Press Releases
Wyden blocks Interior Department nomineeover funding for rural schools and roads
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today placed a hold on the nomination of David Bernhardt to become Solicitor for the Department of the Interior and vowed to block future Administration nominees until there is an acceptable way to fully fund county payments. The county payments law provides vital funding for rural schools, roads and county services across the nation; Oregon counties will receive $1.6 billion in county payments funding over the life of the original bill, which expires … Continue Reading
May 16, 2006
Wyden offers resolution calling for comprehensiveschedule to destroy chemical weapons stockpiles
WASHINGTON, D.C. Following announcements by the Department of Defense that the U.S. would not meet its 2007 treaty deadline for the destruction of its chemical weapons or the five-year extension provided under the Chemical Weapons Convention treaty U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has cosponsored a resolution urging the Secretary of Defense to prepare a comprehensive schedule for safely destroying the United States chemical weapons stockpiles; the resolution also calls for annual reports to Congress … Continue Reading
May 11, 2006
Final tax legislation uses proposed rural schools fundingto provide more tax cuts to the wealthy
Washington, DC A major tax bill expected to be approved by Congress this week uses a funding provision proposed by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) as a full-funding source for the rural county payments bill to instead provide tax cuts for the wealthy. To date, the Senators proposal has been the only full-funding proposal for county payments on Capitol Hill. Wyden will vote against the tax bill in the Senate, citing the use of the county payments funding provision as well as … Continue Reading
May 05, 2006
Wyden Statement on Resignation of Porter Goss
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today released the following statement on the resignation of CIA Director Porter Goss:"I appreciate the hard work of the Director while leading the CIA. When I voted against his nomination two years ago, it was because of my reservations about his commitment to making America as safe as it needs to be. My concerns were never resolved."During his tenure, Mr. Goss resisted efforts to lift the veil of secrecy around the intelligence failures of … Continue Reading
April 27, 2006
Wyden, Smith Prepare $81 Million Support Packagefor Salmon Fisherman
Washington, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) have introduced legislation that would provide $81 million in emergency disaster assistance for Oregon and California fishermen impacted by restrictions placed on salmon fishing."Fishermen on Oregons coast are facing a bleak salmon season this year, and thats on top of a bad season last year. Doing nothing just isnt an option, Wyden said. This emergency assistance will address the immediate financial needs of our coastal … Continue Reading
April 04, 2006
Oregon Legislators Introduce Bill to Conserve Water,Better Serve Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Congressman Greg Walden (R-OR) have introduced legislation to allow the North Unit Irrigation District located in Jefferson County to participate in conservation projects funded by the State of Oregon. Some of the conserved water will be returned to instream flows on the Deschutes River to support fish and wildlife. The district will also have the option of distributing a portion of the conserved water to farmers and … Continue Reading
March 30, 2006
Wyden Cosponsors Legislation to Fully Fund County Payments Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced he is cosponsoring legislation introduced by U.S Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that will fully fund a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000, commonly known as the county payments law, by closing a tax loophole that allows government contractors to avoid their tax obligations. In 2005 Wyden, along with U.S. Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), introduced a bill to reauthorize the county … Continue Reading
March 28, 2006
Wyden and Smith to Drug Czar: Where is the plan?
WASHINGTON, DC In a meeting on Capitol Hill today with the White House Drug Czar John Walters U.S. Senators Gordon H. Smith (R-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) pressed the administration to step up their efforts to stop the spread of the deadly and fiercely addictive drug Methamphetamine.Meth is creating a crisis for Oregon families, and we wanted Mr. Walters to hear that bipartisan message from two Senators who have seen its impact, said Wyden. The White House has got to be a better partner, and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2006
Wyden, Graham Unveil New Senate Campaign Finance Reform Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) today unveiled bipartisan legislation to limit campaign fundraising for incumbent Senators. Specifically, the Senate Campaign Reform Act of 2006 would change Senate rules to prohibit Senators and their staffs from fundraising for re-election before the eighteen months prior to the date of the next general election for that office. Amidst a culture of lobbying reform and scandals involving money in politics, the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2006
Wyden Statement on the Feingold Censure Resolution
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) released the following statement today regarding the Feingold Censure Resolution:Senator Russ Feingold recently introduced a resolution of censure of President Bush in response to allegations of illegal government surveillance on American citizens without a warrant. I understand the frustration that led Senator Feingold to introduce this resolution and support his right to do so without becoming the target of personal attacks questioning his … Continue Reading
March 15, 2006
Snowe-Wyden Measure to Allow HHS Secretary to Negotiate for Prescription Drugs Passes Major Hurdle
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) today won approval of language in the Senate's FY2007 budget resolution that is a critical step in strengthening the drug coverage offered to seniors under the 2003 Medicare prescription drug benefit. The amendment, adopted today by a vote of 54-44, and co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Herb Kohl (D-Wisc.), is based … Continue Reading
March 09, 2006
Wyden, NW Senators Win Budget Provision to Protect BPA Customers from Rate Hike
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today won approval of language in the Senate's FY2007 budget resolution that is a critical step towards blocking an effort by the Bush Administration to force the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to increase rates to consumers. The budget language, authored by Wyden along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and adopted by the Senate Budget Committee today, clears the way for the Energy Committee to pass … Continue Reading
March 02, 2006
Wyden Moves to Ensure Fairness of Internet Usage with New Net Neutrality Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today unveiled ground-breaking new legislation that would ensure "net neutrality," or equal delivery of content on the internet, for consumers and business interests. Under Wyden's bill, the Internet Nondiscrimination Act of 2006, network operators would be prohibited from charging companies for faster delivery of their content to consumers over the internet or favoring certain content over others. "Creating a two-tiered system could have a … Continue Reading
February 28, 2006
Report Lauds Significant Successes of County Payments Law
WASHINGTON, DC -- Landmark, bipartisan county payments legislation authored by U.S Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) was lauded in a new report released today by the Sierra Institute for Community and Environment. The report also recommended that the Wyden-Craig legislation be renewed before it expires later this year.Todays report by the Sierra Institute highlights the significant community development thats occurred nationwide because of this law, said Wyden. Counties, … Continue Reading
February 27, 2006
Wyden Demands Intelligence Committee Fully Investigate NSA Domestic Surveillance
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today released the following statement regarding the delays in the Intelligence Committee's efforts to investigate the NSA domestic wiretapping program:"The job of a congressional committee is to provide oversight, which is why it is vital that the Intelligence Committee investigate the NSA domestic surveillance program - it is our job. The committee has a responsibility to get the full … Continue Reading
February 22, 2006
Wyden, Dorgan Urge President to BlockDubai Ports World Company From Taking Control of U.S. Ports
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today sent the following letter to the White House urging the President to block immediately the Dubai Ports World company from taking a controlling interest in the operations of a number of U.S. ports. Wyden, who sent the letter along with U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), also requested that the Administration make publicly available all documents that led to the Administrations decision to approve of the sale of port security contracts to a United Arab … Continue Reading
February 06, 2006
Wyden and Smith announce $8 millionfor Nanotechnology Center in Oregon
Washington, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith today announced White House approval of a proposed Oregon nanotechnology center and $8 million in funding over three years in the Presidents 2007 budget, which was released today. Inclusion in the Presidents budget is a major milestone for the state's burgeoning nanotechnology efforts and reflects the growing national recognition that Oregons nanotechnology sector is generating.Nanotechnology involves the use of materials on the atomic … Continue Reading
February 02, 2006
Wyden Questions Intelligence Chiefs on Domestic Surveillance, Terror Threats
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) questioned Director of National Intelligence John D. Negroponte and NSA Chief General Michael Hayden at a hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today on issues of domestic surveillance and terrorist threats worldwide. In today's hearing, Wyden said that the right position on NSA wiretapping should be to say "trust, but verify," allowing Congress the opportunity to do effective oversight to verify citizens are being adequately … Continue Reading
January 31, 2006
Statement by U.S. Senator Ron WydenFollowing the Presidents State of the Union Address
Washington, DC U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tonight commented following President Bushs State of the Union address:Oregon families have been talking to me mostly about issues where the second word is bill such as tax, medical, housing and college and they would see little relief from those bills as a result of what was proposed tonight.Im pleased to hear that the President is concerned about Americas addiction to oil. I hope he will work with me to break the habit and end the fix, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2006
Wyden, Allen Blast GAO Report on Internet Taxes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and George Allen (R-VA) today criticized the latest General Accountability Office report on internet taxation, noting that by failing to consult with the authors of the law, the report's conclusions about the impact of suspending taxation of wholesale internet services were flawed. The report, mandated under the 2004 Internet Tax Nondiscrimination Act, aimed to examine the effect of the internet tax moratorium on state and local revenues. "As … Continue Reading
