Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce More Than $84 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding for Health Centers Throughout Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $84 million in federal funding-provided by the American Rescue Plan, which the senators helped pass on March 6, 2021-is headed to 30 health centers throughout Oregon to expand access to the coronavirus vaccine. "I am deeply grateful to the health care heroes who have been working on the frontlines throughout this pandemic to give our families, friends, and community members the best treatment possible … Continue Reading
March 30, 2021
Wyden Urges FCC to Make Rural Broadband a Priority This Year
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to close the digital divide by making rural broadband a priority in 2021 that expands internet access to all communities in Oregon and nationwide. "As Congress looks ahead to an infrastructure package that will help communities recover from the COVID-19 crisis, in line with President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, we have a unique opportunity to close this country's digital divide and jumpstart … Continue Reading
March 29, 2021
Wyden Introduces Bipartisan Legislation that would Lower Mandatory Drug Sentences
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has introduced bipartisan legislation that would modernize federal drug sentencing polices by lowering certain mandatory drug sentences. "In too many cases, mandatory minimum sentences have imprisoned people for far longer than is just," Wyden said. "This legislation takes a critical step toward dismantling the enormous costs of over incarceration for nonviolent drug crimes for both communities and taxpayers, when those resources would … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Wyden Co-sponsors Bill to Fund Education of Japanese-American Internment, Preserve Confinement Sites
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would promote public education about Japanese-American internment during World War II. This bill would permanently reauthorize the Japanese American Confinement Sites (JACS) program with $38 million in annual funding to preserve internment camps across the country. The bill would also create a new $2 million federal grant program to promote education of Japanese-American internment. "The internment of … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Guarantee Abortion Coverage Regardless of a Patient’s Insurance
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have reintroduced a bill to guarantee abortion coverage-regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance. "The government should not have control of women's bodies," Wyden said. "Ending the unconscionable Hyde Amendment is a key to protecting a woman's constitutional right to an abortion, and essential to ensuring access to abortions for all women no matter their income or zip code. Abortion and other … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Wyden and Leading Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Expand Emergency Broadband Benefit Access
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with 15 leading Democrats including U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced new legislation building on the Emergency Broadband Connections Act to ensure working families can stay online through the current economic and health crisis. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Edward Markey, D-Mass, Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Robert Menendez, D-N.J., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Chris … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Condemning Anti-Asian Hatred, Discrimination Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have introduced a resolution to condemn all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism, and discrimination, and call on federal officials, in collaboration with state and local agencies and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community organizations to address the rise in COVID-19-related hate crimes. "The increase in hate crimes against the Asian American community in the United States shows once again how far our country has to … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Blumenauer and Wyden Introduce Legislation to Support Growing U.S. Kombucha Industry
Today, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, and Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced legislation to put a stop to unfair and outdated federal alcohol taxes on kombucha companies in Oregon and across the country. Specifically, the KOMBUCHA Act would ensure that kombucha beverages are exempt from excise taxes and regulations intended specifically for beer and other alcoholic beverages. "The past year has been incredibly hard on … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Wyden and Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Access for Agriculture and Conservation as West Continues to Face Drought
Video Available Here Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today reintroduced the Water for Conservation and Farming Act to help communities in Oregon and across the West experiencing high levels of drought. Their bill will improve water access for agriculture and conservation by funding projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users. Wyden highlighted the importance of the legislation … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Cattle Market
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today introduced legislation with colleagues from both parties that would foster efficient markets while increasing competition and transparency among meat packers who buy livestock directly from independent producers in Oregon and nationwide. "Corporate meat packers have ripped off cattle ranchers in Oregon and nationwide for far too long by unfairly driving down prices for their livestock," Wyden said. "This legislation restores market efficiency by … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Wyden Statement Mark Zuckerberg’s Proposal to Roll Back Section 230
Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony calling for changes to Section 230: "Mark Zuckerberg knows that rolling back Section 230 will cement Facebook's position as the dominant social media company and make it vastly harder for new startups to challenge his cash cow. Everyone working to address real issues online should be deeply wary about Mark Zuckerberg's proposals for new regulations. Facebook endorsed SESTA-FOSTA, … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $5 Million in Federal Funding for Crucial Conservation Projects in the Siuslaw, Ochoco, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over $5 million in federal funding is being distributed among conservation projects in the Siuslaw, Ochoco, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests. Today's funding is being allocated by the U.S. Forest Service's portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and was made possible by the Great American Outdoors Act-legislation introduced and championed by Merkley and Wyden. "Oregon's forests and waters … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Wyden and Merkley Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Tribes Passes Committee Vote
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs today passed the Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon and nationwide. "Clean drinking water is the lifeblood of communities; it's a human right. The water crises faced by The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Native American Tribes nationwide demand swift federal action to fix a … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Blumenauer and Wyden Introduce Legislation to Support Growing U.S. Kombucha Industry
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, and Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) reintroduced legislation to put a stop to unfair and outdated federal alcohol taxes on kombucha companies in Oregon and across the country. Specifically, the KOMBUCHA Act would ensure that kombucha beverages are exempt from excise taxes and regulations intended specifically for beer and other alcoholic beverages. "The past year has been … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Wyden Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Exempt Trafficking Survivors’ Restitution from Federal Taxes
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is reintroducing bipartisan legislation that would exempt civil and criminal damages, restitution, and other monetary awards given to human trafficking survivors from federal income taxes. "Human trafficking survivors face many hurdles in securing justice against their abusers," Wyden said. "This legislation exempts critical financial relief from federal taxes, ensuring survivors have resources to rebuild their lives." Under current Internal … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge the Office of Management and Budget to Reconsider Change That Could Harm Mid-Sized Towns
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley are urging the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to reconsider proposed changes made by the Trump administration to the 2010 classifications of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas that in Oregon would affect Albany, Bend, Corvallis and Grants Pass. These classifications are tied to several housing and transportation programs and have important impacts on their respective cities and towns. The senators wrote that … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Wyden, Merkley: Town of Powers Secures $30,000 Federal Grant for Stormwater System Improvements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Oregon town of Powers has secured a $30,000 federal grant to help that Coos County community plan the development of a stormwater system to replace its inadequate system of open channels, ditches, culverts, and pipelines. "Oregonians living and working in small towns throughout our state deserve big-league infrastructure," Wyden said. "I'm gratified that Powers has earned these federal resources to improve water … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Wyden Will Hold Ten Online Town Halls for Oregonians
Portland - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have live on-line town halls hosted by People's Town Hall for residents of Clackamas, Linn, Lincoln, Tillamook, Hood River, Jefferson, Deschutes, Klamath, Lake, Josephine and Polk counties 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 … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Call on DOJ Inspector General to Conduct Comprehensive Review of Bureau of Prison COVID-19 Deaths
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged federal officials to conduct a comprehensive review of all COVID-19-related deaths of incarcerated individuals in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and BOP staff since the beginning of the pandemic. In a letter from Wyden, Merkley and several colleagues to the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the lawmakers requested information about whether incarcerated … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Department of Education to Issue Guidance for Summer Enrichment Programs
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today urged the U.S. Department of Education to issue guidance for how to use funding from the American Rescue Plan to provide summer enrichment programming for children and families. In a letter with 10 colleagues to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the senators stressed the importance of the department's leadership in ensuring that states maximize the potential of these funds to address the academic, emotional, and social needs of students, … Continue Reading
