Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Help Recreation and Wildfire Prevention Work in SW Oregon and Near Molalla River
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both regions. The senators' Oregon Recreation Enhancement (ORE) Act would create the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and prohibit destructive mining on pristine rivers in … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Wyden Applauds CBP for Upgrading Borders Security, With New Tech Wyden Requested To Detect Fake Passports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for following through on a long-overdue technology upgrade that detects forged passports. Wyden requested the upgrade nearly 5 years ago, during the Trump administration, in order to strengthen border security. "Upgrading passport security is a commonsense way to ensure people entering our country are who they say they are. It is already making America safer, without resorting to invasive … Continue Reading
February 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Justice Adrienne Nelson Vote in Senate
Washington, D.C. - Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate voted 52-46 to confirm Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson's nomination to the U.S. District Court. "Today's vote adds to the U.S. District Court an extremely qualified Oregonian who brings her powerful combination of comprehensive legal experience and commitment to justice for all. As the first Black woman to serve on the Oregon Supreme Court, Justice … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden Urges Confirmation of Adrienne Nelson to U.S. District Court on the Floor of U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. Senate in support of the confirmation of Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court. The final confirmation vote is expected to take place on Wednesday morning, Eastern Time. M. President, I want to use my time to offer my unwavering support on the confirmation of Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court. Through a powerful combination … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Prioritize Efforts to Combat PFAS Contamination
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to urge the Biden administration to include funding in the upcoming budget request to more comprehensively address PFAS chemicals contamination in Oregon and nationwide. "The prevalence of PFAS combined with the adverse health impacts associated with exposure-including developmental effects, changes in liver, immune and thyroid function and increased risk of some cancers-requires a comprehensive approach. Specifically, … Continue Reading
February 14, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Education Department to Inform Potential Students of Low-Financial-Value Postsecondary Programs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that he has joined Senate colleagues in asking the Education Department to provide input about the agency's process for compiling a list of low-financial-value postsecondary programs. This list would serve as a warning sign for students, parents, and educators about the certain higher education programs that do not produce a financial return on investment for attendees, especially as college costs and student loan debts are rising. … Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill Requiring SCOTUS to Follow Code of Ethics
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined their Senate and House colleagues to introduce the Supreme Court Ethics Act, requiring the Judicial Conference of the United States to create a code of ethical conduct for the Supreme Court of the United States. The legislation would also require the appointment of an Ethics Investigations Counsel and require justices to publicly disclose recusal decisions. "The Supreme Court is making life-altering decisions … Continue Reading
February 13, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.8 Million Coming to Oregon for Habitat Restoration and Conservation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) will be receiving $1,818,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for habitat restoration and conservation through the National Estuary Program. "Climate chaos and human actions are threatening to lead to the permanent loss of plants and animals that have defined Oregon, including salmon and steelhead," said Senator Merkley, who, as Chair of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Cap Child Care Costs for Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined colleagues to introduce new legislation that would expand access to affordable child care to every American family, offer high-quality early education to every child, and create good jobs for our early educators. "There are countless parents who want to work to provide for their families but simply can't because there is no affordable child care option for them," said Wyden, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee who, during … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Cattle Market Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined U.S. Senators Deb Fischer, R-Neb., Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Jon Tester, D-Mont. to introduce the bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023. The legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information, including permanently authorizing a cattle contract library. "Family farmers and ranchers … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Question Defense and Education Departments About Reports of Students Forced into JROTC Enrollment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues this week asked top federal officials to answer questions arising from troubling reports of students forced to join the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program. "The actions by schools to make JROTC mandatory are also not consistent with Pentagon guidelines. JROTC instructors told the Times they are 'creat(ing) problems with discipline and morale,"' Wyden and colleagues wrote in a letter to the Under Secretary of … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce “Ethan’s Law” Safe Gun Storage Legislation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues to reintroduce Ethan's Law, legislation that would require gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. "Reducing access to unsupervised firearms with safe and proper gun storage will save lives in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "Congress must urgently pass Ethan's Law to protect our schools, communities, and fight the gun violence epidemic tearing through this country." … Continue Reading
February 03, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Exempt Trafficking Survivors’ Restitution from Federal Taxes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week joined colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation that would to exempt civil damages or restitution given to human trafficking survivors from federal income taxes. The bill would also codify current Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance that makes restitution payments made to survivors in criminal cases free from federal income taxes. "Human trafficking survivors have been through true horrors, and the last thing they need is a big … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Rising Catalytic Converter Thefts
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues from both parties to introduce legislation that would combat the rise in catalytic converter thefts in Oregon and nationwide. "The theft of catalytic converters has soared in Oregon and across the nation, costing working families and small business owners valuable time and money," said Wyden. "This bill will bring us one step closer to solving this problem by strengthening local law enforcement's ability to locate stolen … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Communities to Receive Total of More Than $1.7 Million in Federal Funds for Safer Streets
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that a federal investment totaling more than $1.7 million has been secured for the cities of Hermiston and Ontario as well as Jefferson, Douglas and Lane counties to improve street safety in their communities. "The ability for all Oregonians to travel safely on the streets and roads they rely on every day plays a big part in quality of life and peace of mind for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists," Wyden said. "I'm … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Justice Adrienne Nelson Committee Vote
Washington, D.C. - Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-9 to advance to the full Senate Oregon Supreme Court Associate Justice Adrienne Nelson's nomination to U.S. District Court. "There is no doubt that with a wealth of knowledge and commitment to justice for all, Justice Nelson will be an excellent addition to the U.S. District Court," Wyden and Merkley said. "Justice Nelson is a highly accomplished … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $22.4 Million Coming to Portland for Street Safety Improvements
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding the City of Portland $20 million to employ low-cost, high-benefit safety improvements on 5.5 miles of 122nd Avenue, and is awarding Metro $2.4 million to develop a comprehensive safety action plan for communities to improve pedestrian safety in the Greater Portland area. "For many people across Portland who use the city's busy corridors, especially 122nd … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Wyden Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Help Students Access High-Quality Job Training, Get Good-Paying Jobs
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today cosponsored bipartisan legislation that would help students in Oregon and nationwide use federal Pell Grants to afford high-quality, shorter-term job training programs. "I'm all in to help working students in Oregon and nationwide afford high-quality job training that helps ensure they can count on a supply of local good-paying jobs," Wyden said. "That's why I'm proud to cosponsor legislation that would allow Pell Grants to be used for … Continue Reading
February 01, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Ground Airlines’ Skyrocketing Fees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined colleagues to reintroduce legislation that would prohibit airlines from charging unreasonable fees - including bag, seating, cancellation, and change fees - that are not proportional to the costs of the service actually provided. "Airlines are charging folks unreasonable fees for basic services - it's ridiculous," Wyden said. "That's why I'm proud to cosponsor legislation that will prohibit airlines from charging excessive … Continue Reading
January 31, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Include Oregon in Smith River National Recreation Area
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today introduced legislation to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area by 58,000 acres, a move that would protect the diverse ecosystems of the rivers, streams, and adjacent lands of the North Fork Smith River watershed and help boost the local fishing and recreation industries that many Oregon families rely on. The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA). In … Continue Reading
