Press Releases
Wyden, Hoyle, Salinas Join Legislation to Lower VA Medical Care Costs for Traveling Veterans
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden along with U.S. Reps. Val Hoyle (OR-04) and Andrea Salinas (OR-06) said today they are joining legislation that would make it easier for 8 million veterans in Oregon and nationwide to receive essential health care and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs’ travel reimbursement rate keeps pace with inflation and gas prices. “It’s unacceptable that the very people who chose to serve and defend our country are forced to choose between the cost of … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Question HUD Secretary on Alarming Consequences of New DOGE Task Force on Housing for America’s Families
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort to press U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner about the alarming consequences of a recently announced “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) Task Force that threatens to seriously hinder HUD’s ability to support vulnerable communities. Reportedly, the DOGE Task Force plans to lay off 50 percent of its workforce, eliminate half of HUD’s field offices serving local communities … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Federal Courts to Affirm That Congress Holds the Power to Crack Down on Money Laundering
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined his colleagues in filing amicus briefs that called on two federal courts to affirm that Congress holds the power to crack down on anonymous money laundering under the bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act passed in 2021. The four-year-old law is considered the most important anti-money laundering law passed in two decades. It ensures law enforcement and national security officials are able to learn the true identities of people who … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Wyden to FTC: Stop Companies from Offering Bait-and-Switch Sales of Digital TV, E-Book, Music, and Video Game Purchases
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., pressed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop companies from misleadingly offering people the ability to “buy” online content, including TV, e-books, movies, music, and video games, when the reality is consumers do not have total control over their purchases. Far too often, consumers “buy” digital goods only to learn they cannot own, sell, or transfer the items, and may even have them deleted with no recourse— a legal loophole that many … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
Merkley, Wyden: Trump Devastates Oregon’s Rural Communities with Federal Funding Cuts and Mass Firings
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, the former top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee overseeing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Ron Wyden demanded recently confirmed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins immediately reverse disastrous actions at the USDA that have harmed Oregon farmers and families. Their letter follows President Donald Trump’s illegal executive orders cutting federal funds which support farmers, ranchers, and forest … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Wyden at ENR Hearing: Musk’s Business Dealings in China and Workforce Purge at BPA Threaten National Security
WATCH: Wyden’s Exchange with University of Oregon’s Presidential Chair in Science, Dr. Richmond Here Washington, D.C. — During a hearing held in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., underscored that Elon Musk’s business dealings in China pose a serious threat to national security. According to public reporting, Elon Musk is running the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as a federal employee while remaining Tesla’s largest shareholder. … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Combat Intensifying Wildfires and Drought Across the American West
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues to reintroduce legislation that would make a $60 billion investment in forests in Oregon and across the West to lessen wildfire risk, restore watersheds, protect communities, and reduce wildfire suppression costs. “With summers getting drier and hotter, the treasured lands in Oregon and the West are a tinderbox waiting to light ablaze,” said Wyden. “In my town halls, I’ve heard countless Oregonians fearing for … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Wyden Blasts Musk and Trump for Hurting Tribal Communities by Cutting Health Staff
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined Senate colleagues in condemning Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s efforts to lay off Indian Health Service staff at a time when a significant health care workforce shortage already exists for Tribal communities in Oregon and nationwide. “Tribal Nations have a legal and political relationship with the United States, and the federal government has a fundamental obligation to fulfill its treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Following Dangerous Cuts to Transportation Workforce, Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Secretary Duffy Prioritize Safety
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden along with Massachusetts’ U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey pushed U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to stop the mass layoffs and firing of essential transportation safety employees. The lawmakers demand the Department of Transportation (DOT) release information regarding the department’s plans to protect passenger’s safety and prevent future crashes. In a letter, the lawmakers wrote, “At the Department of Transportation, … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Wyden Introduces Bill to Raise Minimum Age to Buy Assault Weapons
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today said that he is joining legislation to raise the minimum age to buy assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21. “If you’re not old enough to purchase alcohol, you shouldn’t be allowed to buy an assault weapon either,” Wyden said. “We need to be doing everything we can to stop America’s gun violence epidemic, including raising the legal age of purchase to 21. I am proud to support this bill that will help keep weapons … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge President Trump to Reject Republican Budget Raising Costs for Families
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding Donald Trump reject Congressional Republicans’ legislative plans to increase the cost of living for Americans after pledging to lower costs on “Day One” of his presidency. The letter to Trump from Wyden, Merkley and 30 other Democratic senators —more than two-thirds of the party caucus— comes after Congressional Republicans last week approved their 2025 budget proposals for floor consideration, their … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Wyden Statement on Lori Chavez-DeRemer Nomination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today released the following statement on Donald Trump’s nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be U.S. Labor Secretary. “As a proud supporter of the PRO Act that would empower Oregonians and all Americans to unionize and advocate for fair wages, benefits and working conditions, I took special note of Lori Chavez DeRemer’s bizarre disavowal today of her previous support for this vital legislation,” Wyden said. “Her reversal is blatantly anti-worker and … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Demand Answers About Elon Musk and DOGE’s Access to Disaster Victims’ Personal Data
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues to demand answers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, on the potential security breach created by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has reportedly accessed the sensitive personal data of disaster victims. The senators in their letter to Cameron Hamilton, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the FEMA Administrator also sought … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Trump Administration Make No Cuts to Medicare and Medicaid
Washington, D.C. — Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have sent a letter with their Senate colleagues urging Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and Donald Trump’s administration not to make cuts to Medicare and Medicaid to pay for billionaires’ tax cuts. “Every cut risks Americans paying more, waiting longer, and wading through more insurance red tape for care. Every cut risks hospitals and community health centers struggling harder to keep … Continue Reading
February 17, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Answers From Trump on BPA Cuts, Impact on Electric Grid Reliability
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding Donald Trump answer questions about his administration’s deep job cuts at the Bonneville Power Administration and how those reckless and financially ludicrous decisions add up to undermine the dependability of the electric grid for Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest. “The imminent departure of nearly 20% of BPA’s workforce -- including linemen, engineers, and power dispatchers -- poses a direct and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Wyden Releases Draft Bill to Secure Americans’ Communications Against Foreign Surveillance Demands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a discussion draft of the Global Trust in American Online Services Act to secure Americans’ communications against abusive foreign demands to weaken the security of communications services and software used by Americans. The bill reforms the CLOUD Act, which permits foreign governments to make surveillance demands directly of U.S. companies rather than going through the U.S. legal system. “Foreign governments shouldn’t get a … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Raise the Alarm Over NIH Funding Cuts that Derail Lifesaving Research, Cost Lives and Jobs in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Washington State’s U.S. Senator Patty Murray in expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s threats to cut the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) federal funding to research universities?and institutions across America and in Oregon, including groundbreaking medical and health research being done at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), University of Oregon (UO), Oregon State … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Join Effort Demanding Trump Reverse Illegal Firing of Independent FEC Chair
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by California’s U.S. Senator Alex Padilla to demand President Trump rescind his unprecedented and illegal firing of Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub. The Senators also advised Trump to pursue the lawful process of consulting with the Senate on nominating a replacement for both Weintraub and future vacancies. The FEC is an independent, bipartisan agency tasked with enforcing U.S. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Wyden and Biggs Urge New Intel Chief Gabbard to Protect Americans’ Communications From Foreign Surveillance
UPDATE 2/25 - Director Gabbard responded to Sen. Wyden and Rep. Biggs, agreeing to investigate the reported UK order to weaken iCloud encryption, writing, "This would be a clear and egregious violation of Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, and open up a serious vulnerability for cyber exploitation by adversarial actors." Read the full letter here. Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., today urged Director of National Intelligence … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Wyden Joins Colleagues on Legislation to Protect Schools, Hospitals and Other Sensitive Locations against ICE Raids
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is joining Senate colleagues in introducing legislation that would prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement from making arrests at sensitive locations like hospitals, schools, churches and courthouses in Oregon and nationwide. “The Trump administration’s efforts to upend these policies not only goes against long standing precedent, but also threatens public safety,” Wyden said, noting that the Trump Administration last month … Continue Reading
