Press Releases
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
September 16, 2014
Wyden Announces O&C Act Markup
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today secured a commitment to mark up his O&C Act of 2014 in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on November 13. Energy Committee Chair Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., issued an announcement Tuesday afternoon that she would hold a markup of a number of public lands bills, leading off with Senator Wyden's O&C legislation. Senator Wyden: "It is terrific news and strong leadership from Senator Landrieu that she is pushing … Continue Reading
August 15, 2014
Wyden: Bring Privacy Protections to the Digital Age
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for a renewed commitment to privacy and innovation in the 21st century, by reforming outdated laws undermine Americans' Constitutional privacy rights, in a speech at TechFestNW today in Portland. Wyden attacked the principle that sharing information with businesses waives the 4th Amendment protections of Americans' personal information - an idea known as the "third-party doctrine" - which has become painfully obsolete in the digital age. "It … Continue Reading
July 31, 2014
Wyden Statement on Unauthorized CIA Search of Senate Computer Files
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the Central Intelligence Agency issued a statement confirming the agency's search of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence computer files: "The CIA Inspector General has confirmed what Senators have been saying all along: The CIA conducted an unauthorized search of Senate files, and attempted to have Senate staff prosecuted for doing their jobs," Wyden said. "Director Brennan's claims to the contrary were … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Wyden: Fix Wildfire Funding This Week
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., took to the Senate Floor today to press Congress on the urgent need to pass an emergency funding bill that would provide additional fire funding to fight the catastrophic wildfires ripping through the western United States. Wyden described the conditions in Oregon, where wildfires are currently burning almost 500,000 acres, following visits to the Medford Interagency Fire Center and the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center in Portland, … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Senate Resolution Marks Day to Honor Whistleblowers
WASHINGTON - A Senate Resolution designating July 30, 2014 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day has passed the Senate. The resolution was sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Wyden, who will be the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus when it begins next year. The resolution comes on the anniversary of the first ever whistleblower protection law enacted on July 30, 1778. The records of the Continental Congress show that the original resolution … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Hermiston Ag Research Bill Moves Forward in Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement after a subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on legislation that would bolster agricultural research opportunities near Hermiston: "We're lucky to have Oregon State University as a hub of agriculture research and innovation to train the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and foresters," Wyden said. "Hermiston, an important part of Oregon's rural life, has been well-served by … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
Wyden, Thompson Introduce Common Sense Reforms To Rein in Runaway Over-Classification
July 29, 2014 (WASHINGTON) - At a time when the federal government spends more than $11 billion classifying more than 80 million documents each year, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced legislation to restore common sense to the classification and security clearance system, while strengthening protections against disclosure of information that could threaten national security. Thompson, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Wyden, … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
Wyden, Udall Will Work to Strengthen Newly Unveiled Surveillance Reform Legislation
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Udall, who have led efforts to confront violations of Americans' privacy rights, commended U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy for his work on legislation unveiled today to rein in overly broad NSA surveillance, end the bulk collection of Americans' phone records and strengthen other privacy protections. Udall and Wyden, who serve on the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also pledged to work to further strengthen the bill's … Continue Reading
July 23, 2014
Wyden Statement on Proposed DOT Oil Train Rule
Washington, D.C. -Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the Department of Transportation's proposed oil train safety rules: "This package includes some good elements, but I urge DOT to strengthen notification of first responders for oil trains moving through their communities and move this proposal quickly to the next stage," Wyden said. "The failure to broaden notification requirements is especially baffling since the DOT's proposal would classify all oil and ethanol … Continue Reading
July 15, 2014
Wyden Submits Net Neutrality Comments to FCC, Calls for Reclassification of Broadband
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged the Federal Communications Commission to preserve free and open competition on the Internet, in comments filed today. In his submission, Wyden called for the commission to do that by reclassifying broadband providers as Title II common carriers, enforcing rules to ban paid prioritization and ensuring more transparency for consumers. "It is impossible to permit pay-to-play discrimination without disadvantaging everyone who does not pay. … Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
Wyden: CIA Still Must Answer Questions About Searching Senate Files
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to the Justice Department's decision not to investigate either Senate Intelligence Committee investigators who discovered an internal CIA review of interrogation records, or CIA officials who searched Senate files to find out if the Intelligence Committee had obtained that review: "I'm glad to hear that the Justice Department won't attempt to prosecute Senate staff for simply doing their jobs. The CIA … Continue Reading
July 10, 2014
Wyden-Merkley Oregon Caves Bill Passes U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the Senate passage of the Oregon Caves Revitalization Act, their bill to add new protection to one of Oregon's most unique natural treasures. The bill passed unanimously late Wednesday night. "This bill is another tribute to Oregon's bounty of precious natural places, and to the unique beauty of the Oregon Caves National Monument," Wyden said. "Passing this legislation will promote recreation in Southern Oregon, boost the … Continue Reading
