Press Releases
Wyden Joins Legislation to Tackle Food Insecurity Among College Students
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he is co-sponsoring a bill that would address food insecurity among college students, ensuring they can focus on their education without fear of sacrificing meals to pay for school. “College alone is a big enough challenge for students,” Wyden said. “Students shouldn’t have to worry about whether they can afford a meal. We need to ensure that students seeking opportunities are set up for success, and that includes giving them … Continue Reading
September 11, 2024
Wyden Introduces Legislation to Guarantee Full Retirement Benefits for American Hostages
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has introduced bipartisan legislation that would protect the Social Security benefits of Americans who have been held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. On August 1, several Americans were released from Russian detention as part of a historic prisoner exchange. These individuals now face several financial obstacles resulting from their captivity, including diminished Social Security benefits when they … Continue Reading
September 11, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce $9.4 Million Federal Investment to Confront Wildfire Threats in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $9.4 million is coming to Oregon to reduce wildfire threats in high-risk areas across the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is directly investing $9,422,722 in three of Oregon’s national forests to treat areas of high wildfire risk where forests and grasslands meet homes and communities. This funding is part of the USDA Forest Service’s (USFS) Collaborative Wildfire Risk Reduction Program, … Continue Reading
September 09, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $3 Million for Safer Streets in Oregon Cities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced federal funding is heading to the cities of Tangent, Milwaukie, and Ashland to develop and update comprehensive road and street safety plans, while investments for Klamath Falls will fund the construction of safety improvements at intersections in the city. “Whether walking, driving, or biking, Oregonians in every corner of the state deserve safe streets in their communities to get where they need to go,” … Continue Reading
September 06, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Celebrate $11.5 Million Coming to Oregon to Boost Literacy Programs
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $11.5 million is coming to Oregon to boost the state’s programs to close disparities in literacy for students. The U.S. Department of Education is awarding the Oregon Department of Education $11,578,036 to advance literacy skills, including pre-literacy skills, reading, and writing for students from birth through grade 12. The program will particularly focus on limited-English-proficient students and … Continue Reading
September 06, 2024
Merkley, Wyden: $16.1 Million Federal Investment Will Jumpstart Economic Development, Job Training in Eastern Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $16,100,000 is coming to Baker and Union counties to support communities located near a proposed new transmission line in Eastern Oregon. The funds will support job training programs, as well as economic development projects for housing, business development, and improved regional infrastructure. “This critical funding will help ensure that Eastern Oregon’s electricity needs are met for years to come … Continue Reading
September 05, 2024
Oregon Delegation Announces $9.6 Million for the City of Portland to Make Critical Safety Improvements Along 82nd Avenue
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, today announced new federal funding to improve one of Portland’s most important,high-crash corridors. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding the City of Portland $9.6 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to make essential safety improvements on a seven-mile segment of 82nd Avenue. “Whether Oregonians are walking, biking, or … Continue Reading
September 05, 2024
Wyden, Merkley: Airports In Medford and Prineville Earn More Than $10 Million in Federal Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Rogue Valley International Airport and the Prineville Airport have secured more than $10.4 million combined in federal grants for improvements to taxiways, lighting, runways and more. “These federal investments to modernize and improve airports in Medford and Prineville benefit Oregonians relying on these facilities in both communities for the health of their economies as well as safety in times of … Continue Reading
September 03, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce Federal Investment to Help Fight Wildfires in Wasco County
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $757,143 for the Juniper Flats Rural Protection District in Wasco County to aid in local firefighting efforts. “As we witnessed firsthand this summer in Wasco County and statewide, wildfires devastating Oregon and the entire West Coast are not like our grandfathers’ fires,” Wyden said. “The climate crisis is accelerating these blazes into infernos with drier and hotter weather throughout Oregon. … Continue Reading
August 30, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $1.9 Million to Promote Sustainable Forest Health for Small-Acreage Forest Landowners
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $1.9 million for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation to connect underserved and small acreage forest landowners to emerging carbon markets that provide incentives to improve forest management, including reforestation and other sustainable practices, for a healthier climate. “Maintaining the health of our forests is central to what it means to be an Oregonian,” Wyden said. “Responsible forest … Continue Reading
August 30, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce Federal Investment to Help Clean Energy Transition in Jackson County
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $143,430 for the City of Medford to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and lower overall energy use. “The climate crisis demands action at every level in order to fight its dangerous effects such as wildfires, floods, severe storms and more,” Wyden said. “Local assistance for making an effective and efficient transition to a cleaner economy is essential to meet these … Continue Reading
August 29, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Federal Funding to Upgrade Warm Springs Radio’s Emergency Alert Equipment
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that KWSO-FM, a non-commercial community radio station owned and operated by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, is receiving up to $158,749 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The federal grant will be used to upgrade the radio station’s broadcast transmission infrastructure as part of the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) program, which is critical to keeping communities safe during … Continue Reading
August 28, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Federal Funding to Boost Truck Driver Recruitment and Safety Training in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is awarding Klamath Community College and Linn-Benton Community College a combined total of $265,829 to grow their commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs. A CDL is needed for careers operating large vehicles, including semi-trucks and buses. Klamath Community College is receiving $135,286 and Linn-Benton Community College is receiving $130,543 from … Continue Reading
August 26, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.35 Million Federal Investment to Oregon State University for Health Research
Washington D.C.— U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $2.35 million federal investment for Oregon State University to research antimicrobial resistance, which the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified as one of the greatest threats to human health. “I’m a big believer in science, and when antibiotics become resistant to fighting off illnesses in humans and animals, it’s high time to counter that resistance through … Continue Reading
August 26, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Encourage Landscape Investments and Management Flexibility as Oregon Ranchers Deal with Extreme Wildfire Season
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to provide additional management flexibility and key investments for a full recovery of the rangelands that have been devastated during recent wildfires in Oregon. “As these infernos are brought under control and the extent of losses and harm are more fully assessed, there is an opportunity for you to support recovery through your authority … Continue Reading
August 23, 2024
Merkley, Wyden: CRITFC Poised to Receive $794,000 for Salmon Recovery Work in the Columbia River Estuary
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC) is set to receive a $794,000 federal grant from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to support their salmon recovery work and strengthen underserved communities impacted by climate chaos in the Columbia River Estuary. “Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest have been stewards for the Columbia River and protectors … Continue Reading
August 21, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $35 Million to Support Salmon Recovery Efforts in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that Oregon—as well as the Klamath Basin—is receiving $35,148,287 from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF), a federal grant program to help restore Pacific salmon and steelhead. “Oregon’s salmon population is critical in sustaining our commercial and recreational fisheries and empowering the well-being and cultural heritage of Tribes … Continue Reading
August 20, 2024
As Wildfires Devastate the West, Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Make Grazing Flexibility and Recovery Assistance Available
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are urging the Department of the Interior to support Governor Kotek’s request for emergency authorizations to allow flexibility in grazing schedules and use alternative grazing areas in response to the current wildfire disaster in Oregon. “The grazing flexibility requested by Governor Kotek will be an incredibly important lifeline to our rural communities that have been devastated by these wildfire disasters,” Wyden … Continue Reading
August 19, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Announce Federal Funding for the Klamath Tribes’ Efforts to Curb Pollution
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the Klamath Tribes received $545,000 for programs that improve water and air quality and reduce pollution. The investment is an initial award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address environmental and public health concerns.? “Tribal families and community members rely on clean air and water for the health, safety, and economic growth of their communities,” Merkley said.?“It is vital … Continue Reading
August 16, 2024
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Gilliam and Wallowa Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls next week in Wallowa and Gilliam counties. Heading into these two town halls, Wyden will have held 1,097 town halls throughout Oregon - including 32 so far this year -- in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. “Hearing directly from Oregonians helps me represent every nook and cranny of our state,” Wyden said. “In the nearly 1,100 town halls … Continue Reading
