Press Releases
Wyden Calls for Hazard Pay, Increased Safety Measures for Federal Employees and Contractors
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is urging the Trump administration to take immediate steps to support federal employees and contractors during the COVID-19 crisis. In a bipartisan letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell T. Vought and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Michael J. Rigas, Wyden and 18 of his colleagues emphasized several actions that the administration should take now to support these crucial public … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Wyden, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Raise PPP Non-payroll Forgiveness Cap
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to urge the Trump administration to raise the Paycheck Protection Program's (PPP) non-payroll forgiveness cap from 25 percent to 50 percent. In a letter from Wyden and 18 other senators to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, the lawmakers noted that PPP loans allow loan proceeds used towards payroll, utilities, mortgage interest, and rent payments to be … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Wyden, Merkley, Walden Urge Army to Finish Cleanup at Umatilla Chemical Depot
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Rep. Greg Walden today urged the Army to complete its commitment to remediate the now-closed Umatilla Chemical Depot so the National Guard can use the site safely for training and wildfire work in Eastern Oregon. In a bipartisan letter today to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, the Oregon lawmakers wrote the Army is required to clean up the Ammunition Disposal Area (ADA) at the chemical depot under federal law and as directed by … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Hit Administration’s COVID Testing Failures, Insist Federal Government Must Release and Implement National Plan
Washington, DC - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 40 Senate Democrats, today sent a letter to President Trump, calling on his administration to develop a comprehensive national strategic plan of action by May 24th to ensure states have enough testing capacity to begin safely re-opening. The first case of COVID-19 in the United States was diagnosed in Washington State on January 20, 2020. After 12 weeks, and the confirmation of more than 1.1 million cases of … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Wyden Calls for Greater Support for Students With Disabilities in Upcoming COVID-19 Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called for upcoming COVID-19 response legislation to include greater support for students who experience disabilities so school districts can continue providing those students a free and appropriate public education as required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). "As we grapple with the impacts of COVID-19, and the resulting school closures, we must meet the needs all students, including students most … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over 350,000 Children in Oregon Will Receive Critical Food Assistance
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over 350,000 children in Oregon will receive critical food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program in order to help fill the meal gap created by school closures. Even before the coronavirus crisis hit, over half a million people, including one in five children, in Oregon struggled with food insecurity. "Every child in Oregon-regardless of the color of their skin, the … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues to Treasury: Disburse $8 Billion in Critical COVID-19 Relief to Tribal Governments Immediately
Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 22 of their colleagues in the Senate, are urging Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to immediately disburse $8 billion in critical relief funds to eligible federally recognized Tribal governments. The funding, which was allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is critical to helping Tribal governments-just like their state, local and territorial counterparts-respond to the … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Public Housing Authorities to Receive More than $5.7 Million in COVID-19 Aid
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that 21 public housing authorities throughout Oregon will receive more than $5.7 million in grants to help with tenant-based rental assistance needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Oregonians battling the multiple economic challenges triggered by this public health crisis need to know there's support available when they're staying at home and fighting to keep a roof over their heads," Wyden said. "I am gratified these … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Wyden, Warren, Eshoo, Markey Applaud ICANN Blocking Sale of .Org Registry
Washington, D.C. - Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and colleagues today applauded the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) for blocking the sale of the .org registry to a little-known venture capital firm, Ethos Capital. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., also praised the decision to put users and nonprofit organizations above private equity profits. "ICANN made the right decision," Wyden said. "This deal … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Wyden: Oregon Should Have a Strategic Food Reserve
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support the creation of strategic food reserves in Oregon as a model for the nation facing emergencies like the current COVID-19 crisis. In his letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Wyden said the reserves would address year-round food insecurity while preparing the state for increases in food demands during times of emergency. "The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated an already fragile … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Call For Tax Credit Expansion to Help Working Families During Coronavirus Economic Downturn
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called for a temporary expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the next coronavirus relief package. As the economic effects of COVID-19 are expected to last into next year, the expansion of those two tax credits would put money back in the pockets of working Americans as they continue to weather the economic downturn, according to the letter from Wyden, Merkley and 37 other senators to … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Wyden, Western Democrats Press Forest Service on Wildfire Season Plans Amid COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 10 Western Democrats, today sought answers on the planning efforts of the U.S. Forest Service to protect communities and firefighters heading into the upcoming 2020 wildfire season amid the COVID-19 crisis. Wyden was joined by U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Wyden Urges Greater Support for Pregnant Patients, Infants Amid COVID-19
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged additional, robust funding for the federal Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies program in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) program helps to detect and respond to public health crises' impact on pregnant and postpartum individuals, as well as infants and young children, in real-time. In a letter to Congressional leaders, Wyden, along with nine other … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $6.5 Million in Airport Infrastructure Investments Across Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that nearly $6.5 million will be distributed among 10 airports and the Oregon Department of Aviation for critical construction projects and planning. "As we continue to grapple with this public health crisis, it's all the more important that communities throughout Oregon have the resources they need to build a strong economic foundation for the future," said Merkley. "That includes making sure our … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Announce Legislation to Meet Urgent Medical Supply Shortage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 44 of their Senate colleagues, have introduced legislation that fills the vacuum left by Trump administration inaction, laying out a framework for an effective, strong, national COVID-19 response. The bill would direct production of, and add critical oversight and transparency to the supply chain for, vital medical supplies and equipment. The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires the president to … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Wyden Presses for Answers Following Ouster of Vaccine Development Head, Possible Political Interference in COVID-19 Response
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and 18 other senators to express their concern regarding troubling reports of political influence in the Trump administration's COVID-19 response. In a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the senators pressed for answers regarding staffing issues related to the COVID-19 response efforts at HHS. The senators specifically asked about the removal of Dr. Rick … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Wyden Presses Feds to Protect Workers During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today asked federal officials for information on their efforts to protect federal workers in Oregon and nationwide during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a letter with 21 colleagues to the federal Offices of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Wyden and the senators sought information on efforts to ensure that agencies maximize telework across their workforce as a way to keep federal workers safe. "As the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Call For More Funding For Social Service Nonprofits In Upcoming Coronavirus Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 25 of their colleagues, are urging Senate leadership to include additional emergency funding for nonprofit organizations in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Nonprofits are an essential part of the frontline coronavirus pandemic response, providing important social services such as food assistance, shelter for those experiencing homelessness, child care and education programs, and care for victims of domestic and … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Wyden Statement on Google and Apple Contact-Tracing Plans
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement, on Google and Apple's plans to roll out Bluetooth-based contact tracing technology: "This plan appears to be a sincere effort to bring tech's resources to bear on the COVID-19 pandemic, and I appreciate Google and Apple's transparency about their contact-tracing technology. However, I remain pessimistic about the prospect that Bluetooth-based contact tracing will be a viable way to trace or contain the coronavirus anytime … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Wyden Calls for $50 Billion Childcare Investment in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today called on Senate leadership to prioritize funding childcare in the next COVID-19 relief package. Wyden, along with 30 of his colleagues, also requested that the legislation ensures small businesses and nonprofits involved in caring for children receive support from the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program. "We write to strongly urge you to prioritize funding childcare in the next legislative package that … Continue Reading
