Press Releases
Wyden, Barrasso and 12 Bipartisan Senators Urge FCC To Ensure Rural, Tribal Communities Receive Fair Share of Federal Broadband Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and 12 other bipartisan senators called on the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to ensure rural and tribal communities in need receive their fair share of federal broadband grants, in a letter today. The members urged FCC to update the National Broadband Map each month, rather than every 6 months, so broadband grants will be awarded based on the most accurate information. The National Telecommunications and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Wyden Introduces Bill to Increase Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care for Kids, Seniors and Low-Income Americans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Michael Bennet today introduced legislation that would expand access to mental and behavioral health care for Oregonians and all Americans on Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid. "Mental health care should be affordable, reliable and accessible for everyone," said Wyden, who as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee overseeing Medicare and Medicaid, has introduced legislation for an historic investment in mental health … Continue Reading
March 22, 2023
Merkley, Wyden Announce $23 Million in USFS Investments to Strengthen and Defend Oregon Communities from Wildfire Threats
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (USFS) is investing $23.5 million in 10 project proposals in Oregon that will help make communities across the state more resilient to severe wildfires. The funding is part of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes $1 billion available over five years to protect communities and tribal … Continue Reading
March 17, 2023
Wyden, Merkley Announce Timeline for Nominations to Fill Upcoming Judicial Vacancy on U.S. District Court in Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that applications are being accepted through April 7, 2023 to fill an upcoming federal judicial vacancy in Oregon created by the recent announcement from U.S. District Court Judge Marco Hernández that he will take senior status in August 2024. "Judge Hernández has dedicated his career to justice, serving with distinction as a federal judge in our state for more than a decade after coming to the U.S. … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden Remarks on the Fallon Smart Rule and Accountability for Foreign Officials Who Undermine U.S. Justice
Senator also raises concerns about injustice for Oregon family in long-delayed asylum case. Click here to watch a video of today's remarks. As Prepared for Delivery I rise today to highlight a new rule by the State Department that honors a 15-year-old Portland girl whose life was cut short by a hit-and-run driver in 2016. The girl's name is Fallon Smart. And the man accused of manslaughter in her hit-and-run death was a Saudi national. Subsequent reporting by my hometown newspaper - … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge New IRS Funding to Protect Taxpayer Rights, Increase Tax Enforcement on Wealthy Tax Cheats
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today urged federal officials to focus new enforcement funds on reducing tax avoidance by large corporations and the wealthy - while expressing strong support for the IRS not to raise audit rates for small businesses or households making less than $400,000 annually. "We… understand that the administration is still working on the operational plan regarding implementation of the new [Inflation Reduction Act] funding and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2023
Wyden Announces March 21 Seminar for Oregon Cities, Counties and Nonprofits to Learn About Federal Investment and Funding Opportunities
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is convening an all-day, online seminar on Tuesday, March 21 for representatives of Oregon cities, counties and nonprofits that may qualify for federal funding to hear from eight federal agencies about how their communities and organizations can earn benefits from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "A running theme in my 15 town halls so far throughout Oregon this year -- as well as during conversations … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today announced they introduced legislation that would combat wage discrimination and help close the gender wage gap by strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963, ensuring women can challenge pay discriminations and hold employers accountable in Oregon and nationwide. "Today and every day, women deserve equal pay for equal work," Wyden said. "It's outrageous that women are paid less than their male coworkers despite … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
CFPB Opens Inquiry Into Data Brokers Following Wyden Request
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today thanked the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for launching an investigation into the data broker industry, a network of companies that buy, sell and trade Americans' sensitive personal information - everything from location data, to web history and purchase records - with little oversight or transparency. Wyden, the Senate's leading critic and watchdog of data brokers, asked CFPB Director Rohit Chopra in 2021 to investigate the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Press Walgreens, Put National Pharmacies on Notice to Ensure Mifepristone Access
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they have joined colleagues in urging seven of the nation's largest retail pharmacies to provide the strongest possible legal access to mifepristone for patients-and communicate clearly about their plans and policies. In the letters sent this week to Walgreens, CVS Health, Rite Aid, Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, and Walmart, the senators request more information about the companies' plans to provide customers access to … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Restore and Protect Abortion Rights Nationwide
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues to introduce federal legislation that would guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. "We must pass the Women's Health Protection Act and enshrine abortion rights into black letter law, full stop," said Wyden, who has taken to the Senate floor multiple times in support of abortion rights, including … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Wyden Pushes for Increased Investment in the Wildfire Resilience Workforce, Better Firefighter Pay
Video available here Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week sounded the alarm at a Senate hearing on the devastating impact of the climate crisis, increasingly dangerous wildfires and the need for additional investments in the wildfire resilience workforce in Oregon and nationwide. "The reality is these fires are not your grandfather's fires. They are bigger, hotter, more powerful and we get them almost year round," Wyden said during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Address the Affordable Housing Crisis
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he joined Senate colleagues to urge President Biden to use a "whole-of-government" approach that comprehensively addresses critical housing needs in Oregon and nationwide. "Our nation's housing is an essential piece of our infrastructure, but it is a sector that remains in crisis. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, decisive steps have been taken to address many of our … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Wyden Delivers Floor Speech Urging the Senate to Pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, Protect Abortion Access Nationwide
Click here to watch a video of today's remarks. Last week, Wyden delivered a floor speech on the human cost if women lose access to mifepristone. As Prepared for Delivery I'd like to thank my colleagues - Senators Murray, Blumenthal, Baldwin and Schumer - for introducing the Women's Health Protection Act. This legislation needs to be the centerpiece of the battle to defend privacy rights in 2023. Colleagues, this is the third week I've stood on the Senate floor to talk about the absolute … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Wyden Remarks at Section 230 Briefing Hosted by EFF
I wanted to take a few minutes to share my thoughts on why Section 230 remains vital to a functioning internet - and how the Supreme Court oral arguments and briefs in Gonzalez v. Google helped make the case for 230. First of all, Section 230 is a law that Chris Cox and I wrote. It essentially says that the person who creates a piece of content online is the one responsible for it. As a result of 230 and the First Amendment, websites are able to take down posts they don't want - stuff like … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Wyden Secures Pledge From State Department To Hold Accountable Saudi Officials Involved In Aiding Accused Criminals Who Fled American Justice; Lifts Hold on Michael Ratney to Serve as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Washington, D.C. -. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will lift his hold on Michael Ratney, the nominee to serve as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, after securing new commitments from the State Department to revoke the visas of foreign officials involved in assisting foreign nationals in evading prosecution or fleeing the U.S. justice system. Following reporting by The Oregonian that revealed the Saudi regime has systematically helped its citizens flee the United States after … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Wyden Delivers Floor Speech on Bill and Dottie Schonely
M. President, I rise today, on behalf of all Oregonians, to honor the late Bill Schonely - the Portland Trail Blazers' radio voice for the better part of three decades - and his late wife Dottie. Bill passed in January, leaving a timeless legacy for all of us Blazers fans in "Rip City," the name that Bill coined for my hometown. And Dottie passed last month, leaving her own legacy as an accomplished woman who radiated smarts and kindness to everyone she met in Oregon. Bill and Dottie were … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Wyden and Blumenauer Introduce Bill to Allow All Americans to Vote at Home; Legislation Makes Elections More Secure and Accessible with Oregon-Style Voting
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced an updated version of their Vote At Home Act today, to ensure American voters can vote more conveniently and securely at home. The bill would allow all American voters to vote at home, provide pre-paid envelopes to return ballots and automatically register citizens to vote at DMVs. "The United States is stronger when more Americans can vote," Wyden said. "Our bill will make elections … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Merkley, Wyden: $15 Million Available for More Klamath Basin Restoration Projects
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released another $15 million for restoration activities in the Klamath Basin and has begun accepting project grant proposals from the community. This second round of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Klamath Basin-which is set to total $162 million over five years-is intended to invest in projects and activities that support or will help improve … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Ban Government use of Facial Recognition and other Biometric Technology
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in introducing the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. This legislation would prevent the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies which pose significant privacy and civil liberties issues and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. "Law enforcement and government's use of facial recognition technology has resulted in reports of … Continue Reading
