Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $600,000 to Central Oregon Community College for Veteran Student Success Center
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Central Oregon Community College (COCC) will receive nearly $600,000 from the U.S. Department of Education to expand veteran student services into a Center of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (CEVSS) on the COCC campus. "It was clear during my recent visit that Central Oregon Community College has an ear to the ground of what its students need to do their best work. COCC attracts some of the greatest … Continue Reading
March 30, 2023
Wyden Introduces Bill to Safeguard Consumers, Require Companies to Shift from Opt-Out Requirements to Opt-In
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would protect consumers from online free trial scams and hard-to-cancel recurring-payment programs. The bill requires companies to shift extending subscriptions and memberships from "opt-out" conditions to "opt-in." "I have long supported efforts to increase transparency so Oregonians and consumers across the nation are not harmed by unexpected charges from companies using deceptive marketing practices and zombie fees … Continue Reading
March 30, 2023
Wyden Cosponsors Bill Closing “Charleston Loophole” on Gun Sales
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would close a loophole letting gun sales proceed if a background check is not completed within a certain time period, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to buy a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly 2015 attack at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. "This common-sense solution … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Wyden, Lummis Question Justice Department’s Use of Paid Confidential Informants To Obtain Americans’ Personal Information Without Warrants or Court Orders
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to end the use of paid confidential informants to obtain large quantities of Americans' personal information without court oversight. The senators called for new transparency about the use of informants to acquire private data. Federal investigators have documented the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) use of paid informants in the rail and travel industries … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: $1.6 Million to Bend Municipal Airport for Permanent Control Tower
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Bend Municipal Airport will receive $1.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to invest toward the $15 million cost of building a permanent control tower. "Reliable and safe air service is crucial for Oregonians and our state's economy," Wyden said. "I am gratified to see these dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I worked to pass go toward building a permanent control tower in Bend-one … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Consumers Bill for Cheese
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues from both parties have reintroduced legislation that would help better inform consumers when they buy cheese. The CURD (Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions) Act would codify a formal definition of "natural cheese," a term commonly used on food packaging that currently has no official definition. "Oregonians are proud of our state's world renown high-quality cheese," Wyden said. "The CURD Act will ensure … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Urge President Biden Not to Reinstate the Use of Family Detention for Migrant Children
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in a letter to President Biden raising concerns over reports that the Administration is considering a return to the inhumane and ineffective practice of detaining migrant families, after previously ending family detention in December 2021. "Under both the Obama and Trump Administrations, family detention had disastrous effects on migrant families and children, without any corresponding improvement in border … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $50 Million Coming to Oregon for Housing Services and Support
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding Oregon non-profits, state, and local governments $49,970,799 through the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program to support efforts across the state to address homelessness and promote access for individuals and families facing homelessness to resources and programs. "Access to safe and affordable housing is vital to growing strong and vibrant … Continue Reading
March 27, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Underscore National Security Imperative to Provide Abortion Leave for Service Members
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues urging the U.S. Department of Defense to protect national security interests by providing service members access to protected leave for abortion and reproductive health care services. "Following the Dobbs decision, the RAND Corporation estimates that 40% of active duty women serving in the continental United States face limited or no access to abortion services where they are stationed," the senators wrote to … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023
Wyden To Hold Town Halls in Seven Oregon Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have open-to-all, in-person town halls from April 1-7 in Wasco, Sherman, Morrow, Umatilla, Gilliam, Douglas and Jackson counties. Wyden has already held 15 town halls so far throughout Oregon in 2023 - and 1,042 town halls overall statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "Open-to-all town halls shorten the distance between Oregon and Washington DC by providing … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: $2.1 Million to Oregon Farmers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that 11 Oregon farmers will received a combined $2.1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand their influence and market new products. The grant announcement comes out in honor this week of National Ag Day 2023. "Oregon's family farmers and ranchers have put Oregon on the map as an agriculture powerhouse, all while supporting jobs across the state. These grant dollars help kick-start … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $38 Million Coming to Oregon for Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Access
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be awarding the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) $28,513,417 from the Wildlife Restoration fund for wildlife habitat restoration projects and research aimed to better manage wildlife species, and $9,229,182 from the Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) fund to support important fisheries, monitoring, and education programs throughout Oregon. "As Chairman of … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Wyden, Barrasso and 12 Bipartisan Senators Urge FCC To Ensure Rural, Tribal Communities Receive Fair Share of Federal Broadband Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and 12 other bipartisan senators called on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to ensure rural and tribal communities in need receive their fair share of federal broadband grants, in a letter today. The members urged FCC to update the National Broadband Map each month, rather than every 6 months, so broadband grants will be awarded based on the most accurate information. The National Telecommunications and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Wyden Introduces Bill to Increase Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care for Kids, Seniors and Low-Income Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Michael Bennet today introduced legislation that would expand access to mental and behavioral health care for Oregonians and all Americans on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid. "Mental health care should be affordable, reliable and accessible for everyone," said Wyden, who as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee overseeing Medicare and Medicaid, has introduced legislation for an historic investment in mental health … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $23 Million in USFS Investments to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities from Wildfire Threats
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USFS) is investing $23.5 million in 10 project proposals in Oregon that will help make communities across the state more resilient to severe wildfires. The funding is part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes $1 billion available over five years to protect communities and tribal … Continue Reading
March 17, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Announce Timeline for Nominations to Fill Upcoming Judicial Vacancy on U.S. District Court in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that applications are being accepted through April 7, 2023 to fill an upcoming federal judicial vacancy in Oregon created by the recent announcement from U.S. District Court Judge Marco Hernández that he will take senior status in August 2024. "Judge Hernández has dedicated his career to justice, serving with distinction as a federal judge in our state for more than a decade after coming to the U.S. … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden Remarks on the Fallon Smart Rule and Accountability for Foreign Officials Who Undermine U.S. Justice
Senator also raises concerns about injustice for Oregon family in long-delayed asylum case. Click here to watch a video of today's remarks. As Prepared for Delivery I rise today to highlight a new rule by the State Department that honors a 15-year-old Portland girl whose life was cut short by a hit-and-run driver in 2016. The girl's name is Fallon Smart. And the man accused of manslaughter in her hit-and-run death was a Saudi national. Subsequent reporting by my hometown newspaper - … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge New IRS Funding to Protect Taxpayer Rights, Increase Tax Enforcement on Wealthy Tax Cheats
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today urged federal officials to focus new enforcement funds on reducing tax avoidance by large corporations and the wealthy - while expressing strong support for the IRS not to raise audit rates for small businesses or households making less than $400,000 annually. "We… understand that the administration is still working on the operational plan regarding implementation of the new [Inflation Reduction Act] funding and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden Announces March 21 Seminar for Oregon Cities, Counties and Nonprofits to Learn About Federal Investment and Funding Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is convening an all-day, online seminar on Tuesday, March 21 for representatives of Oregon cities, counties and nonprofits that may qualify for federal funding to hear from eight federal agencies about how their communities and organizations can earn benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "A running theme in my 15 town halls so far throughout Oregon this year -- as well as during conversations … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today announced they introduced legislation that would combat wage discrimination and help close the gender wage gap by strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963, ensuring women can challenge pay discriminations and hold employers accountable in Oregon and nationwide. "Today and every day, women deserve equal pay for equal work," Wyden said. "It's outrageous that women are paid less than their male coworkers despite … Continue Reading
