Press Releases
Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.2 Million in Grants for Tribal Housing Improvements
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that $1.2 million in grants will be distributed to the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians and the Confederated Tribes of the Grande Ronde to boost critical housing improvement and repair projects. The funding is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), under the Indian Community Development Block Grant program. "This public health emergency has … Continue Reading
June 01, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $3 Million in Funding to Boost Albany Transit Service
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the City of Albany will receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to cover operating and administrative transit costs, as well as preventive maintenance costs, in response to the coronavirus crisis. The funding is authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress passed in March. "I'm pleased that critical funding is headed to Oregon to help transit … Continue Reading
May 30, 2020
Wyden Calls for Resignation of Oregon Employment Department Director
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today released the following statement about the Oregon Employment Department: "Oregonians thrown out of work through no fault of their own deserve a state Employment Department capable of responding quickly and competently to their urgent needs during this economic and public health crisis. Over the past weeks and months, it has become painfully clear that the Oregon Employment Department leadership has totally failed to meet these Oregonians' needs or … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $3.5 Million in Grant Funding for Salem Area Mass Transit District
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the Salem Area Mass Transit District will receive over $3.5 million in grant funding for the purchase or lease of zero-emission and low-emission transit buses and the leasing, construction, and acquisition of necessary supporting facilities. "Now is the time to make the investments our communities need to build a foundation for the healthy, economically stable future families across Oregon deserve," said … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Wyden Pushes Trump Administration on the Distribution of Coronavirus Relief Funds to Tribal Governments
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined colleagues in pressing the Trump administration to clarify the formula used to allocate payments to Tribal governments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In the letter, the senators ask Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to ensure that the disbursement formula is fully transparent and that all Tribes receive adequate funds to protect the health and safety … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Wyden Statement on Reported Executive Order to Undermine the First Amendment and Section 230
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump's planned executive order to illegally punish private companies and attempt to re-write Section 230, as well as the First Amendment: "I have warned for years that this administration was threatening 230 in order to chill speech and bully companies like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter into giving him favorable treatment. Today Trump proved me right. I expect those companies, and … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $2 Million Investment in Biggs’ Water Infrastructure
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Biggs community in Sherman County will receive over $2 million in federal assistance to establish a municipal water system that will source and store water to support residents, firefighting efforts, and other emergency services. The funding-a $1.56 million loan and $535,500 grant-is distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development's Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Wyden, Harris, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on the Health and Safety of Youth in Juvenile Detention During COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Kamala D. Harris, D-Calif., led 14 colleagues in pressing the Trump administration for answers regarding the health and safety of young people detained in juvenile facilities across the country. In a letter to Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Administrator Caren Harp, the senators requested the agency make public the measures it has taken to protect incarcerated youth from COVID-19, as well as the ways OJJDP … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Wyden, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Garnishment of Relief Payments
Washington, DC - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he has introduced a bipartisan bill that would protect recovery payments provided in the recent CARES Act pandemic response legislation from garnishment by private debt collectors. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis. Relief was intended for struggling families, not predatory debt collectors," said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. "Our legislation would ensure help gets to the folks who need it to pay their … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration To Stop Targeting Critical Health Care Providers Based On Political Ideology
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called on federal officials to implement the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provision of the bipartisan CARES Act as Congress intended and to stop targeting critical, safety-net health care providers like Planned Parenthood based on political ideology. In a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the senators joined Democratic colleagues in expressing … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Denounce HHS Proposal to Permit More Discrimination in Health Care, Weaken Protections
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 27 of their Senate colleagues, wrote to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to blast the administration's intention to finalize a proposed rule changing the enforcement of an anti-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposed rule could empower providers to deny care to LGBTQIA+ individuals, limit care to women seeking abortions, and make it harder for victims of … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Wyden Statement on Upcoming House Vote on FISA Amendment to Ban Warrantless Surveillance of Americans’ Internet Activity
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement regarding Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., securing a vote on an amendment to ban warrantless surveillance of Americans' internet searches and web browsing in the House FISA reauthorization bill: "I applaud Rep. Lofgren for securing a vote on my amendment to ban warrantless collection of Americans' internet activity. There are few things more private than where a person goes on the internet, or what they search for online, so the … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Join Bipartisan Push to Increase Funding to Protect Survivors of Domestic Violence & Pets in Next COVID-19 Relief Bill
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley called for increased funding for programs that support domestic violence survivors and their pets that were established under the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act. In a bipartisan letter with 30 other senators to Senate and Appropriations Committee leadership, Wyden and Merkley highlighted how reports of domestic violence have risen during this pandemic, and that domestic violence shelters that harbor pets - or those looking to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Wyden Statement on FERC decision to deny rehearing of controversial Jordan Cove Energy Project, and to allow eminent domain proceedings to begin
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in response to the decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to deny a rehearing of the controversial Jordan Cove energy project in Oregon and allow Pembina Pipeline Corp. to pursue eminent domain proceedings, despite strong objections to the project by three Oregon state regulatory agencies: "This FERC decision provides fresh and troubling evidence that my concerns about a stacked commission have come to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce $5 Million for Oregon’s Rural Health Clinics To Increase Coronavirus Testing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $5 million in federal funding will be distributed to 102 rural health clinics throughout Oregon to help boost their coronavirus testing capacity. The funding was part of a $25 billion fund for increased testing that Congressional Democrats insisted on in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which Congress passed last month. "The high-quality treatment and care that Oregon's … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Release Senate Democrats’ Plan to Expand Health Care Coverage & Affordability During COVID-19
Washington, DC - Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) today released a Senate Democratic plan to expand health care coverage and affordability during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a white paper, the senators alongside U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) outlined a series of common sense-legislative priorities that the Senate should take up immediately, … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Seek COVID-19 Relief for Live Venues
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today urged Senate leadership to include economic relief for live venue operators in Oregon and nationwide as part of any additional response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a letter from the Oregon senators and 41 of their colleagues to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, they noted that live event venues were among the first to close as COVID-19 spread and are likely to be among the last to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge FCC to Ensure Rural Tribal Communities Have Equal Internet Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 16 of their Senate colleagues, are calling on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to extend the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window by 180 days to August 3, 2020. Extending this deadline would allow tribal governments additional time to secure access to unassigned spectrum over tribal lands suitable for both mobile coverage and broadband services, as Indian Country continues to be ravaged by … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Wyden Introduces Bill to Make Sure National Guard Troops Responding to COVID-19 Receive Full Benefits Throughout Public Health Crisis
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined combat veteran U.S. Sen Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., to introduce a bill to ensure that all National Guard troops activated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic receive additional benefits and provide states with greater certainty. "The brave members of the National Guard risking their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 health crisis deserve the utmost support from the federal government," Wyden said. "This bill … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Wyden Opposes the Nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of National Intelligence
Mr. President, I rise today to oppose, in the strongest terms, the nomination of John Ratcliffe to be Director of National Intelligence. Senators often come to the floor to talk about the importance of speaking truth to power. John Ratcliffe has demonstrated that he will surrender to power. He is so eager to serve power he will twist the truth, as he demonstrated again and again through this confirmation process. Both at his confirmation hearing and written responses, John Ratcliffe danced … Continue Reading
