Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Bill Will Safeguard Stock of Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to secure the pool of affordable housing units for low-income families, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced legislation today to allow excess funds in the federal Section 8 program -- known as residual receipts -- to be used to keep current affordable housing stock from becoming market rate housing when contracts expire. The Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act allows for the Department of Housing and Urban … Continue Reading
February 07, 2011
Judge Marco Hernandez Confirmed as District Court Judge for Oregon
Washington, D.C. - In the latest step in a career described as a "billboard for the American dream," U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) congratulated Oregon State Court Judge Marco Hernandez today for being confirmed as a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Oregon. Judge Hernandez -- a former dishwasher, teacher's aide and deputy District Attorney - was nominated to fill a vacant position on the District Court by both President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama and has enjoyed … Continue Reading
February 03, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Bills to Transfer Federal Property to La Pine and Wallowa
Washington, D.C. - Continuing to look for ways to help two of Oregon's hardest hit areas grow their economies, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) reintroduced two bills today that will allow La Pine and Wallowa to have access to hundreds of acres of federal land for community attractions, preserve their history and improve their infrastructure. "These bills give the communities the tools they need for economic growth," Wyden said. "Where tourism is a money-maker, … Continue Reading
February 01, 2011
Wyden, Merkley Amendment Will Protect Residential Through the Fence Agreements
Washington, D.C. - Fighting back against an FAA regulation that seriously devalues homes that have agreements allowing secure, private access to some rural airports, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), as well as Senator Jim Inhofe (R- Okla.) have introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill to overturn the regulation banning Through the Fence agreements. The bipartisan Through the Fence amendment will make it possible for home owners … Continue Reading
January 27, 2011
Resolution to End Secret Holds Overwhelmingly Passes the Senate
Washington, D.C. - A ten year, bipartisan effort to end the practice of allowing senators to place secret holds on legislation or nominations before the U.S. Senate met success today, with Senate passage of a binding resolution that will require public disclosure, in The Congressional Record, within two legislative days of an objection being made by any senator to Senate action on legislation or nominations. The reform effort was initiated more than 10 years ago by Senators Ron Wyden and … Continue Reading
January 26, 2011
In Speech to Cato, Wyden Calls for Modernizing Law, Providing Clarity on Geolocation
Washington, D.C. - As more and more highly advanced smart phones and GPS devices are slipped into the pockets, purses and cars of American citizens every month, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) spoke today at an event sponsored by the Cato Institute Policy Forum about the stunning lack of legal clarity in digital intelligence gathering and ways to protect civil liberties without upending personal safety. "It seems clear to me that the explosion of portable electronic devices in our society … Continue Reading
January 25, 2011
Wyden: Calls on President to Start Different Conversation on Trade
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing the unique opportunity President Obama has to highlight the importance of global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, said he hopes that the president will use the State of the Union address to begin a candid dialogue about trade agreements. "The President has an opportunity tonight to speak candidly about the value of international … Continue Reading
January 24, 2011
Tiberi and Wyden: “Democrats and Republicans can work together on Tax Reform”
Washington, D.C. - Calling on President Barack Obama to rally Congress to tackle tax reform this year, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden and the Republican Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, Pat Tiberi, offered a list of reasons why they believe that Democrats and Republicans in Congress can and should work together on a major overhaul of the federal tax code similar to what President Reagan achieved with a divided House and Senate in 1986. "We … Continue Reading
January 19, 2011
Wyden Begins 112th Congress Without Long-Time Chief of Staff
Washington, D.C. After overseeing U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's (D-Ore.) successful reelection to the U.S. Senate, Josh Kardon - Wyden's long-time chief of staff, advisor and friend - announced that he will be retiring from his official role with the senator to focus on the consulting firm he began last year. "I can hardly think of a major decision that I have made over the last 18 years that didn't in some way involve Josh Kardon's advice," said Wyden. "Josh is the most gifted political mind … Continue Reading
January 13, 2011
Vernonia Schools to Receive $11.2 Million in FEMA Grants
Portland, OR -Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Congressman David Wu announced that the Vernonia School District will receive $11.2 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The new grant comes in addition to the $150,000 in funding that the school district received through Congressional appropriations in fiscal year 2010. According to FEMA, the agency will acquire the existing Vernonia K-12 school buildings through its Flood Mitigation Assistance program. The $11.2 … Continue Reading
January 13, 2011
OREGON DELEGATION URGES SEC. SHINSEKI TO INTERVENE, REDIRECT ROSEBURG VA HOSPITAL STUDY
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-4) and Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) sent a letter to Secretary of the Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki requesting that he intervene and correct a Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) study concerning the future of the Roseburg Oregon VA Medical Center (RVAMC). The letter states "We are troubled that the VA has spent $400,000 on this independent study that has little value for veterans or taxpayers. Rather it appears BAH worked … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Senator Wyden Urges Eligible Combat Vets to Enroll for VA Health Care Before Deadline
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is encouraging eligible combat veterans to sign up for enhanced health care services before the January 27th deadline. The enhanced enrollment window gave combat veterans who separated from service before January 28, 2003, an extra three years to be grandfathered in under Veterans Affairs health care rules that have since changed. "Since these men and women served, the VA's healthcare rules have changed in ways that could affect them," Wyden … Continue Reading
January 12, 2011
Wyden to Hold 13 Town Halls in Nine Days Starting January 14
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host town hall meetings in 13 Oregon counties starting Friday, January 14, 2011. Counties include Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Klamath, Jackson, Douglas, Lane, Benton, Polk, Marion, Clatsop and Columbia. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. Clackamas County Town Hall Meeting Date: Friday, January 14, 2011 Time: 10 … Continue Reading
January 10, 2011
Wyden to Address Human Sex Trafficking Conference in Portland on January 15th
WHO: Senator Ron Wyden WHAT: Welcome Address at the 3rd Annual Northwest Conference Against Human Trafficking WHEN: 8:30 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 WHERE: Oregon Convention Center, Portland, OR Oregon Grand Ballroom #201 (corner of Halladay and MLK) Portland, OR - In a welcoming address at the 3rd Annual Soroptimist International Northwest Conference Against Trafficking in … Continue Reading
January 05, 2011
Wyden, Grassley, McCaskill, Collins Introduce Resolution to End Secret Holds
Washington, D.C. - As the 112th Congress gavels in this afternoon, the bipartisan coalition fighting to end secret holds has introduced a resolution to eliminate the undemocratic practice and move the Senate closer to an up-or-down vote on their proposal. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Secret Holds Reform Resolution that forces all holds to be disclosed to the public after one day, eliminating the … Continue Reading
December 18, 2010
Senate Clears Path to End Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
Washington, D.C. - Capping 17 years of vocal opposition that began in 1993 with a 'no' vote in the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) supported the repeal today of what he has long called "a toxic combination against national security and personal liberty" by voting for cloture on legislation he cosponsored to finally end the policy of Don't Ask Don't Tell. The Senate is schedule to pass the repeal at 3:00 PM today. Speaking on the Senate floor before the vote, Wyden … Continue Reading
December 16, 2010
Senator Wyden to Undergo Surgery for Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today regarding his upcoming surgery for early-stage prostate cancer: "After my annual physical in late November, I was diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer. After reviewing all the options with multiple physicians, I decided to take a proactive approach and have surgery, which will be performed December 20 at Johns Hopkins Hospital by Dr. Alan Partin. "Thanks to routine screening, this was diagnosed … Continue Reading
December 16, 2010
Merkley and Wyden Announce Shepherds Flat Loan Guarantee Finalization
(Portland, OR) - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has finalized a $1.3 billion loan guarantee for the Shepherds Flat wind farm in Eastern Oregon. This financing will help support the completion of the world's largest wind farm and will help create hundreds of jobs in Eastern Oregon and avoid over 1.2 million tons of air pollution per year. "This is a great holiday gift for Eastern Oregon and it couldn't come at a better time," said … Continue Reading
December 16, 2010
Senator Wyden Tells Lawrence O’Donnell Why He is Voting Against the Tax Cut Compromise
Washington, D.C. - The following is a transcript of an interview from December 14, 2010 of Senator Wyden by news anchor Lawrence O'Donnell: O`DONNELL: In the spotlight tonight, yesterday 83 senators voted to proceed to a vote on the Obama tax compromise. After 30 hours of scheduled debate, the Senate will vote on passage of the bill tomorrow around noontime. Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon was unable to make yesterday`s procedural vote due to travel issues. The next vote on the … Continue Reading
December 15, 2010
Wyden’s 2010 Report Shows U.S. Green Goods Trade Deficit with China at Record Level
Washington, D.C. - As the Obama Administration continues high level trade talks with the government of China today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released a report examining the impact China's aggressive and potentially anti-competitive industrial policies are having on the global green goods industry. The U.S. trade deficit in green goods with China reached a record level in 2010, according to the report - the third in a series of reports examining trade in green goods - despite the highest … Continue Reading
