Press Releases
Wyden, Smith Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Mental Health Care Coverage, Hold Insurance Companies Accountable
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced legislation to improve mental health coverage. Specifically, the bill would crack down on inaccurate health care provider listings or “ghost networks,” and create stronger enforcement standards to protect those seeking mental health care. “Too often, Americans who need affordable mental health care hit a dead end when they try to find a provider that’s covered by their insurance,” … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Wyden, Merkley and Colleagues Urge Biden to Bolster Climate, Finance Commitments at COP27
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging the Administration to strengthen the position of the United States as a global leader in combatting the climate crisis. In the letter -- which was sent ahead of the 27th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt -- the senators call for President Biden to bolster climate and … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Wyden: State Department Must Protect Americans’ Passport Data, Limit Unfettered Access to 145 Million Americans Records
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called on the State Department to create new protections for Americans' passport application records, after learning that 25 federal agencies have unfettered access to a database containing 145 million Americans' personal information. "While there is a legitimate role for the use of this information by law enforcement, the current unregulated system of interagency access to millions of Americans' records goes far beyond what a … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Private Equity Firm to Pause $4 Billion Dividend Tied to Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined with five colleagues to urge the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management, to pause the payment of the $4 billion Albertsons dividend scheduled for Monday and to provide answers about the impact of the dividend on the Kroger-Albertsons merger. In the letter to Cerberus Capital Management co-CEOs Stephen Feinberg and Frank Bruno, the lawmakers criticized Cerberus and other big Albertsons shareholders that are … Continue Reading
November 02, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $35.5 Million For High-Speed Broadband Infrastructure Headed to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $35,588,796 million in funding to deploy high-speed broadband internet infrastructure in Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Polk counties. These awards are part of the round three investments through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ReConnect Program, which received new funding from the?Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “I’ve worked for years to increase access to broadband around Oregon, … Continue Reading
November 01, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Urge FAA Action to Prevent Shrinking Plane Seat Sizes, Ensure Passenger Safety
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today joined with five colleagues to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to act to prevent further shrinking of plane seat sizes and to comprehensively ensure passenger safety in Oregon and nationwide. “We urge the FAA to comprehensively review the safety factors impacting seat pitch, width, and length and ensure that such safety factors take into account the entirety of the American public - including children, senior … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $1.5 Million for Habitat Conservation in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced $1,519,627 in federal grants headed to Oregon to help support the development of habitat conservation plans to improve the management of state and private forestlands. “Forests in Oregon support rural economies and are also home to countless species including vulnerable salmon,” said Senator Merkley, who serves as the Chair of the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which funded these grants. … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce over $24 Million Headed to the Port of Portland
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding the Port of Portland $24,360,000 to improve port infrastructure for current and future operations. The project will support current infrastructure by strengthening pavement for flexible cargo storage and upgrading pavement in the container yard. The funding will also support new stormwater treatment infrastructure to reduce pollutants entering the … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Wyden Releases New Details About Surveillance and Interrogation of Portland Demonstrators by Department of Homeland Security Agents
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released newly public information showing that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) surveillance of Portland protesters in 2020 was far broader than previously known, and included lists of friends, family and social media associates for people who posed no threat to homeland security. "Oregonians had a right to get a full accounting of the Trump Administration's twisted efforts to provoke violence in Portland for his political gain," Wyden … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: Over $5.5 Million Headed to Oregon Schools for Clean School Bus and Transportation Programs
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $5,530,000 to the Banks and Prospect school districts, through their new Clean School Bus Program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These awards are intended to support the districts in replacing existing schools buses with zero- or low-emission buses. “Every child should be able to travel to and from school without being exposed to dangerous … Continue Reading
October 26, 2022
Wyden, Moran Secure Commitment from Biden Administration to Reform Classification System, Continue Push to Update Executive Order on Classification System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jerry Moran, R-Kan., today applauded a new commitment from Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines to reform the classification system and invest in new declassification technology. "The failures of the current classification system make our country both more vulnerable and less transparent - it's a lose-lose proposition," Wyden said. "I'm pleased that the Biden administration is committed to reforming the classification system … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
Wyden: FTC Privacy Regulators Need Top Security Clearances and Classified Briefings to Protect Americans from Foreign Hacking Threats
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for more top-level security clearances for Federal Trade Commission officials, particularly those responsible for investigating corporate data breaches and crafting privacy rules, to better protect Americans against foreign hackers and other threats to security and privacy. As the primary federal regulator for data privacy and security, the FTC has responsibility and power to direct companies to strengthen their security … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $43 Million in Additional FEMA Funds to Oregon for 2020 Fire Recovery Efforts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will receive more than $43 million in additional recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for continued hazard tree and debris removal after the 2020 fire disasters. “Recovery efforts from the catastrophic 2020 fire season have been steady, but too many small communities have carried the challenging and expensive burden of taking … Continue Reading
October 20, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Nearly $200,000 to Grant County to Curb Unauthorized Livestock Grazing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Grant County will receive nearly $198,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for riparian fencing to control unauthorized livestock grazing. “These funds will go a long way to help Grant County landowners maintain effective and appropriate grazing practices that enable their family businesses to continue growing and creating jobs in rural communities,” Wyden said. “Fencing is crucial to combat … Continue Reading
October 19, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $27 Million Headed to Oregon for COVID-19 Recovery
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced a total of $27,167,202.82 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding is headed to the state of Oregon for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As Oregon continues its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, this FEMA support will help ensure that state and local first responders and public health agencies are ready to protect Oregonians when another … Continue Reading
October 19, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $350,000 to Adelante Mujeres to Support Latinx Farmers Produce and Market Specialty Crops
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Adelante Mujeres will receive more than $350,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support Latinx farmers in cultivating and marketing high value specialty crops for Washington County and the metro Portland area. “The results of Adelante Mujeres’ 20-year record of providing bilingual and culturally-appropriate support to Oregon’s Latinx community speak … Continue Reading
October 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation Secures $15.5 Million in Federal Funds for Broadband
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation (CTUIR) have secured more than $15.5 million for expanded high-speed Internet network deployment and digital skills training to improve access to education, jobs, and healthcare on Tribal lands. “Tribal communities deserve robust access to high-speed Internet so children are connected to classroom research, small businesses are linked to their … Continue Reading
October 12, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Voice Support for Justice Adrienne Nelson During Nominations Hearing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to advance Associate Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson’s nomination to the U.S. District Court. Wyden delivered remarks to introduce Justice Nelson during the Judiciary Committee's hearing considering her nomination. "I’ve been a part of the selection process for a lot of judicial nominees. In that process, you look for candidates whose deep understanding of the law … Continue Reading
October 07, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Urge Federal Government to Deliver Drought Relief to Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today pressed the Bureau of Reclamation to prioritize Oregon as the agency develops its plans for the drought relief resources that Congress recently provided in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). "[W]e write to strongly urge the Bureau of Reclamation to provide critical funding to areas in Oregon that have been devastated by the historic, multi-year, extreme … Continue Reading
October 05, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Applaud HHS Restoring Nondiscrimination Protections in Health Care, Push to Strengthen Proposal
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today applauded the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule to prohibit discrimination in health care and urged HHS to strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and those seeking care for pregnancy and related conditions. “This proposal is an important step forward to help ensure no one in our country has their health care undermined by discrimination or bigotry, and we urge the … Continue Reading
