Press Releases
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Tap Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Washington, D.C. - In an effort to combat a sharp rise in oil prices amid Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today urged President Biden to stabilize gas prices and help working families by releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Drawing down oil from the federal government's stockpile now and then replacing it later with less expensive crude oil could help temporarily keep gas prices down for Oregonians, strengthen U.S. national security, … Continue Reading
February 28, 2022
Wyden Announces Town Hall Schedule in Eastern Oregon and Southern Oregon for March
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have six live on-line town halls hosted by People's Town Hall in March for residents of Malheur, Harney, Grant, Baker, Klamath and Jackson counties Wyden has held 1,001 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. "Nothing has been more important in my public service than keeping my promise to listen to Oregonians in each county each year. And coming off my … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Wyden, Brown Release Statement Following Abruptly Scheduled Mexican Union Election in Tridonex USMCA Rapid Response Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tridonex, an auto parts factory located in Matamoros in the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico and subsidiary of a U.S. company, has continually interfered in workers' organizing efforts. Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, issued the following statement following news of a rushed union election at Tridonex' Matamoros plants in Mexico, to be held on February 28, and the lack of sufficient guarantees to ensure a fair election under USMCA enforcement. … Continue Reading
February 25, 2022
Wyden Releases Statement on the Supreme Court Nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on President Biden's historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court: "Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is eminently qualified to serve on the Supreme Court, with more than a decade on the federal bench and distinguished service as a public defender and in private practice. "At a time when the six Republicans on the Supreme Court are re-writing the law to serve the interests of the … Continue Reading
February 23, 2022
Wyden, Markey Urge OSTP to Establish a National Cross-Government Public-Access Policy for Federally Funded Research
Washington, D.C. -U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., today sent a letter to Dr. Alondra Nelson, Deputy Director of Science and Society, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), urging for the establishment of a national government-wide public-access policy for federally funded research with a focus on equity, sustainability, and strategic technological development, guaranteeing rapid access for all federally funded research articles with broad re-use rights. … Continue Reading
February 23, 2022
Wyden, Merkley, Western Colleagues Call for Megadrought Emergency Relief
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are joining Western colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to include $616 million in emergency drought funding and agricultural assistance in the omnibus appropriations bill as the West continues to suffer from the worst megadrought in more than 1200 years. "The Colorado River, the lifeblood of seven western states, could lose 29 percent of its flow by the 2050s and 55 percent by 2100, and federal assistance is essential to … Continue Reading
February 23, 2022
Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Invest in Keno Dam on the Klamath River
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week urged the Bureau of Reclamation to invest in critical facility upgrades at Keno Dam on the Klamath River that would benefit irrigation, water quality, wildlife refuges, and salmon and steelhead fisheries. The Oregon senators noted in their letter to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) they both supported has a new program targeting aquatic … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Oregon Lawmakers Ask Federal Agencies to Protect and Restore Old Growth Forests
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici this week asked the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture to follow congressional intent in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect and restore old-growth forests as well as protect other carbon-rich mature forests in Oregon and nationwide. The Oregon lawmakers wrote that the U.S. Forest Service's climate plan and 10-year wildfire strategy of … Continue Reading
February 18, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Sound the Alarm, Urge More Funding to Address Sudden Oak Death
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management strongly urging the agency to put funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to go towards the mitigation and treatment of Sudden Oak Death, a disease that poses severe economic and environmental threats to counties in Southern Oregon. "Sudden Oak Death poses a significant threat to a multitude of ecosystems and plant species and has already killed millions of … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Merkley, Wyden Secure Over $1.5 Million in Federal Funding to Strengthen Oregonian’s Seafood Economy Amidst the Ongoing Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total investment of $1,532,089 million in grant money headed to the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). These funds will be distributed to Oregon seafood processing facilities and processing vessels to cover expenses incurred preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon is among 24 other states that will be receiving this funding. "Our seafood processors and … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Urge DOJ to Investigate Sackler Family Members for Role in Fueling Opioid Epidemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined six colleagues in calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether members of the Sackler family personally engaged in criminal conduct in connection with Purdue Pharma's admitted criminal wrongdoing in fueling the devastating opioid epidemic. The senators also urged DOJ to investigate whether any of the Sacklers' subsequent conduct warrants criminal investigation as well. In 2020, DOJ resolved its civil and criminal … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
Wyden, Senators Urge U.S. Labor Department to Process Firefighter Injury Claims Faster
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Labor Department to expedite the creation of a special claims unit to handle firefighter compensation claims in advance of the 2022 wildfire season in Oregon and nationwide. "Federal wildland firefighters have recently reported difficulty getting their medical treatment costs for work-related injuries covered by the government within a reasonable … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Retain Talented International Graduates with Advanced STEM Degrees
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has joined six colleagues in introducing a bill that would remove unfair barriers for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educated international graduates who want to work in the United States after they complete their advanced degrees. "Retaining talented and enthusiastic international students with advanced STEM degrees is a no-brainer," Wyden said. "The Keep STEM Talent Act will allow international students to build their … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
Wyden, Markey Urge FCC to Promote Communications Network Resiliency During Emergencies Such as Extreme Weather, Climate-related Events
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., today wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing support for the agency's recent notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the resiliency of communications networks during emergency situations as aging infrastructure and climate change ignite wildfires in Oregon and across the West. Strong action by the FCC is necessary to address the growing threats to communications networks created by … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon To Receive More than $35 Million in Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Grants
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive more than $35.1 million in federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grants. "This partnership with hunters, anglers and others builds even stronger recreational opportunities in Oregon while also protecting sustainable resources," Wyden said. "Our state's world-renowned natural treasures generate recreation jobs and the ability for everybody to enjoy the outdoors. I'm glad this … Continue Reading
February 14, 2022
Oregon Delegation Calls for Additional Emergency Rental Assistance Funding
WASHINGTON, DC [02/14/2022] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici led members of Oregon's congressional delegation - including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader - in calling for additional emergency rental assistance funding to be sent to Oregon. The letter to the Treasury Department supports a request made by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Congress created the Emergency Rental Assistance Program in December 2020 to … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Wyden and Heinrich: Newly Declassified Documents Reveal Previously Secret CIA Bulk Collection, Problems With CIA Handling of Americans’ Information
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., both members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called for new transparency about bulk surveillance conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency, following the release of documents that revealed a secret bulk collection program and problems with how the agency searches and handles Americans' information. Wyden and Heinrich requested the declassification of a report by the Privacy and Civil Liberties … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon to Receive $7.7 Million for National Electric Vehicle Charging Network
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive $7.7 million in federal funds this fiscal year from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help create a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the state. "Electric vehicles are an essential step on the road to a clean energy future that's a must to combat the climate crisis," Wyden said. "I'm gratified the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing this federal investment in … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Wyden to Hold 1,000th Town Hall
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will hold his 1000th town hall on Feb. 24 in Lane County as part of an upcoming schedule of four live on-line town halls hosted by People's Town Hall that also will include Columbia, Washington and Multnomah counties. "Nothing has been more important in my public service than keeping my promise to listen to Oregonians in each of our state's 36 counties each year," Wyden said. "I'm honored that Oregonians have given me the opportunity to answer … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Wyden, Merkley: U.S. Forest Service Contracts With Eight Oregon Businesses to Provide Wildland Firefighter Crews
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed news that the U.S. Forest Service is awarding contracts to Oregon companies in Merlin, Redmond, Salem, Ashland, Philomath, Merrill, Sutherlin and Independence to provide crews to fight wildland fires. "Fighting wildfires and protecting lives, homes and small businesses in Oregon and nationwide demand trained crews that can respond quickly and reliably," Wyden said. "I'm pleased the Forest Service has recognized these … Continue Reading
