Press Releases
Wyden Letter to President Calls For Changes to H-2B Visa Hiring Regulations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to President Obama today urging him to issue an executive order to ensure that American workers get the first shot at government funded jobs. Wyden is raising this issue with the President after it was revealed that four forestry companies used federal stimulus dollars to hire foreign workers without making a good faith effort to even alert Oregonians to the job openings. "By not listing their job openings with the Oregon State … Continue Reading
November 11, 2010
Wyden: Feds Issue Permit for In-Water Work at New NOAA Facility in Newport
Portland, OR -- Oregon Senator Ron Wyden announced today that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has issued the final review of the joint permit application necessary to complete dredging and piling work at the new NOAA facility in Newport. Work may start as early as today. Wyden called NMFS on last Friday after learning during a town hall meeting that critical in-water work at the NOAA facility was on hold until the necessary permits were issued. In-water work such as dredging … Continue Reading
November 10, 2010
Wyden Statement on White House Fiscal Commission’s Draft Report
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement regarding the draft report released today by the chairmen of the White House Fiscal Commission: "The Fiscal Commission demonstrates what Senator Gregg and I have spent the last year saying: By eliminating what amounts to tax earmarks for special interests, it is possible to simplify the tax code, promote economic growth and cut taxes for the vast majority of American families and businesses. Obviously, what … Continue Reading
November 09, 2010
Wyden Staff Uncover Chinese Suppliers Looking to Subvert U.S. Trade Laws
Washington, D.C. - To make the case for enhancing enforcement of existing U.S. trade laws, staff from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's Subcommittee on International Trade conducted an experiment to find out how easy it would be to find a Chinese supplier willing to engage in customs fraud to avoid paying U.S. anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD). Using a Gmail account to pose as a fictitious American company interested in importing Chinese products without paying U.S. duties, a single … Continue Reading
November 08, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Coos, Curry and Josephine Counties This Week
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold town hall meetings in Coos and Curry counties on Friday, November 12, 2010, and in Josephine County on Saturday, November 13, 2010. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each Oregon county every year. Coos County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 12, 2010 Time: 10 a.m. Location: Coos Bay City Council Chambers 500 Central Ave. Coos Bay Curry County Town Hall … Continue Reading
November 02, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Malheur, Baker, Union, Wallowa, Grant and Harney Counties
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host town hall meetings on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, in Malheur, Baker and Union counties and on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, in Wallowa, Grant and Harney counties. Senator Wyden has been holding town halls in each Oregon county every year since 1996. Malheur County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 9, 2010 Time: 10 a.m. (Mountain Time) Location: Treasure Valley … Continue Reading
November 02, 2010
Wyden to Hold Town Halls in Lincoln and Tillamook Counties This Friday
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold town hall meetings in Lincoln and Tillamook counties on Friday, November 5, 2010. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each Oregon county every year. Lincoln County Town Hall Meeting Date: November 5, 2010 Time: 11 a.m. Location: Newport City Hall 169 SW Coast Highway Newport Tillamook County Town Hall Meeting Date: … Continue Reading
October 30, 2010
Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wyden Eastside Forest Legislation
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30, 2010 - Today, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack made the following statement in support of Senator Ron Wyden's Eastside Forest Legislation. "One of the most significant challenges we face in our National Forests is finding greater common ground among environmentalists, forest industry, and rural communities that allows us to support jobs in these communities and to restore our forests, to make them more resilient, to benefit water resources, to address climate change, to … Continue Reading
October 20, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $2 Million to Build Addition to Vets Home
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to improve the quality of life for Oregon veterans, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that the State Veterans Home in The Dalles will receive a $1.9 million Federal grant to construct an addition to the facility. The veterans home currently operates without a common room that can accommodate all of the residents, and the federal grant will be put toward constructing a facility to accommodate large gatherings of residents … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
Wyden Statement on USTR Investigation into Chinese Trade Violations
Washington, D.C. - In response to today's announcement from the United States Trade Representative that the U.S. has opened an investigation into possible Chinese violations of trade agreements regarding green technology, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - chair of the Finance Committee's subcommittee on International Trade - released the following statement: "China's willingness to subvert international trade agreements is becoming clearer and poses a serious risk to U.S. and global trading … Continue Reading
October 15, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Praise $13.5 Million Grant to Restore Coos Bay Rail Line and Create Jobs in Southwest Oregon
Portland, OR - Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statements Friday following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Port of Coos Bay with a $13.5 million grant to fully repair the Coos Bay rail line. "Rebuilding the Coos Bay Rail Line will help rebuild the economy in every community it touches. When CORP said this rail line and this community were worth nothing more than scrap metal, we said no. I'm proud to have led the … Continue Reading
October 14, 2010
Wyden Calls on BPA, PacifiCorp to Aid Facebook Expansion and Economic Development in Central Oregon
Portland, OR - Looking to create jobs and expand economic development in Central Oregon, Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Bonneville Power Administration and PacifiCorp to ensure that Facebook has the power it needs to expand its new facility in Prineville. "Facebook's decision to locate a server facility in Prineville is one of the bright spots in the Central Oregon economy and a harbinger of more construction and high-tech jobs to come," Wyden said. "Now, Facebook's effort to triple its … Continue Reading
October 13, 2010
CONGRESS URGES PRESIDENT’S DEFICIT REDUCTION COMMISSION TO LOOK TO CUTS IN THE PENTAGON’S BUDGET FOR SOLUTIONS
Washington, D.C. - As the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform reviews ways to address America's national debt crisis, Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA), Ron Paul (R-TX), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) have brought together a large group of representatives and senators to call for a specific solution. In a letter sent Wednesday to members of the Commission, they call on the Commission to look closely at excessive defense spending in an effort to reduce the Federal deficit … Continue Reading
October 08, 2010
Wyden Statement on USTR Standing Up For Oregon Lumber Against Unfair Trade Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement today regarding the United States Trade Representative's announcement that it is beginning formal consultations with Canada over a de facto subsidy that British Columbia provides to its lumber producers in violation of the U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement. Senator Wyden is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade. "The flood of subsidized Canadian lumber into the U.S. … Continue Reading
October 06, 2010
Wyden, Inhofe Clinical Trials Bill Signed by President Obama
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, President Obama signed into law the Improving Access to Clinical Trials (I-ACT) Act finally allowing patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical drug studies without fear of losing their eligibility for public assistance such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Medicaid. Introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), the I-ACT ensures the small amount of financial compensation patients receive to participate in … Continue Reading
October 01, 2010
Wyden, Merkley, Praise DOD Decision to Approve New Wind Farms in Oregon
Washington, DC - After months of working with the Department of Defense (DoD) to strike a balance between domestic energy and national security needs, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) praised the Department's announcement today that it will no longer block the development of eight new wind farms: six in Oregon and two in Washington state. Earlier this year DoD halted new wind farm construction in Eastern Oregon and Eastern Washington after determining that the … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010
Wyden, Blumenauer, Merkley, Schrader Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Rein in Secretive War Contracting Process
Washington, DC - Today, Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Kurt Schrader introduced bipartisan legislation to restore oversight and accountability to the secretive war contracting process. The push comes in the wake of revelations that war contractor KBR, which allegedly exposed Oregon National Guardsmen to a cancer-causing chemical in Iraq, secured a secret clause in its contract with the Army that may put taxpayers on the hook for damages. "Our government … Continue Reading
September 29, 2010
Wyden to Extend Tax Credit on Renewable Fuel Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - As the first of the nation's mass market electric vehicles are set to debut at the end of this year, the tax credit that helps businesses and residents afford the cost of constructing alternative-fuel refueling infrastructure will expire. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has introduced bipartisan legislation to extend and improve the tax credit on the refueling infrastructure the motor vehicle industry needs for alternative fuel vehicles to succeed. "Whether you're plugging … Continue Reading
September 28, 2010
Bill to Give Cong. Gold Medal to ‘Go For Broke’ Veterans Ready for President’s Signature
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to recognize and honor World War II veterans for their service and sacrifice, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) announced that Nisei veterans from the "Go For Broke" regiment will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal - the highest civilian honor available in this country - once the President signs a recently passed bill. The legislation cleared the final Congressional hurdle last week, passing the House of Representatives after having been unanimously … Continue Reading
September 21, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce over $7 million in Recovery Act Funding to Improve Water System in Sutherlin
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded more than $7 million to improve the water system in Sutherlin, Oregon. The Recovery Act funding will go toward improving the health, sanitation and infrastructure of the water system, and help protect the local environment from contamination. "This funding is an investment in rural America that will improve water system infrastructure and give folks in … Continue Reading
