Press Releases
Smith, Wyden Announce $1.2 Million for Flood Recovery
Washington D.C. - Working to assist Oregon communities devastated by recent flooding, U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today that up to $1.2 million in federal funds will be available for clean-up and recovery efforts in the affected counties. The money will target Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, and Yamhill counties. "This funding will help those Oregonians impacted by the devastating flood," said Smith. "Senator Wyden and I will … Continue Reading
January 08, 2008
Wyden Says Pacific Northwest Forests in Trouble, Thinning Will Help Increase Forest Health, Reduce Fires, Increase Jobs
Medford, Or -- Thinning the Pacific Northwest's troubled federal forests will increase forest health, decrease the chances of catastrophic forest fires and create more timber industry jobs for Oregonians, Senator Ron Wyden said today. "Thinning creates a healthier forest, a healthier economy and a healthier environment," Wyden said during opening remarks at a roundtable discussion on how to improve federal forests in the Pacific Northwest. "Trees going up in smoke do nothing for the quality of … Continue Reading
December 14, 2007
Combat Illegal Logging Legislation Passes Senate
Washington DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) announced today that an amendment based on the Combat Illegal Logging Act was included in the Farm bill (H.R.2419) which passed the Senate by a vote of 79 to 14. Wyden introduced the "Combat Illegal Logging Act of 2007" earlier this year in order to halt the trade of illegal timber and timber products. American manufacturers are increasingly struggling to compete with the low-priced wood and wood products being harvested from illegal sources … Continue Reading
December 07, 2007
Baker's Dozen for the Healthy Americans Act
Washington D.C. - The bipartisan Senate effort to reform the nation's ailing health care system continued to move forward today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) welcomed U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) as a cosponsor of the "Healthy Americans Act" (S.334). Departing Senate Minority Whip Trent Lott (R-MS) also announced his support bringing the growing list of co-sponsors to 13 senators. Previously announced cosponsors include: U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bill … Continue Reading
December 06, 2007
Smith, Wyden Urge Immediate Disaster Relief
Washington, DC - Today, Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden took to the Senate floor to call for immediate federal assistance in the aftermath of storms and flooding that ravaged Oregon's north coast earlier this week. In the wake of the storm, hundreds of Oregonians were in shelters, Interstate Five was shutdown and emergency communication lines failed."Mother nature struck the North Coast with an unrelenting fury of rain and wind this week. Homes are destroyed, roads are blocked and … Continue Reading
December 05, 2007
County Payments Deal Promises $1.8 Billion Dollars for Rural Schools and Communities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) joined U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, today in announcing that the Senate has reached an Agreement with the House of Representatives to extend funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act, commonly known as the county payments law. The agreement - which contains more than $1.8 billion for the nation's rural schools, counties and communities through 2011 - is included … Continue Reading
December 05, 2007
Wyden, Obama Introduce "Credit Card Safety Star Act of 2007"
Washington, D.C. - Working to give consumers the tools to make informed choices about complex credit card agreements, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced the "Credit Card Safety Star Act of 2007." The legislation creates a five-star safety rating system for credit cards in order to increase the transparency of credit card agreements and encourage issuers to abandon abusive practices by offering consumers fair terms they can understand. "This legislation … Continue Reading
December 03, 2007
Wyden Calls for Increased Thinning of Federal Forest Lands to Create jobs, Reduce Fire Danger, Improve Forest Health
Portland, Ore. - Senator Ron Wyden today called for new federal legislation to increase the thinning of trees on federal forest land as part of a comprehensive effort to create more jobs, reduce the danger of expensive forest fires and improve the health of timber stands."What I am proposing here today is a new initiative to address the bureaucratic and political roadblocks to thinning the millions of acres of choked, second growth forest all across our state, and put thousands of Oregonians … Continue Reading
November 13, 2007
Senators Lieberman and Crapo Sponsor Healthy Americans Act
Washington DC - The bipartisan Senate effort to reform the nation's ailing health care system took a step forward today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) welcomed two more influential senators as sponsors of the Healthy Americans Act (S.334). U.S. Senators Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, join a growing list of co-sponsors which now totals 11 senators. Previously announced cosponsors include: U.S. Senators Judd … Continue Reading
November 08, 2007
Veto Override Authorizes More Than $95 Million for Oregon Water Projects
Washington DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) joined more than two-thirds of the U.S. Senate today in voting to override President Bush's veto of the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (H.R. 1495), which includes authorization for more than $96 million in federal funding for water projects across the state of Oregon. With both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voting to override the President's veto, H.R. 1495 becomes law. This is the first … Continue Reading
October 30, 2007
Specter, Wyden Introduce Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2007
Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senators Arlen Specter, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Ron Wyden, member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced legislation that expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Saudi Arabia must cooperate with the United States in the war against terrorism.The legislation calls on Saudi Arabia to immediately and unconditionally: permanently close all organizations in Saudi Arabia that fund, train, incite, encourage, or … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007
CRS Says E-Mail and Other Web Services Could be Taxed Under House-Passed Internet Tax Extension
WASHINGTON - According to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), language included in the House-passed Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act of 2007 (H.R. 3678) could allow for the taxation of e-mail and other web-based services. Under the current Internet tax moratorium, originally authored in 2001 by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and now SEC Chairman, Christopher Cox, any service that enables users to access content can not be taxed. "I am not going to quietly sit by and let millions … Continue Reading
October 25, 2007
Wyden Says Bipartisan Senate Internet Tax Deal Would Protect E-mail and Other Key Web Services From Being Taxed
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) released the following statement regarding the agreement reached tonight by key Senators involved in the Internet Tax Debate."Today, I raised serious concerns about the legislation introduced in the Senate to renew the Internet Tax Freedom Act. I am pleased that steps have been taken to address some of the most immediate concerns and I will not object to further action on the legislation given the short time before the moratorium expires. "The … Continue Reading
October 18, 2007
Senators Question Administration Plan to Fill Strategic Petroleum Reserve
WASHINGTON - On the day that the price of oil reached an all-time high of $89.55 per barrel, seven U.S. Senators questioned the Administration's decision to reduce oil supplies by diverting millions of barrels of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. "This action sends a message to the market place that the Administration is comfortable with current price levels," wrote U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Jack Reed (D-RI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and … Continue Reading
October 02, 2007
Wyden, Bennett Welcome New Senate Sponsors of the Healthy Americans Act
Washington DC - The bipartisan Senate effort to reform the nation's ailing health care system grew today as U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Bob Bennett (R-UT) announced that the Healthy Americans Act (S.334) gained four Senate co-sponsors, including two influential members of the Senate Finance Committee. U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN) join a growing list of co-sponsors which already include: U.S. Senators Judd … Continue Reading
October 01, 2007
Wyden Provision Blocking Sale of F-14 Parts to Iran Passes Senate
Washington, D.C. - Working to stop the sale of surplus aircraft parts to Iran, the U.S. Senate today passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which included a provision based on the "Stop Arming Iran Act" introduced by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). The provision will prohibit the Pentagon from selling surplus parts and equipment for F-14 fighter aircraft. Iran is the only country-other than the United States-that flies F-14s."This provision will keep crucial aircraft … Continue Reading
September 28, 2007
Wyden Amendment Enhances Prevention for Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Washington D.C. -- Working to enhance screening and prevention of childhood type 2 diabetes, U.S Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today announced that an amendment giving states $15 million to combat the disease has been included in the final conference version of the State Children's Health Insurance Program bill (S-CHIP). Wyden is the amendment's sponsor. The S-CHIP conference report passed the Senate yesterday evening and will now be sent to the President for his consideration. "This amendment … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007
Senate Authorizes Oregon Water Projects
Washington DC -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) today announced the Senate passage of the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes $96 million in federal funding for water projects in Oregon. The legislation now moves on to the White House for signing by the President. "These funds will go to important infrastructure and watershed restoration projects across the state," said Wyden. "The long-term health of our environment is vital to the long-term health … Continue Reading
September 25, 2007
Administration Withdraws Nomination for CIA General Counsel
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today welcomed the administration's decision to withdraw the nomination of John Rizzo to be General Counsel of the CIA. "I opposed the nomination of John Rizzo to be the top lawyer at the CIA because he is the wrong man for the job," Wyden said. "I hope that the Administration's next nominee for the position demonstrates greater respect for the rule of law and a firmer … Continue Reading
September 19, 2007
Wyden Calls for Repeal of New S-CHIP Restrictions
Washington D.C. -- Calling the administration's policy a "cruel choice" for states that are working to expand coverage to the millions of children currently living without health care, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, today sent a letter asking Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Leavitt to repeal the Bush administration's recently announced eligibility restrictions for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). The … Continue Reading
