical marijuana users. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, about 90 percent of states allow for legal medical marijuana use in some form. "Jeff Sessions is again showing … Continue Reading
June 12, 2017
Wyden Statement on Puerto Rico’s Vote for Statehood
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on Puerto Rico's statehood referendum vote on June 11: "Those who stand to gain financially from a continuation of the status quo will seek to delegitimize the results of this federally authorized plebiscite. I wrote the law making this plebiscite possible so Congress could get a clear understanding of the wishes of the American citizens of Puerto Rico," Wyden said. "They have now sent a clear and … Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Wyden, Harris, Merkley, Feinstein Call for Disaster Aid for Oregon and California Fisheries
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's and California's senators in a letter today to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross called for a federal salmon fishery disaster declaration for both states to support economic recovery for coastal communities. The letter from Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and California Sens. Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein follows a request from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and California Gov. Jerry Brown for the federal government to issue a fisheries disaster declaration to … Continue Reading
June 09, 2017
Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Designates Hemp History Week
Washington, D.C. - To highlight the vast economic potential of industrial hemp for America's agricultural industry, the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution designating June 5-11, "Hemp History Week." Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced the bipartisan resolution Wednesday. The Hemp History Week resolution passed the Senate unanimously last night. The United States is the world's largest consumer of industrial hemp, but … Continue Reading
