Press Releases
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Affordable High-Speed Internet
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced comprehensive broadband infrastructure legislation that would expand access to affordable high-speed internet for all Americans. "In my town halls across Oregon, I've seen first-hand how reliable broadband can lift up rural towns. And I've seen how rural and lower-income communities without first-class infrastructure are being left behind," Wyden said. "Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Clyburn's legislation is a strong … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Wyden Speaks on Senate Floor in Support of the Nomination of Deb Haaland to be Interior Secretary
Mr. President, on Monday the Senate will vote on the nomination of Congresswoman Deb Haaland to serve as Secretary of the Interior. This is truly an historic moment. I've voted on a lot of nominations over the years. I've never felt more proud to support a nominee than I do right now supporting Congresswoman Haaland. I could be here all weekend talking about what she represents and the opportunities that lie ahead for the Interior Department, public lands and rural communities. But I'll … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Ensure More Disaster Resilient Power Grid
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would provide incentives to utility companies to do more to protect against power outages and wildfires as the climate emergency hits communities in Oregon and nationwide with extreme weather events. Wyden and Merkley's Disaster Safe Power Grid Act would ensure that power companies do their part to reduce the risks of power blackouts and wildland fires through power system upgrades, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Long-Term Student Needs Related to COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would help accelerate academic progress and address students' social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs related to COVID-19. "Before this pandemic even began, students in Oregon and around the country were rightly demanding more support for their emotional, mental and physical health. This crisis has only made these needs even more acute, especially for marginalized communities that … Continue Reading
March 10, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce $40 Million in Federal Funding to Help Maintain Healthy Pacific Northwest Forests and Support Local Recreation Economies
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service will invest up to $40 million in projects that will maintain healthy national forests in the Pacific Northwest Region. The funding will also support projects to improve transportation and recreation infrastructure in the forests, which will boost accessibility and help support local economies. The funding announced today is part of a $285 million … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Permanent Daylight Saving Time Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today reintroduced legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent across the country. "The Sunshine Protection Act takes a common-sense step to provide some much-needed stability for families in Oregon and across the nation," Wyden said. "Springing forward and falling back year after year only creates unnecessary confusion while harming Americans' health and our economy. Making Daylight Saving permanent would give folks an … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Legislation to Defend Property Owners’ Rights from Eminent Domain Claims for Natural Gas Pipelines
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today reintroduced their legislation that would strengthen the rights of landowners facing eminent domain claims from private companies exploiting public interest provisions to confiscate property in Oregon and nationwide for natural gas pipeline development. The bills, which Wyden and Merkley first introduced last fall, come in response to the natural gas industry's increased use of eminent domain for pipeline development … Continue Reading
March 08, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Online Clatsop County Town Hall on March 13
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall for Clatsop County residents beginning at noon on Saturday, March 13 hosted by People's Town Hall. Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that a large open-to-all public meeting poses no unusual health risk … Continue Reading
March 05, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce “No Check, No Sale” Bill to Close Charleston Loophole
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is introducing a bill that would close a loophole allowing gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly 2015 attack at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church. "Firearm buyers should be able to clear a background check … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
DOE Deputy Secretary Nominee Commits to Wyden to Improve Power Grid Resiliency
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today asked Deputy Secretary of Energy nominee David Turk about his commitment to improve power grid resiliency following recent extreme weather events leaving hundreds of thousands of Oregonians without power. "Last year, Mr. Turk, wildfires hit Oregon like a wrecking ball, and just last month a winter storm left thousands of Oregonians with no power," Wyden said during Turk's nomination hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Urge Biden Administration to Use Live Event Venues as Vaccine Sites
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are joining with a dozen other colleagues in a bipartisan letter urging the Biden administration to use live event venues as vaccination administration sites. In a letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force Response Coordinator Jeff Zients, the lawmakers said leveraging live venue facilities could further assist the federal pandemic response by helping expand the availability of vaccination centers as the … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Wyden, Merkley Reintroduce Bill to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are joining with 43 senators in reintroducing legislation that would expand federal background checks to all gun sales. "Our country needs airtight background checks without any loopholes," Wyden said. "'Thoughts and prayers' won't stop unlicensed sellers from selling firearms online or at gun shows to people whose actions demonstrate they should not own a gun. Congress must take common-sense action to reduce the chances for … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Wyden, Murray, Booker Re-Introduce Resolution Recognizing the Impact of COVID-19 on Women and Girls Globally
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have re-introduced a resolution recognizing the disproportionate impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on women and girls globally. The resolution introduced this week urges Congress and the executive branch to protect the rights of women and girls in the United States and abroad, provide robust humanitarian aid that supports women and girls, and ensure the needs of women and girls are part of … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Wyden Urges Investigation of Potential Violations by Ocean Carriers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is urging the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to continue investigating reports of unreasonable practices by ocean carriers, including refusal to carry certain agriculture products from U.S. ports back to Asia. In a bipartisan letter from Wyden and 23 other senators, the lawmakers expressed support of the FMC's current fact-finding efforts and asked that it take appropriate action against vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs). "As you … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Wyden Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Oregon Ranchers Stay in Business
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today with U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), introduced legislation that would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information. "Cattle ranchers and rural economies have been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 public health crisis. And that economic fallout gets compounded for Oregon producers who face both a lack of processing facilities … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Wyden Asks Federal Agency How It’s Preventing Tenant Screening Technologies From Hurting Tenants of Color
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and five colleagues said today they're asking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) for information about its oversight authority and regulatory history of tenant screening technology companies, which about 90 percent of landlords use for reviewing income and employment history, eviction history, and criminal background in deciding about whether to rent to potential tenants. Wyden and the five senators noted in their letter to the CFPB that these … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Wyden Introduces Bill to Improve Child Support Enforcement on Tribal Lands
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today reintroduced legislation to improve child support enforcement by allowing the 60 Native American tribes that currently operate their own child support agencies to access a federal tax refund program that will help them collect past-due child support from non-custodial parents. "Tribes in Oregon and across the nation deserve access to the same tools as state child support agencies, especially when it comes to making sure families and children get … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Hermiston, Roseburg Airports Each to Receive $23,000 in Federal Grants
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that the Hermiston Municipal and Roseburg Regional Airports will each receive $23,000 in federal funds for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitization, janitorial services, debt service payments, and combating the spread of COVID-19 at the airports. "Oregon is a small business state situated on some of the largest swaths of fertile land in the nation, so regional and municipal aviation play a … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Oregon Delegation Presses for Infrastructure Improvements and Disaster Recovery Resources
Washington, D.C. - In the wake of recent weather disasters striking Oregon and the entire country, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden led U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today in asking top congressional appropriators to prioritize funding on infrastructure improvements and disaster recovery with an emphasis on energy resiliency and housing. The letter from the Oregon lawmakers notes that much of the state recently endured the added challenge of a destructive … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Merkley, Oregon Delegation Colleagues Push Biden Administration to Provide Critical Assistance for Dredging, Jetty Maintenance Along Oregon Coast, Columbia River
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), are pushing the U.S. Office of Management and Budget to provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) with annual funding for maritime infrastructure maintenance crucial to public safety and the vitality of economies up and down the Oregon Coast and throughout the Columbia River system. "Oregon's … Continue Reading
