Press Releases
Markey, Wyden Applaud Selection of Innovative Independence At Home Pilot Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.) praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of the selection of 16 practices and programs to participate in Independence at Home (IAH), an innovative healthcare model the lawmakers authored in the Affordable Care Act. The Boston Medical Center and Housecall Providers in Portland are among the selected programs. The IAH model brings home-based primary care to some of … Continue Reading
April 24, 2012
Wyden Moratorium on Postal Closures to Protect Vote-by-mail Included in Postal Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - With 25 million Americans expected to cast their ballots for president through the Unites States Postal Service, disruptions to that system could have real and lasting effects on the outcome of the election. In order to protect the integrity of the vote-by-mail system first pioneered by Oregon and the millions of Americans who vote by absentee ballot, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) successfully secured an amendment into the postal reform legislation to prevent closings of … Continue Reading
April 23, 2012
Wyden Schedules Town Halls in Harney, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam and Sherman Counties
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town hall meeting in Harney, Grant, Wheeler, Gilliam and Sherman counties on May 1 through May 3. The meetings will be held in the cities of Burns, John Day, Fossil, Condon and Moro. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996. He held his 600th town hall last August in Wheeler County. Harney County Town Hall Meeting Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: Harney County … Continue Reading
April 18, 2012
Wyden, Feinstein, Merkley, Tester Amendment Will Keep Rural Post Offices Open Through Election Day
Washington, D.C. - The planned closures and consolidations of rural postal facilities throughout the country poses a particularly serious risk to states like Oregon that rely on vote-by-mail for their federal and state elections. With the presidential election approaching and the United States Post Office moving forward with plans to close many rural facilities in states like Oregon and California, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Jon … Continue Reading
April 17, 2012
Wyden Statement on the Forest Service’s Decision to Withdraw Plans to Close Roads in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
Portland, Or - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden issued the following statement on today's decision by the Forest Service to withdraw its plans to close roads in the Wallowa-Whiteman National Forest. "Today's decision by the Forest Service recognizes the importance of rural Oregonians and demonstrates that their voices have been heard. As chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, it became very clear to me during meetings last week in the communities that surround the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2012
After Tour of Fukushima Nuclear Power Station, Wyden Says Situation Worse than Reported
Washington, D.C. - After an onsite tour of what remains of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facilities decimated by last year's earthquake and subsequent tsunami, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, sent a letter to Japanese Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki looking for ways to advance and support clean-up and recovery efforts. Wyden's principal concern is the relocation of spent fuel rods currently being stored in unsound … Continue Reading
April 03, 2012
Wyden in Medford on April 10th to Meet with College-Bound Medford High School Students and Hold Annual Town hall Meeting
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will meet with local high school students on Tuesday to talk about the cost of a college education. He will also hold his annual Jackson County town hall on Tuesday at the Medford City Hall. A college education is the second largest expense most families will face in their life time and college loan debt - now approaching $1 trillion - now exceeds national credit card debt. That makes a college education a huge investment, yet getting complete … Continue Reading
April 03, 2012
Wyden Schedules Town Halls in Morrow, Umatilla, Wallowa, Union, Baker and Malheur Counties
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town halls in Morrow, Umatilla, Wallowa, Union, Baker and Malheur counties on April, 12 through April 15, 2012. The meetings will be held in the cities of Boardman, Pendleton, Wallowa, La Grande, Baker City and Ontario. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996. He held his 600th town hall last August in Wheeler County. Morrow County Town Hall Meeting Date: Thursday, … Continue Reading
March 30, 2012
Markey, Wyden to CFTC: Are Commodity Investment Funds Skewing Oil Market?
Washington, D.C. - Two Democratic lawmakers today asked the government agency tasked with regulating the nation's commodities markets -- which includes crude oil futures and other derivatives trading -- to investigate whether commodities index funds are artificially inflating the price of oil. The letter, written by Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), was sent to Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chairman Gary Gensler. In their letter, the lawmakers express concerns … Continue Reading
March 30, 2012
Wyden Resolution Condemning Killing of Journalists in Syria Unanimously Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - Coverage of the escalating violence in Syria continues to underscore the essential service that war correspondents provide the world community. As the Syrian government continues to deny the mass killing of civilian protesters, journalists have risked life and limb to deliver an objective account of the conflict. In pursuit of the truth, these men and women have been detained, arrested, wounded and sometimes killed. Last night, the United States Senate unanimously … Continue Reading
March 28, 2012
Fixing Medicare by Keeping Seniors Healthy
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing that raising premiums and cutting benefits aren't the only ways to deal with the growing cost of Medicare, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) introduced legislation today that experts say could save Medicare billions by helping seniors get and stay healthy. The Medicare "Better Health Rewards" program is a 100% voluntary program designed to help Medicare beneficiaries get and stay healthy by giving participating seniors achievable … Continue Reading
March 26, 2012
Wyden and Portman to Lead Expert Panel asking: “Can Medicare Save Money by Keeping Seniors Healthy?”
Washington, D.C. - Need a break from health reform arguments? Think health care should keep people healthy? Want Democrats and Republicans to work together? Join U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rob Portman (R- Ohio) for a healthy snack and a conversation with some of the nation's leading health and wellness experts. The program will focus on the value of wellness programs and how the proposed Medicare "Better Health Rewards" program can help seniors set achievable goals to improve … Continue Reading
March 22, 2012
***Webcast Available*** Wyden to Chair Hearing on Bill to Preserve Rogue River as Wild and Scenic Waterway
Washington, D.C. - Continuing work to preserve Oregon's natural beauty for future generations, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) will chair a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests discussing Wyden's legislation to preserve 60,000 acres and 93 miles of the Rogue river as wild and scenic; an additional 50 miles of tributaries would be withdrawn from mining. Introduced by Wyden and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in December, the … Continue Reading
March 21, 2012
Wyden Commends Inclusion of “Stand By Your Ad” Extension in Reintroduced Disclose Act
Washington, D.C. - As the first full election cycle since the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling extended personal election rules to corporations, the extent to which corporate influence and that of the Super PACs the ruling inadvertently created is becoming clear. More than ever, election related funds have been collected and spent nearly in secret - distorting the process and further eroding campaign finance protections. In response to the court ruling, a group of senators including U.S. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2012
Wyden Statement on Commerce’s Preliminary Decision to Address Subsidized Solar Panel Imports from China
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement responding to the Commerce Department's preliminary decision that Chinese-made solar are imported in violation of international trade rules. The investigation was sought by American manufacturers of solar panels that contend that unfair trade practices by China are harming American producers. "Today's decision by the Commerce Department is a signal that China's unfair trade practices in the solar energy … Continue Reading
March 19, 2012
Preserving the Medicare Guarantee: Why I've Been Working with Paul Ryan
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) posted the below piece to the Huffington Post explaining why he has been working with Paul Ryan on Medicare reform. The post: Explains why Congress needs to enact Medicare reform; Clears up the misconception that seniors aren't already getting their Medicare from private plans; Illustrates the differences between Wyden-Ryan and last year's House Republican Budget; Expresses his thoughts on Republicans using Wyden-Ryan for political … Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
Senators Seek Two-Year Extension of Wind-Energy Tax Credit
WASHINGTON - Senators Chuck Grassley, Mark Udall, Scott Brown, Tom Harkin, Dean Heller, Ron Wyden, and Michael Bennet today proposed a two-year extension of the wind energy production tax credit scheduled to expire at the end of the year. The bipartisan proposal would prevent a lapse in the credit. Without an extension, as many as 37,000 jobs nationwide could be lost. The senators hope to have the extension passed as quickly as possible in order to provide tax certainty for the renewable … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Wyden Statement on Senate Passage of County Payments Extension
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) -- author of the Secure Rural Schools legislation that created the county payments program -- issued the following statement after the Senate passed and sent to the House the Transportation bill that includes a one-year extension of county payments: "I want to thank Senator Merkley and the other members of the Senate for passing a Transportation bill that recognizes the federal government's historic obligation to rural, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2012
Wyden Schedules Town Halls in Washington, Clatsop, Hood River and Wasco Counties on March 17th and 18th
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual town hall meetings in Washington, Clatsop, Hood River and Wasco counties on March 17th and 18th. The meetings will be held in Forest Grove, Astoria, Hood River and The Dalles. Wyden has been holding town halls in every Oregon county every year beginning in 1996. He held his 600th town hall last August in Wheeler County. Washington County Town Hall Meeting Date: March 17, 2012Time: 10 a.m. Location: Forest Grove Senior Center2037 … Continue Reading
March 09, 2012
Wyden Resolution Condemns the Killing of Journalists in Syria
Washington, D.C. - As the armed conflict in Syria continues to escalate, the brave men and women providing news reports from that region are increasingly in danger. Many have been detained or arrested while covering the unrest and some have been wounded or killed. Recognizing the essential service these reporters provide to the rest of the world at great personal risk, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) along with U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand … Continue Reading
