Press Releases
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
May 21, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $185 Million in Funding for TriMet
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that TriMet will receive nearly $185 million in funding to support its public transportation operations and projects, including coronavirus response efforts. The funding was authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and is being distributed by the Federal Transit Administration. "Throughout the coronavirus crisis, transit workers have been on the frontlines-helping … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Wyden, Merkley: Legacy Emanuel to Get Federal Aid for Telehealth Work During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland will receive $368,912 in federal funds to help provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic. "Telehealth has proven to be an incredibly valuable tool for medical providers to care for patients in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "During a pandemic, that value is magnified even more -- and I am gratified that Legacy Emanuel has earned these urgently needed … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Introduce Legislation to Ensure Americans Aren’t Burdened With Big Bills From Emergency Coronavirus Evacuations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today introduced legislation that would ensure Americans who were evacuated from foreign nations by the State Department this spring as the coronavirus pandemic hit will not be saddled with huge, unaffordable bills. As the coronavirus pandemic accelerated earlier this year, countries moved to close their borders, leaving thousands of Americans stranded overseas. Many of these travelers were only able to get home by flying … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $3.3 Million in Airport Infrastructure Investments in Grant County
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that over $3.3 million will be distributed to Grant County to finance construction and safety improvements at the Grant County Regional/Ogilvie Field Airport. "As we continue to grapple with the coronavirus crisis, it's critical that communities throughout Oregon have every resource available to build a strong economic foundation for the future," said Merkley. "That includes making sure our infrastructure is … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Merkley, Wyden Urge Congress to Protect America’s Farmworkers in Upcoming Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with a group of their senate colleagues, are urging Senate leadership to establish and enforce adequate protections for America's farmworkers-whose essential work enables families across America to keep food on the table during the coronavirus crisis. The letter comes as reports highlight farmworkers' critical need for additional health and safety safeguards to protect themselves, their families, other workers, and … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Wyden Votes No on Ratcliffe for Director of National Intelligence
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, released the following statement after voting no on the nomination of Rep. John Ratcliffe to serve as director of national intelligence: "John Ratcliffe is the least qualified, most partisan nominee to be director of national intelligence since the creation of the position. Worse still, his confirmation process revealed additional concerns that require the Senate to reject his confirmation. "First, Representative … Continue Reading
May 19, 2020
Wyden, Rounds and Eshoo Lead Bipartisan Call to Secure U.S. Capitol Phone Networks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., with Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., led 20 members of the House and Senate in a request to encrypt phone calls between the chambers to protect communications against foreign surveillance. "Congress must secure itself from the serious threat posed by foreign spies," the members wrote. "Please take immediate action to encrypt, in bulk, all internal calls and other electronic communications between the Senate, House and … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Help Non-profits during Pandemic
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are introducing legislation that would help nonprofit organizations in Oregon and nationwide meet an increase in demand for their services due to the coronavirus pandemic while helping newly unemployed Americans get back to work. "Nonprofits have been hit with a one-two punch: giving is down, while demand for their services is at an all-time high with 36 million Americans out of work and struggling to put food on the … Continue Reading
May 15, 2020
Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Encourage U.S. Engagement in Global Effort to Find Coronavirus Vaccine
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 38 of their colleagues, are introducing a resolution that encourages U.S. engagement with the international community on the coronavirus response given the Trump administration's failure to participate in global summits on vaccines and therapeutics. The resolution emphasizes that only with concerted global collaboration and coordination can the coronavirus pandemic be addressed, and that the U.S. has failed so … Continue Reading
