Press Releases
Wyden Statement on Majoras Recess Appointment
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today following the Bush Administrations recess appointment of Deborah Majoras to be the chair of the Federal Trade Commission:The anti-consumer record of the Federal Trade Commission on oil company mergers and other issues that are significant factors in raising gasoline prices at the pump is a sorry one, and there is no evidence that Ms. Majoras will change this course. I hope I am wrong and that this … Continue Reading
July 22, 2004
Wyden, Smith Secure Nearly $68 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced final Senate approval of $67.9 million for Oregon defense projects in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2005, and approval of an additional $29.4 million for projects in which Oregon companies will participate. After today's passage by the Senate, the same bill is expected to pass the House shortly, and will then be sent to the President for signature. "The funds approved today by the full Senate will help to … Continue Reading
July 16, 2004
Wyden, Smith include oil spill provisions in Coast Guard reauthorization bill
Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today announced that the Coast Guard Reauthorization Bill includes provisions they sought to protect coastal communities from future oil spills, as well as a loan provision to aid those who suffer economic damages from oil spills.Requiring all vessels carrying large amounts of oil to have spill response plans will help protect future generations from the devastation of oil spills such as that caused by the New Carissa, Wyden, a … Continue Reading
July 16, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce Funding for National Guard Armory Facility in Ontario
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that $473,000 has been included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Military Construction appropriations bill for the construction of a new National Guard Armory in Ontario. The new National Guard Armory will be used to house a unit of the Third Battalion, 116th Cavalry of the Oregon National Guard. "With increased numbers of Oregon's National Guard serving overseas, the Federal government needs to ensure that our … Continue Reading
July 16, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce $1.6 Million for Port Security
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Regional Maritime Security Coalition (RMSC) of Portland will receive $1.62 million for the research and development of port security enhancements in the Northwest. These federal funds are being provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the development of a model multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency Cargo Information Action Center (CIAC) for 22 ports in the Columbia-Snake … Continue Reading
July 15, 2004
Wyden, Lott Propose Revamping National Security Classification Systems
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.) today introduced legislation to revamp the way intelligence information becomes classified. The proposed bipartisan legislation would create an Independent National Security Classification Board to review and make recommendations on altering the current classification standards and process, and also to serve as a standing body to reexamine classification decisions at the request of Congress and certain Executive Branch … Continue Reading
July 14, 2004
Doggett, Wyden Introduce Bill To Stop Tobacco Smuggling
WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced legislation this week to combat illicit trafficking in tobacco, a key strategy for addressing worldwide nicotine addiction. The legislation, called the Smuggled Tobacco Prevention Act (SToP), puts new and stronger requirements on tobacco labeling, tracking and reporting on all tobacco packages manufactured in or imported to the U.S. It would require each package of tobacco products manufactured for … Continue Reading
July 09, 2004
Wyden Releases Additional Views on Senate Intelligence Report
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released his Additional Views on the Committee's report on Intelligence Failures leading to the war in Iraq. On June 17, the Intelligence Committee members unanimously approved the findings and conclusions in the report released today. Wyden attached to the report his Additional Views, which expand upon the findings found in the report. His views provide a more complete … Continue Reading
July 07, 2004
Umpqua Community Health Center to Receive Nearly $600,000
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced today that the Umpqua Community Health Center will receive $588,667 for continuation of comprehensive primary care services. The grant is issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Far too many Oregonians have no health insurance or not enough health insurance, said Smith. The Umpqua Center serves Douglas County by providing vital, quality health care to those who would otherwise suffer … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden, Smith Securing Over $100 Million for Oregon Defense Projects
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved at least $103.5 million in funding for defense-related projects in Oregon. These funds are now included in the FY2005 Defense spending bill, which must now be approved by the full Senate."This funding for Oregon nanotech and other cutting edge … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden Wins Approval on Amendment to Keep Hopper Dredges Working in Pacific Ports
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won passage of his amendment to eliminate artificial restrictions on the operation of the two Northwest hopper dredges, as the restrictions do not save taxpayer dollars and in fact have led to inadequate maintenance of Pacific ports. The Wyden amendment, approved today by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, directs the Secretary of the Army instead to operate the dredges to the maximum extent practicable and in the manner … Continue Reading
June 23, 2004
Wyden Amendment Protects Economic Development Projects in Oregon's Small Communities
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won approval of an amendment to keep Oregon's distressed and rural communities from losing economic development opportunities because of burdensome financial requirements recently imposed by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). Earlier this year EDA informed communities that, beginning immediately, they would need to raise $22 in private funds for every $1 they requested in government funds - a significant increase in the … Continue Reading
June 21, 2004
Frist, Wyden Tackle Childhood Obesity with Legislation to Empower Kids, Schools
Washington, DC - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation to address the fast-growing problem of obesity among American youth. The "Childhood Obesity Reduction Act" would encourage school-aged children to increase their physical activity and make better nutritional choices by promoting school and community-based activities to improve children's health. "Obesity is one of the biggest public health threats facing … Continue Reading
June 21, 2004
Wyden-Smith Bill on Bend Pine Nursery Approved by House of Representatives
Washington, DC - Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) to set the price for the Bend Pine Nursery at $3.5 million - saving local taxpayers $2.3 million - was approved today by the U.S. House of Representatives. A vote on S. 1848 is the final legislative step in a years-long effort to transfer the Pine Nursery from the U.S. Forest Service to the Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District at a reasonable cost for the community. The Wyden-Smith bill won … Continue Reading
June 17, 2004
Wyden, Smith Announce more than $6.2 Million for Oregon Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) announced that today, 34 Oregon counties will receive payments totaling $6,245,153 as part of the federal government's Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. The PILT program is designed to compensate local communities for tax revenue lost because of nontaxable federal land in their counties. "It is critical for the federal government to provide the proper amount of funding to communities that support federally … Continue Reading
June 17, 2004
Wyden obtains Energy Dept. commitment to meet maximum cleanup standards forHanford Nuclear Waste Tanks
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today obtained a commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy that the agency will not attempt to weaken standards for cleaning up nuclear waste in tanks at Hanford, Wash. Under questioning from Wyden, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental Management Jessie Roberson said that an Energy Department proposal to leave 10 percent of existing waste in the Hanford tanks far more than the one percent currently allowed under legal agreements is … Continue Reading
June 16, 2004
Wyden Legislation Will Target Offshore Outsourcing
Washington, DC - Companies that outsource American jobs would lose tax benefits, and outsourced service sector and technology employees would for the first time see training and income relief, under legislation introduced today by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). The "Keep American Jobs at Home Act" would eliminate tax deductions for businesses that ship American jobs overseas, provide wage insurance and training assistance for service sector workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas, and … Continue Reading
June 14, 2004
GAO Releases Smith-Wyden Requested Report on Pacific Groundfish
Washington, DC Today, U.S. Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden announced the release of a General Accounting Office (GAO) report, Pacific Groundfish: Continued Efforts Needed to Improve Reliability of Stock Assessments. In December 2002, Smith and Wyden requested the investigation into the reliability of the data being used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to conduct stock assessments on the multi-species Pacific groundfish complex. Stock assessments provide estimates of the … Continue Reading
June 01, 2004
Forest Service Agrees to Wyden Request to Split Biscuit Plan
Washington, DC Today, the Forest Service agreed to pursue U.S. Senator Ron Wydens proposal to split its salvage plans (Records of Decision) in the Biscuit fire area so some salvage can proceed while more controversial plans are likely to be contested in the courts.In April of this year, Wyden wrote U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman (text follows) asking that the Biscuit salvage plan be broken down to three separate proposals one each for matrix, Late Successional Reserves (LSRs), and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2004
Wyden, Smith Applaud Federal Waiver to Aid Oregon Nursing Homes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) today applauded the granting of a waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help Oregon improve its nursing home industry. The waiver will allow Oregon to provide better Medicaid reimbursements to the state's nursing homes and to attract additional Medicaid matching funds. Increases in rates will be used to enhance working conditions for employees and improve the quality of care they provide to … Continue Reading
