Press Releases
Wyden Statement on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s Vote to Declassify its Interrogation Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence voted to begin the process of declassifying the committee's 6,200 page report on CIA interrogations: "I believe the American people will be profoundly disturbed by the contents of this report. Today, I joined my colleagues in voting to begin the process of declassifying the findings. Though I can't provide any details until that declassification process is … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Wyden Cosponsors Resolution Condemning Turkish Government’s Stifling of Free Speech
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement after cosponsoring a resolution condemning the Government of Turkey for blocking access to social media sites like Twitter and YouTube, the effect of which could stifle freedom of speech and expression. "No government should inhibit the ability of their citizens to speak freely or access information. Blocking Twitter and YouTube, among other forms of social media, will have a chilling effect on free speech … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Wyden, Udall on Revelations that Intelligence Agencies Have Exploited Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 'Loophole'
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who serve on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement following revelations that the National Security Agency has been exploiting a loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to search for Americans' private communications: "It is now clear to the public that the list of ongoing intrusive surveillance practices by the NSA includes not only bulk collection of … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Oregon Delegation Calls for Common Sense Rules for Wine Growlers
Washington, D.C. - Today, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader, Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and Greg Walden, R-Ore., called for the federal government to reverse course and respect an Oregon state law that allows consumers to buy wine in refillable containers, more often known as growlers. In a letter to the Treasury Department's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, the Oregon delegation asked the bureau to amend its recent decision, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Wyden: Strengthen European Allies By Aiding Europe’s Energy Development
Washington, D.C. - In response to Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, Sen. Ron Wyden today called for the United States to reduce Eastern Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas, by giving allies like Poland the expertise and know-how they need to develop their own energy resources. "It is time to do something real to bolster Europe's energy security by helping them develop Eastern Europe's substantial natural gas reserves and reduce the leverage Russia has over its energy-dependent … Continue Reading
March 24, 2014
Wyden Applauds Approval of Jordan Cove LNG Terminal
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore, issued the following statement on the Energy Department's approval of Jordan Cove's application to export liquefied natural gas from Coos County, Oregon: "This announcement is exactly what Coos Bay, North Bend and America need: new jobs and new investment, while factoring in a changed geopolitical landscape through a case-by-case process. I urged DOE to consider this application without delay, and I am pleased the department decided that Jordan Cove … Continue Reading
March 21, 2014
Wyden Statement on Majority Leader’s Letters Regarding CIA’s Unauthorized Access of Intelligence Committee Computer Files
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to letters sent by Majority Leader Harry Reid to CIA Director John Brennan and Attorney General Eric Holder expressing concern over the CIA's searches of computers designated for the Senate Intelligence committee and allegations of misconduct against committee staff. "Senator Reid's letters are right on point, and it's incredibly valuable to have the Majority Leader standing up for congressional … Continue Reading
March 18, 2014
CMS Launches Wyden Initiative to Strengthen Hospice Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., applauded the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for moving forward with his initiative to increase access to hospice care for Medicare beneficiaries. Today, CMS launched the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM). The MCCM, authorized by the Affordable Care Act, will test whether more seniors who qualify for coverage under the Medicare Hospice Benefit, would choose to receive the services typically provided by a hospice if they could … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Wyden Defends Hanford Whistleblowers, Blasts Culture of Secrecy in Senate Roundtable
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D- Ore., today stood up for whistleblowers and expressed his ongoing concerns about the culture of secrecy at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation site in a roundtable discussion before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial and Contracting Oversight. The subcommittee held a roundtable discussion prior to a hearing on the same subject to allow two whistleblowers, Dr. Walter Tamosaitis and Donna Busche, an opportunity to … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Wyden Statement on CIA Search of Computers Used by Senate Intelligence Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement in response to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein's floor speech on the CIA's searching of computers used by the Senate Intelligence Committee: "I commend Chairman Feinstein for shining a light on the unprecedented invasion by the CIA into computers used by Senate Intelligence Committee investigators. The CIA's own recent court filing makes clear that the work product on these computers … Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Wyden, Reid, Feinstein and Franken Commend FERC’s Move to Secure the Power Grid
Washington, D.C. - Four lawmakers commended the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on taking a step toward greater electric grid security after FERC directed the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to propose minimum grid reliability standards to strengthen the grid against possible physical attacks. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Harry Reid, D-Nev., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., sent a letter to FERC and NERC in February asking the agencies to … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Brennan Letter to Wyden Acknowledges that CFAA Applies to the CIA
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following letter from Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan acknowledging that the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act applies to the CIA. The question was asked of Brennan by Wyden in a public hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee on January 29, 2014. Wyden is a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Wyden asked Brennan: "Does the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act apply to the CIA?" Brennan Letter … Continue Reading
March 01, 2014
Wyden Reveals New Safety Risks From Flawed Nuclear Waste Storage Tanks At Hanford, Calls For Immediate DOE Response
Washington, D.C. -Up to six storage tanks holding dangerous radioactive nuclear waste at the Hanford Site in Southeast Washington State are at a higher risk of leaking, according to previously undisclosed inspection reports released by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., on Saturday. Wyden called for Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to outline within 45 days how the Department of Energy will address these newly revealed construction problems, and the implications for DOE's larger plan for cleaning up … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Wyden, Udall, Heinrich Statement on Reported Bulk Collection of Private Videos
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Martin Heinrich (D- N.M.) issued the following joint statement in response to reports that a large number of individuals, including Americans, may have had private online webcam videos intercepted in bulk by British intelligence agencies. "We are extremely troubled by today's press report that a very large number of individuals - including law-abiding Americans - may have had private videos of themselves … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Wyden, Merkley Water Bills Advance
Washington, D.C. - Three bills to secure the safety of Oregon water supplies, upgrade Scoggins Dam to provide certainty for Washington County employers, and spur development of next-generation hydropower moved forward in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Oregon Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today. Wyden and Merkley said they were encouraged by the step forward three of their bills took when a subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources … Continue Reading
February 24, 2014
Wyden, Merkley Applaud President For Endorsing Federal Wildfire Funding Reform Plan
Washington, D.C. -Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, applauded the news that President Obama will endorse their plan to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires. "The largest wildfires are natural disasters, no different from tornadoes or earthquakes," Wyden said. "For too long, Oregon forests have suffered from a failure to invest in fire prevention work that can create … Continue Reading
February 24, 2014
Wyden, Crapo Applaud White House Endorsement of Wyden-Crapo Federal Wildfire Policy Reform Plan
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, applauded the news that President Obama will endorse their plan to reform federal wildfire policy by funding major wildfires the same way as other natural disasters, while freeing up funding to prevent future fires. "The largest wildfires are natural disasters, no different from tornadoes or earthquakes," Wyden said. "For too long, Oregon forests have suffered from a failure to invest in fire prevention work that can … Continue Reading
February 21, 2014
Wyden to Hold Annual Multnomah County Town Hall on Saturday, March 1st
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual Multnomah County town hall on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at the Multnomah Arts Center on Capitol Highway. Senator Wyden has held town hall meetings in every Oregon county every year since he joined the Senate in 1996. This will be town hall No. 688. Multnomah County Town Hall Date: Time: Location: Saturday, March 1, 2014 2 p.m. Multnomah Arts Center 7688 Southwest Capitol … Continue Reading
February 18, 2014
Wyden Assumes Co-Chairmanship of Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has been named co-chair of the Senate Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus, which includes 20 members of the Senate from 14 states. "With 161 brewing companies in Oregon employing 6,400 full and part-time employees, the small brewers are an important part of the Oregon economy," Wyden said. "Leading this caucus with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) at a time when small breweries are becoming a part of communities across the nation is an opportunity to … Continue Reading
February 14, 2014
Wyden Statement on Finance Chairmanship
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after becoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee: "As one of the original Senate committees, Senate Finance has helped shape America's growth and prosperity over its 200-year history. It has been led by some of the nation's most prominent Senators. Many of those who held the gavel are household names: Russell Long, Bob Packwood, Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Bob Dole. Max Baucus should be included in that … Continue Reading
