Press Releases
Wyden Presses Feds for Answers About Prosecutions for Attacks on U.S. Servicemembers and Former Servicemembers
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today pressed the U.S. Justice Department to answer questions about its prosecution of cases under a 2009 federal law that established new penalties for attacks on U.S. servicemembers and former servicemembers who are within five years of discharge. Wyden’s letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi follows constituent concerns in Oregon that the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act does not track or appropriately enforce this law … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Wyden Appoints New Field Representative for Eastern Oregon
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that Andrew Cutler has begun work as his new field representative for Eastern Oregon, covering Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties. “I’m gratified to have someone on my team as knowledgeable and passionate as Andrew is about issues in Eastern Oregon,” Wyden said. “A field representative’s role is about being a region’s eyes and ears, hearing directly from locals about … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Wyden, Bonamici Reintroduce Legislation to Promote Gender Equity in Sports
Washington D.C.-U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today reintroduced legislation that would promote gender equity in college and K-12 sports in Oregon and nationwide. “With so much excitement and momentum around women’s sports in America, including a new WNBA team coming to Portland, I call foul on retreating to a time before Title IX when girls didn’t receive the athletic support they deserve to nourish their potential,” Wyden said. “I’m putting a full-court … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden Senate Floor Remarks on Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard
Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here Today, I will be speaking about the nomination of Tulsi Gabbard to be Director of National Intelligence and my reasons for opposing her confirmation. First, I believe the Senate must consider with this nomination the examples of blatant lawlessness of this administration. At every turn, Donald Trump is attacking the rule of law, disregarding the constitutional role of the Congress, and trying to purge the civil servants who defend this country … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Join 32 Senators on Bipartisan Legislation to Make High-Quality Job Training More Accessible
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation that would make high-quality job training more accessible. “The last thing hardworking students should have to worry about is not being able to afford a pathway to a successful career,” Wyden said. “No student should ever be denied the chance to work hard and get ahead. The JOBS Act would make the playing field fairer by giving low-income students the chance … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Exempt Seasonal Firefighters from Federal Hiring Freeze
Washington D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined their Senate colleagues to urge the Trump Administration to exempt seasonal firefighters from the federal hiring freeze that’s reportedly preventing the hiring and onboarding of seasonal firefighters, a workforce that already struggles with recruitment and retention. “We write today following reports that hiring and onboarding for federal seasonal firefighters has stopped due to the Trump Administration’s federal hiring … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Wyden Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Protect Beaches in Oregon and Nationwide
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced bipartisan legislation that would preserve coastal beaches in Oregon and nationwide by providing funding for state, local, and tribal governments to test, monitor, and identify recreational waters that are contaminated. “The Oregon Coast offers unmatched opportunities for visitors to make fond memories and for residents of one of America’s most iconic coastlines to live and work in and next to the Pacific Ocean,” Wyden said. “But the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Raise the Alarm Over Oregon Community Health Centers’ Delays in Accessing Federal Funding
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to press the Trump Administration about reports that community health centers are experiencing significant delays in accessing funding. There are 34 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Oregon, including two Look-Alikes, operating more than 270 sites—a majority of which serve rural areas with limited access to medical care across the state. Merkley and … Continue Reading
February 10, 2025
Wyden Co-Sponsors Bill to Keep Ski Fees Local
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would let National Forests retain a portion of annual fees paid by ski areas operating on U.S. Forest Service lands in Oregon and nationwide. Ski areas operating on Forest Service lands pay fees to the Forest Service averaging more than $40 million annually in exchange for their ability to have access to some of America’s most stunning public lands. The Ski Hill Resources for Economic … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Launch Probe into DOGE’s Interference with Department of Education, Access to Federal Student Loan Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded an investigation into recent reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers have gained access to federal student loan data, which includes personal information for millions of borrowers. In a letter to Acting U.S. Education Department Secretary Denise Carter from Wyden, Merkley and 14 senate colleagues, they wrote, “This deeply troubling report raises questions about potential exposures … Continue Reading
February 07, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Condemn the Use of U.S. Military Assets or Personnel to Take Over Gaza
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Peter Welch (D-VT) today unveiled a resolution affirming that the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and to express the sense of the Senate that the United States shall not deploy U.S. military assets or personnel to Gaza. The resolution rebuts Donald Trump’s … Continue Reading
February 06, 2025
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Antitrust Legislation to Take on Algorithmic Price Fixing, Bring Down Costs
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined Senate colleagues to introduce legislation that would prevent companies from using algorithms to collude to set higher prices. This legislation builds off legislation Wyden introduced last year to crack down on companies that help landlords increase rents in already high-priced markets. “Collusion is collusion, whether you do it over the phone or using an algorithm. This legislation, along with my End Rent Fixing Act, will send a strong … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Wyden Demands Answers About DOGE’s Illegal Seizure of Americans’ Private Data
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today demanded White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles answer questions about the acute risks posed to national security by letting unvetted ‘DOGE’ staff rifle through Americans’ private data and classified government materials. Wyden, along with fellow Senate Intelligence Committee members Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), demanded … Continue Reading
February 05, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Demand Answers and Actions from Feds as Many Head Start Programs in Oregon and Nationwide Still Face Funding Disruptions
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are joining colleagues to demand answers and action from the Trump administration about the acute financial impacts and lingering uncertainty faced by Head Start programs in Oregon and nationwide following the Office of Management and Budget’s memo that froze funding government-wide, and as many Head Start programs continue to be locked out of their funding. The letter signed by Wyden, ranking member of the Senate … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Wyden Votes “No” on Director of National Intelligence Nominee Tulsi Gabbard in Senate Intelligence Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted against advancing Tulsi Gabbard’s nomination to serve as director of national intelligence in the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence today. “Tulsi Gabbard’s statements, writings, and record since she left Congress show that she views issues of national security and foreign intelligence primarily through an extreme partisan lens. Disturbingly, Ms. Gabbard refused to commit to opposing an illegal order from Donald Trump, in response … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Merkley, Wyden Join Effort Raising Alarm Over Trump Administration Chaos at Critical National Security Agencies
Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley -- a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee - and Ron Wyden joined an effort led by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) that raises the alarm of the growing chaos and dysfunction at the U.S. Department of State and the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to destroy the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID is a critical pillar of U.S. national security strategy, providing lifesaving aid and development support … Continue Reading
February 04, 2025
Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, and Risch Push to Reauthorize Program Supporting Rural Counties in Oregon, Idaho and Nationwide
Washington, D.C.-- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (both D-Ore.) said today that they along with U.S. Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) and 17 other Senate colleagues have reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) administered for counties hosting both U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management forested lands through Fiscal Year 2026. “This is urgent business for the Oregonians … Continue Reading
February 03, 2025
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Washington and Columbia Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold town halls on Saturday, Feb. 15 in Washington and Columbia counties. Heading into these two town halls on Feb. 15, Wyden has held 1,103 open-to-all town halls in keeping his promise to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon’s 36 counties. “Oregonians deserve and expect elected officials to come to them in their communities to voice their opinions, ask how they can make our state and country stronger, and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2025
Wyden, Merkley Call for Reinstatement of Inspectors General Illegally Fired by Trump
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are demanding the immediate reinstatement of Inspectors General (IGs) from at least 18 government agencies, in a letter to Donald Trump strongly condemning his recent decision to remove them from their crucial posts. The IGs who were removed included those overseeing the Departments of Defense, State, Education, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Energy, Commerce, Agriculture, … Continue Reading
January 30, 2025
Wyden, Bonamici Reintroduce Bill to Connect Child Care with Affordable Housing
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with five colleagues in the Senate, reintroduced legislation to help working families access affordable housing and child care. U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., introduced companion legislation in the House. The Build Housing with Care Act would invest $500 million to construct child care centers co-located in affordable housing developments and cover the costs of retrofitting to help family child care providers operate in … Continue Reading
