Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Klamath Basin
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley released the following statement today on the Klamath Basin: "For more than a decade, the irrigators, tribes and conservationists of the Klamath Basin have worked tirelessly to craft agreements that can break a century-long deadlock over water rights. The Oregon delegation shares the goal of working together for the success of the basin, and all of the state. Today we took a step forward towards legislation that can make Klamath … Continue Reading
December 03, 2015
Wyden Applauds Increased Focus on High School Graduation Rates
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded Congressional leaders for targeting high school graduation rates in Oregon and across the country as part of a larger K-12 education bill that last night passed the House of Representatives. The bill, which would replace the No Child Left Behind law from 2001, includes a provision to help more students earn their diplomas by requiring states to identify high schools with low graduation rates and ensure those schools receive the … Continue Reading
December 02, 2015
Wyden Blasts Latest Attempt to Defund Planned Parenthood
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today blasted the fast tracking of a bill that would block federal funding to Planned Parenthood clinics in Oregon and across the country for one year. The Senate last night began considering a House-passed budget bill that includes a provision to cut federal funding for Medicaid for use at Planned Parenthood clinics. "Millions of American women - including tens of thousands of Oregonians - turn to Planned Parenthood for the routine health … Continue Reading
December 01, 2015
IRS Commits to Follow Justice Department Guidelines on Stingrays in Letter to Wyden
Washington, D.C. - In response to questions by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen committed to seeking warrants for future use of cell-site simulator technology. The devices, often referred to as Stingrays, can be used to track cell phones and intercept information about calls. The IRS said cell-site simulators are used exclusively for criminal investigations and that its policy mirrors the Justice Department's, which requires warrants to use the … Continue Reading
December 01, 2015
Wyden-Grassley Sovaldi Investigation Finds Revenue-Driven Pricing Strategy Behind $84,000 Hepatitis Drug
WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and senior committee member Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, today released the results of an 18-month investigation into the pricing and marketing of Gilead Sciences' Hepatitis C drug Sovaldi and its second-wave successor, Harvoni. Drawing from 20,000 pages of internal company documents, dozens of interviews with health care experts, and a trove of data from Medicaid programs in 50 states and the District of Columbia, the … Continue Reading
November 29, 2015
Wyden Statement on End of NSA Phone Records Dragnet
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., hailed the end of the National Security Agency's phone records dragnet, which was officially shut down today, as the result of the USA Freedom Act. Wyden fought for nearly a decade to draw attention to secret interpretations of the Patriot Act that the government used to justify this bulk collection, and then to end this unnecessary program that violated Americans' privacy. "This is a victory for everyone who believes in protecting both American … Continue Reading
November 24, 2015
Wyden: Today’s Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony for Oregon Civil Rights Hero is a Well-Deserved Honor
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today's Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony for Oregon civil rights hero Minoru Yasui is a well-deserved honor for a steadfast champion of civil and human rights. "Minoru dedicated his life to the pursuit of justice and equality under the law," said Wyden, who twice wrote the White House to urge that Mr. Yasui receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. "He was a trailblazer whose courage, eloquence and dogged fight against … Continue Reading
November 24, 2015
Wyden, Colleagues Call for Closing Terrorist Gun Loophole
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined colleagues today calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan to quickly schedule votes on legislation that would close an egregious loophole and prevent individuals on the Federal Terrorist Watchlist from being able to purchase firearms and explosives that may be used in connection with terrorism. Under current law, a member of a terrorist organization is not prohibited from "possessing firearms or explosives" or … Continue Reading
November 20, 2015
Wyden Urges USDA to clarify industrial hemp’s eligibility for federal research grants
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to clarify that industrial hemp research programs are eligible for existing federal research dollars. Wyden was among a bipartisan group of 12 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.); and 37 members of the House of Representatives - including Oregon Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader -- to write Secretary … Continue Reading
November 20, 2015
Senators Announce Introduction of Bipartisan Bill to Expand Breastfeeding Protections at Work
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), joined by Sens. Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Al Franken (D-MN), announced the introduction of the Supporting Working Moms Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation helps ensure that more working mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies after they return to work. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) also announced the … Continue Reading
November 19, 2015
Wyden Statement on Syrian Refugees
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for the United States to uphold its traditional values and continue to allow refugees from violent oppression and terror to our shores, while ensuring a rigorous screening process is in place to protect the country. "Our country must ensure the refugee screening process is as strong as possible and protects all Americans. America can uphold its values and its tradition of welcoming refugees from violent oppression and terror. Our … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015
Wyden, Merkley Announce Farm-to-School Grants in Oregon
Washington, DC - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that projects in Bend, Cottage Grove and Eugene have earned federal farm-to-school grants totaling almost $225,000. "From apples to zucchini, Oregon's farm-to-school programs achieve two key goals: local farmers gain lifetime customers and youngsters grow up with the knowledge of fresh, healthy and tasty produce," Wyden said. "These awards from the Agriculture Department re-affirm the hard work happening in our state to … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015
GUN SAFETY: Wyden, 19 Senators Ask Government Accountability Office to Examine Gun Safety Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Patty Murray, D-Wash., and 18 of their Democratic Senate colleagues today asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess public health and safety programs designed to affect gun safety, and to provide best practices for the storage and security of guns in households. In a letter to Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, the senators wrote that prevention of gun deaths and injuries should be an essential … Continue Reading
November 18, 2015
Wyden Spotlights Key Oregon Projects in Transportation Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today that a trio of essential highway projects in Oregon would benefit from a long-term plan to rebuild the national transportation infrastructure. A member of the Transportation Infrastructure Conference Committee, Wyden praised the House bill for bringing new projects within national scenic areas into the mix for transportation funding, including bridges near Hood River and Cascade Locks. He also cited another provision that upgrades both … Continue Reading
November 17, 2015
Wyden Urges FCC to Limit Unwanted Debt Collection Robocalls
Washington, DC-Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and 38 other Senate and House members in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to limit unwanted robocalls and texts to those with debt owed to or backed by the federal government. Section 301 of the recently passed budget bill potentially opens the door to unwanted robocalls and texts to the cell phones of student loan borrowers, mortgage borrowers, … Continue Reading
November 16, 2015
Wyden Renews Call for Pentagon Audit Following Revelation of $43 Million Natural Gas Station Boondoggle
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed the Department of Defense to lay out a plan to restore fiscal accountability and prevent expensive mistakes, like the $43 million natural gas filling station recently uncovered by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR). In a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Wyden expressed deep concern about the DOD's apparent lack of cooperation with the Inspector General's investigation, and lack of basic efforts … Continue Reading
November 10, 2015
Oregon Lawmakers Urge Congress to Target High School Graduation Rates
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici today urged Congressional leaders to target high school graduation rates in Oregon and across the country as part of a larger K-12 education bill. The Senate passed its version of the education bill in July, which contains a Wyden-authored provision to help schools raise their graduation rates by making more low-income and low-performing … Continue Reading
November 10, 2015
Wyden, Merkley and DeFazio Announce New, Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Staffing at VA Health Centers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representative Peter DeFazio announced new, bipartisan legislation to improve health care at VA facilities. The Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act would make common-sense changes in staffing policies at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and improve veterans care at VA health care facilities. The legislation was introduced today in the Senate by a bipartisan coalition of Senators and will be introduced … Continue Reading
November 10, 2015
Senate Passes Wyden Provision To Bring Retired Military Dogs Home after Overseas Duty
Washington, D.C. -The Senate included an amendment by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., ensuring retired military dogs can return to the United States after serving America overseas, as part of a larger defense bill that passed today. The provision is based on Wyden's Military Working Dog Retirement Act, which requires the Department of Defense to arrange and pay for transportation of trained military dogs to the United States when their service abroad has been deemed no longer necessary, including … Continue Reading
November 09, 2015
The Supreme Court Hasn’t Stopped the Government From Tracking Your Cellphone Without a Warrant. Time to Pass Wyden’s GPS Act
Washington, D.C. -After the Supreme Court today declined to hear an appeal of a decision allowing the government to access cell phone location data without a warrant, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., renewed his call to clarify a tangled mess of legal decisions around electronic tracking of Americans' movements. "It's clear the courts won't resolve this question any time soon, so Congress needs to step up and make sure that Americans' cell phones aren't being used as warrantless government GPS … Continue Reading
