Press Releases
Wyden Responds to Amtrak Study of the Pioneer Line
Portland, OR - A preliminary study of the Pioneer Line needs to more fully explore key issues of cost and ridership before Congress can make a decision about restoring passenger rail service to Eastern Oregon, Senator Ron Wyden said in a letter to the president and CEO of Amtrak. "It is apparent that the Pioneer has the potential to greatly benefit the State of Oregon by providing an alternative means of passenger transportation," Wyden said in the letter to Joseph H. Boardman. "However, the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce Investigation Into National Guard Exposure to Carcinogen
Washington, D.C. - The Inspector General for the Department of Defense will investigate whether actions by the U.S. Army and a contractor exposed Oregon National Guard troops to a harmful carcinogen in Iraq in 2003.The investigation is in response to a letter written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and five other senate colleagues calling on Inspector General Gordon Heddell to investigate whether the U.S. Army and KBR - a contractor hired to restore the Qarmat Ali … Continue Reading
September 29, 2009
Wyden Votes for Public Option
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released the following statement regarding his vote in the Senate Finance Committee in favor of the public option:"The legislation before us currently does not offer enough real competition to keep Americans from continuing to be abused by health insurers and held captive by large employers. Without the ability to hold insurers accountable for their costs and quality of service, without the ability to get a better deal and stop the … Continue Reading
September 25, 2009
Committee Interview Schedule Setto Select U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's selection committee has chosen six candidates to interview for the position of U.S. Attorney and six candidates to interview for the position of U.S. Marshal. The interviews will take place October 24 - 25, 2009. The candidates interviewing for U.S. Attorney are: John FooteJohn HaroldsonDwight HoltonJoshua MarquisAmanda MarshallKent Robinson The candidates interviewing for U.S. Marshal are: Russel BurgerJames FerrarisGerald GregEric MellgrenCarla … Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce USDA Funding for Rural Renewable Energy Grants
Washington, D.C. - In recognizing the importance of energy efficiency in America's rural businesses, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D- Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be awarding more than $866,000 in grants and a $2.2 million loan guarantee to rural businesses in Oregon to promote alternative energy production."This funding will help 24 farms and agricultural businesses in rural Oregon create and save energy using sustainable, alternative … Continue Reading
September 24, 2009
Senate Approves FLAME Act, Over $8 Million for Oregon Projects to Improve Communities and Preserve Natural Areas
Washington, D.C. - Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Interior Appropriations bill, which includes over $8 million for Oregon projects, passed the U.S. Senate. The bill includes funding to protect and conserve natural recreation areas, replace outdated infrastructure, and provide farmers the resources they need to bring their crops to market. "We must continue to preserve Oregon's natural treasures so that future generations will benefit from the recreation … Continue Reading
September 23, 2009
Seven Wyden Amendments Adopted on First Day of Revision of America's Healthy Future Act
Washington, D.C. - Seven amendments written by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) were accepted today for inclusion in the revised Chairman's Mark of the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009.· The "Exchange Plans as Good As Members of Congress" amendment ensures that all Americans will be able to have a health insurance policy option available to them through their state exchange that is actuarially equivalent to the plans that their Members of Congress can choose. At least one plan … Continue Reading
September 22, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Join Effort to Set Aside Money to Fight Major Forest Fires
Washington, D.C - Recognizing the high cost of fighting large-scale forest fires, Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today co-sponsored an effort to set aside millions of dollars to help pay the cost of fire suppression on federal land."These large fires are not only devastating to forests, wildlife and property, they are causing havoc with budgets, forcing the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to take money from other programs to pay for wildfire suppression," Wyden said. "A … Continue Reading
September 18, 2009
Senate Approves More than $8 Million for Oregon Infrastructure Projects
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September 18, 2009
Senators Introduce Patriot Act Fixes to Safeguard Americans' Rights
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) have introduced legislation to fix problems with surveillance laws that threaten the rights and liberties of American citizens. The Judicious Use of Surveillance Tools In Counterterrorism Efforts (JUSTICE) Act would reform the USA PATRIOT Act, the FISA Amendments Act and other surveillance … Continue Reading
September 18, 2009
Senators Wyden and Crapo Say Amtrak Study Options Include Pioneer Route Through Oregon and Idaho
Portland, OR - Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon and Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho announced today that all of the four options contained in a long-awaited preliminary report on restoring the Pioneer Route include restarting rail passenger service to Eastern Oregon and Southern Idaho."While this is a preliminary report, it is an important step toward bringing back a passenger rail line that should never have been closed in the first place and that I have been working for over a decade to restore," … Continue Reading
September 17, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Preserve Affordable Housing in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Continuing their fight to keep low-income families in their homes and off of the street, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D- Ore.) today introduced legislation to preserve the Section 8 affordable housing on which many in Oregon rely on. The Affordable Housing Preservation and Revitalization Act will help to keep housing currently included in the federal Section 8 program from becoming market rate housing when contracts expire. "Homelessness is a concern in … Continue Reading
September 17, 2009
Wyden, Oregon AFL-CIO Agree: Finance Committee Health Plan Hurts Middle-Class Oregonians
Portland, OR -- Senator Ron Wyden and Oregon AFL-CIO President Tom Chamberlain said today they agree that the health care reform plan released by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is unaffordable for middle class families. Although they haven't agreed on every element of health care reform, Wyden and Chamberlain said they have strong agreement on one key issue: affordability must be part of any plan and it is not currently part of the plan released Wednesday by Senator Max Baucus. … Continue Reading
September 09, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce More Than $17 Million for Forest Health Projects
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to create jobs for Oregonians, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced today that Oregon will receive more than $17 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to protect forests on the South Coast and in Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon from wild fires, invasive species and disease outbreaks."Oregon's forests are among the most important natural resources we have," Wyden said. "We have an enormous backlog of forests that need to … Continue Reading
August 31, 2009
Wyden Schedules Tour of South Coast; Town Halls in Curry, Coos, Douglas, Lane Counties
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will spend two days on the Oregon coast starting Friday, September 4, 2009, hosting town hall meetings in four counties. The Oregon Senator will hold his annual Curry, Coos, Douglas and Lane county town hall meetings on September 4th and 5th, 2009. Local residents are invited to attend the open forums to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each Oregon county every year. These four events will be numbers 525 to 528 … Continue Reading
August 24, 2009
Wyden Says Interrogation Report Underscores the Importance of Independent CIA Inspector General
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Washington, D.C - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a … Continue Reading
August 21, 2009
Wyden to hold Town Hall in Jackson County on Thursday, August 27
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host his annual Jackson County town hall meeting on Thursday, August 27, 2009, in Medford. Jackson County residents are invited to attend the open forum to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. The event in Medford is number 522 since 1996. It is the 29th town hall this year.Jackson County Town Hall Meeting Date: August 27, 2009 … Continue Reading
August 21, 2009
Wyden to hold Town Halls in Wallowa and Union Counties on August 28
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will host his annual Wallowa and Union county town hall meetings on Friday, August 28, 2009, in Enterprise and La Grande. Wallowa and Union county residents are invited to attend the open forums to ask questions and voice their concerns. Senator Wyden holds town halls in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. The events in Enterprise and La Grande are numbers 523 and 524 since 1996. They are the 30th and 31st town halls this year. Wallowa County Town … Continue Reading
August 18, 2009
Wyden, Merkley Announce $6.8 Million For Deschutes National Forest Facility
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced today that the Deschutes National Forest will receive $6.825 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve access to facilities the public needs at the Deschutes National Forest and create much-needed construction jobs. The funding will combine with $8 million in existing available Forest Service funds to build a new joint administrative office facility for the Deschutes … Continue Reading
August 12, 2009
Location Change for Wyden Town Hall in Clatsop County on Friday
Portland, OR - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's annual Clatsop County town hall has been moved to the cafeteria at Seaside High School. The event was previously scheduled at Seaside City Hall. It is being moved to the high school in assure adequate space for those who attend. Clatsop County Town Hall Meeting Date: August 14, 2009 Time: 4 p.m. Location: Seaside High … Continue Reading
