Press Releases
As DeJoy Testifies Before Congress, Merkley, Wyden Demand End to Policies Disenfranchising Servicemembers Abroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined 28 colleagues in writing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to raise concerns over the heightened impact of harmful United States Postal Service (USPS) policy and operational changes to servicemembers and their families. DeJoy is testifying before a Senate committee today and a House committee on Monday about the severe mail delays that are jeopardizing access to medicines, essential goods, voting, correspondence, and … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Request Analysis from Social Security Administration on the Impact of Eliminating the Payroll Tax
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined colleagues in asking the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide an analysis of the impact of eliminating the payroll tax that funds Social Security's Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund. In a letter to SSA Chief Actuary Stephen Goss, the senators wrote, "Specifically, what would be the implications of such legislation for revenue coming into the OASI and DI trust … Continue Reading
August 19, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Press for Accurate 2020 Census Count for Native Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 17 of their Senate colleagues, are urging the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Bureau to honor their previously announced 2020 census completion date to ensure an accurate count for Indian Country and the Native Hawaiian community. On April 13, 2020, the Commerce Department and Census Bureau announced a modified timeline for 2020 census operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which extended the … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Demand Postal Service Address Delivery Delays of Veterans’ Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are demanding immediate action following reports of significant delays in veterans' prescription medications through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). In a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, Merkley and Wyden joined 29 Senate colleagues in urging USPS to correct operational changes that are needlessly delaying veterans' access to life-saving prescriptions. "Veterans and the VA should … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce $3.6 Million in Federal Funding to Support Oregon Businesses as Coronavirus Impacts Worsen
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $3.6 million in federal funding is headed to Oregon to support nine Economic Development Districts as they update economic development plans and strengthen support services amid the deepening coronavirus crisis. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed in March. "Creativity and resourcefulness have long been critical ingredients … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Federal Health Agencies to Offer COVID-19 Guidance to Child Care Providers
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is asking federal health agencies for more detailed public health guidance to support the child care sector during and following the COVID-19 public health emergency. In an Aug. 14 letter to the Office of Child Care at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Wyden and other legislators wrote, "The child care industry is at risk of collapse. A Bipartisan Policy Center … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Wyden Joins Colleagues to Call on Postal Board of Governors to Immediately Reverse Changes Made by Trump Megadonor Turned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy That Have Degraded and Delayed Postal Service Operations
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined colleagues in sending a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors calling on it to immediately use its authority under the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 to reverse changes to postal service operations and mail service delays put in place by Trump megadonor turned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. In addition to Wyden, the letter is signed by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Democratic Leader … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Schrader Demand Postmaster General End Deliberate Slowdown of Mail Delivery
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader today demanded that U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy rescind his orders that have unacceptably slowed mail delivery across Oregon and the nation. In their letter to DeJoy, the Oregon lawmakers noted their concerns are heightened by the raging pandemic and the Nov. 3 election just weeks away. They wrote that DeJoy's actions at Donald Trump's behest … Continue Reading
August 17, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from Postmaster General After Postal Service Delays Spark Fear and Outrage Across Oregon
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today teamed up with their Senate colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to press Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for answers on severe mail delays that are jeopardizing access to medicines, essential goods, voting, correspondence, and livelihoods for veterans, small businesses, rural communities, seniors, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail. The delays have resulted from Postmaster General DeJoy's significant … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer and Bonamici Demand Answers on Environmental and Health Impacts of Tear Gas Used by Federal Officers
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici today demanded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) immediately investigate the impacts of sustained tear gas used by federal agents on people, air, land and bodies of water. As members of Congress whose duties demand oversight of federal agencies, the lawmakers said their request follows sustained tear gas use by federal officers from the Department of Justice and the … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Announce $3 Million Investment to Create Jobs in Klamath Falls
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Klamath Falls community will receive $3 million in federal funds to build an Apprenticeship and Industrial Trades Center-which is expected to create 166 jobs and generate $677,000 in private investment. "As we continue to grapple with the deepening coronavirus crisis, we must make the critical investments in our workforce that will help us pave a path toward a prosperous future," said Merkley. "I'm … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
As Trump Confesses Plan to Cripple Mail Service to Corrupt November Election, Merkley, Wyden, and Colleagues Urge USPS to Fix Delays and Avoid Cost Increases for Election Mail
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with their colleagues in the Democratic Caucus, are urging U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to provide answers regarding reports of recent changes to long-standing practices at USPS that would result in increased delivery times and costs for election mail, and urged him not take any further action that makes it harder and more expensive for states and election jurisdictions to mail ballots. Despite numerous … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Announce College Athletes Bill of Rights
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and a group of their colleagues to announce the framework for a new college athletes bill of rights that would advance justice and opportunity for college athletes. The proposal would guarantee fair and equitable compensation, enforceable health and safety standards and improved educational opportunities for all college athletes. "The NCAA's priority should be the success, safety and well-being of … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Will Introduce Legislation to Defend Property Owners’ Rights from Eminent Domain Claims for Natural Gas Pipelines
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they will introduce legislation that would strengthen the rights of landowners facing eminent domain claims from private companies exploiting public interest provisions to confiscate property for natural gas pipeline development. Both senators said their bills come in response to the natural gas industry's increased use of eminent domain for pipeline development and the failure of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Press White House To Restore Full Funding For National Guard’s COVID-19 Response
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden wrote to President Trump today asking him to restore full funding to states to cover the cost of the National Guard responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The senators were joined by 32 of their colleagues in seeking answers and a restoration of the lost funding. Since March, National Guard units in every state and territory have supported response to help Americans, from distributing much-needed food, to running remote … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Confederated Tribe of Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw Indians to Receive $900,000 Federal COVID-19 Grant
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the Confederated Tribe of Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw Indians will receive a $900,000 federal grant to help alleviate a housing shortage and reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 "Additional housing provides a vital defense against the spread of this pandemic that has landed so hard on tribes in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "These federal funds for the Confederated Tribe of Coos, Lower Umpqua, Siuslaw Indians … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Welcome $2.2 Million in Glacier Study Grants for OSU, UO
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that a combined $2.2 million in new collaborative research grants for Oregon State University and the University of Oregon to study tidewater glaciers will generate key climate change data. Noting that sea-level rise will affect millions of people in coastal communities within the next several decades, the National Science Foundation (NSF) said its grants will study tidewater glaciers' role in that threat. "Comprehensive … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Join Oregonians in Calling for Long-Overdue Senate Action on Coronavirus Relief
PORTLAND, OR - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, with Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, today joined more than 80 Oregonians in a virtual event calling for the Senate to finally act on a fourth coronavirus relief package. The coronavirus has killed over 163,000 Americans and cost more than 40 million their jobs, but despite the fact that the House passed an additional relief package nearly three months ago, the Senate's leadership has refused to vote since … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Demand Fair Census, Slam Trump Administration Decision to Cut Count Short
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), are demanding that the Trump administration reverse course on its decision to undermine the 2020 census by closing the data collection period on September 30, a full month earlier than planned. If current response rates hold, only 70% of Oregonians would be counted before the Trump administration's new deadline-which could jeopardize funding … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Wyden and Grijalva on New Interior Inspector General Report: Officials “Orchestrated A Cover-up To Protect Secretary Bernhardt During His Confirmation”
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., today called for a criminal investigation into Interior Solicitor General Daniel Jorjani after a new report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) confirmed that DOI political appointees may have violated a court order by withholding documents to protect Secretary David Bernhardt during his confirmation process. The IG's findings further clarify … Continue Reading
