Press Releases
Vote to Eliminate Senate Secret Holds is Scheduled for September
Washington, D.C. - The bipartisan coalition of Senators working to reform the Senate's use of secret holds welcomed Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) pledge today to call up their legislation as one of the first votes in September. The Secret Holds Elimination Act, sponsored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa), and Claire McCaskill (D- Mo.), would eliminate a single Senator's ability to indefinitely hijack the legislative process in secret by requiring … Continue Reading
August 02, 2010
Labor, Health & Human Services & Education Appropriations Bill Includes Over $1 Million to Help Victims of Abuse and Oregon Veterans
Washington D.C. - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services & Education (LHHS) Appropriations bill includes $1.35 million for Oregon to assist victims of human trafficking, provide critical support for veterans returning home, and supply necessary resources for rural health clinics. "This economy has left people across Oregon in tough straits, but there is no shortage of caring people who dedicate their lives to helping … Continue Reading
July 29, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce Funding For Oregon in Financial Services Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to improve the economic environment for Oregon's businesses and provide training to local workers for good-paying jobs, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have announced several Oregon projects included in the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill just approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee."The projects for Oregon in this bill are designed to help businesses thrive and create jobs," Wyden … Continue Reading
July 28, 2010
Lawmakers Call on President to Investigate Chinese Paper Subsidies
Washington, D.C. - With the recent release of a report identifying how massive, known subsidies provided by China to its paper producers unfairly gouges a share of the U.S. market, more than 100 lawmakers from 30 states have called on President Obama to conduct an in-depth examination of China's unfair subsidization of its domestic paper industry. The lawmakers -- led by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) and U.S. Representatives Mike Michaud (D-Maine) and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2010
Bill to Eliminate Secret Holds is on the Senate Calendar
Washington, D.C. - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley, (R-Iowa), and Claire McCaskill (D- Mo.) to eliminate a senator's ability to obstruct legislation in secret was placed on the Senate calendar today, opening the door for a definitive up or down vote on the legislation. The modified version of the "Secret Holds Elimination Act"- previously introduced by Wyden and Grassley - will require that all holds be submitted in writing and disclosed after one … Continue Reading
July 27, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce $6 Million in Funding for Public Safety, Student Mentoring Projects in Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to make sure Oregon law enforcement have the resources and personnel to effectively fight crime and protect victims, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced that projects to boost public safety programs throughout the state are included in a bill passed by the Senate Appropriations committee today. "Oregon must have the resources to effectively fight increasingly sophisticated criminals," Wyden said. "This funding will … Continue Reading
July 27, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce Millions in Transportation Infrastructure Projects for Oregon in Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced today that Senate Appropriations Committee has approved projects to improve transportation infrastructure and business prospects throughout Oregon as well as increase the quality of life for residents throughout the state. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations bill includes projects in Portland, Sisters, Coos Bay, Madras, Grants Pass, Umatilla, Medford and Bend. Also included … Continue Reading
July 20, 2010
At Wyden, Merkley and DeFazio’s Urging Administration Takes Steps to Preserve Chetco from Mining
Washington, D.C. - In a move intended to protect the Chetco River from the devastating environmental effects of suction dredge mining for two years, the Obama administration - at the strong urging of U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) - has announced that portions of the Chetco River will be subject to a process that allows the Forest Service to put a freeze on all future mining claims on those portions of the river. In … Continue Reading
July 20, 2010
Senators Say Investments in Renewable Energy Must be Backed by the Capacity to Store It
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D.-N.H.) introduced legislation today to provide much needed balance to current energy tax law that offers tax credits for the creation of renewable energy but not the technology to store it. The Storage Technology of Renewable and Green Energy Act of 2010 Act (STORAGE 2010) would offer up to $1.5 billion in tax credits to storage projects that are connected to the U.S. electric grid. Increasing … Continue Reading
July 16, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce $6.7 million in Funding for Agriculture Research Included in Appropriations Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) announced today that an agriculture appropriations bill headed to the Senate floor includes more than $6.7 million in projects providing research into agricultural methods to help create more jobs and boost efficiency in Oregon's agricultural sector. The Senate Appropriations committee approved the bill on Thursday. "Oregon is very much a state of growers and innovators," Wyden said. "This funding will help … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010
Senators Seek “Thorough and Independent Investigation” of Judge’s Refusal to Recuse Himself in Drilling Moratorium Case
Washington, D.C. - As questions continue to be raised about the ruling to overturn the Administration's six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, six U.S. senators asked Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to investigate U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman's failure to recuse himself from the case despite his financial interests in companies affected by the spill. The senators, led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), are asking for … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010
Wyden Welcomes Obama Nomination of Two Oregonians to the Federal Bench
Washington, D.C. - Senator Ron Wyden welcomed today's announcement by The White House that Washington County Circuit Judge Marco Hernandez and Portland attorney Michael Simon have been nominated for two vacant federal district court judgeships in Oregon. "Judge Hernandez and Michael Simon are distinguished members of Oregon's legal community," Wyden said. "These are well-deserved and well-earned appointments that I believe deserve quick confirmation by the Senate." In April 2009, Wyden and … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010
Senator Ron Wyden to Meet with Portland Brewers to Discuss Lowering Federal Taxes on Craft Beer
Portland, OR - Senator Ron Wyden and owners of Portland-area craft breweries will meet Friday, June 16, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss plans to lower the federal tax on craft beer. Wyden is co-sponsoring legislation that will cut the tax on the first 60,000 barrels of craft beer in half in order to stimulate investment and create jobs. Craft brewing is a $2.33 billion a year industry in Oregon. Portland has the largest concentration of craft brewers in the world. … Continue Reading
July 15, 2010
Senators Bennett and Begich Join Wyden-Gregg as Sponsors of Bipartisan Tax Reform
Washington, D.C. - Bipartisan support for comprehensive tax reform grew today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) welcomed U.S. Senators Bob Bennett (R-Utah) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) as co-sponsors of the "Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010" (S.3018). As the first major bipartisan effort to reform the tax code since 1986, Wyden-Gregg takes a comprehensive approach to reforming the tangled web of exemptions, deductions, credits and other preferences … Continue Reading
July 14, 2010
Twenty-Nine Members of the U.S. Senate from Both Parties Urge Obama Administration to Renew County Payments
Washington, D.C. - In a bipartisan effort to maintain the "contract" between rural America and the federal government, 29 members of the U.S. Senate from both parties are urging the Obama Administration to include a long-term reauthorization of the county payments program, known as the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Self-Determination Act (SRSCA), in its 2012 budget. "The SRSCA is not an entitlement program, but rather a demonstration of the commitment that this nation made to rural … Continue Reading
July 13, 2010
Wyden Secures Commitment from Portland VA Director on Appeals Backlog, Travel Reimbursement
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to give Oregon veterans the quality medical treatment they deserve from the VA, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was able to secure commitments from new Portland VA director, John Patrick, on three pressing issues that have strained veterans' already stretched finances. The commitments made by Patrick will address concerns over a backlog of Fee Basis appeals stretching back more than two years as well as what appears to be improper charging of third-party … Continue Reading
July 08, 2010
Wyden at Oregon National Guard Job Fair in Central Point on Sunday, July 11
EDITORS: More than 30 employers and 500 National Guard soldiers and their families are expected at the Yellow Ribbon Career and Benefit Fair at Crater High School in Central Point on Sunday, July 11. The job fair opens at 8 a.m. Senator Wyden, Gen. Mike Caldwell of the Oregon National Guard, employers and others will hold a press availability at 10:30 a.m. at the high school. This is the third of four Yellow Ribbon job fairs that will be held this summer. The job fairs are being held in … Continue Reading
July 08, 2010
Oregon National Guard Job Fair in Redmond on Saturday, July 10
EDITORS: More than 30 employers and 300 National Guard soldiers and their families are expected at the Yellow Ribbon Career and Benefit Fair at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds, Redmond Clackamas Community College on Saturday, July 10. The job fair opens at 10 a.m. Senator Wyden and Gen. Mike Caldwell will address the attendees at that time. They will be available to the media at 10:30. This is the second of four Yellow Ribbon job fairs that will be held this summer. The job fairs … Continue Reading
July 06, 2010
Wyden, Hunger Relief Task Force Visit King School on Wednesday to Highlight Summer Food Programs
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden and members of the Hunger Relief Task Force will have lunch with children at King School in Portland at noon on Wednesday, July 7, 2010, to highlight the need to continue federal funding of summer food programs. Federal nutrition programs are up for renewal this year. Getting the programs funded at an appropriate level is a priority, especially during the summer when school is out and children don't have access to school meal … Continue Reading
July 02, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Announce More than $16 million for Broadband Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Responding to the need for reliable, high-speed internet access throughout all corners of Oregon, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that Crook and Clackamas Counties as well as Bend will receive a combined $16 million in Recovery Act funding for broadband infrastructure projects and a community computer center equipped with high-speed internet access. "Oregon's economic success as it moves through the 21st century will depend on … Continue Reading
