Press Releases
Wyden, Brown, Casey Urge Social Security to Include Children in Eligibility Outreach Programs
Washington, D.C. - Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy Subcommittee Chair Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Senate Special Committee on Aging Chair Bob Casey, D-Pa., today urged the Social Security Administration (SSA) to incorporate children in ongoing outreach efforts, to help families eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). "We share President Biden and SSA's priority to advance equity throughout the Federal Government, … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Urge SBA to Process All Eligible COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan Applications
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are urging the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to process COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications that were received prior to the agency's May 6, 2022 deadline. "While we recognize the agency has assisted an unprecedented number of small businesses throughout the pandemic, our offices continue to hear from thousands of prospective borrowers awaiting consideration," Wyden and Merkley wrote in a … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Join Murray in Letter to VA Secretary Urging End Discrimination against Same-Sex Spouses
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough pressing for answers and immediate action to ensure same-sex veteran couples have access to the full scope of spousal benefits they are owed. "Each of our veterans and their spouses deserve the same quality care and services once they leave the military - no matter who they love. Our veterans and their … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: City of Amity To Receive More Than $6 Million in Grants and Loans for Water Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Amity has secured a $4.83 million loan and $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve water treatment, reliability and capacity in the Yamhill County town. "These federal investments will provide crucial help for Amity residents counting on safe and reliable drinking water in their homes, schools and small businesses," Wyden said. "I'm glad Amity's work to qualify for these funds … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Dayville Secures $32,200 Federal Grant for New Fire Station
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Dayville has secured a $32,200 federal grant to help build a new fire station in the Grant County town. "Federal investments just like this one in Dayville protect quality of life for rural residents and the small businesses who employ Oregonians in our state's more remote nooks and crannies," Wyden said. "I'm gratified that the City of Dayville's leaders have earned these resources to help rebuild their fire … Continue Reading
July 15, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Urge Biden Administration to Declare National and Public Health Emergencies on Reproductive Rights
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and a dozen other colleagues in a letter to President Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra urging them to immediately declare national and public health emergencies on reproductive rights. Millions of Americans have been endangered by the Supreme Court's reckless decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Merkley, Wyden: $30 Million Headed to Astoria to Expand Coast Guard Facilities
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the United States Coast Guard awarded a $30 million federal contract to expand Coast Guard shore-side facilities at East Tongue Point in Astoria. This enable the facility to accommodate the home porting of Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). Fast Response Cutters are the newest class of ships currently being produced for the United States Coast Guard. The $30 million contract will ensure that East Tongue Point can … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Statement on Nomination of Adrienne Nelson to U.S. District Court
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following joint statement about today's announcement from the White House of Associate Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson's nomination to the U.S. District Court. "We wholeheartedly support President Biden's nomination of Associate Oregon Supreme Court Justice Adrienne Nelson to the U.S. District Court post. Justice Nelson is extremely well-qualified for this federal judgeship, combining her experience on … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Wyden Calls for Passage of the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act
You know something has gone horribly wrong when the Senate is forced to consider a proposal called the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act. The freedom … to travel … for health care. That's a freedom as basic as it gets. But the fact is, six Republicans on the Supreme Court ripped it out by the roots. Now state governments are moving toward criminalizing travel for health care. They're even moving toward criminalizing helping people travel for health care. I'd call it … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: $225,000 to the Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District to Support a Diversified Economy on Oregon’s North Coast
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Columbia-Pacific Economic Development District (Col-Pac) will receive $225,000 to establish an economic development planning framework that supports diversified job creation in the region. "I know from holding more than 1,000 town halls throughout our state that Oregon communities are doing an incredible job taking care of each other through unprecedented economic circumstances," Wyden said. "These federal … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect the Right to Cross State Lines to Seek Abortion Care
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues introduced legislation to ensure that anti-choice states cannot limit interstate travel for abortion services. The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act would empower the Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict the right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care. "I am proud that Oregon is a sanctuary for women who need health care services including abortion," … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Youth Access to Voting
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today cosponsored comprehensive legislation to empower the youth vote and enforce the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, which enshrined voting rights for American citizens over 18 years of age. "For our democracy to thrive, young voters need to be full participants in elections and have the ability to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. And yet, young voters, particularly youth of color, face unique and growing challenges to voting," Wyden said. … Continue Reading
July 11, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Announce More than $3 Million to Help Safeguard Water Supplies around Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announce a total of $3,052,940 in federal funding is headed to three projects across the state to combat record drought conditions throughout the west, including Oregon. These federal investments are intended to safeguard local water supplies in response the extreme drought and weather events. "Between record droughts and raging megafires, Oregon and other Western states have been hit hard over the last couple of years," … Continue Reading
July 07, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer: More than $18.4 Million to Portland International Airport for Improvements That Will Lower Emissions
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Congressman Earl Blumenauer today announced that Portland International Airport (PDX) will receive more than $18.4 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for improvements to heating and cooling systems that will dramatically lower energy demand by 83 percent. "Portland's airport has grown so much in the past few years-in size, overall use and in sustainability practices," Wyden said. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure … Continue Reading
July 01, 2022
Wyden Secures Commitment from Airlines To Offer X Gender Option For Nonbinary Customers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today commended domestic airlines for committing to offer a ticket option for nonbinary customers by 2024. In a letter to Airlines for America, which represents domestic carriers, he thanked them for the commitment, which came in response to inquiries by Wyden and LGBTQ+ advocates. "The right to have documents and paperwork that reflect their identity is an essential protection for trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming Americans - … Continue Reading
July 01, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: La Pine to Receive $17.7 Million for Crucial Water Infrastructure Upgrades
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the City of La Pine will receive more than $17.7 million in a combination of loans and grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for municipal water improvements to transition away from septic systems which are contaminating groundwater for residents and small businesses. "The people in this part of Deschutes County have long suffered from groundwater contamination from the septic systems," said … Continue Reading
July 01, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1.2 Million to Airports in Roseburg and North Bend for Vital Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Roseburg Regional Airport and Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend will receive more than $1.2 million combined from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for improvements and expansions. "Oregonians and small businesses in rural parts of the state count on reliable air service and modern infrastructure to send their products and generate local jobs," Wyden said. "The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I am … Continue Reading
June 30, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: OSU Earns Federal Funds to Research Ways of Limiting Wildfire Spread
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon State University has earned $265,000 in federal funds to improve models used by fire managers to help them contain wildfires and employ prescribed burns as a tool to reduce the risk of wildfires in Oregon and nationwide. "This well-deserved award for OSU is timely and welcome news for communities throughout Oregon and the West facing the dire threat from wildfires to lives and livelihoods," Wyden said. "I … Continue Reading
June 29, 2022
Wyden Welcomes News Effectively Ending Process That Would Have Led to Reduced Care for Eastern Oregon Veterans
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today welcomed news effectively ending a process that threatened to reduce physical and mental health services for Eastern Oregon veterans. The news this week that Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and a bipartisan group of senators will block the veterans Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission comes amid Wyden pressing the Veterans Administration (VA) through town halls Wyden … Continue Reading
June 29, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Join Murray and Colleagues in Letter to President Biden Urging for Bold and Immediate Action to Protect Abortion Access in a Post-Roe America
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 31 Democratic Senators in a letter to President Joe Biden pushing for bold action to protect the right to abortion after the Supreme Court released their final opinion in the case of?Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, effectively changing the precedent set by?Roe v. Wade?and forever changing the right to abortion for Americans. "Now is the time for bold action to protect the … Continue Reading
