Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley: McMinnville, Gold Beach Airports Secure Nearly $850,000 Collectively for Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the McMinnville Municipal Airport has secured a $450,000 federal grant and the Gold Beach Municipal Airport has earned a $396,459 federal grant. "These federal investments support quality airports for Oregonians living and working in both communities, and counting on these facilities for the health of their economies as well as safety in times of emergency," Wyden said. "I'm gratified these funds are heading to small … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $3.5 Million for Brookings Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding the Port of Brookings Harbor $3.5 million for a community-initiated project for a wastewater treatment plant to support a sustainable future for the Port's fish processing industry and promote economic growth in the region. "Reliable infrastructure is critical to fish processing facilities up and down the Oregon coast,"?said Merkley, Chair of the … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Cut Taxes for Working Families
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that they and Senate colleagues have introduced legislation that would cut taxes for working families in Oregon and nationwide by expanding the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. "When Democrats expanded the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit in 2021, 3.7 million children were lifted out of poverty, providing families in Oregon and all around the country some much-needed financial breathing room … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Counties to Receive More Than $27 Million in PILT Funds
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that all 36 Oregon counties will receive more than $27 million collectively this year from the federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes program that helps to cover the costs of important local services. "This annual federal investment in communities throughout Oregon and nationwide supports quality schools, reliable roads and stable public safety with both firefighting and law enforcement," Wyden said. "These vital resources are … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Codify Right to Contraception, Safeguard 60 Years of Settled Precedent
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they and colleagues have reintroduced legislation that would codify and strengthen the right to contraception in Oregon and nationwide. "Right-wing extremists have made their agenda painfully clear: they will not rest until they have control over women's bodies, including the right to access safe medication," Wyden said. "For many Americans, birth control is a part of a basic health regimen. The Right to Contraception Act … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
EU Restrictions on AI Emotion Detection Products
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the European Union’s proposed restrictions on artificial intelligence-powered emotion detection products: “Your facial expressions, eye movements, tone of voice and the way you walk are terrible ways to judge who you are or what you’ll do in the future. Yet millions and millions of dollars are being funneled into developing emotion-detection AI based on bunk science. I’ve … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize Deschutes River Conservancy
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the introduction of the Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act. This critical legislation would reauthorize the Deschutes River Conservancy's (DRC) eligibility to receive federal funding for water quality and conservation projects-efforts critical to the restoration of wildlife and reducing agricultural runoff in Central Oregon rivers. Founded in 1996, DRC initially focused on grazing and timber … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $51 Million Coming to Oregon for High-Speed Internet Access
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved a total of $51,024,671 in combined loans and grants for deploying fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) networks in Wasco County and Clackamas County to provide high-speed internet to over 9,000 community members, business, and farms. "Reliable and affordable broadband has become more crucial than ever to the success of our workforce, students, and … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Wyden Secures Historic Declassification Reform Legislation, Prohibition on the Denial of Security Clearances for Past Cannabis Use, Protections for Intelligence Community Whistleblowers
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., secured key provisions that reform the country’s broken classification and declassification system, prohibit the denial of security clearances for potential intelligence community employees based solely on past cannabis use, and protect Intelligence Community whistleblowers, in the 2024 Intelligence Authorization Act that passed the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday afternoon. Wyden, a senior member of the Intelligence … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Establish Dental Care Pilot Program for Veterans with Chronic Health Conditions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they and Senate colleagues have introduced legislation that would establish a new pilot program to provide comprehensive dental care to veterans in Oregon and nationwide diagnosed with diabetes and coronary artery disease. Funded for four years, the program would also study the health outcomes and cost effectiveness of such care, as well as provide loan reimbursement opportunities for qualified dental care professionals … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Wyden, Lummis, Whitehouse, Hagerty, Heinrich and Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Americans’ Data from Unfriendly Foreign Nations, Bar TikTok Employees in China From Accessing U.S. Information
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today introduced legislation to protect Americans’ data from being exploited by unfriendly foreign nations, and apply tough criminal and civil penalties to prevent employees of foreign corporations like TikTok from accessing U.S. data from abroad. The Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Surveillance Act of 2023 is co-sponsored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn, … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Wyden, Warren Call on Justice Department to Closely Scrutinize PGA Tour-LIV-Saudi Investment Fund Golf Merger for Potential Antitrust Violations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said today they have sent a letter to the Justice Department, raising serious concerns about the deal announced between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund to consolidate global golf-related business, including LIV Golf. In their letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Jonathan Kanter, Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Wyden and … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge the Biden Administration to Release Guidelines for Spending Unused COVID Relief Funds for Infrastructure, Disaster Relief
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues are urging top federal officials to speed up the release of guidance urgently needed by state and local governments on what pandemic relief expenses qualify are eligible for critical infrastructure and disaster relief projects in Oregon and nationwide before these funds expire. "By leveraging these resources effectively, state and local governments can not only address the immediate impacts of the pandemic but … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Continue Fight to Improve Mental Health Services for Students
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues have reintroduced legislation that would strengthen school-based mental health services for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. The Mental Health Services for Students Act would help schools in Oregon and nationwide partner with local mental health providers to establish on-site mental health services for students. The bill would also provide training for school personnel on how to recognize, assist … Continue Reading
June 13, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.2 Million to Oregon to Advance Wood Product Innovation in Resilient, Sustainable Construction Materials
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the U.S. Forest Service has awarded Oregon more than $1.2 million to support wood products innovation in Oregon's manufacturing facilities and develop markets for innovative uses of mass timber and renewable wood energy. Projects also help to restore healthy forests and reduce wildfire risk. "These federal investments in our state's world-renowned wood products are a huge win for Oregon that will lead to construction … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Wyden: DNI Report Confirms Government Purchases of Private Data Threaten Privacy and Constitutional Rights; Congress Must Adopt New Protections Against Unchecked Surveillance of Commercial Data
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called for new protections against government purchases and surveillance of Americans’ personal data, following the release of a report commissioned by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that raised new concerns about the practices. “I appreciate that DNI Haines kept her word to stand-up this review group and then to publish the results of their work. This review shows the government's existing … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Wyden To Hold Seven Town Halls in Eastern Oregon
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have seven open-to-all, in-person town halls throughout Eastern Oregon from June 23-27. Wyden has already held 25 town halls so far throughout Oregon in 2023 - and 1,052 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. "Shortening the distance between Oregon and Washington, DC is essential to representing our entire state, and why I hold open-to-all … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Wyden, Whitehouse, Sanders Launch Investigation into Major Insurance Companies’ Climate Risk Evaluation, Fossil Fuel Support
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and fellow Senate Budget Committee members Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., today launched an investigation into how the U.S. insurance industry evaluates climate-related risks, decides to invest in or underwrite fossil fuel expansion projects that drive such risks, and prices policies that insure such projects. "Witnesses have warned that sea level rise and wetter, more intense storms could eventually make more … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Wyden, Merkley: $1 Million to Oregon State University to Study Effects of Fire on Mass Timber
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon State University will receive $1 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the effects of fire on mass timber products to determine sustainability for their increased use in new construction. "Oregon continues to lead the way in modernizing wood products, generating jobs and economic opportunities in communities statewide," Wyden said. "I'm gratified that Oregon State has earned these funds … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $500,000 for Air Quality Monitoring and Improvements to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $500,000 to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) for air monitoring to improve public health. "One of the most important steps in protecting frontline communities from air pollution is actually monitoring their air so that we can see where there are problems and take steps to address them," said Senator Merkley. … Continue Reading
