Press Releases
Wyden Statement on USA Freedom Act Vote
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after the Senate failed to advance its version of the USA Freedom Act: "Today's vote showed a strong bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate is ready to debate intelligence reform and start the process of ending the mass surveillance dragnet," Wyden said. "They join a chorus of Americans who oppose these programs, which violate the privacy of millions of Americans without making our country safer. Although I'm … Continue Reading
November 18, 2014
Bipartisan, Bicoastal Group of Lawmakers Calls on Coast Guard to Keep Facilities Open
Washington, D.C. - In a continued effort to ensure the safety of residents living and working in coastal areas, members of Congress from South Carolina today joined Oregon lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Coast Guard to keep facilities in Oregon and South Carolina from closing next month. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Representatives Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Earl Blumenauer, … Continue Reading
November 14, 2014
Wyden Bill to Implement Landmark Klamath Basin Agreement Passes Energy Committee
Washington, D.C. - Legislation by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden to implement landmark water resources agreements in the Klamath Basin passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. It now moves to the full Senate. The Klamath Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act (S. 2379) would comprehensively settle water rights disputes in favor of collaborative solutions to water management in the basin. The bill provides an end to the water wars that made the Klamath Basin a … Continue Reading
November 14, 2014
Wyden: White House Contribution to Climate Fund "Sets the Bar High”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after it was reported that the White House will contribute $3 billion to a United Nations fund to help developing countries combat climate change: "I commend the President on this significant commitment to support the world's poorest countries in tackling climate change through a public-private partnership that carries forward work begun by the Bush Administration," Wyden said. "This sets the bar high for other … Continue Reading
November 13, 2014
Energy Committee Passes Wyden O&C Bill that Significantly Boosts Timber Harvests
Washington, D.C. - Washington, D.C. -Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden's O&C forestry bill passed out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today, with new provisions to dramatically increase timber harvests, ensure unprecedented certainty for timber sales and create the strongest legislative protection ever for Northwest old growth. "I am proud to announce this bill is now expected to generate more than 400 million board feet every year for 50 years on O&C lands - more than … Continue Reading
November 13, 2014
Marine Hydropower Bill Passes Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced that his bill to encourage development of electricity from the water power in oceans, rivers and lakes took a step forward when it passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today. The Marine and Hydrokinetic Renewable Energy Act of 2014 (S. 1419) facilitates marine hydrokinetic (MHK) technologies that generate emissions-free renewable energy from ocean tides and waves, and the free-flowing water in rivers and lakes. … Continue Reading
November 10, 2014
Wyden and Oregon Library Association urge FCC to protect net neutrality
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Oregon Library Association President Candice Watkins, in an op-ed in the East Oregonian, call for Oregonians to join in their fight to ensure equal access to the Internet. The governing principle of the Internet to date has been net neutrality - bits are bits, and Internet service providers should not prioritize content delivery based on ability to pay. Net neutrality ensures that all Internet users can seek out and find information from all points of … Continue Reading
October 31, 2014
Wyden: CIA Demand To Black Out Torture Report Details Would Be Unprecedented
Washington, D.C. -The Central Intelligence Agency's call to black out all pseudonyms from the Senate Intelligence Committee's report on torture would be unprecedented - and represents an unacceptable effort to obscure key facts, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today. "This report is about mistakes, misdeeds and falsehoods that were repeated over a period of years. If you don't know whether they were repeated by different officials each time, or by the same officials over and over, you really … Continue Reading
October 28, 2014
Merkley, Wyden and Schrader Persuade Coast Guard to Delay Newport Helicopter Closure
Portland, OR - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Congressman Kurt Schrader today spoke with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and got assurance from him that the November 30th date previously set for the closure of the Newport helicopter facility would be extended to December 15th. The Coast Guard agreed that this additional time would allow for a more extensive and thorough discussion of the risks to recreational fishing, commercial fishing and other activities on the Central … Continue Reading
October 22, 2014
Wyden, Merkley, Schrader, DeFazio, Blumenauer and Bonamici to Coast Guard: Keep Newport Air Facility Open Through Crabbing Season
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined today with Oregon Representatives Kurt Schrader, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici to call on the U.S. Coast Guard to hold off on its abrupt decision to shut down its Newport Air Facility and to keep open this important piece of the coastal safety net through the busy crabbing season. The Coast Guard with little notice announced this month that it plans to close the Newport Air Facility by December 1. At a … Continue Reading
October 22, 2014
Wyden Asks Energy Department to Study Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., today asked the Department of Energy to follow through on a recommendation from the Government Accountability Office to study the size and make-up of the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve - the largest emergency supply of crude oil in the world. In a report released Monday, the GAO noted that increased domestic crude oil production, combined with decreasing net oil imports as well as industry developments and related public policies … Continue Reading
October 22, 2014
Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio Urge VA Secretary To Oversee Selection of Next Roseburg VA Director
Washington, DC- Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Congressman Peter DeFazio today to urge VA Secretary Bob McDonald to oversee the selection of the next director for the VA Roseburg Healthcare System (VARHS). Because of long-standing concerns about management, unacceptable delays in care, and allegations of unethical practices at VARHS, the Oregon lawmakers asked in a joint letter that the VA Secretary personally "oversee this critical hiring decision." In their letter to … Continue Reading
October 15, 2014
Merkley and Wyden Announce $8.4 Million to help Oregonians Get Back to Work
Washington DC - Today, Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded Oregon $8.4 million to help get unemployed Oregonians back to work. The grant awarded to Worksystems Inc. is part of the Ready to Work Partnership and will help recruit, train, support and place individuals who have been struggling with long-term unemployment. "Getting Oregonians to work is my number one priority and this money does exactly that," said Senator Merkley. … Continue Reading
October 08, 2014
Wyden, Merkley, Schrader, DeFazio, Blumenauer and Bonamici Ask Coast Guard to Keep Newport Air Facility Open
Portland, OR - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley were joined by Oregon Representatives Kurt Schrader, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today to urge the U.S. Coast Guard to reverse its sudden decision to close its air facility in Newport. In a letter to Admiral Paul Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard, the Oregon lawmakers stressed the safety implications of closing the facility, writing that the unilateral decision to permanently shut Newport's doors this … Continue Reading
September 30, 2014
Wyden, Markey Press Administration to Ensure Public Safety in Fracking Rule
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Ed Markey, D- Mass., and 10 other senators today pressed for greater transparency and strong safety standards while the administration considers a new rule for hydraulic fracturing methods on public lands, in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget today. The senators called for public disclosure of all chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing, "strong and consistent" standards for the construction and maintenance of hydraulic … Continue Reading
September 30, 2014
Whistleblower Protection Act Intended to Shield Whistleblowers from Agency Rules Undermining the Law
WASHINGTON - In an amicus brief submitted to the United States Supreme Court, a bipartisan group of senators and representatives argued that Congress intended for whistleblowers who are federal government employees to be protected under the Whistleblower Protection Act for making disclosures, unless explicitly prohibited by statute. Senators Ron Wyden and Chuck Grassley and Representatives Darrell Issa, Elijah Cummings, Blake Farenthold and Stephen F. Lynch signed an amicus brief in … Continue Reading
September 30, 2014
Wyden, Barrasso: Forest Service Photo Rule Must Not Trample First Amendment Rights
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., today called for the immediate withdrawal of a misguided U.S. Forest Service rule, which would require permits and fees - potentially up to $1,500 - from reporters and bloggers who take photographs or videos in wilderness areas. In a joint letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Wyden and Barrasso wrote that the proposed rule clearly violates the Constitution's First Amendment protections for press … Continue Reading
September 29, 2014
Wyden, Merkley, Feinstein and Boxer Call on DOT to Provide More Hazmat Train Information to First Responders
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, were joined today by California's U.S. Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, in pressing the Department of Transportation to require that first responders be notified before trains carrying 20 or more carloads of crude oil, ethanol or other flammable liquids travel through their communities. In 15 pages of comments submitted to the rulemaking docket, the senators identified shortfalls and inconsistencies in DOT's … Continue Reading
September 23, 2014
Bipartisan, Bicameral Group Introduces Bill to Strengthen Privacy Oversight Board
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to significantly improve the oversight and accountability of the nation's intelligence community, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) spearheaded a bipartisan, bicameral effort to strengthen the government's privacy protection board. The legislation gives the oversight board greater ability to carry out its function of balancing the government's national security and counterterrorism activities with the need to protect the … Continue Reading
September 17, 2014
Senators Commemorate 50 Years of Protecting America’s Wilderness Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D- Ore., and Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., today commemorated 50 years of bipartisan efforts to preserve public lands through the Wilderness Act by introducing a Senate resolution that celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Act's passage and its continued importance in protecting millions of acres across America. First passed by Congress in 1964 with overwhelming popularity - by a vote of 73 to 12 in the Senate and 373 to 1 in the House of Representatives … Continue Reading
