Press Releases
Wyden: Sage Grouse Decision A Win for Rural Jobs and Wildlife
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement following the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that the sage grouse will not be listed under the Endangered Species Act. "I am thrilled by today's announcement that the greater sage grouse does not require protection under the Endangered Species Act," Wyden said. "I applaud the efforts of ranchers, conservationists, governors and others who have come to the table, signed agreements and worked hard on the ground to fight … Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Wyden Applauds Win for Free Speech and Common Sense in Revised Intelligence Authorization Bill
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., praised the removal of a flawed Intelligence Authorization bill provision to require companies like Twitter and Facebook to notify the government about vaguely defined "terrorist activity" by social media users. Wyden placed a hold on the 2016 Intelligence Authorization bill in July over concerns about the provision after an outcry from technology companies that the bill could force companies to take drastic steps to police users' speech online. … Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Wildfire Aid Meetings Set for Sept. 28-29 in Eastern Oregon
Portland - Eastern Oregon residents who suffered losses from recent wildfires will have the opportunity at meetings Sept. 28-29 in John Day and Baker City to talk with federal and state officials about what resources may be available to help after the devastating wildfires this summer. "The wildfires that have ripped through our state have left many Oregonians trying to put their lives back together,'' said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, whose staff is convening the Sept. 28 meeting in Baker City and … Continue Reading
September 21, 2015
Wyden joins Senator Markey, Rep. Eshoo in Amicus Brief Supporting FCC Net Neutrality Rules
Washington, D.C. - Senator Wyden (D-Ore.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ranking Member Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) and 26 members of Congress today in filing an Amicus Brief with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Open Internet rules. The Amicus supports the FCC's decision that broadband Internet access is a telecommunications service and lies at the heart of the Commission's Title II authority to put in place strong Open … Continue Reading
September 17, 2015
Wyden, Bonamici Release Draft Bill to Protect Student Privacy
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., today released draft legislation to better protect student privacy on college campuses in Oregon and across the country. The draft bill would change portions of the federal law that governs student records by putting additional privacy procedures in place before a school's lawyers can access a student's personal information, including medical records. The current law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act … Continue Reading
September 15, 2015
Wyden, Barrasso Introduce Bill to Help American Soda Ash Producers Compete in Global Market
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., introduced bipartisan legislation to maintain competitive royalty rates on America's natural soda ash, which is critical in manufacturing industrial products like glass. The Soda Ash Competitiveness Act will set the royalty rate on sodium compounds (and related products) produced from federal land at 2 percent for five years. "Natural soda ash produced in the United States directly supports hundreds of jobs … Continue Reading
September 14, 2015
Wyden, Rubio, Warner: New College Scorecard Lays Groundwork for Student Right to Know Before You Go Act
Washington, D.C. - The authors of a bill to provide powerful new tools for comparing colleges and universities on measures such as total cost, likelihood of graduating and potential earnings, today called the White House's new college scorecard database a step in the right direction toward giving students the information they need to make more informed decisions about their college education. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Warner, D-Va., introduced the Student Right to … Continue Reading
September 08, 2015
Wyden Statement on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
The Senate has no weightier responsibility this fall than consideration of the nuclear agreement recently negotiated by the United States, key world powers, and Iran. The decision facing each Senator this week will be whether to support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or to reject it. For me, this decision has been as difficult as they come. The fundamental question for me is what this agreement means for the prospects of Iran getting a nuclear bomb. This agreement with the duplicitous … Continue Reading
August 24, 2015
Wyden Meets with Labor Representatives in Guatemala, Explores Trade and Diplomatic Opportunities in Cuba, Argentina
Oregonians Dion Glisan and Daniel Bailey, of USAID, meet with Sen. Wyden in Guatemala City Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., met with Guatemalan labor representatives about the importance of enforcing labor laws and strengthening protections for workers as part of a week-long visit to Guatemala, Cuba and Argentina, from Aug. 15-23. Wyden met with officials from the Center for Rural Workers and the Solidarity Center and a leading labor attorney on Wednesday, August … Continue Reading
August 18, 2015
Wyden, Bonamici Encourage Input on Dept. of Ed. Draft Guidance on Student Medical Records
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (both D-Ore.) today issued the following statements after the U.S. Department of Education issued draft guidance regarding the treatment of student medical records on college campuses nationwide: "The Education Department today took an encouraging step toward protecting the privacy of student medical records on college campuses," Wyden said. "Now, it's critical that privacy experts and the higher education community weigh in on the … Continue Reading
August 17, 2015
Wyden Statement on Wildfires in Oregon
Portland, OR - Sen. Ron Wyden today issued the following statement about the wildfires in Oregon and throughout the West: "These infernos are threatening lives and burning up Oregon's forests and homes. I will continue to work with the U.S. Forest Service and the State to ensure all the resources that are available are deployed as quickly as possible. When I get back to Washington DC, my first order of business is to finally end the terrible trifecta that makes these fires worse: … Continue Reading
August 12, 2015
Wyden Asks What Steps Intelligence Leaders Took to Protect Federal OPM Records, Other Sensitive Files
WASHINGTON - In the wake of multiple high-profile hacks of federal officials' emails, personnel records and other personal information, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked the top federal counterintelligence official what steps the National Counterintelligence and Security Center took to protect Office of Personnel Management records from foreign hackers. The National Counterintelligence and Security Center, which is tasked with protecting the U.S. Government against foreign intelligence … Continue Reading
August 10, 2015
Oregon Lawmakers: Get Hemp Pilot Project Ready for Next Season
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Kurt Schrader, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici asked the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon State University (OSU) to implement an industrial hemp pilot project in time for next year's growing season, in a letter sent today. Currently, American farmers are banned from growing hemp in the United States under federal law. But last year's Farm Bill allowed states and universities … Continue Reading
August 07, 2015
Wyden, Rubio Bill Would Block Arms to Bahrain
Washington, D.C. -Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced legislation this week that would block the sale or transfer of certain arms to Bahrain until the State Department certifies that Bahrain has fully implemented all of the recommendations by an independent oversight commission. "This legislation sends the clear message U.S. arms should not aid and abet the Bahraini government's continued repression of its own people. It is deeply troubling that the State … Continue Reading
August 06, 2015
Wyden, Crapo, Nine Other Senators Pledge to Work Together to Find a Wildfire Funding Solution in the Fall
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today secured a commitment from nine other senators from both parties to work together on a bipartisan solution to fix the broken system for funding wildfires when the Senate resumes regular business in September. Led by Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., Wyden and Crapo submitted a statement for the Congressional Record on the need to work together to find a solution to address budget concerns surrounding wildfire funding and fire … Continue Reading
August 06, 2015
Wyden Statement on the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
Washington, D.C. - Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act: "Fifty years ago today, the Voting Rights Act confirmed the universal right to vote as a bedrock principle in this country. But in 2015, that fundamental right is under attack. Denying any American a vote - or making it more difficult for someone to vote - denies that person a voice in their own self-governance and is antithetical to our democracy. I … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
Wyden: Senate Punts Flawed Surveillance Bill
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised news the Senate will indefinitely delay a vote on CISA, a bill that would have created new threats to Americans' privacy, while doing little if anything to protect their digital security. "Once again, those who value Americans' privacy more than political expediency have made sure this harmful, misguided bill won't sail through the Senate without meaningful debate," Wyden said. "The Republican leadership's decision to put off a vote … Continue Reading
August 05, 2015
Wyden, Senate Democrats Call for “Do Not Disturb” Technology to Block Telemarketing and Unwanted Robocalls
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and six Senate Democrats urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help consumers block unwanted telemarketing calls on both landline and wireless phones. In a letter sent today to the FCC, the Senators call on the FCC to work with phone companies to help facilitate the development and deployment of "Do Not Disturb" technology, which the Senators say should be offered to all consumers at no additional … Continue Reading
July 30, 2015
Wyden Statement on Partisan Proposals to Defund Planned Parenthood
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on a partisan proposal to cut funding for Planned Parenthood: "Planned Parenthood provides essential health care to millions of women. Partisan proposals to defund or limit funding for Planned Parenthood are going to wreak havoc on the women who rely on those services in Oregon and across the country. Next week I will once again proudly vote to protect a woman's right to make her own reproductive choices and her … Continue Reading
July 30, 2015
Wyden Statement on Oregon Adjutant General Hokanson’s Promotion and New Assignment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the promotion of Oregon Adjutant General Daniel Hokanson to the rank of lieutenant general and his new assignment as Deputy Commander, United States Northern Command/Vice Commander, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. "All of Oregon has benefited from General Hokanson's stellar leadership of our state's brave servicemen and servicewomen, both … Continue Reading
