Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Urge the Biden Administration to Protect Coastal Communities, Cease?Expansion?of?Offshore?Oil and Gas Leasing
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in a letter to U.S. Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland, urging the Department to protect coastal communities across the nation by including no new leasing across all planning areas in any proposed or final five-year outer continental shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing program?currently?under development by the Bureau?of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) within the Department of the Interior (DOI). … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Wyden Statement on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the Supreme Court decision to overturn of Roe v. Wade: "Today's radical decision to overturn Roe v. Wade tosses out a half century of legal precedent, curtails the fundamental rights of women, and jeopardizes the health and safety of millions of people across the country. These radical Justices have ensured American women today have fewer rights than their grandmothers had decades ago - rights that … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Call on Mental Health Apps to Provide Answers on Patient Data Privacy and Sharing Practices
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week pressed two leading mental health companies over the use of patients' personal health data, following reports that mental health apps are collecting, mining, and disseminating private client information to third parties, including data brokers and Big Tech companies like Google and Facebook. "We have long been concerned about the misuse of personal data by Big Tech companies and unscrupulous data brokers, especially for the purpose of … Continue Reading
June 24, 2022
Wyden Announces Town Halls for Sherman and Morrow Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced upcoming live on-line town halls hosted on Wednesday, July 6 by People's Town Hall for residents of Sherman and Morrow counties. Heading into these upcoming virtual town halls, Wyden has held 1,022 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "I've kept my promise to hold annual town halls in each of our state's 36 counties because Oregonians in every nook and … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Wyden Secures Provisions to Protect Whistleblowers, Bolster Cybersecurity, and End Denial of Security Clearances Based on Past Cannabis Use in 2023 Intelligence Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., secured key provisions that protect Intelligence Community whistleblowers, bolster cybersecurity, and end the denial of security clearances for potential intelligence community employees based on past cannabis use, all in the 2023 Intelligence Authorization Act that passed the Senate Intelligence Committee Wednesday afternoon. Wyden, a senior member of the Intelligence Committee, applauded the committee for including his provisions in the … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Wyden, Lummis, Whitehouse, Rubio and Hagerty Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Americans’ Private Data from Hostile Foreign Governments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Senator Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., introduced bipartisan legislation today to create new protections against Americans' sensitive personal information being sold or transferred to high-risk foreign countries. "Right now it's perfectly legal for a company in China to buy huge databases of sensitive information from data brokers about the movements … Continue Reading
June 23, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Join Bipartisan Push to Strengthen Veteran Health Care in Rural Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week joined with senators from both parties to ask the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs for a $20 million budget increase to the VA's Office of Rural Health. "Congress must ensure the VA has the resources necessary to reach all of our veterans, no matter where they live," Wyden, Merkley and the other senators wrote. "Our rural veterans have earned the right to quality, timely, and accessible care." The senators' goal is … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Wyden, Fischer, Grassley, Tester Cattle Market Reform Bill Passes Agriculture Committee
Washington, D.C. - The bipartisan cattle market reform bill cosponsored by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden passed out of the Senate Agriculture Committee today by voice vote, and is now eligible for a final vote on the Senate floor. "This takes a significant step to restore fairness and reform a marketplace now benefiting only a few corporate meat packers, while unjustly hurting Oregon's family ranchers and artificially driving up beef prices for consumers," Wyden said. "I'm glad our bipartisan bill … Continue Reading
June 22, 2022
Congressman DeFazio and Senator Wyden Send Letter to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Oregon Coast Offshore Wind Project
WASHINGTON - Today, Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden sent a bicameral letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) about their significant concerns with the ongoing siting process for offshore wind facilities off the southern Oregon coast. BOEM has issued Call Areas for potential offshore wind leasing off Coos Bay and Brookings. These Call Areas are the first step in the leasing process and are meant to assess commercial interest and public input on … Continue Reading
June 21, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Welcome Biden Administration Announcement on Federal Wildland Firefighter Pay, Renew Call for Immediate Implementation of Changes
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley welcomed today's announcement from the Biden administration on its plans to increase federal wildland firefighter pay and establish a new occupational series for these firefighters as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Following up on a letter they sent to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last week, the senators today renewed their call for the administration to immediately implement these changes which are one … Continue Reading
June 21, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: More than $1 Million to Oregon for Sagebrush Conservation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that more than $1 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds will go to Oregon projects conserving sagebrush ecosystems. These projects will combat invasive grasses, safeguard precious water resources, prevent wildfire, and promote community and economic sustainability. "Oregon sagebrush restoration and conservation projects curb destructive, wildfire-causing invasive grasses, while also contributing to the … Continue Reading
June 21, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce My Body, My Data Act to Protect Reproductive Health Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would protect personal reproductive health data in response to the leaked draft decision indicating the Supreme Court's plans to overturn Roe v. Wade. "The draft Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe shows that the fundamental rights of a woman over her own body and privacy are on the chopping block. Congress needs to step up and offer real protections for people seeking reproductive health care, and lots of people … Continue Reading
June 17, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Ban Data Brokers from Selling Americans’ Location and Health Data
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is cosponsoring the Health and Location Data Protection Act, legislation that bans data brokers from selling Americans' health and location data. "When abortion is illegal, researching reproductive health care online, updating a period-tracking app, or bringing a phone to the doctor's office all could be used to track and prosecute women across the U.S," Wyden said. "It amounts to uterus surveillance. Congress must protect Americans' … Continue Reading
June 16, 2022
Wyden Applauds Senate Passage of the Bipartisan PACT Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Wyden today voted yes as part of the Senate majority passing historic legislation that ensures access to essential health care services for U.S. soldiers exposed to toxic chemicals, including those from toxic burn pits, used for waste disposal in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Veterans exposed to toxic chemicals in burn pits and in other settings have long deserved far better in their health care, " Wyden said. "They earned these benefits with their service to our … Continue Reading
June 15, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Two Oregon Colleges Receive $2.44 Million to Recruit and Retain Rural Students
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Umpqua Community College and Eastern Oregon University will receive a combined $2.44 million to help recruit and retain students from rural Oregon, as well as provide them with career opportunities in high-skill, high-wage and in-demand industry sectors in the region. "Students exposed to quality college and career preparation graduate from high school at higher rates and are more prepared to get good-paying … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Wyden Presses Bureau of Reclamation Official on Agency's Plans to Address Water Emergency in Oregon and Across West
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked the Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton how the agency plans to efficiently deliver new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to make sure the best available science is used to address water management challenges in Oregon and across the West -- especially with the potential of another devastating wildfire season. "The summer begins next week and more than half of my state is already suffering extreme or severe … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Fight for Increased Investments for Land and Water Conservation
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he is calling for increased investments in the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for fiscal year 2023. In a bipartisan letter addressed to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Wyden and colleagues requested an investment of $450 million in discretionary funds, in addition to mandatory LWCF funding to address the numerous ready-to-go project opportunities. "From protecting clean drinking … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Wyden: No “Reset” with Saudi Arabia Without Justice for Victims of Mohammed bin Salman’s Violence
Washington, D.C. - Amid reports that President Biden is seeking to "reset" relations with Saudi Arabia, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, urged President Biden to insist on accountability for those responsible for the brutal murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the killing of Portland's Fallon Smart and other victims of Saudi citizens who have fled U.S. justice. "The United States cannot value Saudi oil more highly than … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon to Receive $3 Million to Ensure Workers Receive Earned Jobless Benefits
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Oregon Employment Department (OED) will receive $3 million in federal grants to ensure that eligible Oregonians can access the unemployment insurance (UI) program and receive the benefits they have earned. "I'm gratified to see federal investment so that Oregon can build out its UI resources to help jobless Oregonians receive their benefits without delay," Wyden said, who secured Pandemic Unemployment … Continue Reading
June 09, 2022
Wyden Sounds the Alarm on Wildland Firefighter Shortage, Backlog of Prevention Work at U.S. Forest Service Budget Hearing
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore on how the agency plans to use the money secured for wildfire in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to address the critical shortage of permanent wildland firefighters and make sure Oregon and the entire West are prepared for what is expected to be another catastrophic wildfire season. At the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Forest Service budget, Wyden also called … Continue Reading
