Press Releases
Wyden in Jackson County for Memorial Day Events
Portland, OR - Oregon Senator Ron Wyden will attend three Memorial Day events in Jackson County on Monday. He will speak at events at the Fallen War Heroes Memorial in Central Point and at the Eagle Point National Cemetery. He will also attend a barbeque at the SORCC in Medford. On Tuesday, he will hold a press availability at 10:15 a.m. with local law enforcement officials at the new 911 Dispatch Center, now known as the Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon, in Medford. Monday, … Continue Reading
May 27, 2010
Wyden Calls on FCC to Investigate Near Doubling of Wireless Termination Fees
Washington, D.C. - Following reports that many of the nation's largest wireless carriers plan to dramatically raise Early Termination Fees (ETF) weeks before the latest generation of popular smart phones hits the market, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) has sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski calling for an investigation to help determine the costs wireless providers are attempting to mitigate through increased ETFs. "I don't believe it is any … Continue Reading
May 24, 2010
Senators Call on AG DOJ to Investigate Transocean Ltd. Money Transfers
Washington, D.C. - After reports that Transocean Ltd., the owner of the destroyed oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, intends to distribute $1 billion to private shareholders, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote a letter with 17 of his Senate colleagues to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking that the Department of Justice look into the corporation's financial transactions. The announcement came only hours after a closed-door meeting of company executives and weeks after the Transocean-owned … Continue Reading
May 20, 2010
Wyden Report Finds Green Goods Trade Vastly Overestimated
Washington, D.C. - Continuing his drive to make exports of environmentally friendly goods a spark that will ignite America's economic recovery, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released a follow-up report to his December 2009 trade report entitled, "Major Opportunities and Challenges to U.S. Exports of Environmental Goods," which looked at the benefits of lowering overseas tariffs to green products produced by American companies. Today's follow-up report is the first of its kind, offering … Continue Reading
May 17, 2010
Wyden, Schrader Ask DOD/GAO to Investigate “Institutionalized discrimination against Guard and Reserve Forces”
Washington, D.C. - Responding to concerns that National Guard soldiers are not receiving proper medical care and are being released from active duty too early, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Representative Kurt Schrader (D- Ore.) are calling for an investigation into the Army's programs for providing medical treatment to National Guard troops prior to and after combat deployment Iraq. Their request to the Department of Defense Inspector General and the Government Accountability … Continue Reading
May 04, 2010
Senators Introduce Legislation To Expand Vote By Mail, Save Money and Increase Voter Participation
Washington, D.C. - Looking for ways to expand voter participation and reduce the growing cost of elections, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a package of bills today that would make it easier for states to institute the same vote-by-mail process currently used in Oregon. Wyden - who is the first federal official to be elected entirely by mail - also introduced … Continue Reading
April 30, 2010
"Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Will Move Forward"
Washington, D.C. - A months-long stand-off came to a close today after the Deputy Secretary of Defense informed U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Congressman Greg Walden (R-Ore.) that the Pentagon would no longer block construction of the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon's Gilliam and Morrow counties and would instead upgrade a nearby radar system which had until now put the project's future in doubt. The announcement would also eliminate the threat to other … Continue Reading
April 29, 2010
SENATE DEMOCRATS UNVEIL LEGISLATION TO LIMIT FALLOUT FROM SUPREME COURT RULING THAT ALLOWS UNLIMITED SPECIAL-INTEREST SPENDING ON ELECTIONS—ANNOUNCE PLAN FOR SENATE PASSAGE BY JULY 4
WASHINGTON, DC-U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Al Franken (D-MN) announced new legislation Thursday to blunt the harmful impacts from the Supreme Court's decision allowing corporations and other special interests to spend unlimited sums to influence elections. The lawmakers said their goal is for the Senate to pass the new measure by July 4 so the law can take effect in time for the 2010 midterm elections. The legislation … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010
Wyden, Murkowski Bill Would Lift Restrictions on Fishermen's Use of Capital Construction Accounts
Washington, D.C. - Recognizing changes in the commercial fishing industry and the need to create new jobs and prevent overfishing, Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation today that will give America's fishermen greater flexibility in how they can use money set aside in special capital construction funds. "The Capital Construction Fund program was created in 1976 to help modernize the American fishing industry so it could compete with highly efficient … Continue Reading
April 28, 2010
Wyden Files Amendment to Force Financial Firms To Disclose Bets Made Against Their Clients
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to promote greater transparency between buyers and sellers, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) filed an amendment to the financial reform legislation today that intends to force financial institutions to clearly state any financial stake they have in seeing their product lose value. Wyden argued that transparency and accountability are essential to a functioning market and that this amendment will bring those attributes to an area of finance that has … Continue Reading
April 27, 2010
Wyden/Grassley Lead Bipartisan Effort to End Senate Secret Holds
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate's leading bipartisan voices for ending secret holds introduced legislation today that would make it even harder for individual senators to secretly obstruct the legislative process. For more than a decade, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Chuck Grassley have fought to eliminate secret holds and in 2007 a modified version of their proposal was included in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act. In introducing the "Secret Holds Elimination Act" … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010
Wyden and Thune Bill Helps Native American Vets with Disabilities Receive Housing Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Continuing efforts to make sure all of America's veterans are taken care of when they return from combat U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R- SD) introduced legislation that will correct a flaw in current law that excludes some disabled Native American Veterans from housing assistance programs. The Indian Veterans Housing Opportunity Act of 2010 will discontinue the counting of disability compensation as income, a practice that often pushes disabled … Continue Reading
April 22, 2010
Wyden Statement on the Release of ACTA Negotiation Text
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee's Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness released the following statement today regarding the decision made by United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk to release the ACTA negotiating text: "The decision by Ambassador Kirk to release the ACTA negotiating text is a step toward greater transparency in an increasingly important area of trade. This move … Continue Reading
April 15, 2010
OR TREASURY DEPT: Major "Build America Bond" sale will create thousands of Oregon jobs, improve highways, and save $56 million thanks to lower loan costs
SALEM - Oregon State Treasurer Ted Wheeler and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden announced today the completion of the State of Oregon's successful first sale of Build America Bonds, which will pay to improve roads and bridges across the state while also saving Oregonians $56 million in financing costs. Now, they said, it's time to get Oregonians to work. The $580 million sale, with 93 percent of the total in Build America Bonds and 7 percent in tax-exempt bonds, will allow the Oregon Department of … Continue Reading
April 08, 2010
Senators Wyden and Gregg To Discuss Simplifying the U.S. Tax System On the Day Before Tax Day
Washington, D.C. - The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) will host a panel discussion, "Reforming Our Tax Code: A Bipartisan Solution," with Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) next Wednesday, April 14, 2010, the day before tax day. Senators Wyden and Gregg will discuss their recently introduced legislation, "The Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010." The discussion will be moderated by BPC Advisory Board Member and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle … Continue Reading
April 08, 2010
Economists agree, Wyden-Gregg "Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010" is a positive step for U.S.
Washington, D.C. - With less than 9 months remaining until the tax relief provisions of 2001 and 2003 expire, a bipartisan proposal to reform the tax code has turned the heads of economists and academics across the country. Introduced by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), the "Bipartisan Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2010" takes a comprehensive approach to reforming the tangled web of exemptions, deductions, credits and other preferences that currently … Continue Reading
March 22, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Win Singular Protection for Crater Lake from Air Tour Flyovers
Washington, D.C. - In order to preserve the unique quiet and solitude of Oregon's sole National Park, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today won greater authority for the National Park Service to ban air tour flyovers in Crater Lake. Their amendment, which was passed in the Senate as part of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill, allows the Park Service the ability to deny air tours over the park without first having to prepare an air tour management plan, … Continue Reading
March 17, 2010
Wyden Successful in Efforts to Maintain Current Discount Levels for Seniors and Disabled Campers
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) welcomed a decision from Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, to abandon a proposal to severely reduce discounts for seniors and persons with disabilities staying at privately run Forest Service campgrounds. Wyden sent a letter in February urging the Forest Service to honor their commitment and maintain the current discount level. "Increasing the profits of private companies by taking money from the pockets of persons with … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Wyden, Merkley Amendment Gives National Park Service Greater Authority to Regulate Air Tour Flyovers
Washington, D.C. - Continuing the fight to protect the solitude and unique character of America's national parks, Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley took steps today to give the National Park Service greater authority to regulate air tour flyovers over most national parks, including Oregon's Crater Lake. Wyden and Merkley introduced an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill that clarifies the role of the National Park Service in determining the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2010
Wyden, Stabenow and Brown Tapped For Seats on President's Export Council
WASHINGTON, DC - Seeking the Senate's leading voices for lifting U.S. exports to create 2 million jobs as part of an economic recovery strategy, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) appointed U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to seats on the President's Export Council. Senators Wyden and Stabenow currently influence international trade policy from their positions on the Senate Committee on Finance Committee and its Subcommittee on … Continue Reading
