Press Releases
Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle Urge EPA to Investigate Landfill Concerns in Benton County
Washington D.C.—U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to thoroughly and expeditiously complete its investigation into concerns about Republic Services Coffin Butte Landfill in Benton County. “This 178-acre landfill accepts over 1 million tons of waste annually from nearly two dozen Oregon counties and southwest Washington. Surrounding communities have long been concerned about methane leakage that … Continue Reading
August 08, 2024
Wyden, Senators Urge DOJ to Reschedule Marijuana
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today announced that he and six other senators have sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Drug Enforcement Administrator Anne Milgram, expressing their strong support for the DEA’s proposal to transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Under the DEA, Schedule I drugs are classified as substances with a high potential for abuse, such as heroin or LSD, and they are not accepted for … Continue Reading
August 08, 2024
On Second Anniversary of CHIPS and Science Act, Lawmakers Urge Top Federal Officials to Visit Oregon
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle and Andrea Salinas today urged top federal officials to visit Oregon this month so the state can showcase the jobs and investment generated by the CHIPS and Science Act as the landmark legislation marks its second anniversary. “In keeping with our excitement about Oregon’s thriving semiconductor industry and its potential, we respectfully invite you to join us in Oregon on a mutually … Continue Reading
August 07, 2024
Merkley and Wyden Announce Over $5 Million to Realize New Renewable Energy Projects in Oregon
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is sending a total of $2,182,023 in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants, and $3,176,875 in a REAP loan, to support renewable energy projects in the state. The investments—much like the $4.5 million for other REAP projects the Senators announced in April—will help farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses adopt renewable energy technologies, conduct … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Join Bill to Protect Workers from Harassment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined the reintroduction of a bill that would address workplace harassment and ensure workers can seek accountability and justice. Workers across the country continue to face sexual harassment at work. Women file a disproportionate number of sexual harassment charges, making up nearly 80 percent of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints between 2018 and 2021. This Bringing an End to Harassment by … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Join Legislation to Restore Accountability for Presidents Who Violate the Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and 31 other senators in introducing legislation that would reaffirm that presidents and vice presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law. The legislation also clarifies that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied. On July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court took the unprecedented step … Continue Reading
August 05, 2024
Wyden, Jayapal Support Effort to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) are leading more than 25 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief urging the Federal District Court for the District of Oregon to grant the Federal Trade Commission’s request for a preliminary injunction in the Kroger-Albertson’s merger case. The brief outlines three major concerns with the merger: harm to consumers, harm to workers, and the growing consolidation of grocery chains leading to … Continue Reading
August 05, 2024
Wyden, Senators Call for Transparency, Accountability from New Student Loan Servicing Platform
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore.; Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.; Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.; and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., are urging Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to address potential problems with a new student aid servicing platform. In an effort to modernize and improve student loan servicing, the Department of Education is transitioning towards a centralized Federal Student Aid servicing platform for all federal student loans, known as the Unified Servicing and Data … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Amid Wildfires Devastating Communities and Forests Nationwide, Wyden Introduces Legislation to Supercharge Rural Energy Resilience
Washington, D.C. — Amid wildfires devastating communities and forests nationwide, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced the introduction of legislation that would give public utilities the opportunity to access federal funding to make energy grids more resilient against various hazards ranging from climate disasters to cyberattacks. Wildfires can damage or destroy critical components of the energy grid such as power lines, leading to widespread outages and even more fires across … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Wyden Bill Would Restore Congressional Authority, Check Power of MAGA Judges
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced new legislation to restore much-needed checks on Donald Trump’s radical right-wing Supreme Court by providing Congress with new authority to overturn judicial decisions that clearly undermine the congressional intent of laws. The Restoring Congressional Authority Act would also restore the ability of public agencies to implement laws passed by Congress without fear of unreasonable interference by radical right-wing judges. “At … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Wyden, Markey Statement on Harm Caused by Sixth Circuit Net Neutrality Ruling
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., issued the following statement today after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit stayed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s rule reclassifying broadband as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act and reinstating net neutrality protections: “The Sixth Circuit’s stay will leave Americans without critical net neutrality protections and leave the Federal … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Oregon Delegation Pushes for USDA Disaster Declaration, More Federal Resources to Respond to Oregon Wildfires
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s entire Congressional delegation—U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, alongside U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, Andrea Salinas, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, and Cliff Bentz—sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging approval of Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s request for a disaster declaration for Oregon counties facing devastating wildfires. The lawmakers also strongly support the Governor’s additional requests for … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Welcome $400 Million to Combat Historic Western Drought
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden welcomed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement of $400 million to address drought through investments at the irrigation district scale in 12 states across the American West. The Central Oregon Irrigation District (COID) was selected for this innovative funding opportunity in Oregon. “As climate chaos fuels long-term drought in Oregon and across the American West, the federal government must use all the … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Wyden, Paul, Lummis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Abolish the Selective Service
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., today introduced a bipartisan bill to end the Selective Service. The Selective Service runs an annual budget of more than $31 million per year, preparing for a draft that has not occurred since 1973. “The Selective Service is a long-outdated program that eats up millions of taxpayer dollars and gives us nothing in return,” Wyden said. “Our volunteer military forces are the strongest in the … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announce $4 Million Federal Investment for Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in Independence
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $4 million for wastewater infrastructure improvements in the City of Independence. “Continuing to improve Oregon’s critical infrastructure, while also creating good-paying local jobs adds up to a big win in my book,” Wyden said. “Oregonians deserve to raise their families in healthy environments while being able to make a living in the communities they choose to call home. I’m gratified that … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Wyden Votes No on Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Permitting Reform Bill
Watch Wyden’s remarks here Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted against proposed legislation to overhaul leasing and permitting for energy projects, citing serious concerns about the legislation giving unfair advantages to oil and gas projects over renewable energy-an approach he believes is antithetical to the technology-neutral energy victory that he carefully negotiated in the Inflation Reduction … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Wyden Announces Town Halls in Washington, Marion, Benton and Lane Counties
Portland - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will hold open-to-all town halls next week in Washington, Marion, Benton and Lane counties. Heading into these four town halls, Wyden will have held 1,093 town halls throughout Oregon - including 28 so far this year -- in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of our state’s 36 counties. “Hearing directly from Oregonians helps me represent every nook and cranny of our state,” Wyden said. “In the nearly … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Merkley, Wyden Tout Nearly $3 Million for Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde’s Affordable Housing Efforts
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awarding $2,916,635 to the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde to support the construction of 8 housing units, increasing the number of housing units available to Tribal families. “Ensuring access to safe, affordable housing is critical to Tribal families, fostering community and connecting them to their land,” Merkley said. “This nearly $3 … Continue Reading
July 30, 2024
Wyden and Raskin Demand Release of All Wrongfully Detained Human Rights Advocates in Saudi Arabia
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Md., wrote a letter to President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging the U.S. government to call on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to release all wrongfully detained human rights advocates. “Five years after the grisly murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, which was ordered by Saudi authorities, we are profoundly troubled by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s continuing crackdown on … Continue Reading
July 29, 2024
Wyden, Merkley Announced $577,943 for Pollution Monitoring to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians
Washington, D.C. - Oregon’s U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $577,943 to the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) for programs to address environmental and public health concerns related to pollution. “The ability to monitor air and water quality with accuracy and in real time is essential to public health,” Wyden said. “I’m glad the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua … Continue Reading
