{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"OR\" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sen-jeff-merkley-plans-three-town-halls-in-central-oregon", "Sen. Jeff Merkley plans three town halls in Central Oregon", "2019-12-31", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Jeff Merkley plans three town halls in Central Oregon \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 31, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Michael Kohn\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon Sen. Jeff Merkley will host 12 town halls to start the new year, including appearances in Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook counties on Saturday.\r\nMerkley's first appearance in Central Oregon is scheduled for 9 a.m. at Ridgeview High School in Redmond. At noon he will speak at Madras Performing Arts Center . He will finish his visit to the area in Prineville with a 3 p.m. town hall at Barnes Butte Elementary School.\r\nMerkley, a Democrat, will update Oregonians on his work in Washington, D.C., respond to questions and invite suggestions from the public on how to handle state and national issues affecting their lives.\r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said in a statement. The ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/congressional-visit-sen-merkley-to-hold-curry-town-hall", "Congressional Visit: Sen. Merkley to hold Curry town hall", "2019-12-30", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressional Visit: Sen. Merkley to hold Curry town hall \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMonday, December 30, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon's U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley plans to kick off 2020 with 12 town halls across Southern and Central Oregon, including one in Curry County. The town halls will be Jan. 2 through 5, in Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, and Gilliam counties.\r\nAccording to a release from Merkley's office, he will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C., and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.\r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said. From tackling Sudden Oak Death, to big investments in rural broadband, to making sure small ports get dredged, the ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\nSince joining the Senate in 2009, Merkley has held a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. In all, the New Year town halls will be his 408th as a U.S. Senator.\r\nThe following locations are Merkley's scheduled town halls.\r\nJan. 2\r\n10 a.m.\r\nDouglas County Town Hall\r\nSutherlin High School, gym\r\n500 E. Fourth Ave.\r\nSutherlin\r\n2 p.m.\r\nCoos County Town Hall\r\nCoquille Community Center, small auditorium\r\n115 N. Birch St.\r\nCoquille\r\n5:30 p.m.\r\nCurry County Town Hall\r\nPort Orford Community Hall\r\n419 Eleventh St.\r\nPort Orford\r\nJan. 3\r\n8:30 a.m. Josephine County Town Hall\r\nRogue Community College, gym\r\n3345 Redwood Highway\r\nGrants Pass\r\n12 p.m.\r\nJackson County Town Hall\r\nSouthern Oregon University, Rogue River Room\r\n1250 Siskiyou Blvd.\r\nAshland\r\n4 p.m.\r\nKlamath County Town Hall\r\nOregon Institute of Technology, College Union, Mazama-Scott Room\r\n3201 Campus Drive\r\nKlamath Falls\r\nJan 4\r\n9 a.m.\r\nDeschutes County Town Hall\r\nRidgeview High School, auditorium\r\n4555 SW Elkhorn Ave.\r\nRedmond\r\n12 p.m.\r\nJefferson County Town Hall\r\nMadras Performing Arts Center, auditorium\r\n412 SE Buff St.\r\n\r\nMadras\r\n3 p.m.\r\nCrook County Town Hall\r\nBarnes Butte Elementary School, gym\r\n1875 NE Ironhorse Drive\r\nPrineville\r\n6:30 p.m.\r\nWheeler County Town Hall\r\nMitchell School, cafeteria\r\n340 SE High St.\r\nMitchell\r\nJan. 5\r\n12:30 p.m.\r\nGrant County Town Hall\r\nMount Vernon Community Hall\r\n640 Ingle St.\r\nMt. Vernon\r\n5 p.m.\r\nGilliam County Town Hall\r\nVeterans Memorial Hall\r\n120 S. Main St.\r\nCondon\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/how-oregon-gains-from-13-trillion-in-new-federal-spending", "How Oregon gains from $1.3 trillion in new federal spending", "2019-12-29", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "How Oregon gains from $1.3 trillion in new federal spending \r\n\r\n     Oregon Democratic Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley tout benefits for rural, coastal, native and urban communities \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSunday, December 29, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Zane Sparling\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSetting a budget for 2020? It's just a bit different on Capitol Hill.\r\nWith the passageinto lawof two massive spending bills earlier this month, the feds have nailed down more than $1.3 trillion in outlays for the 2020 fiscal year, whichendsin September. And both sides of the aisle have plenty to crow about.\r\nMajor appropriations touted by the Republicans include a $22 billion boost to U.S. military spending, a 3.1% pay bump for service members and $1.375 billion for border security, according toNPR.\r\nDemocrats are equally excited to pay out $7.6 billion for the 2020 Census, $425 million for election security grants and $25 million for CDC and National Institutes of Health research into gun violence.\r\nThe bills also raise the nationwide age for buying tobacco to 21, a rule that already wentinto effectOregon in 2018.\r\nOregon Democratic Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley say the new spending bills include cash for Oregonians' top priorities, including homelessness, housing, transit, renewable energy, and investments in coastal, rural and native communities.\r\n\"At my annual town halls and community meetings in each of our state's 36 counties, I hear a consistent message of working to support job creation  which is just what this legislation accomplishes for Oregonians,\" Wyden said.\r\nAdded Merkley: \"One of the most gratifying parts of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee is that I get to work with communities across the state to fund their needs, and then see the funding in action.\"\r\nBut where else does Oregon specifically stand to benefit? Here's the most noteworthy line items:\r\nScoggins Dam:Situated on Henry Hagg Lake in rural Washington County, the Scoggins Dam has been deemed a risk to life and property in the event of a major earthquake. The feds have approved $2 million for upgrades ahead of reconstruction.\r\nShakeAlert: When tremors begin, a new warning system could send a text straight to your phone. ShakeAlert is already being tested in California, but Oregon's system isn't ready yet. Now another $19 million has been set aside to fund this U.S. Geological Survey program.\r\nScorched Gorge: $2 million has been set aside to fund rural business development grants in National Scenic Areas burned by wildfires, such as the Columbia River Gorge.\r\nBonneville not for sale: It's now illegal to sell power marketing agencies like Bonneville Power Administration or transfer their assets to private control.\r\nAquatic invaders: $1 million has been dedicated to the monitoring and control of an aquatic invasive plant known as flowering rush in the Columbia River.\r\nSalmon recovery: Though President Trump suggested putting it on the chopping block, the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund will get $65 million to support declining fish populations here and in California, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.\r\nBasin restoration: The Environmental Protection Agency will receive $1.2 million to continue implementing the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, which was created by Sen. Merkley to provide grants to business owners, farmers, ranchers and local governments to reduce toxins in this natural area.\r\nLegal hemp:Commercial hemp is poised to bring $1 billion in economic output to Oregon this year, and lawmakers say the new bills will direct the Drug Enforcement Administration to update their drug schedules, now that hemp is no longer part of the Controlled Substances Act.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/oregon-ground-fishing-fleet-could-get-loan-interest-relief", "Oregon ground fishing fleet could get loan-interest relief", "2019-12-27", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon ground fishing fleet could get loan-interest relief \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFriday, December 27, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Nicholas Johnson\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Bipartisan language was added to the 2020 spending bill Dec. 16 that will forgive more than $10 million in accrued loan interest that was forced on the Pacific Coast groundfishing fleet.\r\nThe language included in the 2020 spending bill was presented by Oregon's Democratic Reps. Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader and Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden.\r\nThe language effectively cancels a massive loan interest burden owed by the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery to the federal government  interest that, through no fault of the industry, was added to their vessel buyback loan debt due to bureaucratic incompetence, said DeFazio.\r\nFor years, Oregon's groundfish vessels have been subject to a heavy financial loan burden, caused solely by government ineptitude, DeFazio said. Groundfish fisheries are a vital part of Oregon's coastal economy that need support, not red tape, from Washington. I'm proud to have helped right this ridiculous wrong and ease the financial burden on our region's fishermen. I will be vigilant to ensure the National Marine Fisheries Service follows through with Congress's decision and does not short-change Oregonians.\r\nMerkley, a a member of the Senate committee that negotiated the spending bills, said, Today's news is a huge victory for our coastal communities in Oregon and up and down the West Coast. It was outrageous that the federal government forced family fishermen to foot the bill because of bureaucratic incompetence. This win will lift a huge burden off our trawlers' backs, helping them keep their small businesses afloat and keep our coastal economies humming.\r\nWyden also issued a statement: Oregonians working on trawlers along the coast can now enter the new year without this senseless burden on the bottom line of their fishing operations. the senator said. Fishing on the Oregon Coast for a living is a key piece of our state's economy that never should have been a victim of this bureaucratic bungling, and I am glad to have teamed up with fishermen and my congressional colleagues to get this problem fixed.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sen-jeff-merkley-to-hold-town-hall-meet-in-sutherlin-jan-2", "Sen. Jeff Merkley to hold town hall meet in Sutherlin Jan. 2", "2019-12-26", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Jeff Merkley to hold town hall meet in Sutherlin Jan. 2 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThursday, December 26, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nU.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley will hold a town hall at 10 a.m. Jan. 2 in the Sutherlin High School gym, 500 E. Fourth Ave.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe town hall is one of 12 across Southern and Central Oregon that Merkley will hold to kick off 2020.\r\n\r\n\r\nMerkley will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C.., answer questions and invite suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.\r\n\r\n\r\n\"Hearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job,\" Merkley said in a press release. \"From tackling Sudden Oak Death, to big investments in rural broadband, to making sure small ports get dredged, the ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\"\r\n\r\n\r\nSince joining the Senate in 2009, Mekrley has held a town hall in each of Oregon's 36th counties every year. The Sutherlin town hall will be his 397th.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/bonamici-johnson-honored-friends-nurseries", "Bonamici, Johnson honored as 'Friends of Nurseries'", "2019-12-25", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Oregon Association of Nurseries announced Wednesday, Nov. 19, that Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici are among the nine legislators recognized by the trade group as \"Friends of Nurseries.\" \nThe Friends of Nurseries award serves to acknowledge state and federal officials who listen to concerns and help protect the interests of Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry, which is the state's top agricultural sector with nearly $1 billion in annual sales, according to the Wednesday press release from OAN. \nBonamici \"has been a consistent voice in support of industry priorities,\" the release indicated, adding that she has \"been willing to cross party lines to support nursery priorities.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-fights-for-increase-in-critical-funding-for-oregon-s-small-0", "Rep. DeFazio Fights for Increase in Critical Funding for Oregons Small Ports", "2019-12-24", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monday, Rep. DeFazio joined members of the Oregon delegation in sending a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works R.D. James encouraging the Administration to use a portion of federal funds for operations and maintenance projects at Oregon's small ports.\nRepresentative Peter DeFazio, along with Senators Wyden and Merkley and Representatives Schrader, Blumenauer and Bonamici, urged the Administration to use additional funds appropriated by Congress in the Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2020 to ensure that Oregon's small ports receive the dredging funds they need.\nDespite a continuing need for maintenance work, such as dredging, no funding was included in the President's FY 2020 Budget for the Ports of Umpqua, Bandon, Garibaldi, Port Orford, or Depoe Bay.\nOur harbors along the Oregon coast can be particularly challenging due to unpredictable weather, the increasing intensity of storms, and especially dangerous wave conditions at our entrance channels. Maintenance dredging and jetty repairs are needed to ensure our ports can serve their most critical purposes as economic engines for coastal communities and harbors of refuge for mariners of both commercial and recreational vesselsWe urge you to include critical Federal investments in the FY2020 workplan to address deteriorating jetties and breakwaters associated with Federal ports and harbors that will help to reduce the long-term maintenance needs of these ports and harbors, and ensure the continued availability of coastal ports both for the businesses and economies that rely on these facilities, as well as the safety of mariners that utilize our Oregon coastline, the members write.\nClick here for a PDF version of the letter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-murray-wyden-walden-announce-spending-bill-to-advance-rural-business-development-funding-for-the-columbia-river-gorge-2019", "Merkley, Murray, Wyden, Walden Announce Spending Bill to Advance Rural Business Development Funding for the Columbia River Gorge", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Murray, Wyden, Walden Announce Spending Bill to Advance Rural Business Development Funding for the Columbia River Gorge \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 23, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, DC  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-5), today announced that the 2020 spending bill passed by Congress will include $2 million in new funding for rural business development grants, with priority given to National Scenic Areas that have been devastated by wildfires, such as the Columbia River Gorge.\r\nThis funding is intended to be used by entities such as the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to create revolving loan funds to help support local Gorge businesses as they recover and grow following the Eagle Creek Fire.\r\n \r\nI've been fighting for a long time to help the Gorge get the economic development assistance that was supposed to come with the scenic area, and it's more important than ever after the Eagle Creek Fire, said Merkley, who serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which directs federal spending. Wildfire can be devastating for any small business, but it's particularly devastating in areas like the Gorge, where the economy is interconnected with outdoor recreation. This assistance will make sure the small businesses that are the heart and soul of our local Gorge economies can come back stronger than ever.\r\nThese resources are a must for the full recovery of the Gorge's businesses from the devastation of the Eagle Creek wildfire, Wyden said. Many of these job-creating businesses play key roles in the Gorge's world-renowned recreation economy and I am gratified that our work to help them continue to grow has succeeded.\r\nThe Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is one of our most treasured natural areas in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm glad to see Congress allocate these funds to support economic development in the region and aid its continued recovery following the tragic Eagle Creek Fire, Murray said. I'm thankful to my colleagues in Oregon for their work on this issue and their partnership throughout the years to bolster communities along both sides of the Columbia River Gorge, and I won't stop pushing for stronger federal investments to continue moving these critical efforts forward.\r\nI was glad to work with Senator Merkley and our colleagues across the river in Washington to fight for this remaining funding owed to our communities under the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act, Walden said. As the area continues to recover from the effects of the Eagle Creek Fire, these funds are all the more important and I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law. \r\nI appreciate the hard work of our Senators, Representatives, and the advocacy from many of our community partners who understand the critical function this expanded access to capital plays in the ability for the Gorge economy to continue to thrive and prosper, said Amanda Hoey, Executive Director of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District.\r\n \r\nThe 2020 spending bill has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and has been signed into law by the president.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-defazio-statement-on-dennis-muilenburg-s-departure-as-boeing-ceo", "Chair DeFazio Statement on Dennis Muilenburgs Departure as Boeing CEO", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio released the following statement after Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg resigned his position following two deadly crashes involving the Boeing 737 MAX:\nBased on what we've discovered so far in our investigation into the design, development and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX, it's clear Dennis Muilenburg's ouster was long overdue. Under his watch, a long-admired company made a number of devastating decisions that suggest profit took priority over safety. Furthermore, reports that Muilenburg attempted to pressure FAA into rushing the MAX back into service are highly troubling and I commend Administrator Dickson for making it known that FAA will take as much time as it needs to ensure safety comes first. This commitment to safety is something I take very seriously. Following the ValuJet crash in 1996, I led the charge in Congress to make sure FAA's sole objective was protecting the safety of the flying public, and not promoting Boeing or any other member of the industry it regulates. I hope the decision to remove Muilenburg means that Boeing is also ready to mark a new chapter in its commitment to safety and accountability.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-defazio-to-gsa-administrator-either-comply-with-the-subpoena-for", "Chair DeFazio to GSA Administrator: Either Comply with the Subpoena for Trump Hotel Documents, or Explain Your Refusal at Public Hearing", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued an ultimatum to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA): either provide requested documents so the Committee can conduct its Constitutionally-mandated oversight duties, or appear before the Committee to explain at a public hearing why GSA refuses to comply.\nAs Chair DeFazio has stated repeatedly, the American people have a right to know whether President Trump, who is serving as both landlord and tenant of the Old Post Office Building, is violating the Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution. As Chair of the Committee, DeFazio issued a subpoena for financial records and legal memos relating to the Old Post Office Building lease to the Trump International Hotel on October 24, 2019. Under the advice of the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Committee attempted to reach a reasonable accommodation with GSA to receive the documents, but GSA has continued to stonewall access to the majority of relevant documents.\nIn their letter to GSA Administrator Emily Murphy, Chair DeFazio wrote: Through these actions, your agency has engaged in a pattern of obstruction and obstinance that is unacceptable and damaging to GSA's ability to manage taxpayer funds in a transparent manner. We strongly encourage you to comply with this subpoena and stop placing President Trump above the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the United States. If not, we look forward to directly asking you about your refusal to comply with this subpoena at a hearing early next year so that you can explain to us and the American public why you have placed the President of the United States above the law.\nA comprehensive timeline of the Committee's investigation into this lease can be found here.\nA full copy of the letter can be found below. \n\nDecember 23, 2019\nMs. Emily W. Murphy  \n\tAdministrator  \n\tU.S. General Services Administration (GSA)  \n\t1800 F Street NW  \n\tWashington, DC 20405\nDear Administrator Murphy:\nAs you are well aware, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Committee) issued a subpoena to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) on October 24, 2019, seeking records that GSA had failed to provide to the Committee in response to a January 22, 2019, records request letter, specifically regarding financial records and legal memos relating to the Old Post Office (OPO) Building lease to the Trump International Hotel. Despite our best efforts to work with GSA to consider reasonable accommodations in this process, GSA has failed to comply with this subpoena.\nIt gives us no comfort that under your direction GSA is resisting not just the legitimate oversight efforts of the U.S. Congress but also the oversight efforts of your own internal Inspector General (IG). Our government is built upon checks and balances, and as Members of Congress we have an obligation to perform critical oversight of the Executive Branch. Your steadfast refusal to comply with these efforts is not just disconcerting but an affront to the democratic institutions that the United States has been founded upon.\nThe GSA IG's most recent Semiannual Report to Congress[1] highlighted your agency's refusal to implement the IG's recommendations in its January 2019 report on the OPO Building lease[2], including the revision of language in GSA leases to avoid future ambiguity and to clearly articulate that Federally elected officials are barred from participating in leases of Federal buildings in order to comply with the Emoluments Clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Rather than implementing the IG's recommendations, however, your agency has stuck with its decision that, according to the IG, improperly ignored the Constitution's Emoluments Clauses. As highlighted in your recent response to the Committee's Questions for the Record (QFRs), GSA has decided only to include language in outleases barring conflicts with Members of Congress and has intentionally ignored the conflicts-of-interest posed by the President of the United States.\nGiven the clear concerns raised by GSA's improper handling of the OPO Building lease by the IG and others, the relevance of our Committee's request for financial records and legal memos related to the lease cannot be overstated. We wrote to you on September 10, 2019, detailing the Committee's request for these records and the Committee's legitimate oversight authority to obtain these documents. As that letter noted, Under Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has legislative and oversight jurisdiction over [p]urchase of sites and construction of post offices, custom-houses, Federal courthouses, and Government buildings within the District of Columbia and [p]ublic buildings and occupied or improved grounds of the United States generally.[3] The OPO is a Federally-owned building located in the District of Columbia redeveloped pursuant to the Old Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008.[4]\nSince we originally wrote to you in January 2019, GSA has made no efforts at accommodations regarding our request for legal memos related to the leasing of the OPO Building to the Trump International Hotel. Furthermore, your General Counsel has refused to accept reasonable accommodations on the part of the Committee relating to access to the financial records that would have permitted our staff to review these records in camera and would have provided GSA with ample notice if we decided that the public release of this information or references to it was necessary to fulfill the Committee's obligation to conduct appropriate oversight of GSA and was in the public's interest.\nThrough these actions, your agency has engaged in a pattern of obstruction and obstinance that is unacceptable and damaging to GSA's ability to manage taxpayer funds in a transparent manner. We strongly encourage you to comply with this subpoena and stop placing President Trump above the U.S. Constitution and the laws of the United States. If not, we look forward to directly asking you about your refusal to comply with this subpoena at a hearing early next year so that you can explain to us and the American public why you have chosen to abrogate your legal responsibility.\n\nSincerely,\n\nPETER A. DeFAZIO DINA TITUS\nChair Chair\n Subcommittee on Economic Development,\n Public Buildings, and\n Emergency Management\n\ncc: The Honorable Sam Graves, Ranking Member\n Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure\n\n The Honorable Mark Meadows, Ranking Member\n Subcommittee on Economic Development,\n Public Buildings, and Emergency Management\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t[4] Old Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008, Pub. L. No. 110-359, 122 Stat. 4005 (2008).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-blumenthal-warren-and-eshoo-question-sale-of-org-domains-to-private-equity-firm", "Wyden, Blumenthal, Warren and Eshoo Question Sale of .ORG Domains to Private Equity Firm", "2019-12-23", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 23, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Blumenthal, Warren and Eshoo Question Sale of .ORG Domains to Private Equity Firm \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senators Ask How Non-Profits, Free Speech and Internet Users Will Be Impacted By Sale\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., with Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., questioned whether nonprofit groups, free speech and internet users would be harmed selling control of .ORG domains to a private equity firm, in a letter sent today. \r\nCurrently, the Internet Society, a non-profit group, controls how website names ending in .ORG are allocated. In November, the Society announced that it would sell control of the .ORG registry and its parent organization, Public Interest Registry, to the private equity firm Ethos Capital for more than $1 billion. \r\nThe registry that controls .ORG must provide reliable and affordable domain services to nonprofits. It must protect the free-speech rights of all users, even for those with unpopular viewpoints that governments or corporations may not like. At the same time, it must protect internet users from phishing, malware and denial-of-service attacks, the members wrote to the leaders of Ethos, the Internet Society and the Public Interest Registry.\r\nThe nonprofit community is understandably concerned about whether Ethos Capital, a private equity firm that has existed for less than six months, will act as a responsible steward over this core component of internet infrastructure, they continued.\r\nRead the full letter here.\r\nThe members requested answers to the following questions by January 6, 2020:\r\n1. Will you disclose the content of your registry transfer request to ICANN and any filings with Pennsylvania courts or other government authorities? Will PIR make its articles of incorporation and bylaws public?\r\n2. On December 9, ICANN requested additional information from PIR. Will you commit to publishing your answers to any information requests by ICANN? If there is information in your answers that you will not publish, please explain why.\r\n3. How will each of you ensure that any price increases for .ORG domains are reasonable and reviewed by the nonprofit community the registry serves? What steps will you be taking to formalize these processes, and otherwise clearly indicate to the public and to .ORG registrants that Ethos Capital, and any subsequent buyers of .ORG, will be expected to continue involving the nonprofit community in the stewardship of .ORG?\r\n4. In 2002, ISOC and PIR were entrusted by ICANN with the operation of the .ORG registry because they met the requirement that policies and practices should strive to be responsive to and supportive of the noncommercial Internet user community. How does the sale of .ORG to Ethos Capital ensure that this commitment continues to be met?\r\n5. How will you protect the content neutrality of the registry, both while it is managed by Ethos Capital and after any subsequent sale of the registry?\r\n6. In the wake of public criticism of this deal, PIR created a new website on which it responded to critics, keypointsabout.org. There, you state that PIR and Ethos Capital will create a stewardship council that will serve to uphold PIR's core founding values, but do not describe its responsibilities, authority, or membership.\r\na. How will you formalize the council's bylaws and how can the nonprofit community be assured that they are enforceable?\r\nb. How will you guarantee that this stewardship council will be independent and community-driven?\r\nc. Will the members of the council be selected by PIR, by the council itself, through designated organizations or by some other mechanism?\r\nd. Will domain registrants be able to appeal any domain take-down decisions to the council?\r\ne. What authority will the council have to review or veto price increases, changes in service providers critical to the reliability of the .ORG domain or other major registry policy changes?\r\nf. Will the stewardship council be able to replace the leadership of PIR if it makes a determination that it does not serve the interests of the nonprofit community?\r\ng. How will you ensure that the council is indeed truly independent and has the appropriate authority and resources?\r\nh. How will you make it difficult for Ethos Capital or a future registry owner to ignore or disband this council?\r\n1. Will ISOC and PIR provide the nonprofit community with the ability to comment on proposed and final bylaws, stewardship council responsibilities and structure, and other relevant governance matters? If so, how?\r\n2. What specific processes do you commit to implement to ensure that .ORG domain take-downs are only used to stop phishing, malware, and denial-of-service attacks, to remove child sexual abuse material or to have otherwise been ordered by a court in the United States and are not used to suppress lawful content that foreign governments or the new registry owners do not like?\r\na. Will these commitments extend to Cyrillic and Chinese-simplified generic TLDs managed by PI", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/new-york-times-editorial-make-laws-not-money", "New York Times Editorial: Make Laws, Not Money", "2019-12-22", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "New York Times Editorial: Make Laws, Not Money \r\n\r\n     Members of Congress should not be allowed to buy and sell stocks, or to serve on corporate boards. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSunday, December 22, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    The Editorial Board\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe case of Chris Collins, the New York Republican whoresigned from Congress and pleaded guilty to insider tradingearlier this fall, was a rare victory in the long-running battle to ensure that members of Congress do not take improper advantage of their privileged positions.\r\nIt also underscored the need for stronger rules.\r\nMr. Collins is going to jail because he called his son seven times from the White House lawn to share the private news that a small drug company's flagship product had failed a key clinical trial. Those phone calls prompted the son to dump his shares.\r\nBut in the years before that flagrant act of insider trading, Mr. Collins already was deeply involved in the affairs of the company, Innate Immunotherapeutics, even as he served on various congressional committees that played a role in directing federal health care policy.\r\nMr. Collins was the company's largest shareholder. He served on the company's board. He solicited investments in the company, including from other members of Congress. (Tom Price, who served as a Republican representative from Georgia and then as secretary of health and human services in the Trump administration,was among the buyers.)\r\nMr. Collins wrote legislative language to expedite drug trials, potentially benefiting Innate, and he pressed a staff member at the National Institutes of Healthto meet with the companyabout its clinical trial.\r\nHe also invested in other health care firms, some of which held federal contracts.\r\nNone of this was clearly illegal. But it should have been.\r\nMembers of Congress serve in positions of privilege and power. They have the opportunity to shape public policy for their own benefit, and to profit from information not available to the general public  and it is clearly too much to expect that all of them will resist temptation.\r\nCongress tookan important step in 2012, passing a law that bars members and their aides from trading on the basis of confidential information that they receive as lawmakers. The law also strengthened disclosure requirements. It has made a difference. The volume of stock trading by members of Congress declined by 65 percent in the three years after it took effect, compared with the three years before its passage, according toa 2017 study by Public Citizen.\r\nBut the 2012 law is insufficient.\r\nWhen the Securities and Exchange Commission began its first investigation under the new law, in 2013,Congress went to courtto prevent the S.E.C. from obtaining documents. The two sides eventually reached a deal, but the case showed that Congress remained unwilling to play by the same rules as everyone else.\r\nCongress also passed a bill in 2013 reversing some of the disclosure requirements that it had established and celebrated just one year before. The original bill, for example, mandated the creation of a searchable online database of trades by members and aides. The 2013 law made it harder to identify wrongdoing, allowing members of Congress to submit disclosures in a form that is not easily searchable.\r\nAnd the narrow ban on insider trading does not go far enough. Members still may be tempted to cast votes that are personally profitable but not in the public interest. And because insider trading is a very difficult crime to prove, it is likely that they still have ample opportunity to profit from their privileged positions.\r\nAs if to underscore these problems, members continue to buy and sell shares in companies that have business before Congress.\r\nSenator James Inhofe, the Oklahoma Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee,bought stock in the defense contractor Raytheon last yearwhile pushing for an increase in federal spending on defense. The senator said the decision was made by a financial adviser, and after its public disclosure, he said he would make no further investments in the industry.\r\nInhofe's declaration of abstinence amounts to a tacit acknowledgment of the need for stronger rules that apply to all members of Congress. Public Citizen and other groups have argued for a narrow rule barring members from trading in the shares of companies that have business before their committees. Such a rule, however, would not go far enough. The work of Congress encompasses the entirety of the economy.\r\nThe most comprehensive solution would be to require people who are elected to Congress to divest holdings in public companies within a reasonable period following their election. But such a requirement could impose significant costs on people entering public service. It would be nearly as effective, and less burdensome, to bar members from buying or selling shares.\r\nA bill that would impose such a banwas introduced earlier this yearby Senator Jeff Merkley, Democrat of Oregon, and Senator Sherrod Brown, Democrat of Ohio. It would require members to put holdings in blind trusts, or else to refrain from any trading until they leave Congress. The bill also would bar members of Congress from serving on corporate boards.\r\nThese are necessary reforms, and they are long overdue.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/sen-merkley-announces-series-of-2020-town-halls", "Sen. Merkley announces series of 2020 town halls", "2019-12-22", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sen. Merkley announces series of 2020 town halls \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSunday, December 22, 2019\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon's U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley will kick off 2020 with 12 town halls across Southern and Central Oregon, according to a news release. The town halls will be Jan. 2 through 5, in Klamath, Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant and Gilliam counties.\r\n\r\n\r\nHe will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C., and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.\r\n\r\n\r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said. From tackling Sudden Oak Death, to big investments in rural broadband, to making sure small ports get dredged, the ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\n\r\n\r\nThe Klamath County Town Hall will be at 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 3, in the Mazama-Scott room in the Oregon Tech college union, 3201 Campus Drive.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-to-start-the-new-year-with-12-town-halls-2019", "Merkley to Start the New Year with 12 Town Halls", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley to Start the New Year with 12 Town Halls \n\t\n\t\t Town Halls will be January 2, 3, 4 and 5 in Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant and Gilliam counties \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n\t\n\tThe public forums will be held in the towns of Sutherlin, Coquille, Port Orford, Grants Pass, Ashland, Klamath Falls, Redmond, Madras, Prineville, Mitchell, Mt. Vernon, and Condon\r\n\r\nPortland, OR  Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley will kick off 2020 with 12 town halls across Southern and Central Oregon. The town halls will be January 2 through 5, in Douglas, Coos, Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, Deschutes, Jefferson, Crook, Wheeler, Grant, and Gilliam counties.\r\nHe will update constituents on his work in Washington, D.C., and answer their questions and invite their suggestions about how to tackle the challenges facing Oregon and America.\r\n \r\nHearing from Oregonians across the state is critical to doing my job, Merkley said. From tackling Sudden Oak Death, to big investments in rural broadband, to making sure small ports get dredged, the ideas and priorities I hear about in town halls wind up as the solutions I fight to get into federal law. I look forward to these discussions about how we can strengthen our state and our nation.\r\n \r\nSince joining the Senate in 2009, Merkley has held a town hall in each of Oregon's 36 counties every year. These town halls will be his 397th, 398th, 399th, 400th, 401st, 402nd, 403rd, 404th, 405th, 406th, 407th, and 408th as a U.S. Senator. Details are below.\r\n\r\nMedia RSVP: Please RSVP to State Communications Director Sara Hottman by email at sara_hottman@merkley.senate.gov or by phone at 503-326-3386 if you are going to cover the event, and she will share opportunities to interview Sen. Merkley.\r\n\r\nPlease find town hall details below:\r\n\r\nJANUARY 2, 2020\r\nWhat:\r\nDouglas County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nThursday, Jan. 2, 2020\r\n10 a.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nSutherlin High School, gym\r\n500 E. Fourth Ave.\r\nSutherlin, OR, 97479\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nCoos County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nThursday, Jan. 2, 2020\r\n2 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nCoquille Community Center, small auditorium\r\n115 N. Birch St.\r\nCoquille, OR, 97423\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nCurry County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nThursday, Jan. 2, 2020\r\n5:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nPort Orford Community Hall\r\n419 Eleventh St.\r\nPort Orford, OR, 97465\r\n#\r\n\r\nJANUARY 3, 2020\r\nWhat:\r\nJosephine County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nFriday, Jan. 3, 2020\r\n8:30 a.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nRogue Community College, gym\r\n3345 Redwood Highway\r\nGrants Pass, OR, 97527\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nJackson County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nFriday, Jan. 3, 2020\r\nNoon\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nSouthern Oregon University, Rogue River Room\r\n1250 Siskiyou Blvd\r\nAshland, OR, 97520\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nKlamath County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nFriday, Jan. 3, 2020\r\n4 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nOregon Institute of Technology, College Union, Mazama-Scott Room\r\n3201 Campus Drive\r\nKlamath Falls, OR, 97601\r\n#\r\n\r\nJANUARY 4, 2020\r\nWhat:\r\nDeschutes County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSaturday, Jan. 4, 2020\r\n9 a.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nRidgeview High School, auditorium\r\n4555 SW Elkhorn Ave.\r\nRedmond, OR, 97756\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nJefferson County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSaturday, Jan. 4, 2020\r\nNoon\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nMadras Performing Arts Center, auditorium\r\n412 SE Buff St.\r\nMadras, OR, 97741\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nCrook County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSaturday, Jan. 4, 2020\r\n3 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nBarnes Butte Elementary School, gym\r\n1875 NE Ironhorse Drive\r\nPrineville, OR, 97754\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nWheeler County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSaturday, Jan. 4, 2020\r\n6:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nMitchell School, cafeteria\r\n340 SE High St.\r\nMitchell, OR, 97750\r\n#\r\n\r\nJANUARY 5, 2020\r\nWhat:\r\nGrant County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSunday, Jan. 5, 2020\r\n12:30 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nMount Vernon Community Hall\r\n640 Ingle St.\r\nMt. Vernon, OR, 97865\r\n#\r\n\r\nWhat:\r\nGilliam County Town Hall\r\n\r\nWhen:\r\nSunday, Jan. 5, 2020\r\n5 p.m.\r\n\r\nWhere:\r\nVeterans Memorial Hall\r\n120 S. Main St.\r\nCondon, OR, 97823\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-increased-water-infrastructure-tribal-forest-funding-in-2020-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Increased Water Infrastructure, Tribal, Forest Funding in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Increased Water Infrastructure, Tribal, Forest Funding in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\t The bill has passed both houses of Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the 2020 spending bill includes U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations funding that provides critical investments in earthquake preparedness, water infrastructure, and wildfire suppression and recovery activities that are of particular importance to communities across Oregon.\r\n \r\nThis bill invests in both recovery and prevention efforts to save our forests, our communities, and our farms, ranches and other businesses from devastating losses, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. It also secures critical resources for water infrastructure that will create jobs while improving sanitation and drinking water across Oregon. I will continue to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight for the emergency and long-term resources communities across Oregon rely on.\r\nThese key resources will help Oregon communities to prepare for natural disasters, protect safe drinking water and prevent wildfires that threaten lives and businesses throughout our state, Wyden said. All of these investments add up to safer communities and better quality of life for Oregonians.\r\n \r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the appropriations bill that will impact Oregon include:\r\nForest Health Restoration and Collaboration: The bill includes funding increases for several programs that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires on public and private lands. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management received an additional $19 million and $5 million, respectively, for hazardous fuels reduction, bringing the total funding level to $639 million. In addition, the bill maintains funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program at $40 million. Oregon has three active CFLR projects: Southern Blues Restoration Coalition Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project, Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, and Lakeview Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project.\r\nWildfire Management: In anticipation of the next fire season, the bill includes $1.414 billion for fire suppression at the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. Fiscal year 2020 is also the first year that the bipartisan fire borrowing fix comes into effect, resulting in $2.25 billion of additional funds available for fire suppression and other priorities within the Interior bill.\r\nColumbia River Basin Restoration Program: The EPA will receive $1.2 million to continue implementation of the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Merkley created this program, and has secured funding since fiscal year 2019 to provide grants to business owners, farmers, ranchers, local governments, and others in the Columbia Basin to clean up and reduce toxics for a cleaner, healthier basin.\r\nKlamath Basin Water and Wildlife Conservation: In continued efforts toward a long-term solution in the Klamath Basin, the bill includes $6.5 milliona $2.5 million increaseto support strategies to restore fish habitat and scale up ongoing efforts to restore healthy populations of shortnose and Lost River sucker fish. The agreement also included $5 million habitat restoration in advance of the removal of Klamath River dams.\r\nPayment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): The bill includes $500 million for the PILT program to fund vital services for rural communities, including public safety, social services, transportation and housing. This funding goes to Oregon counties that have large tracts of federal land, which doesn't pay property taxes. The investment approved by Congress is $35 million over the president's request.\r\nClean Air and Water Funding: The bill protects funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). President Trump's budget proposed cutting the agency, which is responsible for reducing pollution and safeguarding public health, by over 25 percent. Merkley organized 36 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in urging opposition to those cuts, and the Committee provided an additional $265 million for the EPA.\r\nWater Infrastructure: Critical water infrastructure loan programs under the Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Authority (WIFIA) Act received $60 million to leverage over $11 billion in investments, such as the new projects in Hillsboro and Portland. Merkley authored the WIFIA program in 2012, working to ensure public drinking water and wastewater infrastructure are well-maintainedcritical for public health and safety, strong local businesses, population growth, and clean rivers and aquifers. WIFIA was passed into law as part of the 2014 Water Resources Development Act.\r\nDrinking Water: The bill provides $26 million for lead contamination testing at schools and child care centers, $20 million for lead reduction projects in rural areas, and $25 million for water projects in communities working to improve Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.\r\nTribal Programs: The Indian Health Service, which provides health care to thousands of Oregon Tribal members, received $6.047 billion, $243 million more than fiscal year 2019 and $138 million more than the President's budget request. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education received $3.223 billion, an increase of $142 million to the fiscal year 2019 level.\r\nLand and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The bill provides $495 million, enough to fund all pending LWCF projects in Oregon. For over 50 years the program has been the main source of funding for federal land and water acquisitions. Acquiring and protecting public lands not only provides environmental and recreational benefits, but also creates jobs in the tourism, recreation, timber, fishing, and other natural resource sectors.\r\nEarthquake Preparedness: The bill includes $170.8 million for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support regional earthquake initiatives, including $19 million for ShakeAlert. The report also encourages the USGS to continue the development of a system for Cascadia that will help prepare for and mitigate the negative human and economic impacts of a major seismic event.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-investments-in-small-ports-irrigation-districts-renewable-energy-included-in-2020-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Small Ports, Irrigation Districts, Renewable Energy Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Small Ports, Irrigation Districts, Renewable Energy Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that provisions that will help create jobs and improve infrastructure in Oregon communities are included in the 2020 spending bill that has passed both chambers of Congress, and is headed to the president's desk to become law.\r\n \r\nOne of the most gratifying parts of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee is that I get to work with communities across the state to fund their needs, and then see the funding in action, benefitting Oregon's small ports, irrigation districts, and more, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill includes bipartisan efforts to strengthen our country in the future, such as the investment in wind energy, and supports programs that will help Oregonians in the near future, such as funding to dredge our small ports. I will continue to use my seat on this committee to push for investments that are important to Oregonians.\r\nGenerating jobs throughout Oregon is a common theme in these federal resources, whether it's supporting the big role played by our state's small ports or investing in green energy opportunities, Wyden said. At my annual town halls and community meetings in each of our state's 36 counties, I hear a consistent message of working to support job creation -- which is just what this legislation accomplishes for Oregonians.\r\n \r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will impact Oregon include:\r\nWater Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The WaterSmart program received a $21 million increase, to $55 million, to fund projects that will help irrigation districts comply with the Endangered Species Act. The WaterSmart program has supported the collaborative process that is underway within Central Oregon to conserve water, improve habitat for endangered steelhead and the spotted frog, and keep Central Oregon family farms in business.\r\nSmall Ports and Army Corps Navigation: The program, which is vital to help Oregon ports pay for dredging and other necessary infrastructure projects, received over $533 million for deep-draft harbor and channel improvements, $55 million for inland waterways, $40 million for navigation maintenance, and $65 million for small ports that are the lifeblood of Oregon's coastal economy.\r\nExpanding Renewable Energy: Merkley and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) were joined by 19 of their colleagues, including Wyden, in a bipartisan push to increase funding for wind energy power. The bill includes $104 milliona $12 million increasefor wind energy including $10 million for distributed wind. The bill also includes a $43 million increase for water power research, which will support ongoing research at OSU, and $33.5 million increase for solar power programs.\r\nProtecting Federal Assets in Oregon: The bill prohibits the transfer or sale of power marketing assets, including the Bonneville Power Administrationa top priority for Oregonians.\r\nEnergy Efficiency Programs: In response to the Trump Administration's proposal to restructure the popular Energy Star program, Merkley led 28 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in an effort to successfully maintain the program. The bill also includes language requiring the Department of Energy to explain why it has failed to meet deadlines for 25 energy-efficiency standards mandated by Congress. At Merkley's request, the bill includes language directing the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive review of needed investments in energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy activities.\r\nElectric Vehicle Deployment: The bill includes $40 million for the deployment of electric vehicles through the Clean Cities Program, to support cities installing more electric vehicle charging infrastructure and getting more electric vehicles on the road.\r\nSuperTruck II: The bill includes $20 million to further improve the efficiency of heavy-duty trucks through cost-effective technologies. The program develops and deploys cutting-edge vehicle technologies, including advanced batteries and electric drive systems, to reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the transportation sector.\r\nEnergy Storage: The bill includes secured $56 million for energy storage research and development, with a particular focus on grid-scale applications. This important funding ensures stability, reliability, resilience of the U.S. electricity grid as the country deploys and uses more renewable energy.\r\nScoggins Dam: Scoggins Dam received $2 million for preconstruction upgrade activities. Scoggins Dam has been classified as one of the most seismically at-risk dams that the Bureau of Reclamation manages. This classification means that failure of the dam due to a large earthquake could result in significant damages or even loss of life to communities if the dam is not upgraded.\r\nAquatic Invasive Species: The bill includes secured $24 million for aquatic plant control programs, including $1 million dedicated to the monitoring and control of flowering rush in the Columbia River. Additionally, $15 million shall be used for watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasives.\r\n###\r\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-major-investments-in-coastal-communities-tribes-included-in-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Coastal Communities, Tribes Included in Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Coastal Communities, Tribes Included in Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\t The bill has passed both houses of Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 20, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the 2020 spending bill funding commerce, justice and science, that will help rural communities across Oregon. The bill has passed both houses of Congress and now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\n \r\nI'm in every county every year, and across rural and coastal Oregon I hear about ways we can create jobs and strengthen communities, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill reflects a lot of those insights, from strengthening the coastal infrastructure to bolstering salmon recovery efforts to more money for communities to hire police officers. I'll keep using my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to make sure our small towns and rural communities have a voice when these decisions are being made.\r\nThese federal resources will support rural Oregonians' ability to provide for their families -- whether that's fishing along the coast or farming hemp throughout our state, Wyden said. And this legislation also provides key assistance to work statewide that protects women from violence and helps tribal communities. I am proud to have teamed up to secure funds for this package of important priorities.\r\n \r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will impact Oregon include:\r\nWest Coast Groundfish Trawl Industry: The bill contains language that forgives $13 million in excess interest charged to Oregon's groundfish trawl industry, caused by mismanagement of a federal loan through the National Marine Fisheries Service.\r\nAddressing Violence Against Women: The bill contains $502 millionthe highest funding level everfor grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women. This funding supports multiple grant programs that support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, domestic violence hotlines, and women's shelters and transitional housing support services.\r\nEconomic Development Administration (EDA): Merkley led a successful, bipartisan effort, including Wyden, to secure $319.5 million for the program, a $15.5 million increase in funding. The EDA, which was zeroed out in President Trump's first budget, leverages existing regional assets to support economic development in rural communities.\r\nResearch Vessels: After three years of spending bills preserving construction funding for the National Science Foundation Regional Class Research Vessel Program, this year, the spending bill includes funding for the operations and maintenance of these new vessels. The vessels are being developed by Oregon State University and will greatly bolster the U.S. marine science research capacity for the next 40 years.\r\nSalmon Management: Salmon population management programs, including the operations and maintenance of Mitchell Act hatcheries and the implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, received $56 million. The bill includes $35.5 million to support the implementation of Pacific Salmon Treaty.\r\nSalmon Recovery: The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund received $65 million. The president's budget proposed eliminating this vital program. The competitive grant program is designed to address declining Pacific salmon and steelhead populations by supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.\r\nSea Grant Program: The bill includes $74 million for the Sea Grant Program, a $6 million increase. The program, targeted for elimination in the Trump budget, is a priority for Oregon State University and uses targeted local investments to create economic growth, sustainable fisheries, and resilient coastal communities.\r\nCoastal Zone Management: The Coastal Zone Management grants were funded at $77 million, a $1.5 million increase. The program works with Oregon and other coastal states to address some of today's most pressing coastal issuesclimate change, ocean planning, and planning for energy facilities and development. These grants help protect natural resources, improve public access, facilitate coordination between state and federal authorities, and manage hazardous areas.\r\nIndustrial Hemp: The bill includes language that directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to ensure the subsequent drug codes and scheduling guidance is updated to reflect that the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp and its derivatives from the Controlled Substances Act. The cultivation of commercial hemp is projected to bring in more than $1 billion in economic input to Oregon this year.\r\nTribal Grants and Victim Assistance: Historically, the Native and tribal communities in Oregon have been disenfranchised in law enforcement, health outcomes, and victims' rights. To address these critical issues, the committee approved a total of $77 million in grant funding for various programs, including $38 million for tribal assistance, $27 million for tribal resources, and $4 million for the Office of Violence Against Women for a special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction program.\r\nOffice of Community Policing: The bill includes $335 million for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Within that, $245 million has been set aside for COPS Hiring Grants, which help local and tribal law enforcement agencies hire additional police officersan urgent need for many law enforcement agencies across Oregon.\r\nRegional Information Sharing Activities: The program received $38 million to support the activities that enable the sharing of nationwide criminal information and other resources, a $1 million increase for the program that supports the Western States Information Network used by Oregon departments.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/amid-new-report-of-secretary-chao-using-a-taxpayer-funded-program-to", "Amid New Report of Secretary Chao Using a Taxpayer-Funded Program to Dole Out Favors, Chair DeFazio Formally Requests DOT Inspector General Broaden Ongoing Inquiry", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Two months after requesting that the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General investigate reports that U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and her staff gave preferential treatment for discretionary grants, today Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) formally asked the Inspector General to broaden the inquiry.\nIn accordance with Chair DeFazio's original request, the DOT IG is currently investigating whether Secretary Chao gave preferential treatment to organizations and projects in Kentucky, where her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is running for re-election. The discretionary grant program, known as INFRA, is funded by taxpayers and approved by Congress.\nIn his letter to DOT's Inspector General Calvin L. Scovel, Chair DeFazio wrote:  new information has emerged that points to a troubling pattern of potential favoritism by the Secretary and her inner circle of staff at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and has heightened my concern about these issues. The DOT should be working for all Americans and all states in the United States of America and the grant making process to shore up our nation's infrastructure should not be ensnared by political criteria. I hope you will take this new information into account as part of your current review of these issues.\nThe full letter is below. For a PDF version of the letter, click here.\n\nDecember 20, 2019\n\nCalvin L. Scovel III  \n\tInspector General  \n\tOffice of Inspector General  \n\tUnited States Department of Transportation  \n\t1200 New Jersey Avenue SE  \n\tWashington, D.C. 20590\nDear Inspector General Scovel:\nI last wrote to you in October about my concerns regarding news reports that suggested Secretary Elaine Chao disproportionately approved discretionary grants to Kentucky, the same state her husband, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, represents in the U.S. Senate.[1] I appreciate the fact that your office is now engaged in a review of these and related issues. However, in the two months since I originally wrote to you about these matters new information has emerged that points to a troubling pattern of potential favoritism by the Secretary and her inner circle of staff at the Department of Transportation (DOT) and has heightened my concern about these issues. The DOT should be working for all Americans and all states in the United States of America and the grant making process to shore up our nation's infrastructure should not be ensnared by political criteria.\nThe most recent story on this matter by Politico, published earlier this week and based on records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act validates many of these previously reported issues and reveals that Secretary Chao's office has degraded the ability of career staff at DOT to objectively access the merits of grant applications.[2] Last June, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) also raised concerns about the Infrastructure and Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant program and found it lacked consistency and transparency and the assurance of fairness.[3] In addition, GAO was unable to obtain key information justifying some of the controversial grants that Secretary Chao approved for Kentucky as part of their own review.\nI hope you will take this new information into account as part of your current review of these issues. Thank you again for your assistance in this matter.\n\n Sincerely,\n\n\n\nPETER A. DeFAZIO\nChair\n\ncc: SAM GRAVES, Ranking Member\n\n\n\t  \n\t\n\t\n\t\t[3] DISCRETIONARY TRANSPORTATION GRANTS: Actions Needed to Improve Consistency and Transparency in DOT's Application Evaluations, Government Accountability Office (GAO), GAO-19-541, June 2019, accessed here: https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/700024.pdf", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-murray-wyden-walden-announce-spending-bill-to-advance-rural-business-development-funding-for-the-columbia-river-gorge", "Merkley, Murray, Wyden, Walden Announce Spending Bill to Advance Rural Business Development Funding for the Columbia River Gorge", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 20, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Murray, Wyden, Walden Announce Spending Bill to Advance Rural Business Development Funding for the Columbia River Gorge \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, DC  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-5), today announced that the 2020 spending bill passed by Congress will include $2 million in new funding for rural business development grants, with priority given to National Scenic Areas that have been devastated by wildfires, such as the Columbia River Gorge.\r\nThis funding is intended to be used by entities such as the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District to create revolving loan funds to help support local Gorge businesses as they recover and grow following the Eagle Creek Fire.\r\nI've been fighting for a long time to help the Gorge get the economic development assistance that was supposed to come with the scenic area, and it's more important than ever after the Eagle Creek Fire, said Merkley, who serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which directs federal spending. Wildfire can be devastating for any small business, but it's particularly devastating in areas like the Gorge, where the economy is interconnected with outdoor recreation. This assistance will make sure the small businesses that are the heart and soul of our local Gorge economies can come back stronger than ever.\r\nThese resources are a must for the full recovery of the Gorge's businesses from the devastation of the Eagle Creek wildfire, Wyden said. Many of these job-creating businesses play key roles in the Gorge's world-renowned recreation economy and I am gratified that our work to help them continue to grow has succeeded.\r\nThe Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area is one of our most treasured natural areas in the Pacific Northwest, and I'm glad to see Congress allocate these funds to support economic development in the region and aid its continued recovery following the tragic Eagle Creek Fire, Murray said. I'm thankful to my colleagues in Oregon for their work on this issue and their partnership throughout the years to bolster communities along both sides of the Columbia River Gorge, and I won't stop pushing for stronger federal investments to continue moving these critical efforts forward.\r\nI was glad to work with Senator Merkley and our colleagues across the river in Washington to fight for this remaining funding owed to our communities under the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act, Walden said. As the area continues to recover from the effects of the Eagle Creek Fire, these funds are all the more important and I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law. \r\nI appreciate the hard work of our Senators, Representatives, and the advocacy from many of our community partners who understand the critical function this expanded access to capital plays in the ability for the Gorge economy to continue to thrive and prosper, said Amanda Hoey, Executive Director of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. \r\nThe 2020 spending bill has passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and has been signed into law by the president.\r\n\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-increased-water-infrastructure-tribal-forest-funding-in-2020-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Increased Water Infrastructure, Tribal, Forest Funding in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 20, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce Increased Water Infrastructure, Tribal, Forest Funding in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The bill has passed both houses of Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the 2020 spending bill includes U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations funding that provides critical investments in earthquake preparedness, water infrastructure, and wildfire suppression and recovery activities that are of particular importance to communities across Oregon.\r\nThis bill invests in both recovery and prevention efforts to save our forests, our communities, and our farms, ranches and other businesses from devastating losses, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. It also secures critical resources for water infrastructure that will create jobs while improving sanitation and drinking water across Oregon. I will continue to use my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to fight for the emergency and long-term resources communities across Oregon rely on.\r\nThese key resources will help Oregon communities to prepare for natural disasters, protect safe drinking water and prevent wildfires that threaten lives and businesses throughout our state, Wyden said. All of these investments add up to safer communities and better quality of life for Oregonians.\r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the appropriations bill that will impact Oregon include:\r\nForest Health Restoration and Collaboration: The bill includes funding increases for several programs that reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires on public and private lands. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management received an additional $19 million and $5 million, respectively, for hazardous fuels reduction, bringing the total funding level to $639 million. In addition, the bill maintains funding for the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program at $40 million. Oregon has three active CFLR projects: Southern Blues Restoration Coalition Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project, Deschutes Collaborative Forest Project, and Lakeview Collaborative Landscape Restoration Project.\r\nWildfire Management: In anticipation of the next fire season, the bill includes $1.414 billion for fire suppression at the Forest Service and Department of the Interior. Fiscal year 2020 is also the first year that the bipartisan fire borrowing fix comes into effect, resulting in $2.25 billion of additional funds available for fire suppression and other priorities within the Interior bill.\r\nColumbia River Basin Restoration Program: The EPA will receive $1.2 million to continue implementation of the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Merkley created this program, and has secured funding since fiscal year 2019 to provide grants to business owners, farmers, ranchers, local governments, and others in the Columbia Basin to clean up and reduce toxics for a cleaner, healthier basin.\r\nKlamath Basin Water and Wildlife Conservation: In continued efforts toward a long-term solution in the Klamath Basin, the bill includes $6.5 milliona $2.5 million increaseto support strategies to restore fish habitat and scale up ongoing efforts to restore healthy populations of shortnose and Lost River sucker fish. The agreement also included $5 million habitat restoration in advance of the removal of Klamath River dams.\r\nPayment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): The bill includes $500 million for the PILT program to fund vital services for rural communities, including public safety, social services, transportation and housing. This funding goes to Oregon counties that have large tracts of federal land, which doesn't pay property taxes. The investment approved by Congress is $35 million over the president's request.\r\nClean Air and Water Funding: The bill protects funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). President Trump's budget proposed cutting the agency, which is responsible for reducing pollution and safeguarding public health, by over 25 percent. Merkley organized 36 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in urging opposition to those cuts, and the Committee provided an additional $265 million for the EPA.\r\nWater Infrastructure: Critical water infrastructure loan programs under the Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Authority (WIFIA) Act received $60 million to leverage over $11 billion in investments, such as the new projects in Hillsboro and Portland. Merkley authored the WIFIA program in 2012, working to ensure public drinking water and wastewater infrastructure are well-maintainedcritical for public health and safety, strong local businesses, population growth, and clean rivers and aquifers. WIFIA was passed into law as part of the 2014 Water Resources Development Act.\r\nDrinking Water: The bill provides $26 million for lead contamination testing at schools and child care centers, $20 million for lead reduction projects in rural areas, and $25 million for water projects in communities working to improve Safe Drinking Water Act compliance.\r\nTribal Programs: The Indian Health Service, which provides health care to thousands of Oregon Tribal members, received $6.047 billion, $243 million more than fiscal year 2019 and $138 million more than the President's budget request. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education received $3.223 billion, an increase of $142 million to the fiscal year 2019 level.\r\nLand and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): The bill provides $495 million, enough to fund all pending LWCF projects in Oregon. For over 50 years the program has been the main source of funding for federal land and water acquisitions. Acquiring and protecting public lands not only provides environmental and recreational benefits, but also creates jobs in the tourism, recreation, timber, fishing, and other natural resource sectors.\r\nEarthquake Preparedness: The bill includes $170.8 million for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support regional earthquake initiatives, including $19 million for ShakeAlert. The report also encourages the USGS to continue the development of a system for Cascadia that will help prepare for and mitigate the negative human and economic impacts of a major seismic event.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-investments-in-small-ports-irrigation-districts-renewable-energy-included-in-2020-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Small Ports, Irrigation Districts, Renewable Energy Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 20, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Small Ports, Irrigation Districts, Renewable Energy Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that provisions that will help create jobs and improve infrastructure in Oregon communities are included in the 2020 spending bill that has passed both chambers of Congress, and is headed to the president's desk to become law.\r\nOne of the most gratifying parts of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee is that I get to work with communities across the state to fund their needs, and then see the funding in action, benefitting Oregon's small ports, irrigation districts, and more, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill includes bipartisan efforts to strengthen our country in the future, such as the investment in wind energy, and supports programs that will help Oregonians in the near future, such as funding to dredge our small ports. I will continue to use my seat on this committee to push for investments that are important to Oregonians.\r\nGenerating jobs throughout Oregon is a common theme in these federal resources, whether it's supporting the big role played by our state's small ports or investing in green energy opportunities, Wyden said. At my annual town halls and community meetings in each of our state's 36 counties, I hear a consistent message of working to support job creation -- which is just what this legislation accomplishes for Oregonians.\r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will impact Oregon include:\r\nWater Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The WaterSmart program received a $21 million increase, to $55 million, to fund projects that will help irrigation districts comply with the Endangered Species Act. The WaterSmart program has supported the collaborative process that is underway within Central Oregon to conserve water, improve habitat for endangered steelhead and the spotted frog, and keep Central Oregon family farms in business.\r\nSmall Ports and Army Corps Navigation: The program, which is vital to help Oregon ports pay for dredging and other necessary infrastructure projects, received over $533 million for deep-draft harbor and channel improvements, $55 million for inland waterways, $40 million for navigation maintenance, and $65 million for small ports that are the lifeblood of Oregon's coastal economy.\r\nExpanding Renewable Energy: Merkley and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) were joined by 19 of their colleagues, including Wyden, in a bipartisan push to increase funding for wind energy power. The bill includes $104 milliona $12 million increasefor wind energy including $10 million for distributed wind. The bill also includes a $43 million increase for water power research, which will support ongoing research at OSU, and $33.5 million increase for solar power programs.\r\nProtecting Federal Assets in Oregon: The bill prohibits the transfer or sale of power marketing assets, including the Bonneville Power Administrationa top priority for Oregonians.\r\nEnergy Efficiency Programs: In response to the Trump Administration's proposal to restructure the popular Energy Star program, Merkley led 28 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in an effort to successfully maintain the program. The bill also includes language requiring the Department of Energy to explain why it has failed to meet deadlines for 25 energy-efficiency standards mandated by Congress. At Merkley's request, the bill includes language directing the Department of Energy to conduct a comprehensive review of needed investments in energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy activities.\r\nElectric Vehicle Deployment: The bill includes $40 million for the deployment of electric vehicles through the Clean Cities Program, to support cities installing more electric vehicle charging infrastructure and getting more electric vehicles on the road.\r\nSuperTruck II: The bill includes $20 million to further improve the efficiency of heavy-duty trucks through cost-effective technologies. The program develops and deploys cutting-edge vehicle technologies, including advanced batteries and electric drive systems, to reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions in the transportation sector.\r\nEnergy Storage: The bill includes secured $56 million for energy storage research and development, with a particular focus on grid-scale applications. This important funding ensures stability, reliability, resilience of the U.S. electricity grid as the country deploys and uses more renewable energy.\r\nScoggins Dam: Scoggins Dam received $2 million for preconstruction upgrade activities. Scoggins Dam has been classified as one of the most seismically at-risk dams that the Bureau of Reclamation manages. This classification means that failure of the dam due to a large earthquake could result in significant damages or even loss of life to communities if the dam is not upgraded.\r\nAquatic Invasive Species: The bill includes secured $24 million for aquatic plant control programs, including $1 million dedicated to the monitoring and control of flowering rush in the Columbia River. Additionally, $15 million shall be used for watercraft inspection stations to prevent the spread of aquatic invasives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-major-investments-in-coastal-communities-tribes-included-in-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Coastal Communities, Tribes Included in Spending Bill", "2019-12-20", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 20, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Coastal Communities, Tribes Included in Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The bill has passed both houses of Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the 2020 spending bill funding commerce, justice and science, that will help rural communities across Oregon. The bill has passed both houses of Congress and now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\nI'm in every county every year, and across rural and coastal Oregon I hear about ways we can create jobs and strengthen communities, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This bill reflects a lot of those insights, from strengthening the coastal infrastructure to bolstering salmon recovery efforts to more money for communities to hire police officers. I'll keep using my seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to make sure our small towns and rural communities have a voice when these decisions are being made.\r\nThese federal resources will support rural Oregonians' ability to provide for their families -- whether that's fishing along the coast or farming hemp throughout our state, Wyden said. And this legislation also provides key assistance to work statewide that protects women from violence and helps tribal communities. I am proud to have teamed up to secure funds for this package of important priorities.\r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will impact Oregon include:\r\nWest Coast Groundfish Trawl Industry: The bill contains language that forgives $13 million in excess interest charged to Oregon's groundfish trawl industry, caused by mismanagement of a federal loan through the National Marine Fisheries Service.\r\nAddressing Violence Against Women: The bill contains $502 millionthe highest funding level everfor grants provided by the Office on Violence Against Women. This funding supports multiple grant programs that support training for police officers and prosecutors, state domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions, rape prevention programs, domestic violence hotlines, and women's shelters and transitional housing support services.\r\nEconomic Development Administration (EDA): Merkley led a successful, bipartisan effort, including Wyden, to secure $319.5 million for the program, a $15.5 million increase in funding. The EDA, which was zeroed out in President Trump's first budget, leverages existing regional assets to support economic development in rural communities.\r\nResearch Vessels: After three years of spending bills preserving construction funding for the National Science Foundation Regional Class Research Vessel Program, this year, the spending bill includes funding for the operations and maintenance of these new vessels. The vessels are being developed by Oregon State University and will greatly bolster the U.S. marine science research capacity for the next 40 years.\r\nSalmon Management: Salmon population management programs, including the operations and maintenance of Mitchell Act hatcheries and the implementation of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, received $56 million. The bill includes $35.5 million to support the implementation of Pacific Salmon Treaty.\r\nSalmon Recovery: The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund received $65 million. The president's budget proposed eliminating this vital program. The competitive grant program is designed to address declining Pacific salmon and steelhead populations by supporting conservation efforts in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.\r\nSea Grant Program: The bill includes $74 million for the Sea Grant Program, a $6 million increase. The program, targeted for elimination in the Trump budget, is a priority for Oregon State University and uses targeted local investments to create economic growth, sustainable fisheries, and resilient coastal communities.\r\nCoastal Zone Management: The Coastal Zone Management grants were funded at $77 million, a $1.5 million increase. The program works with Oregon and other coastal states to address some of today's most pressing coastal issuesclimate change, ocean planning, and planning for energy facilities and development. These grants help protect natural resources, improve public access, facilitate coordination between state and federal authorities, and manage hazardous areas.\r\nIndustrial Hemp: The bill includes language that directs the Drug Enforcement Administration to ensure the subsequent drug codes and scheduling guidance is updated to reflect that the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp and its derivatives from the Controlled Substances Act. The cultivation of commercial hemp is projected to bring in more than $1 billion in economic input to Oregon this year.\r\nTribal Grants and Victim Assistance: Historically, the Native and tribal communities in Oregon have been disenfranchised in law enforcement, health outcomes, and victims' rights. To address these critical issues, the committee approved a total of $77 million in grant funding for various programs, including $38 million for tribal assistance, $27 million for tribal resources, and $4 million for the Office of Violence Against Women for a special domestic violence criminal jurisdiction program.\r\nOffice of Community Policing: The bill includes $335 million for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. Within that, $245 million has been set aside for COPS Hiring Grants, which help local and tribal law enforcement agencies hire additional police officersan urgent need for many law enforcement agencies across Oregon.\r\nRegional Information Sharing Activities: The program received $38 million to support the activities that enable the sharing of nationwide criminal information and other resources, a $1 million increase for the program that supports the Western States Information Network used by Oregon departments.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392651", "Rep. Schrader Votes for Bipartisan USMCA Trade Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\r\nDecember 19, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\n  \r\nRep. Schrader Votes for Bipartisan USMCA Trade Agreement \r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) voted for the passage of the United States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement that will set new standards for future U.S. trade agreements. \r\n\r\nCongress and the Trump Administration have succeeded in negotiating and passing a new NAFTA agreement with our two most important trading partners: Canada and Mexico, said Rep. Schrader. For a trade dependent state like Oregon where much of its agriculture products, manufactured goods, and services are shipped internationally, this is great news. It is just the shot in the arm we need to keep our economy and job growth strong. There have been significant improvements for our farmers, businesses, workers and families that reflect the 21st century global economy. This United States Mexico Canada Agreement promotes more American exports to Canada and Mexico and would truly level the playing field for American workers.\r\n\r\nThis holiday season will be a bit brighter for America's dairy farmers as today's vote brings us one step closer to finalizing USMCA and securing a more certain future for the dairy industry, said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federations. Oregon's dairy industry appreciates the work that Congressman Schrader has invested to ensure USMCA will provide expanded market opportunities and a more level playing field for dairy exports. Now we are counting on the Senate to act quickly and finalize USMCA in order to deliver its improvements to North American trade.\r\n\r\nThe renegotiated trade agreement will secure improvements in four key areas:\r\n\r\n Enforcement: Fixing loopholes that allowed countries to avoid being held accountable and introducing new measures to make enforcement more effective \r\n Workers: Creating new mechanisms to monitor labor rule compliance in Mexico and establish penalties on imports produced at a facility where workers' right to organize has been thwarted\r\n Environment: New standards to monitor environmental compliance in Mexico\r\n Access to Medicine: Promotion of fair competition and improving patients' access to affordable medicines \r\n\r\nAccording to the U.S. Office of the Trade Representative, in 2018, Oregon exported $22.3 billion in goods around the world, $3.7 billion to Canada and Mexico alone.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-defense-and-homeland-security-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley Statement on Defense and Homeland Security Spending Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Statement on Defense and Homeland Security Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after voting against the 2020 spending bill for the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. Earlier today, he voted for the 2020 spending bill that will fund domestic priorities including health care, wildfire prevention and public lands management, transportation infrastructure, housing, and more.\r\n \r\nComing to an agreement to fund the government is always a challenging negotiation, and I appreciate the efforts of all of my Appropriations colleagues on both sides of the aisle. They worked hard to craft two bills that could attract bipartisan support, invest in important priorities, and avert a government shutdown.\r\nEarlier today, I was proud to vote for the bill that will fund important domestic priorities, including health care, transportation, housing, public lands management, and more. I fought to make sure Oregon's key prioritieslike combatting homelessness, preventing and fighting wildfires, and standing up for our coastal jobswere represented in this bill. I joined the Appropriations Committee to make sure that Oregon had a strong voice when these decisions were being made.\r\nHowever, I could not support the second of these two bills, which will primarily fund the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security. Unfortunately, this bill does not present the accountability our country needs to rein in wasteful defense spending and to prevent cruel detention policies.\r\nAt a time when our nation should be doing far more to invest in health care, housing, education, and infrastructure, this bill instead invests the better part of a trillion dollars into an already bloated Defense Department. It advances a reckless and wasteful nuclear modernization agenda that risks sparking a new global arms race, and funds many weapons programs at a level beyond even what the President requested.\r\nCritically, this bill also fails to rein in President Trump's cruelty agenda aimed at the newest arrivals to our nation. This bill does not provide the accountability we need to stop the family internment camps or his misuse of ICE detention to criminalize families fleeing persecution. We need to keep fighting those battles in order to re-light Lady Liberty's torch. I will continue to hold this administration accountable when they direct our government to inflict cruelty on children and families.\r\nFor these reasons, I voted no' on the second funding bill today.\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-key-priorities-for-oregon-agriculture-rural-communities-included-in-2020-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Priorities for Oregon Agriculture, Rural Communities Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Priorities for Oregon Agriculture, Rural Communities Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the fiscal year 2020 spending bill that will help Oregon's agriculture industry and rural communitiesfrom investments in rural housing; to research into the impacts of wildfire smoke on crops; to hemp, which is becoming a cash crop for Oregon. The bill has passed both chambers of Congress on bipartisan votes, and now heads to the president's desk to become law.\r\n \r\nEvery year I visit every county in Oregon, and people everywhere want the same thing: a chance to earn a good living, provide for their families, and build something for the future, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee, and co-authored the Senate agriculture appropriations bill. I bring back the good ideas and priorities I hear and make sure Oregonians' voices are heard when decisions get made in D.C. This bill includes investments that will help Oregonians in every part of the state sell more, reduce costs, develop new products, and strengthen our communities.\r\nFrom boosting rural broadband to supporting Oregon's ag economy and helping lower electric bills for families, our rural communities will only grow stronger with the big wins secured in this package, Wyden said. As we enter a new year, I will continue the fight for farmers, rural housing and economic development, and the environment.\r\n \r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nSmoke taint research: The smoke from last year's wildfires had a significant negative impact on Oregon's wine grapes. To better understand the challenges facing Oregon's winegrowers, the bill includes $2 million for OSU and other West Coast universities to research smoke taint.\r\nWater Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The bill includes a $25 million increase for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations. Funding is included for irrigation districts that need to improve water efficiency and conservation or otherwise improve fish and wildlife habitat. This program is providing critical funding for the collaborative processes underway across the state, working to conserve water and improve the habitats of endangered species, while keeping Oregon's family farms in business.\r\nRural Energy Savings Program: Funding for the program, which Merkley created, was maintained at $12 million and will leverage an additional $69 million for energy efficiency retrofits to buildings in rural communities. The bill also continued language from last year that allows the program to offer low-interest loans for replacing existing manufactured housing with new, energy-efficient manufactured housing in rural communities.\r\nHemp: The bill provides $16.5 million to implement provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill allowing for the cultivation of commercial hemp, which can be used to make everything from cloth and rope to oil and soap, and is projected to bring in more than $1 billion in economic input to Oregon this year. The bill also includes an additional $2.5 million for hemp innovation research.\r\nCannabidiol (CBD): The bill includes $2 million for research, policy evaluation, market analysis, and enforcement discretion policy to appropriately regulate CBDthe non-psychoactive product derived from hempunder the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The final agreement also includes language requiring the FDA to report to Congress within 60 days on the agency's progress toward regulating and evaluating CBD and, within 180 days, FDA must perform a sampling study of the current CBD marketplace to determine the extent to which products are mislabeled or adulterated. Although CBD was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, and the hemp industry continues to grow, the FDA has not developed a regulatory framework for CBD products. This funding and language provides needed guidance for Oregon's hemp production, which is on track to be a billion-dollar industry in the state.\r\nHazelnut Grants: The bill includes language to prioritize the organic hazelnut industry in the $12 million Value-Added Producer Grant program. The organic hazelnut industry in Oregon has significant potential to grow and increase the production of value-added goods with an investment in increased processing capacity, which could be supported by this grant program and the mandatory $17.5 million in funding provided in the 2018 Farm Bill.\r\nMass Timber Products: The advanced wood products program at USDA received $3.5 million for work on mass timber products that would enhance Oregon State University's cutting-edge research.\r\nOrganic and Sustainable Agriculture: The bill includes significant increases to funding for organic and sustainable agriculture programs. The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program received $37 million. The National Organic Program received $16 milliona $2 million increaseto develop and enforce the country's standards for organically produced agricultural products. The Organic Transition Program, which is dedicated to helping farmers transition from conventional to organic farming practices, received $6 million.\r\nAgricultural Research: The Agricultural Research Service received an increase of $111 million in funding for cutting-edge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the nation's agricultural systems. In addition, Merkley was able to secure funding for key Oregon agriculture research programs, including funding for research on alfalfa, barley, tree fruits, pear, wheat, hops, hemp, apple, shellfish, small fruits, seaweed, floriculture, nurseries, and the Sudden Oak Death pathogen plaguing the south coast.\r\nRural Development: The bill protects funding for a number of USDA's Rural Development programs, including rural housing and business development programs that President Trump proposed eliminating. These programs make billions of dollars of investments in rural America every year. In addition, Merkley was able to secure a $2 million increase for Rural Business Development grants for 2019.\r\nRural Housing: The bill includes an additional $44 million for rental assistance and an additional $5 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers.\r\nFarm Bill Implementation: The bill includes $35 million for the Farm Service Agency to hire additional county-based employees. The Farm Bill included numerous provisions that will directly benefit Oregon, including adjustments to the Price Loss Coverage program, the Agriculture Risk Coverage program, the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, and farm loan levels; the formation of a new Soil Health Demonstration Project; a prioritization of renewable energy deployment through the Rural Energy for America Program; funding for specialty crops and pest and disease management programs; several new tools to protect communities from wildfires; and the legalization of agricultural hemp production.\r\nOrigin of Livestock: The bill directs the USDA Secretary to complete work on the proposed rule for organic dairy operations concerning how and when conventionally raised animals can be brought into organic production systems. This will finally close a loophole that has caused unfair and inconsistent interpretations of organic standards to the detriment of organic family farmers who have followed the spirit and intent of the Organic Foods Production Act.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-more-than-2-billion-to-address-housing-homelessness-included-in-2020-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce More than $2 Billion to Address Housing, Homelessness Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce More than $2 Billion to Address Housing, Homelessness Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 19, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the fiscal year 2020 spending bill includes $2.173 billion to battle unaffordable rents and homelessness. The bill, which has passed both houses of Congress and now goes to the president's desk to be signed into law, funds several federal departments, and includes Oregon priorities for transportation, housing, and other programs that local communities rely on to fund services, build parks, and more.\r\n \r\nInfrastructure and housing are pressing issues for communities across Oregonurban and rural, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. As our cities and towns in every corner of the state face their biggest housing affordability crises in decadeswith rents dramatically outpacing incomeswe must do everything we can to make sure families have the decent homes they deserve. This bill includes needed investments in to address the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.\r\nNo one should have to choose between paying rent or feeding their family. Yet, working families in Oregon are struggling to pay rent, and many others have been forced to leave their communities or to live on the streets, Wyden said. We must persist in the fight for affordable housing, and thankfully, this package secures much-needed support for those most vulnerable in communities across our state.\r\n \r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill.\r\nKey housing funding that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nCommunity Development Block Grants: Rejecting the Trump Administration's request to eliminate the program, the bipartisan bill includes $3.4 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program. This program funds vital housing rehabilitation, supportive services, public improvements and economic development projects in communities across Oregon and the nation while encouraging local investment.\r\nAffordable Housing: As rural and urban communities across Oregon continue to experience housing crises, the bill includes an increase for affordable housing programs for some of Oregon's most vulnerable peoplelow-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Merkley led 27 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in a successful effort to provide $12.5 billion for housing unit specific rental assistance, an increase of over $800 million serving 1.2 million low-income households. The bill also protects funding for housing programs that benefit the elderly and people with disabilities.\r\nFair Market Rents: Building on significant positive fair market rent changes due to Merkley's language in the fiscal year 2018 bill, the bill includes $500,000 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to find better ways to measure the fair and accurate cost of a rental unit. This is a significant step forward in the battle to address the affordable housing crisis, by ensuring that vouchers keep pace with the real cost of rent in competitive rental markets.\r\nRural Housing: The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) and Rural Capacity Building Program received $10 million and $5 million, respectively. SHOP provides funds for non-profit sweat-equity homebuilders, such as Habitat for Humanity, to cover land purchases and infrastructure costs. The Rural Capacity funds are intended to build the capacity of rural low income housing non-profits by providing training, information, technical assistance, and financing.\r\nKey elements of the bill that seek to address homelessness in Oregon include:\r\nHomeless Assistance Grants: The bill includes $2.8 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $141 million increase that will benefit organizations across Oregon. Within that appropriation, rapid rehousing programs for victims of domestic violence received $50 million; homeless youth programs received $80 million; and Emergency Solutions Grantsparticularly important to the Portland metro areareceived $290 million to support street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance.\r\nUnited States Interagency Council on Homelessness: The bill includes $3.8 million for the program to continue its coordination of federal agencies working to combat homelessness.\r\nHOME Investment Partnerships Program: The bill includes $1.4 billion for the program to provide states and localities with flexible resources to respond to their affordable housing challenges, including rental housing and paths to homeownership for low-income families.\r\nNeighborhood Reinvestment Corporation: The program, also known as NeighborWorks America, received $157.5 million. The national nonprofit offers support for affordable housing and community development through public-private partnerships. President Trump's proposal would have eliminated this program, crippling its six locations across Oregon.\r\nHUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing: The program received $40 million to provide rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans, along with case management and clinical services. These vouchers have been critical to reducing veterans' homelessness by 49 percent since 2010.\r\nKey transportation funding that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nCapital Investment Grant Program: The bill includes nearly $2 billion for the program, which provides funding for major transit investments that support sustainable transportation and reduced congestion in Oregon's growing cities.\r\nBUILD Grants: The program, formerly known as TIGER grants, received a $1 billion investment for 2019, a $100 million increase. This critical transportation grants program, which the Trump Administration's budget zeroed out for the second year, has helped fund projects across Oregon.\r\nTransportation Formula Grants: The program received $10.1 billion, including $338 million for Bus and Bus Facilities Grants to help transit agencies purchase new buses and replace aging fleets, in particular transitioning to new low- or no-emission vehicles. The bill also included $40 million for transportation-related formula grants for rural areas.\r\nElectric Buses: The agreement includes $75 million, a $45 million increase, for the Department of Transportation's Low and No Emission transit program, which allows transit agencies to replace their aging gas powered fleet with modern, energy efficient buses.\r\nFAST Act: The bill protects funding for rail programs authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, including $325 million for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grants and $200 million for Partnership for State of Good Repair grants, which support capital investment and maintenance projects for Amtrak routes and rail assets.\r\nEssential Air Service and Contract Towers: The bill includes $162 million for the Essential Air Service. The Essential Air Service program supports flights between the City of Pendleton and Portland International Airport, a vital connection to support economic development across Eastern Oregon. Additionally, the bill increases funding for FAA Contract Towers by $2 million to $170 million. There are six contract towers across Oregon, and this funding ensures their continued operation.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-blumenauer-statement-passage-usmca", "Chairman Blumenauer Statement on Passage of USMCA", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, today issued a statement following the House passage of the United States Mexico Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 385-41.\n\nThis was an unprecedented vote for an unprecedented trade agreement. This agreement got more Democratic votes than Republican votes, and we were able to thwart the efforts of big drug companies for the first time ever in a trade agreement. This should be a sign that the days of giving big pharma sweetheart deals are over. Protecting our workers and environment, addressing climate change, and putting people ahead of profit will be at the center of all new trade agreements as long as Democrats are in charge.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peter-defazio-statement-on-us-mexico-canada-trade-agreement", "Rep. Peter DeFazio Statement on US-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio today released the following statement on the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement:\nTwenty-five years ago, when President Clinton signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), he promised the deal would mean good-paying American jobs. Unfortunately, those claims couldn't have been further from the truth, and NAFTA has led to the loss of millions of American family-wage jobs over the past twenty-five years.\nI voted against NAFTA, helped to lead efforts against it in the House of Representatives, and have spent my career fighting on behalf of the American worker. As a result, I have voted against every so-called free trade deal proposed to Congress since thendeals that have prioritized profits over people and inflicted harm on workers' rights, consumer safety, and the environment.\nWorking Americans have been waiting for more than two decades for the opportunity to fix NAFTA's failed policies. For twenty-five years, I have been fighting for a truly transformative replacement that supports American workers while safeguarding the environment and protecting consumers. Unfortunately, I do not believe that the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is that transformative deal, and, as a result, I will vote against it.\nI am pleased that the agreement includes a number of improvements upon NAFTA, many of which I have long fought for and helped secure, including provisions that will better enable the U.S. to regulate cross-border trucking. However, I do not believe the overall package goes far enough to raise standards and protect workers, consumers, and the environment.\nThe USMCA will not bring back the hundreds of thousands of U.S. jobs that were lost to Mexico, nor will it stop the outsourcing of jobs that continues, because of their country's deeply entrenched system of wage and rights suppression. Unless we enact a trade agreement that upends this system altogether, we will continue to hemorrhage American jobs to Mexico. I do not believe Mexico has devoted the funding or the staffing necessary for these changes, nor do I believe this agreement goes far enough in ensuring that workers and the U.S. have the remedies needed to prevent abuses from continuing to occur moving forward.\nFurthermore, I believe that the USMCA will continue to promote pro-polluter, climate-denying policies. This agreement should take bold steps to address climate change and to curb corporate polluting at a critical time when we need transformational solutions to address the existential threat of climate change.\nAs I did under NAFTA, I will continue to push for robust oversight and enforcement of the USMCA's labor and environmental standards, as weak as they are. I will also continue to fight for a truly transformative deal that sets a new standard for 21st century trade agreements.\nFor Rep. DeFazio's full Statement for the Record on the USMCA, click here.\nBACKGROUND\nCross-border Trucking Services  \n\tAfter extensive work with USTR, Rep. DeFazio secured provisions in the USMCA that will better enable the U.S. to safeguard American roads. The deal includes language that allows the United States to restrict domestic long-haul services by Mexican trucks in the event of material harm to U.S. trucking suppliers, operators, and drivers. This restriction provides teeth to protect the U.S. trucking industry from unfair trade practices by Mexican motor carriers, and provides for consideration of impacts on driver wages and working conditions, to avoid a race to the bottom in trucking.\nLabor Standards  \n\tDeFazio has pushed to raise wages and standards for Mexican workers, which would help ease the outsourcing of American jobs across our southern border. Mexico's commitments fall short of what is necessary, and the USMCA does not contain adequate protections for these workers. Democratic and Republican administrations have shirked their responsibilities to fight for higher labor standards and fair trade policies, and the agreement does not do enough to prevent those kind of abuses moving forward.\nChapter 19  \n\tThe Trump administration abandoned its original position to eliminate Chapter 19. DeFazio has long called for the elimination of this unconstitutional chapter which allows foreign tribunals to overrule U.S. trade protections against heavily subsidized foreign imports.\nEnvironment  \n\tAt its core, the agreement is one that will continue to promote pro-polluter, climate-denying policies. There are no substantive provisions to seriously curb air and water pollution, the deal completely ignores climate change, and its environmental enforcement mechanism is not nearly strong enough.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-usmca-big-win-oregons-businesses-and-ag-producers", "Greg Walden on USMCA : 'A big win for Oregon's Businesses and Ag Producers'", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In Oregon, 7,421 jobs depend on manufacturing exports to Canada and Mexico.\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement following the House passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA):\n\"I am glad that the House came together todayto pass the bipartisan USMCA and Iapplaud President Trump for working hard to negotiate this deal. Today is a big win for Oregon's businesses and ag producers. Oregon businesses export $3.7 billion in goods to Canada and Mexico, supporting 7,421 jobs in our state. This agreement expands and solidifies the market opportunities that make that possible.USMCA will especially help Oregon wine, wheat, and dairy producers and provides improved market access for our agriculture products. I look forward to the Senate passing, and the President signing this agreement so that we can continue to grow our economy and expand access to markets abroad,\" said Walden.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-key-priorities-for-oregon-agriculture-rural-communities-included-in-2020-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Priorities for Oregon Agriculture, Rural Communities Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 19, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Priorities for Oregon Agriculture, Rural Communities Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the fiscal year 2020 spending bill that will help Oregon's agriculture industry and rural communitiesfrom investments in rural housing; to research into the impacts of wildfire smoke on crops; to hemp, which is becoming a cash crop for Oregon. The bill has passed both chambers of Congress on bipartisan votes, and now heads to the president's desk to become law.\r\nEvery year I visit every county in Oregon, and people everywhere want the same thing: a chance to earn a good living, provide for their families, and build something for the future, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Agriculture and Rural Development Subcommittee, and co-authored the Senate agriculture appropriations bill. I bring back the good ideas and priorities I hear and make sure Oregonians' voices are heard when decisions get made in D.C. This bill includes investments that will help Oregonians in every part of the state sell more, reduce costs, develop new products, and strengthen our communities.\r\nFrom boosting rural broadband to supporting Oregon's ag economy and helping lower electric bills for families, our rural communities will only grow stronger with the big wins secured in this package, Wyden said. As we enter a new year, I will continue the fight for farmers, rural housing and economic development, and the environment.\r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the investments our nation should be making.\r\nKey elements of the legislation that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nSmoke taint research: The smoke from last year's wildfires had a significant negative impact on Oregon's wine grapes. To better understand the challenges facing Oregon's winegrowers, the bill includes $2 million for OSU and other West Coast universities to research smoke taint.\r\nWater Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The bill includes a $25 million increase for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations. Funding is included for irrigation districts that need to improve water efficiency and conservation or otherwise improve fish and wildlife habitat. This program is providing critical funding for the collaborative processes underway across the state, working to conserve water and improve the habitats of endangered species, while keeping Oregon's family farms in business.\r\nRural Energy Savings Program: Funding for the program, which Merkley created, was maintained at $12 million and will leverage an additional $69 million for energy efficiency retrofits to buildings in rural communities. The bill also continued language from last year that allows the program to offer low-interest loans for replacing existing manufactured housing with new, energy-efficient manufactured housing in rural communities.\r\nHemp: The bill provides $16.5 million to implement provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill allowing for the cultivation of commercial hemp, which can be used to make everything from cloth and rope to oil and soap, and is projected to bring in more than $1 billion in economic input to Oregon this year. The bill also includes an additional $2.5 million for hemp innovation research.\r\nCannabidiol (CBD): The bill includes $2 million for research, policy evaluation, market analysis, and enforcement discretion policy to appropriately regulate CBDthe non-psychoactive product derived from hempunder the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The final agreement also includes language requiring the FDA to report to Congress within 60 days on the agency's progress toward regulating and evaluating CBD and, within 180 days, FDA must perform a sampling study of the current CBD marketplace to determine the extent to which products are mislabeled or adulterated. Although CBD was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, and the hemp industry continues to grow, the FDA has not developed a regulatory framework for CBD products. This funding and language provides needed guidance for Oregon's hemp production, which is on track to be a billion-dollar industry in the state.\r\nHazelnut Grants: The bill includes language to prioritize the organic hazelnut industry in the $12 million Value-Added Producer Grant program. The organic hazelnut industry in Oregon has significant potential to grow and increase the production of value-added goods with an investment in increased processing capacity, which could be supported by this grant program and the mandatory $17.5 million in funding provided in the 2018 Farm Bill.\r\nMass Timber Products: The advanced wood products program at USDA received $3.5 million for work on mass timber products that would enhance Oregon State University's cutting-edge research.\r\nOrganic and Sustainable Agriculture: The bill includes significant increases to funding for organic and sustainable agriculture programs. The USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program received $37 million. The National Organic Program received $16 milliona $2 million increaseto develop and enforce the country's standards for organically produced agricultural products. The Organic Transition Program, which is dedicated to helping farmers transition from conventional to organic farming practices, received $6 million.\r\nAgricultural Research: The Agricultural Research Service received an increase of $111 million in funding for cutting-edge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the nation's agricultural systems. In addition, Merkley was able to secure funding for key Oregon agriculture research programs, including funding for research on alfalfa, barley, tree fruits, pear, wheat, hops, hemp, apple, shellfish, small fruits, seaweed, floriculture, nurseries, and the Sudden Oak Death pathogen plaguing the south coast.\r\nRural Development: The bill protects funding for a number of USDA's Rural Development programs, including rural housing and business development programs that President Trump proposed eliminating. These programs make billions of dollars of investments in rural America every year. In addition, Merkley was able to secure a $2 million increase for Rural Business Development grants for 2019.\r\nRural Housing: The bill includes an additional $44 million for rental assistance and an additional $5 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers.\r\nFarm Bill Implementation: The bill includes $35 million for the Farm Service Agency to hire additional county-based employees. The Farm Bill included numerous provisions that will directly benefit Oregon, including adjustments to the Price Loss Coverage program, the Agriculture Risk Coverage program, the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, and farm loan levels; the formation of a new Soil Health Demonstration Project; a prioritization of renewable energy deployment through the Rural Energy for America Program; funding for specialty crops and pest and disease management programs; several new tools to protect communities from wildfires; and the legalization of agricultural hemp production.\r\nOrigin of Livestock: The bill directs the USDA Secretary to complete work on the proposed rule for organic dairy operations concerning how and when conventionally raised animals can be brought into organic production systems. This will finally close a loophole that has caused unfair and inconsistent interpretations of organic standards to the detriment of organic family farmers who have followed the spirit and intent of the Organic Foods Production Act.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-more-than-2-billion-to-address-housing-homelessness-included-in-2020-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden Announce More than $2 Billion to Address Housing, Homelessness Included in 2020 Spending Bill", "2019-12-19", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 19, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce More than $2 Billion to Address Housing, Homelessness Included in 2020 Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The bill has passed Congress, and now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the fiscal year 2020 spending bill includes $2.173 billion to battle unaffordable rents and homelessness. The bill, which has passed both houses of Congress and now goes to the president's desk to be signed into law, funds several federal departments, and includes Oregon priorities for transportation, housing, and other programs that local communities rely on to fund services, build parks, and more.\r\nInfrastructure and housing are pressing issues for communities across Oregonurban and rural, said Merkley, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee. As our cities and towns in every corner of the state face their biggest housing affordability crises in decadeswith rents dramatically outpacing incomeswe must do everything we can to make sure families have the decent homes they deserve. This bill includes needed investments in to address the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis.\r\nNo one should have to choose between paying rent or feeding their family. Yet, working families in Oregon are struggling to pay rent, and many others have been forced to leave their communities or to live on the streets, Wyden said. We must persist in the fight for affordable housing, and thankfully, this package secures much-needed support for those most vulnerable in communities across our state.\r\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill.\r\nKey housing funding that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nCommunity Development Block Grants: Rejecting the Trump Administration's request to eliminate the program, the bipartisan bill includes $3.4 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program. This program funds vital housing rehabilitation, supportive services, public improvements and economic development projects in communities across Oregon and the nation while encouraging local investment.\r\nAffordable Housing: As rural and urban communities across Oregon continue to experience housing crises, the bill includes an increase for affordable housing programs for some of Oregon's most vulnerable peoplelow-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Merkley led 27 of his colleagues, including Wyden, in a successful effort to provide $12.5 billion for housing unit specific rental assistance, an increase of over $800 million serving 1.2 million low-income households. The bill also protects funding for housing programs that benefit the elderly and people with disabilities.\r\nFair Market Rents: Building on significant positive fair market rent changes due to Merkley's language in the fiscal year 2018 bill, the bill includes $500,000 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to find better ways to measure the fair and accurate cost of a rental unit. This is a significant step forward in the battle to address the affordable housing crisis, by ensuring that vouchers keep pace with the real cost of rent in competitive rental markets.\r\nRural Housing: The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) and Rural Capacity Building Program received $10 million and $5 million, respectively. SHOP provides funds for non-profit sweat-equity homebuilders, such as Habitat for Humanity, to cover land purchases and infrastructure costs. The Rural Capacity funds are intended to build the capacity of rural low income housing non-profits by providing training, information, technical assistance, and financing.\r\nKey elements of the bill that seek to address homelessness in Oregon include: \r\nHomeless Assistance Grants: The bill includes $2.8 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $141 million increase that will benefit organizations across Oregon. Within that appropriation, rapid rehousing programs for victims of domestic violence received $50 million; homeless youth programs received $80 million; and Emergency Solutions Grantsparticularly important to the Portland metro areareceived $290 million to support street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, rapid re-housing assistance.\r\nUnited States Interagency Council on Homelessness: The bill includes $3.8 million for the program to continue its coordination of federal agencies working to combat homelessness.\r\nHOME Investment Partnerships Program: The bill includes $1.4 billion for the program to provide states and localities with flexible resources to respond to their affordable housing challenges, including rental housing and paths to homeownership for low-income families.\r\nNeighborhood Reinvestment Corporation: The program, also known as NeighborWorks America, received $157.5 million. The national nonprofit offers support for affordable housing and community development through public-private partnerships. President Trump's proposal would have eliminated this program, crippling its six locations across Oregon.\r\nHUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing: The program received $40 million to provide rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans, along with case management and clinical services. These vouchers have been critical to reducing veterans' homelessness by 49 percent since 2010.\r\nKey transportation funding that will benefit Oregon include:\r\nCapital Investment Grant Program: The bill includes nearly $2 billion for the program, which provides funding for major transit investments that support sustainable transportation and reduced congestion in Oregon's growing cities.\r\nBUILD Grants: The program, formerly known as TIGER grants, received a $1 billion investment for 2019, a $100 million increase. This critical transportation grants program, which the Trump Administration's budget zeroed out for the second year, has helped fund projects across Oregon.\r\nTransportation Formula Grants: The program received $10.1 billion, including $338 million for Bus and Bus Facilities Grants to help transit agencies purchase new buses and replace aging fleets, in particular transitioning to new low- or no-emission vehicles. The bill also included $40 million for transportation-related formula grants for rural areas.\r\nElectric Buses: The agreement includes $75 million, a $45 million increase, for the Department of Transportation's Low and No Emission transit program, which allows transit agencies to replace their aging gas powered fleet with modern, energy efficient buses.\r\nFAST Act: The bill protects funding for rail programs authorized under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, including $325 million for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grants and $200 million for Partnership for State of Good Repair grants, which support capital investment and maintenance projects for Amtrak routes and rail assets.\r\nEssential Air Service and Contract Towers: The bill includes $162 million for the Essential Air Service. The Essential Air Service program supports flights between the City of Pendleton and Portland International Airport, a vital connection to support economic development across Eastern Oregon. Additionally, the bill increases funding for FAA Contract Towers by $2 million to $170 million. There are six contract towers across Oregon, and this funding ensures their continued operation.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392649", "Rep. Schrader Votes for Fiscal Year 2020 Spending Package", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\r\nDecember 18, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\n  \r\nRep. Schrader Votes for Fiscal Year 2020 Spending Package\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) voted  in the House of Representatives for two minibus appropriations bills to fund the federal government for fiscal year 2020. These packages will avert a government shut down and ensure that federal employees are paid, and federal programs remain fully funded.\r\nWhile not perfect spending packages, these bills are the end result of compromise and Democrats and Republicans working together to fulfill the most important duty of Congress-keeping our government funded and running, said Rep. Schrader. These bills have some big wins for Oregonians and our service members. There is a large investment in improving housing for our military families, much needed repairs for bridges in Oregon, providing consistent and reliable funding to rural schools and increases in Head Start funding for young children. However, I am dismayed that increased funding to the Department of Homeland Security without increased oversight or accountability was included. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on better educating America's youth, improvements to infrastructure and supporting our veterans, not building Trump's senseless immigration policies. \r\nHR 1158: Defense; CJS; Financial Services; and Homeland Security: \r\n $425 million to secure America's elections\r\n $3.28 billion in grants for state and local law enforcement\r\n $22.3 billion for NASA\r\n $8.28 billion for the National Science Foundation \r\nHR 1865: Labor; HHS & Ed, Ag; Energy & Water; Interior; Leg Branch; MilCon & Vets; State & Foreign Ops; and T-HUD:\r\n $25 million for the CDC and NIH to study the gun violence epidemic for the first time in 20 years\r\n $1.5 billion for opioid research \r\n $2.79 billion in investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy \r\n Extension of the Mental Health Excellence program-Oregon is one of eight states participating in this program\r\n Record high funding Head Start and early childhood education programs \r\nIn addition to the above highlights, language introduced and supported by West Coast Senator and Representatives was included in this year's spending package after a decades long fight by federal officials to forgive more than $10 million in accrued interest that was forced onto the West Coast groundfishing fleet. This is a huge victory for coastal communities in Oregonup and down the entire West coastwho have been unfairly burdened by millions of dollars of excess loan interest paymentsdue to mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NMFS provided a $36 million-dollar buyout loan to retire one-third of the fishing fleet to reduce overfishing of groundfish on the West coast. However, for two years, NMFS failed to implement a repayment plan and refused to allow owners to begin paying off their loans. Therefore, millions of interest accrued before repayment was even permitted to start. Today, that interest will be forgiven, and the federal government can finally right these wrongs on behalf of our hardworking fishermen and their families. \r\n\r\nA two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program was included in the spending package as well. This is a bipartisan win for rural communities in the Northwest and will secure consistent, financial certainty for counties that contain federally owned lands. These funds will provide critical services from improving schools, to better road maintenance to investing in public safety programs.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392650", "Rep. Schrader Issues Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Schrader Issues Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 18, 2019\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n  \r\nFor Immediate Release\r\nDecember 18, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\n  \r\nStatement on the Impeachment of President Trump\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted this evening to impeach President Trump:\r\n\r\nAfter reading the transcript of President Trump's July 25th conversation with the Ukrainian President where he asks for a political favor that would lead to foreign influence in our election and listening to career and political appointees of the President himself express concern that a President of the United States would act in such a manner, I voted in favor of impeachment. These actions are illegal and pose serious risk to our democratic form of government. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-the-impeachment-of-president-trump-2019", "Merkley Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Statement on the Impeachment of President Trump \n\t\n\t\n\tWednesday, December 18, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, DC  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress:\r\n \r\nOur founders created the process of impeachment because they were deeply concerned about two significant dangers: first, foreign influence that might corrupt American democracy; and second, abuse of power by a president tempted to use his powers to become more like a king.\r\nFor these two reasons, the founders placed in the hands of Congress the means to act as a check on a corrupt president: Impeachment in the House, followed by a trial in the Senate. Today, the House fulfilled its constitutional responsibility.\r\nThe House has laid out a clear set of facts that should be alarming to anyone who cares about the integrity of our elections or the rule of law. The House presented a compelling case that the president solicited foreign interference in the 2020 election, that he conditioned official actions on this interference, and that he used the power of the office to advance his own interest instead of the public interest. By their vote today, they have concluded that this abuse of power and the president's obstruction of the investigation are significant enough to trigger a Senate trial on whether President Trump should remain in office.\r\nNow, the process moves to the Senate, and this is a moment in which every Senator must put country above party. The guiding principle must be complete impartiality in service of the Constitution we swore to uphold. Every Senator should search their own heart, and ask themselves what they would do if the president were of the opposite party. We owe the nation facts, fairness, and integritynot a cover-up.\r\nI am profoundly disturbed that the Majority Leader has already said that rather than conduct a fair trial, he is working alongside the White House to enact a party-wide cover-up. It is stunning that he is refusing to call witnesses because they would have evidence about the president's misconduct.\r\nAt the start of the trial, all Senators will swear an oath to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws.'The oath is not to their party, and not to their president.We are a nation of laws, not a cult of personality.If the Majority Leader blocks the conduct of a fair trial intended by the founders to determine whether the president has abused his power, and whether that abuse merits expulsion from office, then the Majority Leader will have inflicted a wound to our democracy that will have damaging consequences for decades to come. I hope that, over the coming holiday, all Senators will ponder their grave responsibility to rise to the occasion, and to bring our nation the facts, fairness, and integrity America deserves.\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/history-will-thank-us", "History will thank us", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today is a solemn moment as the House voted to impeach a president for only the third time in our nation's history. I am absolutely convinced that voting for these articles is the right thing to do, thanks to the outstanding work of our House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, and I did so proudly.\n\nBut the job is not done.\n\nThere are witnesses yet to be heard from, there are cases working their way through the courts, there are more investigation underway, and Trump literally continues to incriminate himself every single day.\n\nThese Articles of Impeachment do not expire next week, next month, or next Congress. It is absolutely essential that we allow the investigation to continue, and not surrender control to a sham trial in the Senate, where McConnell is working hand in glove with the Trump White House.\n\nI proudly voted to impeach Trump today. But we should retain control of the articles, allow the investigations to continue, and make sure that the Senate does their job.\n\nCourageous,\n\nEarl Blumenauer", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-backs-articles-impeachment-historic-floor-vote", "Bonamici Backs Articles of Impeachment in Historic Floor Vote", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/18/19]  Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) voted in favor of two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. One article was for abuse of power and the other for obstruction of Congress.\n\nBonamici spoke in support of impeachment on the House floor prior to the vote. Video of her remarks can be found here.\n\nDonald Trump has abused his office, obstructed justice and Congress, jeopardized national security, and betrayed the American people. The witnesses at the House Intelligence and Judiciary committee hearings, as well as the President's own words, have made these facts clear. He must be held accountable. \n\nThe Founding Fathers included the impeachment process in the Constitution to uphold our values and maintain the checks and balances that are essential to democracy. They knew way back in 1787 that someone in the office of President could abuse the power of the office. And that is what Donald Trump has done  abused the power of his office by inviting a foreign government to interfere in a U.S. election. He did this not to help the United States, but to benefit himself. That's wrong, and it is an impeachable offense. In our country, no one is above the law. That includes the President of the United States. \n\nAs a separate and equal branch of government, Congress has been working to uncover the President's wrongdoings  and at every turn the President has brazenly obstructed our inquiry, even defying subpoenas. \n\nI swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, and I take my obligation very seriously. I did that today by voting for the two articles of impeachment, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to hold this President accountable for his misdeeds and do what is best for Oregonians and the American people.\n\nBonamici first came out in support of an impeachment inquiry in May.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-statement-usmca", "Bonamici Statement on USMCA", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/18/19]- Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici released the following statement on the negotiated US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Speaker Pelosi appointed Bonamici to the USMCA Working Group, which was responsible for negotiating with the Administration on behalf of the Democratic Caucus to win improvements in the areas of labor, environment, enforcement, and drug pricing.\n\nFor the past six months, I have worked tirelessly as a member of a nine-person Working Group to negotiate a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that is a marked improvement over both NAFTA and the original proposed agreement the Trump Administration presented to Congress. Under the direction of Speaker Pelosi, we had many in-person meetings and conversations in which we pressed the Administration to make critical improvements in the areas of labor, environment, access to medicines, and enforcement. After a protracted battle with the Administration, we secured what I am confident will be meaningful improvements in all four areas.\n\nNAFTA went into effect in 1994. In the years that followed, we saw outsourcing of jobs to Mexico that undermined the American workforce and did not raise wages or working conditions for Mexican workers. The renegotiated USMCA strengthens the labor rules so it will be easier to prove violations. It also includes robust monitoring systems and strong enforcement tools, including United States attachs on the ground in Mexico to conduct inspections and ensure compliance with the agreement. Throughout this negotiation we worked closely with the labor movement, and because of our joint efforts, the deal is strong enough to have earned the support of the AFL-CIO.\n\nThe USMCA that the Trump Administration presented to Congress included harmful provisions that would have locked in high drug prices and made it more difficult for patients to access affordable generic drugs. After months of tough negotiations with the Administration, we were able to remove those sections of the agreement. The updated USMCA no longer requires the three countries to provide ten years of competition-free protection for biologics, stops patent evergreening that keeps generics off the market, removes a requirement allowing for an additional period of exclusivity for certain drugs, and makes additional changes to protect patients. This was a big win for patients, and this agreement is another important step to making sure that we are doing all we can to make medication affordable and accessible.\n\nThroughout this negotiation, my colleagues and I fought hard to improve the environment provisions in the agreement and worked to strengthen rules and increase monitoring and enforcement tools. Since coming to Congress I have devoted myself to protecting the environment and combatting climate change. As the co-chair of theHouseOceans Caucus andCongressional Estuary Caucus, and a member of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I have repeatedlyfought to advance environmental protections andpushback against an Administration that refuses to acknowledge the existence much less the urgency of the climate crisis. Even with the Administration's intransigence, the final deal includes improved environmental rules within the actual agreement. It also creates a customs verification process to combat illegally taken flora and fauna,suppliesenhanced environmental infrastructure,provides a path to addressing HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) emissions,includes protections against overfishing, makes it easier to prove violations of the environment provisions, andsecuresmore than $600 million in resources to implement the environment provisions and address pollution and marine debris. Despite our ongoing insistence throughout the negotiations, the Trump Administration refused to include the Paris Climate Accord among the list of the USMCA's multilateral environment agreements (MEAs) that must be adopted, implemented, and maintained. We did, however, include a provision that allows the parties to add other environmental and conservation agreements to the list of covered MEAs.\n\nThis agreement is a vast improvement over both NAFTA and what the Administration first sent to Congress. Recently I stood with Speaker Pelosi and several colleagues at the UN's Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 25) to show the world thatthe House of Representatives passed the Climate Action Now Act and is willing to uphold the U.S. commitments under the Paris Agreement. Regardless of the Trump Administration's climate denial, I recognize the gravity of the crisis our planet is facing andwill continue to do all I can to pass and implement bold policies to combat climate change. The Administration's failure to act on climate and ongoing denial of science poses a grave threat to our economy, way of life, and ultimately our planet.\n\nI am confident in the critical improvements over both NAFTA and the USMCA agreement as first presented to Congress last year. This agreement is better for Oregonians, workers, and the environment than the NAFTA rules that are currently in place. I will support the improved USMCA when it comes to the House floor for a vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-defazio-urges-phmsa-to-conduct-thorough-safety-analysis-of", "Chair DeFazio Urges PHMSA to Conduct Thorough Safety Analysis of Transporting LNG by Rail", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to the top official at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) urging immediate action be taken to conduct a thorough analysis of the potential impacts of transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) by rail tank car. The letter was sent in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published by PHMSA in late October.\nThe transport of LNG, a highly explosive and flammable substance, raises similar concerns as the transport of combustible oil on trains, but with a fuel that has much more powerful and complex hazards - including pool fires, thermal radiation, mile-wide explosions, and boiling liquid expanding vapor explosions (BLEVE). PHMSA, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration, has proposed a rule in late October to permit the transport of large quantities of LNG throughout the country by rail tank car. The comment period closes on December 23. This proposed rulemaking comes on the heels of an announcement made by PHMSA, less than two weeks ago, that the agency has granted a special permit to Energy Transport Solutions to move LNG from Pennsylvania to New Jersey, without appropriate research and analysis of the safety risks to communities and no opportunity for the public to address operating conditions. The special permit was issued with no regard for the repeated objections of Members of Congress, safety, and environmental groups.\nWe urge you to conduct thorough analysis of risks to the public and environment, and to apply stringent protections and operational controls that provide the highest level of safety for communities if LNG is transported by rail tank car. Without such analysis and protections, any proposal to transport LNG by rail tank car should be rejected, the Members wrote.\nFull copy of the letter can be found here.\nAdditional Background: \nJune 24, 2019: The U.S. House of Representatives passed Chair DeFazio's amendment to H.R. 3055, which would prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from finalizing a rulemaking and issuing a special permit to allow the transportation of LNG by rail tank car.\nJune 28, 2019: DeFazio and Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) sent a letter to PHMSA requesting additional information and an extension of the public comment period on the special permit to ensure transparency in the process. While PHMSA responded and agreed to extend the comment period and provided some information, it did not fully comply with the Members' requests.\nAugust 8, 2019: DeFazio and Malinowski sent a follow-up letter requesting that PHMSA comply with the statutory requirements for authorizing a special permit by disclosing adequate information and questioning the rationale for moving forward with a special permit without conducting a proper safety analysis.\nDecember 6, 2019: DeFazio and Malinowski sent a letter to PHMSA pressing the agency on the granting of a Special Permit to transport liquified natural gas by rail tank car, despite repeated objections from Members of Congress.\n\n--30--", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peter-defazio-statement-on-fiscal-year-2020-spending-agreement", "Rep. Peter DeFazio Statement on Fiscal Year 2020 Spending Agreement", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Yesterday the House passed two bills that will fund the federal government through Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.\nThe first package, for which I voted in support, includes a number of provisions that will have a positive impact on Oregonians' lives.\nFirst, I am proud to have worked in conjunction with Senators Merkley and Wyden as well as Rep. Schrader to ensure that this package forgives a multi-million dollar interest burden owed by Oregon's Pacific groundfish fisheries. This burden was created solely by bureaucratic incompetence, and the inclusion of this provision is a huge win.\nThe bill also increases funding for programs that hundreds of Oregonians depend upon, such as YouthBuild, JobCorps, and Senior Corps. I led the charge to secure an additional $13 million above FY 2019 levels for the Senior Corps program, ensuring volunteers earn an increased stipend. It also increases funding for Pell Grants, easing the way for more people to afford an education, as well as a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools program through 2020. In addition, it includes strong funding for environmental protectionincluding the highest funding level for the Land and Water Conservation Fund in 15 years.\nThe bill also makes robust investments to support our nation's veterans, including funding for suicide prevention, homeless assistance programs, rural health initiatives, opioid abuse prevention, and funding for the VA's electronic health record initiative to ensure our veterans get the care they have earned and deserve.\nThe package also includes $25 million for gun violence research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH)the first time in more than 20 years.\nThe second appropriations bill also includes a number of provisions that I strongly support, including a 3.1 percent pay raise for servicemembers and federal civilian employees, as well as robust funding for the STOP School Violence Act, legislation that would give students and teachers the tools they need to help prevent school shootings.\nUnfortunately, despite the inclusion of these provisions, I was forced to vote against this bill.\nThis bill once again increases funding for an already-bloated Pentagon budget, including a massive increase to the Pentagon's Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) accounta fiscally irresponsible slush fund that is not counted in the budget, has no congressional oversight, and gives a blank check to fund endless wars that Congress hasn't authorized. For years, Congress has continued to increase the Pentagon's budget despite overwhelming evidence of its waste and abuse of taxpayer money. I believe this legislation could have made responsible cuts to our defense budget without jeopardizing the safety of our troops, preventing a pay increase, or undermining our national security.\nI am also extremely disappointed that this final bill stripped out a repeal of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and a provision to block funding for the U.S.'s involvement in the Saudi-led coalition's involvement in Yemen's civil warboth of which were included in the House-passed defense appropriations bill earlier this year. This is yet another example of Congress abandoning its constitutional authority to finally put a stop to the endless wars that have cost countless lives and taxpayer dollars.\nThis legislation also fails to effectively rein in the Department of Homeland Security's border policies and spending. The bill includes funding for President Trump's wasteful and ineffective border wall, lacks appropriate restrictions to prevent the Trump Administration from raiding funds from other agencies to spend on immigration detention and the wall, and does virtually nothing to provide necessary oversight against enforcement-only policies. Congress needs to be a check against the executive branch's authority, not perpetuate the status quo.\nFor these reasons, I opposed this second appropriations package. I will continue to fight against Republican efforts to hand billions of dollars in taxpayer money to a bloated and wasteful Pentagon and work to rein in the Trump administration's cruel enforcement-only immigration agenda.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peter-defazio-statement-on-vote-to-impeach-president-donald-trump", "Rep. Peter DeFazio Statement on Vote to Impeach President Donald Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio today released the following statement ahead of the House of Representatives' vote to impeach President Donald Trump: Today is a dark day for both our country and our representative democracy.\nI fully support the articles of impeachment drafted by the House Judiciary Committee and will be voting in favor of them today.\nImpeachment is the most serious responsibility granted to Congress by our Constitution. This vote is not something I take lightly, but the case is clear-cut: President Trump has violated his oath of office and betrayed the Constitution and the American people.\nHe has admitted to soliciting assistance from a foreign leader to interfere with our elections and to aid his political campaign. His own chief of staff has admitted that he withheld congressionally-approved taxpayer dollars to blackmail the Ukrainian president and leverage aid to his own campaign. These are impeachable offenses. \nFurthermore, the Judiciary Committee's extraordinary investigation uncovered evidence that the president committed numerous federal crimes, including bribery and wire fraud.\nThrough these actions, the president has shown himself to be a threat to both our national security and the very foundation of our democracy.\nWhile I will be voting in support of the articles of impeachment today, it is important to note that Congress's oversight does not stop here. I will push for further scrutiny to continue to hold this administration accountable for its offenses, including directing the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to continue its investigations into the president's potential violations of the emoluments clauses of the Constitution and to enforce our constitutional subpoenas in the courts.\nFor a video of Rep. DeFazio's floor speech on impeachment, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-house-vote-impeach-president-trump", "Greg Walden Statement on House Vote to Impeach President Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement afterhe voted no on the Housevote to impeach President Donald Trump:\n\"President Donald Trump is unique in the history of the American presidency. No one has led as he has. His success and his style have frustrated his opponents. \"Remember back to the fall of 2016 when pundits and politicians on the left lectured Americans about the historical need to accept the outcome of the election? Then Hillary Clinton lost. Some began undermining and attacking the President before he had even taken office. Others called for his impeachment. \"Meanwhile, we now know--as a result of the Horowitz investigation--that some in the FBI engaged in nefarious actions to investigate the Trump campaign. They lied to and misled the FISA court in an incredible abuse of power by a government agency. Civil libertarians are rightly outraged by what occurred. Laws designed to protect America from foreign terrorists were misused to spy on an American presidential campaign. \"The false narrative of the Trump campaign colluding with the Russians dominated the first two years of the Trump presidency. I supported the appointment of Mr. Mueller and repeatedly stood up for the independence of his investigation. I wanted the facts. \"The Mueller investigation spent years and millions of taxpayer dollars and came up empty. That report produced nothing impeachable, or the articles of impeachment would include the findings of that report.  \"For me, overturning the outcome of an election demands two things: A bipartisan and fair process to determine wrong doing, and a criminal offense worthy of overturning the outcome of the voters' will. Neither threshold has been met in this case.  \"With a clear conscience, I will vote against both articles of impeachment. \"Read the articles of impeachment. Abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, are the charges. Neither of these are criminal violations. This isn't perjury or burglary. \"Every administrationDemocratic and Republican- pushes back against Congress' request for witnesses and information. The Constitution enshrines this separate-branch conflict. Congress doesn't like being told no. At times we've sued over it. It's the tension our founders designed into the competing branches of government. Work it out, or go to the courts. But in this case, they truncated the timeline to exclude a judicial review. They announced the outcome before the investigation was completed.  \"I voted to hold President Obama's Attorney General in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over documents related to the fast and furious fiasco. Congress sued and won this case. But Republicans never seriously thought about impeaching the President.  \"I threatened to subpoena President Trump's Attorney General Jeff Sessions to his face in the East Room of the White House during our investigation of the opioid crisis. We eventually worked it out and got to review the data we sought. Not once did I think about impeaching the President over this matter. \"The anti-Trump crowd has weaponized impeachment and converted it into a partisan tool, something one of America's founding fathers--Alexander Hamilton--warned against. The American people elected President Trump to shake things up in Washington, D.C. And that's precisely what he's done.  \"Lower taxes and less oppressive regulations would not have happened under a Clinton Administration. Hillary Clinton would not have stood up to China as President Trump has. She would not have demanded and gotten a new and better trade deal with our friends to the north and south. As for the Russians, she's the one who led the reset with Russia that offended our European allies and played into Putin's hand. \"We've never had a better economy or lower unemployment in the modern era. We're the envy of the world. America is standing up to our competitors and enemies. We're getting new and better trade agreements and bringing more jobs back to America. \"We've never had a President lean in more to get lower drug prices or make our allies keep their promises to help pay for their national security.  \"President Trump is doing exactly what he promised, and that includes violating the political norms of the Washington, D.C. swamp. And for that, the left wants to send him packing.  \"If facts matter, we should not impeach this president, but instead get back to work solving the problems facing American families.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/bill-demanding-answers-about-saudi-fugitives-slated-to-pass-in-year-end-spending-package", "Bill Demanding Answers About Saudi Fugitives Slated to Pass in Year-End Spending Package", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 18, 2019\n\t\t\t Bill Demanding Answers About Saudi Fugitives Slated to Pass in Year-End Spending Package \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Wyden, Merkley Pushed Trump Administration to Tackle Troubling Pattern, Possibility the Saudi Government has Aided Saudi Fugitives; Package Slated to Pass on Thursday and Become Law This Week\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Wyden's Saudi Fugitives Declassification Act, which requires the FBI to declassify any information it may possess about the Saudi government's role in helping accused criminals leave the United States, was added to the year-end spending bill that is slated to pass Thursday.\r\nIt is long past time to stop treating Saudi Arabia as if it were above the law, Wyden said. My bill will finally force the federal government to cough up any information it may have about how the Saudi government may have assisted its citizens from fleeing beyond the reach of the U.S. justice system. The victims of these crimes deserve nothing less.\r\nIt is outrageous that Saudi nationals have committed serious crimes in the U.S. and have been spirited away in the dark of night with assistance from the Saudi government, said Merkley. When anyone commits a crime, they must be held fully accountable. Getting this bill across the finish line is a good first step to bring to light who knew what and when. We need to demand full accountability for these crimes and make it clear to the Saudi government that the United States will not allow Saudis to bypass our laws.\r\nThe provision gives the FBI 30 days to declassify any and all information it may possess about the Saudi government's possible role in helping Saudi nationals escape justice in the United States. Wyden's bill passed the Senate unanimously in October.\r\nThese legislative efforts followreporting from The Oregonianuncovering a pattern of Saudi nationals evading the American justice system in Oregon, allegedly with help from the Saudi Arabian government.Subsequent reportinghas shown similar cases across North America spanning decades.\r\nWyden and Merkley have pushed the administration for nearly a year, since The Oregonian first revealed a possible link between the Saudi government and the flight of a Saudi national accused of manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a 15-year old Portland girl. They introduced the ESCAPE Act and Preserving American Justice Act in January, and have pressed a host of federal agencies, including the State Department, FBI, U.S. Marshall's Service, Customs and Border Protection and Department of Justice, for answers about the disturbing trend.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-hud-review-facial-recognition-technology-use-in-federally-assisted-housing-", "Wyden, Colleagues Demand HUD Review Facial Recognition Technology Use in Federally Assisted Housing", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 18, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Colleagues Demand HUD Review Facial Recognition Technology Use in Federally Assisted Housing  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t In bicameral letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, legislators question the use of facial recognition in federally assisted housing, highlight possible threats to residents' safety and civil liberties\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Cory Booker, D-N.J., Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Kamala D. Harris, D-Calif.,and U.S. Representatives Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., today asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to review policies regarding the use of facial recognition technologies in federally assisted housing.\r\nIn a letter to HUD Secretary Ben Carson, the legislators pointed out the threats that facial recognition technology poses to marginalized communities, opening the door to unchecked government surveillance.\r\n[HUD] is responsible for creating and ensuring discrimination-free practices in all communities, the legislators wrote. However, as numerous civil rights experts have pointed out, when public housing and federally assisted property owners install facial recognition security camera systems, they could be used to enable invasive, unnecessary and harmful government surveillance of their residents. Those who cannot afford more do not deserve less in basic privacy and protections. They should not have to compromise their civil rights and liberties nor accept the condition of indiscriminate, sweeping government surveillance to find an affordable place to live.\r\nExperts have also noted inaccuracies in facial recognition technology that disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, specifically women, transgender individuals and people of color.\r\nThe legislators continued, These false and biased judgments can exacerbate the vulnerabilities that marginalized groups already face in life, such as the overcriminalization of people of color and transgender individuals. Potential sharing of this data, particularly with law enforcement, further heightens concerns about the risk this technology poses to vulnerable communities.\r\nThe legislators requested a response from HUD by January 24, 2020.\r\nIn July 2018, Wyden and Booker questioned federal law-enforcement agencies on their use of facial recognition technology.\r\nA full copy of today's letter is available here.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-the-us-house-impeaching-donald-trump", "Wyden Statement on the U.S. House Impeaching Donald Trump", "2019-12-18", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 18, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden Statement on the U.S. House Impeaching Donald Trump \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.\r\nThe articles of impeachment now go to the U.S. Senate, which will hear arguments and vote on whether or not Trump should be removed from office.\r\nA senator has no weightier responsibility than to judge a president impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors. As a juror in impeachment proceedings, I intend to look at all of the evidence and vote for a just outcome, not a political one, Wyden said.\r\nA just outcome is only possible if the trial itself is just  that means the Senate must have access to all of the facts. Our chamber must be able to call all necessary witnesses and subpoena all necessary documents to get the fullest possible picture of the events for which Donald Trump has been impeached. In my view, no member can uphold their oath of office without calling for a full airing of the facts at hand. I urge all of my colleagues to think carefully about how history would judge a sham process designed by the person standing trial.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/-merkley-votes-against-ndaa-slams-last-minute-removal-of-provisions-to-protect-americans-from-dangerous-drinking-water-2019", "Merkley Votes Against NDAA, Slams Last-Minute Removal of Provisions to Protect Americans from Dangerous Drinking Water", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Votes Against NDAA, Slams Last-Minute Removal of Provisions to Protect Americans from Dangerous Drinking Water \n\t\n\t\t Millions of Americans are potentially at risk of drinking water contaminated with PFAS, a dangerous class of chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects, and more \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 17, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after voting against the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020. Previous versions of the bill contained provisions to take on the issue of PFAS water contamination, which currently threatens millions of Americans' drinking water supply. Many of the bipartisan PFAS provisions contained in the Senate version of the legislation were stripped out of the final bill, despite the fact that PFAS is known to be dangerous to human health and has been linked to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health effects.\r\n \r\nWhile this bill contains many positive provisions, I voted against today's bill for a multitude of reasons. First, this bill does nothing to take on wasteful defense spending. We can provide the world-class equipment and support that our troops deserve, while at the same time providing the accountability and scrutiny that would enable us to invest more here at home in health care, housing, education, and infrastructure. This bill fails to do so. It also stripped out an important House provision reasserting Congress's role in declaring war, and leaves open a path to this administration pursuing a disastrous and unauthorized war with Iran. And it does nothing to constrain the U.S. development of a low-yield nuclear warhead, a costly and reckless project that could spark a new nuclear arms race.\r\nI am also deeply disturbed that the final version of this bill does little to truly address the PFAS contamination that represents an urgent public health threat across our nation. The Senate passed a version of this bill with bipartisan support for taking on PFAS contamination in our drinking water supply and for listing all 4,000 PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. It is wholly unacceptable that Congress decided to shelve this issue when we had a clear path to take action. While Congress delays, millions of Americans will continue drinking water that could put them and their children at higher risk for cancer, birth defects, and other devastating health outcomes. Taking the most impactful PFAS provisions out of this bill represents a massive failure and a dereliction of duty on the part of Congress.\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-collins-buchanan-titus-announce-bipartisan-rawr-act-included-in-must-pass-legislation-2019", "Merkley, Collins, Buchanan, Titus Announce Bipartisan RAWR Act Included in Must-Pass Legislation", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Collins, Buchanan, Titus Announce Bipartisan RAWR Act Included in Must-Pass Legislation \n\t\n\t\t Legislation would help save endangered species and cut off lucrative profit source for terrorists \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 17, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), and Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Dina Titus (D-NV) today announced that the Rescuing Animals With Rewards (RAWR) Act, legislation that would help save endangered animals by combatting wildlife trafficking and poaching, is on track to pass Congress as part of the year-end, must-pass spending bill. Specifically, theRAWR Actwould authorize the State Department to offer financial rewards for information that leads to the disruption of wildlife trafficking networks.\r\nThe legislation is expected to be passed by Congress and signed by the President before the end of this week as part of a deal to avert a government shutdown.\r\n \r\nWhen wildlife traffickers, poachers, and profiteers kill magnificent animals like elephants, giraffes, and rhinos, they degrade critical ecosystems and rob the world of a piece of our humanity and shared history on this planet,said Merkley. It's time to use every tool at our disposal to crack down on these destructive international crime networks. I'm grateful to our bipartisan coalition for pushing this legislation forward, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.\r\nWildlife trafficking is a transnational crime that requires a coordinated and sustained global effort to effectively combat it, said Collins. Our bipartisan bill is one step closer to becoming law, building upon efforts to deter this illegal activity by allowing the State Department to offer rewards for information to help stop wildlife traffickers.\r\nWildlife trafficking is a grave and persistent threat to endangered animals across the world,said Buchanan. The RAWR Act would provide another tool to crack down on the billions of dollars generated by this illegal industry.\r\nCongress is putting the world on notice that international wildlife trafficking will be treated as a serious crime, said Titus. This heinous practice decimates endangered species and generates billions of dollars for transnational criminal networks. I am thrilled that we are coming together in a bipartisan fashion to help ensure that elephants, lions, rhinos, and tigers will be protected for generations to come.\r\n \r\nTheRAWR Actis supported by a wide range of environmental and animal welfare groups, including the International Fund for Animal Welfare, National Whistleblower Center, Humane Society Legislative Fund, Humane Society International, NRDC, African Wildlife Foundation, the Environmental Investigation Agency, Wildlife Conservation Society, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, World Wildlife Fund, the Animal Welfare Institute, and the Oregon Zoo.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-pacific-coast-members-announce-major-win-for-trawlers-in-year-end-spending-bill-2019", "Merkley, Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 17, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Greg Walden (R-OR-2), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), today announced a major, bipartisan victory for West Coast trawlers in the 2020 spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week.\r\nThe language proposed by Merkley and supported by the other West Coast Senators and Representatives would forgive more than $10 million in accrued loan interest that was forced onto the West Coast groundfishing fleet because of mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).\r\n \r\nToday's news is a huge victory for our coastal communities in Oregon and up and down the West Coast, said Senator Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which negotiated the spending bills. It was outrageous that the federal government forced family fishermen to foot the bill because of bureaucratic incompetence. This win will lift a huge burden off our trawlers' backs, helping them keep their small businesses afloat and keep our coastal economies humming.\r\nAfter years of uncertainty for our fishers, I'm glad we were able to secure some much-needed relief for Washington state's groundfishing fleet. Our fisheries play a vital role in the Pacific Northwest, and this provision is an overdue correction by Congress to lift an unnecessary burden off of our trawlers who do so much to support our culture, economy and communities, said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \r\nI'm glad this issue for West Coast fishermen will finally be resolved. Groundfish fishermen shouldn't be held responsible for interest accrued on a disaster loan before the federal government had a repayment plan in place. Removing the unfair interest charges will go a long way toward helping these fishermen rebuild and flourish, said Senator Feinstein.\r\nOregonians working on trawlers along the coast can now enter the new year without this senseless burden on the bottom line of their fishing operations, said Senator Wyden. Fishing on the Oregon Coast for a living is a key piece of our state's economy that never should have been a victim of this bureaucratic bungling, and I am glad to have teamed up with fishermen and my congressional colleagues to get this problem fixed.\r\nThis is a victory for West Coast groundfish fishermen and fishing jobs in the Pacific Northwest, said Senator Cantwell. This legislation is an important step to ensure year-round economic activity and stability for rural fishing communities.\r\nFor years, Oregon's groundfish vessels have been subject to a heavy financial loan burden, caused solely by government ineptitude. Groundfish fisheries are a vital part of Oregon's coastal economy that need support, not red tape, from Washington. I'm proud to have helped right this ridiculous wrong and ease the financial burden on our region's fishermen. I will be vigilant to ensure the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) follows through with Congress's decision and does not short-change Oregonians, said Rep. DeFazio.\r\nCommercial fishing is an important part of Oregon's economy. It's hard enough work without government failures making business harder. Government inaction has left the fishing industry with a costly and unnecessary burden. This legislation corrects that wrong and I was glad to work with my colleagues to get this long overdue fix into law, said Rep. Walden.\r\nFor the groundfish trawlers that provide jobs along our coast, today's news is a relief and a victory. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was pleased to help successfully advocate for providing relief to these employers, said Rep. Herrera Beutler.\r\n\r\nFisheries are an integral part of the Oregon Coast's economy,said Rep. Schrader. When the federal government asked West coast fishermen to make a sacrifice for the future of their fisheries, they did.But when the government failed to implement the buyback program correctly, they turned their back on those same fishermen. Today we are righting those wrongs. Thank you to all of those who have been tireless advocates for West coast fishermen for so many years. \r\nIn Northwest Oregon, the robust groundfish fishery helps provide year-round economic stability for our coastal communities, said Rep. Bonamici. But the industry is still working to recover from the fishery disaster in 2000. I'm proud to have worked withcolleagues to address debt accrued by the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl industry as a result of delays in NMFS regulations to collect loan payments for the buyback programs. This was the not the fault of the industry, and we are pleased to stand with them in securing these long-overdue federal dollars. As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I know how important our fisheries are to the blue economy. I will keep advocating for strong, effective management to help more species like the West Coast groundfish recover.\r\nThe recovery of the West Coast groundfish fishery is an environmental success story, said Rep. Huffman. We all know how vital this industry is: sustainable fisheries are critical to the economic health of communities up and down California's North Coast. I have been working to ease the fleet's unnecessary financial burdens since I was first elected to Congress. Along with Appropriations Committee leaders like Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro, and our west coast congressional delegation, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to announce that the 2020 funding package will direct the Commerce Department to finally and fully forgive the unwarranted loan interest on the West Coast groundfish trawl fleet. This is an essential step to ensure a sustainable economic future for this fishery.\r\nThe West Coast congressional delegation has stepped up and righted a wrong that will have a huge economic benefit for Oregon trawl fishing businesses, said Heather Mann, Director of the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. The west coast trawl rationalization program, which has been an environmental success, will now start realizing some real economic benefits as well, thanks to our champions in Congress.\r\n \r\nAfter the Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast groundfish fishery an economic disaster in 2000, the NMFS provided a $36 million buyout loan to retire one-third of the fishing fleet to reduce overcapacity.\r\nAfter providing the loan, however, the NMFS inexplicably failed for nearly two years to implement a repayment mechanism and refused to allow the owners of the remaining vessels to start paying off the loan.\r\nAs a result, $4 million in interest accrued before repayment was even permitted to start. That additional interest has grown over time; the industry today owes at least $10 million more than it would have if repayment had started immediately as intended. Over the years, this additional interest has created an albatross around the neck of an industry that is already facing significant challenges.\r\nThe bipartisan members of Congress last week sent a letter advocating for the change.\r\nThe provision secured in today's bill would forgive the interest resulting from the bureaucratic error, finally making West Coast trawlers whole and helping grow and revive coastal economies from Northern California all the way up to the Canadian border.\r\nThe bill is expected to be passed by both the House and Senate this week, and to be signed into law prior to December 20 to avert a government shutdown.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-usda-loan-of-over-425-million-for-tillamook-electricity-infrastructure-upgrades-2019", "Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 17, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Tillamook People's Utility has received a 30-year loan of over $42.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program for critical line expansion and improvement.\r\n \r\nThis loan will help ensure that Tillamook's electricity needs are met for years to come, and help hundreds of Oregonians gain access to new lines, said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Rural Development, which oversees the USDA. That's a big win for the community, and I will continue to do everything I can to identify opportunities to support the growth, jobs, and infrastructure upgrades our families need to thrive.\r\nThese resources to add electric transmission lines and improve existing lines will be a big plus for quality of life and jobs in the Tillamook community, Wyden said. This investment in the Tillamook People's Utility spotlights well how the federal government can help rural Oregon build on its strengths to grow for generations to come.\r\n \r\nTillamook People's Utility serves more than 21,000 Oregonians with 1,200 miles of line. The $42,575,000 loan will fund 10 new line miles, improve 231 miles of distribution line, and provide service to 600 new consumers. In addition, this loan will finance installation of nine new miles of transmission and a new headquarters facility to efficiently serve the community's electricity demands.\r\n\r\n###\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-blumenauer-bonamici-defazio-schrader-file-amicus-brief-supporting-the-indian-child-welfare-act-2019", "Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act \n\t\n\t\t Amicus makes the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act and Congress's authority to legislate for the benefit of Indian Tribes \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 17, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader filed an amicus brief in federal court making the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a proven and effective way to keep Native children connected to their communities and cultures. \r\n\r\nThe bipartisan brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the court re-opens its August ruling that affirmed ICWA's constitutionality in Brackeen v. Bernhardt. The amicus brief urges the Fifth Circuit to uphold the court's previous decision affirming the constitutionality of IWCA. The decision the Fifth Circuit issued in August reversed an unprecedented ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which wrongly struck down ICWA as unconstitutional.\r\n \r\nThe landmark Indian Child Welfare Act has signaled for more than four decades Congress' willingness to right past wrongs against indigenous peoples, especially children, Wyden said. If this law is struck down in the courts, it will turn back the clock to a terrible time when the United States government ripped Native children from their families at alarming rates. I will stand up against this unconscionable policy reversal and always fight to keep families together and respect tribal sovereignty.\r\nEvery child deserves to be safe, healthy, and connected with their community, said Merkley. For over 40 years, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been integral to our mission to make that vision a reality, by keeping Native families together and respecting the sovereignty of tribes. It couldn't be more important that this law remains in full effect, and I'm committed to fighting alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make sure it is upheld by the courts.\r\nThe IWCA is essential to safeguarding the connection of Native children to their heritage, said Representative Blumenauer. Reversing this policy would not only jeopardize child welfare standards, but it would threaten tribal sovereignty. This is unacceptable. I will continue fighting to make sure that does not happen.\r\nCongressional intent when passing the Indian Child Welfare Act was clear  Native children should not be separated from their families, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. I joined my colleagues on this amicus brief to demonstrate our support of Tribal sovereignty. We will continue working to protect the well-being of Native children and help Native communities overcome generations of historical injustices and trauma from forced assimilation policies.\r\nThe Indian Child Welfare Act is a vital piece of legislation for Native American families, said Rep. Peter DeFazio. It's important to uphold and protect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by ensuring Tribes have a say in determining what is in the best interest of Native children. I'm proud to be a part of the amicus brief asserting its constitutionality.\r\nI am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Oregon Delegation and our Tribes in the state by signing this amicus brief in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act. ICWA is a model child welfare program and an important part of our responsibility to legislate for the benefit of tribes and to preserve their tribal sovereignty and self-governance, Schrader said.\r\n \r\n\r\nCongress passed ICWA in 1978 after receiving testimony that 25 to 35 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children were removed from their homes by state and private adoption agencies. ICWA sets best-practice standards for child welfare and adoption proceedings involving children who are members of a federally-recognized Tribe or are eligible for membership in a federally-recognized Tribe. Over four decades, the law has become the gold standard for child welfare policy.\r\n\r\nA copy of the amicus brief, along with the full list of signers from both political parties, is available here.\r\n\r\nA web version of this release is available here.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/first-round-oregon-v-pharma-state-publishes-data-and-stories-next-trade-secrets", "First Round of Oregon v. Pharma. State Publishes Data and Stories. Next Up: Trade Secrets", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Anger against the pharmaceutical industry is growing. A Gallup poll published in September put the industry at the bottom of the heap among 25 sectors rated annually on their popularity. Nearly 60 percent of respondents said they had a negative view of the industry. People liked government more, with 52 percent seeing bureaucracies in a negative light.\nConstituent anger has fueled action in Congress. Earlier this year, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee approved the Prescription Drug Price Reduction Act of 2019. That bill, sponsored by Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, would cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors and penalize drug companies for raising prices faster than inflation, saving taxpayers and seniors more than $110 billion a year.\nThen last week, the U.S. House passed along party lines the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019, co-sponsored by dozens of Democrats, including Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. That bill would give the federal government the ability to negotiate drug prices for Medicare and create an international price index.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/pacific-coast-members-announce-major-win-trawlers-year-end-spending-bill", "Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Greg Walden (R-OR-2), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), today announced a major, bipartisan victory for West Coast trawlers in the 2020 spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week.\nThe language proposed by Merkley and supported by the other West Coast Senators and Representatives would forgive more than $10 million in accrued loan interest that was forced onto the West Coast groundfishing fleet because of mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).\nToday's news is a huge victory for our coastal communities in Oregon and up and down the West Coast, said Senator Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which negotiated the spending bills. It was outrageous that the federal government forced family fishermen to foot the bill because of bureaucratic incompetence. This win will lift a huge burden off our trawlers' backs, helping them keep their small businesses afloat and keep our coastal economies humming.\nAfter years of uncertainty for our fishers, I'm glad we were able to secure some much-needed relief for Washington state's groundfishing fleet. Our fisheries play a vital role in the Pacific Northwest, and this provision is an overdue correction by Congress to lift an unnecessary burden off of our trawlers who do so much to support our culture, economy and communities, said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \nI'm glad this issue for West Coast fishermen will finally be resolved. Groundfish fishermen shouldn't be held responsible for interest accrued on a disaster loan before the federal government had a repayment plan in place. Removing the unfair interest charges will go a long way toward helping these fishermen rebuild and flourish, said Senator Feinstein.\nOregonians working on trawlers along the coast can now enter the new year without this senseless burden on the bottom line of their fishing operations, said Senator Wyden. Fishing on the Oregon Coast for a living is a key piece of our state's economy that never should have been a victim of this bureaucratic bungling, and I am glad to have teamed up with fishermen and my congressional colleagues to get this problem fixed.\nThis is a victory for West Coast groundfish fishermen and fishing jobs in the Pacific Northwest, said Senator Cantwell. This legislation is an important step to ensure year-round economic activity and stability for rural fishing communities.\nFor years, Oregon's groundfish vessels have been subject to a heavy financial loan burden, caused solely by government ineptitude. Groundfish fisheries are a vital part of Oregon's coastal economy that need support, not red tape, from Washington. I'm proud to have helped right this ridiculous wrong and ease the financial burden on our region's fishermen. I will be vigilant to ensure the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) follows through with Congress's decision and does not short-change Oregonians, said Rep. DeFazio.\nCommercial fishing is an important part of Oregon's economy. It's hard enough work without government failures making business harder. Government inaction has left the fishing industry with a costly and unnecessary burden. This legislation corrects that wrong and I was glad to work with my colleagues to get this long overdue fix into law, said Rep. Walden.\nFor the groundfish trawlers that provide jobs along our coast, today's news is a relief and a victory. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was pleased to help successfully advocate for providing relief to these employers, said Rep. Herrera Beutler.\nFisheries are an integral part of the Oregon Coast's economy,said Rep. Schrader. When the federal government asked West coast fishermen to make a sacrifice for the future of their fisheries, they did.But when the government failed to implement the buyback program correctly, they turned their back on those same fishermen. Today we are righting those wrongs. Thank you to all of those who have been tireless advocates for West coast fishermen for so many years. \nIn Northwest Oregon, the robust groundfish fishery helps provide year-round economic stability for our coastal communities, said Rep. Bonamici. But the industry is still working to recover from the fishery disaster in 2000. I'm proud to have worked withcolleagues to address debt accrued by the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl industry as a result of delays in NMFS regulations to collect loan payments for the buyback programs. This was the not the fault of the industry, and we are pleased to stand with them in securing these long-overdue federal dollars. As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I know how important our fisheries are to the blue economy. I will keep advocating for strong, effective management to help more species like the West Coast groundfish recover.\nThe recovery of the West Coast groundfish fishery is an environmental success story, said Rep. Huffman. We all know how vital this industry is: sustainable fisheries are critical to the economic health of communities up and down California's North Coast. I have been working to ease the fleet's unnecessary financial burdens since I was first elected to Congress. Along with Appropriations Committee leaders like Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro, and our west coast congressional delegation, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to announce that the 2020 funding package will direct the Commerce Department to finally and fully forgive the unwarranted loan interest on the West Coast groundfish trawl fleet. This is an essential step to ensure a sustainable economic future for this fishery.\nThe West Coast congressional delegation has stepped up and righted a wrong that will have a huge economic benefit for Oregon trawl fishing businesses, said Heather Mann, Director of the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. The west coast trawl rationalization program, which has been an environmental success, will now start realizing some real economic benefits as well, thanks to our champions in Congress.\nAfter the Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast groundfish fishery an economic disaster in 2000, the NMFS provided a $36 million buyout loan to retire one-third of the fishing fleet to reduce overcapacity.\nAfter providing the loan, however, the NMFS inexplicably failed for nearly two years to implement a repayment mechanism and refused to allow the owners of the remaining vessels to start paying off the loan.\nAs a result, $4 million in interest accrued before repayment was even permitted to start. That additional interest has grown over time; the industry today owes at least $10 million more than it would have if repayment had started immediately as intended. Over the years, this additional interest has created an albatross around the neck of an industry that is already facing significant challenges.\nThe bipartisan members of Congress last week sent a letter advocating for the change.\nThe provision secured in today's bill would forgive the interest resulting from the bureaucratic error, finally making West Coast trawlers whole and helping grow and revive coastal economies from Northern California all the way up to the Canadian border.\nThe bill is expected to be passed by both the House and Senate this week, and to be signed into law prior to December 20 to avert a government shutdown.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/schrier-bonamici-introduce-bill-ensure-students-get-enough-time-eat-lunch", "Schrier, Bonamici Introduce Bill to Ensure Students Get Enough Time to Eat Lunch", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) was joined by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to introduce the Healthy Meal Time Act. The Healthy Meal Time Act would provide schools with best practices for scheduling lunch and recess to ensure that students have enough time to eat and reduce food waste.\nAs a pediatrician, I know how important it is for children to eat healthy foods and get some energy out at recess, said Rep. Schrier. But the schedule most schools use puts lunch before recess. Students rush through lunch to get to recess. Some skip lunch because of long lines. Putting recess first makes time for both, and evidence shows they eat even more food and healthier options if they've had a chance to run around outside before lunch. It makes sense that children should build up an appetite first before lunch. That way they are able to focus on school and not worry about being hungry later in the day.\nLunch is critical for the health and well-being of students because it gives them the nutrition they need to reach their full potential, said Rep. Bonamici, Chair of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services. I'm pleased to be working with Congresswoman Schrier on the Healthy Meal Time Act to support long-overdue research,guidance, and best practices for schools to boost learning with appropriate meal times.\nThe Healthy Meal Time Act directs the Department of Agriculture, with input from the Department of Education, to do a study that will share successful efforts and current best practices with schools. It is unclear how many schools provide students adequate time for their meals, and no federal guidelines on this matter exist. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that students have a minimum of 20 minutes to eat lunch each day. Likewise, a study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that lunch periods of at least 25 minutes were found to improve students' nutritional intake and limit food waste. A study in the Journal of Child Nutrition and Management found that having recess before lunch results in students consuming more food, eating healthier food, and wasting less.\nThanks to the work of community groups, educators, parents and legislators, students increasingly have access to more fresh foods and nutrition-rich meals at school, but far too many of them do not have the time during the school day to even eat their lunches. Our food service workers, paraprofessionals and teachers tell stories of some students starting lunchat 10:30am, while others don't get lunch break until almost2pm. By the time students get into the cafeteria and go through the cafeteria line, most only have about 15 minutes to eat, forcing them to rush through meals simply because of poor school scheduling. Representative Schrier's Healthy Meal Time Act will allow districts to gather additional information about the time lunches are served and the duration of lunch periods at schools, as well as when recess is combined with lunch time, making it easier for adults to partner on solutions so lunch breaks don't fall by the wayside. We fought and continue to fight to provide our children with healthier meals at school; this bill will make sure they can actually have time in the school day to eat them, added AFT President Randi Weingarten.\nTom Stenzel, President & CEO, United Fresh Produce Association said, The increased servings of delicious, crunchy, fresh fruits and vegetables are one of the crowning achievements of the Healthy-Hunger Free Kids Act. Yet, many kids still don't have time to finish their meals before returning to class. For too long we have ignored the potential implications of short and rushed lunch periods on consumption. We are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Schrier and Chairwoman Bonamici in introducing this legislation, which will provide much-needed technical assistance for schools to address the challenge of adequate time to eat.\nThe Healthy Meal Time Act has been endorsed by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Heart Association, American Federation of Teachers, Center for Science in the Public Interest, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, School Nutrition Association, and United Fresh.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-blumenauer-bonamici-defazio-schrader-file-amicus-brief-supporting", "Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader filed an amicus brief in federal court making the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a proven and effective way to keep Native children connected to their communities and cultures. \n\nThe bipartisan brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the court re-opens its August ruling that affirmed ICWA's constitutionality in Brackeen v. Bernhardt. The amicus brief urges the Fifth Circuit to uphold the court's previous decision affirming the constitutionality of IWCA. The decision the Fifth Circuit issued in August reversed an unprecedented ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which wrongly struck down ICWA as unconstitutional.\n\nThe landmark Indian Child Welfare Act has signaled for more than four decades Congress' willingness to right past wrongs against indigenous peoples, especially children, Wyden said. If this law is struck down in the courts, it will turn back the clock to a terrible time when the United States government ripped Native children from their families at alarming rates. I will stand up against this unconscionable policy reversal and always fight to keep families together and respect tribal sovereignty. \n\nEvery child deserves to be safe, healthy, and connected with their community, said Merkley. For over 40 years, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been integral to our mission to make that vision a reality, by keeping Native families together and respecting the sovereignty of tribes. It couldn't be more important that this law remains in full effect, and I'm committed to fighting alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make sure it is upheld by the courts.\n\nThe IWCA is essential to safeguarding the connection of Native children to their heritage, said Representative Blumenauer. Reversing this policy would not only jeopardize child welfare standards, but it would threaten tribal sovereignty. This is unacceptable. I will continue fighting to make sure that does not happen.\n\nCongressional intent when passing the Indian Child Welfare Act was clear  Native children should not be separated from their families, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. I joined my colleagues on this amicus brief to demonstrate our support of Tribal sovereignty. We will continue working to protect the well-being of Native children and help Native communities overcome generations of historical injustices and trauma from forced assimilation policies.\n\nThe Indian Child Welfare Act is a vital piece of legislation for Native American families, said Rep. Peter DeFazio. It's important to uphold and protect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by ensuring Tribes have a say in determining what is in the best interest of Native children. I'm proud to be a part of the amicus brief asserting its constitutionality. \n\nI am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Oregon Delegation and our Tribes in the state by signing this amicus brief in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act. ICWA is a model child welfare program and an important part of our responsibility to legislate for the benefit of tribes and to preserve their tribal sovereignty and self-governance, Schrader said. \n\nCongress passed ICWA in 1978 after receiving testimony that 25 to 35 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children were removed from their homes by state and private adoption agencies. ICWA sets best-practice standards for child welfare and adoption proceedings involving children who are members of a federally-recognized Tribe or are eligible for membership in a federally-recognized Tribe. Over four decades, the law has become the gold standard for child welfare policy. \n\nA copy of the amicus brief, along with the full list of signers from both political parties, is available here. \n\nA web version of this release is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-defazio-slams-trump-administration-over-continued-plans-to-roll", "Chair DeFazio Slams Trump Administration Over Continued Plans to Roll Back Protections for Nations Waters", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Administrator Andrew Wheeler of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing his strong disapproval of the Trump Administration's plans to move forward with rolling back protections for our Nation's waterwaysa clear and destructive priority of this Administration.\nYour repeated refusal to publicly quantify the scope of waters that would lose existing Clean Water protection under the Trump Dirty Water Rule is unreasonable, as the American public and affected stakeholders are deprived of any information on how their lives and livelihoods will be affected by this action  which is contrary to the Administrative Procedures Act prohibition on arbitrary and capricious' agency actions.\nAgain, I urge you to withdraw the Dirty Water Rule and recommit to your agency's mission under the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters. That is what the American people demand of us, and what is right and just for generations of American families yet to come, DeFazio wrote.\nDeFazio also pressed the EPA on their blatant refusal to respond to Committee requests for comment. EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water, David Ross, came before the Committee on September 19th and has yet to respond in any substantive way on the impacts of this Dirty Water Rule.\nA full copy of the letter can be found here.\nOn September 12, 2019, Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace Napolitano (D-CA) released a Committee report that puts a spotlight on the worst actions the Trump administration has implemented or is trying to implement. Read the report here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-wyden-merkley-blumenauer-bonamici-schrader-file-amicus-brief", "DeFazio, Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader filed an amicus brief in federal court making the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a proven and effective way to keep Native children connected to their communities and cultures. \n\nThe bipartisan brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the court re-opens its August ruling that affirmed ICWA's constitutionality in Brackeen v. Bernhardt. The amicus brief urges the Fifth Circuit to uphold the court's previous decision affirming the constitutionality of IWCA. The decision the Fifth Circuit issued in August reversed an unprecedented ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which wrongly struck down ICWA as unconstitutional.\n\nThe landmark Indian Child Welfare Act has signaled for more than four decades Congress' willingness to right past wrongs against indigenous peoples, especially children, Wyden said. If this law is struck down in the courts, it will turn back the clock to a terrible time when the United States government ripped Native children from their families at alarming rates. I will stand up against this unconscionable policy reversal and always fight to keep families together and respect tribal sovereignty. \n\nEvery child deserves to be safe, healthy, and connected with their community, said Merkley. For over 40 years, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been integral to our mission to make that vision a reality, by keeping Native families together and respecting the sovereignty of tribes. It couldn't be more important that this law remains in full effect, and I'm committed to fighting alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make sure it is upheld by the courts.\n\nThe IWCA is essential to safeguarding the connection of Native children to their heritage, said Representative Blumenauer. Reversing this policy would not only jeopardize child welfare standards, but it would threaten tribal sovereignty. This is unacceptable. I will continue fighting to make sure that does not happen.\n\nCongressional intent when passing the Indian Child Welfare Act was clear  Native children should not be separated from their families, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. I joined my colleagues on this amicus brief to demonstrate our support of Tribal sovereignty. We will continue working to protect the well-being of Native children and help Native communities overcome generations of historical injustices and trauma from forced assimilation policies.\n\nThe Indian Child Welfare Act is a vital piece of legislation for Native American families, said Rep. Peter DeFazio. It's important to uphold and protect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by ensuring Tribes have a say in determining what is in the best interest of Native children. I'm proud to be a part of the amicus brief asserting its constitutionality. \n\nI am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Oregon Delegation and our Tribes in the state by signing this amicus brief in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act. ICWA is a model child welfare program and an important part of our responsibility to legislate for the benefit of tribes and to preserve their tribal sovereignty and self-governance, Schrader said. \n\nCongress passed ICWA in 1978 after receiving testimony that 25 to 35 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children were removed from their homes by state and private adoption agencies. ICWA sets best-practice standards for child welfare and adoption proceedings involving children who are members of a federally-recognized Tribe or are eligible for membership in a federally-recognized Tribe. Over four decades, the law has become the gold standard for child welfare policy. \n\nA copy of the amicus brief, along with the full list of signers from both political parties, is available here. \n\nA web version of this release is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pacific-coast-members-announce-major-win-for-trawlers-in-year-end", "Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Greg Walden (R-OR-2), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), today announced a major, bipartisan victory for West Coast trawlers in the 2020 spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week.\nThe language proposed by Merkley and supported by the other West Coast Senators and Representatives would forgive more than $10 million in accrued loan interest that was forced onto the West Coast groundfishing fleet because of mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).\nToday's news is a huge victory for our coastal communities in Oregon and up and down the West Coast, said Senator Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which negotiated the spending bills. It was outrageous that the federal government forced family fishermen to foot the bill because of bureaucratic incompetence. This win will lift a huge burden off our trawlers' backs, helping them keep their small businesses afloat and keep our coastal economies humming.\nAfter years of uncertainty for our fishers, I'm glad we were able to secure some much-needed relief for Washington state's groundfishing fleet. Our fisheries play a vital role in the Pacific Northwest, and this provision is an overdue correction by Congress to lift an unnecessary burden off of our trawlers who do so much to support our culture, economy and communities, said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \nI'm glad this issue for West Coast fishermen will finally be resolved. Groundfish fishermen shouldn't be held responsible for interest accrued on a disaster loan before the federal government had a repayment plan in place. Removing the unfair interest charges will go a long way toward helping these fishermen rebuild and flourish, said Senator Feinstein.\nOregonians working on trawlers along the coast can now enter the new year without this senseless burden on the bottom line of their fishing operations, said Senator Wyden. Fishing on the Oregon Coast for a living is a key piece of our state's economy that never should have been a victim of this bureaucratic bungling, and I am glad to have teamed up with fishermen and my congressional colleagues to get this problem fixed.\nThis is a victory for West Coast groundfish fishermen and fishing jobs in the Pacific Northwest, said Senator Cantwell. This legislation is an important step to ensure year-round economic activity and stability for rural fishing communities.\nFor years, Oregon's groundfish vessels have been subject to a heavy financial loan burden, caused solely by government ineptitude. Groundfish fisheries are a vital part of Oregon's coastal economy that need support, not red tape, from Washington. I'm proud to have helped right this ridiculous wrong and ease the financial burden on our region's fishermen. I will be vigilant to ensure the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) follows through with Congress's decision and does not short-change Oregonians, said Rep. DeFazio.\nCommercial fishing is an important part of Oregon's economy. It's hard enough work without government failures making business harder. Government inaction has left the fishing industry with a costly and unnecessary burden. This legislation corrects that wrong and I was glad to work with my colleagues to get this long overdue fix into law, said Rep. Walden.\nFor the groundfish trawlers that provide jobs along our coast, today's news is a relief and a victory. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was pleased to help successfully advocate for providing relief to these employers, said Rep. Herrera Beutler.\n\nFisheries are an integral part of the Oregon Coast's economy,said Rep. Schrader. When the federal government asked West coast fishermen to make a sacrifice for the future of their fisheries, they did.But when the government failed to implement the buyback program correctly, they turned their back on those same fishermen. Today we are righting those wrongs. Thank you to all of those who have been tireless advocates for West coast fishermen for so many years. \nIn Northwest Oregon, the robust groundfish fishery helps provide year-round economic stability for our coastal communities, said Rep. Bonamici. But the industry is still working to recover from the fishery disaster in 2000. I'm proud to have worked withcolleagues to address debt accrued by the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl industry as a result of delays in NMFS regulations to collect loan payments for the buyback programs. This was the not the fault of the industry, and we are pleased to stand with them in securing these long-overdue federal dollars. As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I know how important our fisheries are to the blue economy. I will keep advocating for strong, effective management to help more species like the West Coast groundfish recover.\nThe recovery of the West Coast groundfish fishery is an environmental success story, said Rep. Huffman. We all know how vital this industry is: sustainable fisheries are critical to the economic health of communities up and down California's North Coast. I have been working to ease the fleet's unnecessary financial burdens since I was first elected to Congress. Along with Appropriations Committee leaders like Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro, and our west coast congressional delegation, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to announce that the 2020 funding package will direct the Commerce Department to finally and fully forgive the unwarranted loan interest on the West Coast groundfish trawl fleet. This is an essential step to ensure a sustainable economic future for this fishery.\nThe West Coast congressional delegation has stepped up and righted a wrong that will have a huge economic benefit for Oregon trawl fishing businesses, said Heather Mann, Director of the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. The west coast trawl rationalization program, which has been an environmental success, will now start realizing some real economic benefits as well, thanks to our champions in Congress.\nAfter the Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast groundfish fishery an economic disaster in 2000, the NMFS provided a $36 million buyout loan to retire one-third of the fishing fleet to reduce overcapacity.\nAfter providing the loan, however, the NMFS inexplicably failed for nearly two years to implement a repayment mechanism and refused to allow the owners of the remaining vessels to start paying off the loan.\nAs a result, $4 million in interest accrued before repayment was even permitted to start. That additional interest has grown over time; the industry today owes at least $10 million more than it would have if repayment had started immediately as intended. Over the years, this additional interest has created an albatross around the neck of an industry that is already facing significant challenges.\nThe bipartisan members of Congress last week sent a letter advocating for the change.\nThe provision secured in today's bill would forgive the interest resulting from the bureaucratic error, finally making West Coast trawlers whole and helping grow and revive coastal economies from Northern California all the way up to the Canadian border.\nThe bill is expected to be passed by both the House and Senate this week, and to be signed into law prior to December 20 to avert a government shutdown.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-bills-improve-rural-broadband-pass-house", "Greg Walden Bills to Improve Rural Broadband Pass the House", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Representative Greg Walden released a statement following yesterday's House passage of two bills Walden co-sponsored that would help improve and expand access to rural broadband in Oregon.\nYesterday the House passed two bipartisan bills that will help communities in places like rural Oregon get access to reliable, high speed broadband,said Walden.For example, John Day's lack of reliable access to internet services has resulted in local businesses at times having to manually process credit cards, making it hard for them to do business. The bills we passed today will help improve broadband mapping, which will enable us to better understand exactly where communities are that still lack high speed internet access. We need to know this before we make investments in broadband build out so we get the help where it is needed. This effort will strengthen connectivity in America and help lessen the urban/rural digital divide. Walden has been a longtime advocate for expanding rural broadband. Earlier this month, he spoke at an Energy and Commerce hearing about this issue, saying, far too many Oregonians still lack access to reliable broadband. Last year, Walden brought Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman AjitPai out to eastern Oregon to discuss efforts to improve connectivity in rural communities, including making sure patients in remote areas have access to the best doctors through technology like Telehealth. Walden also helped secure a $6 million grant to John Day earlier this month, which will help expand rural broadband in Grant and Wheeler counties. He remains committed to continuing to ensure that rural Oregonians have sufficient access to broadband and thus access to things like telemedicine, remote learning, next generation emergency services, and video streaming.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-highlights-key-wins-oregon-fy-2020-funding-bills", "Greg Walden Highlights Key Wins for Oregon in FY 2020 Funding Bills", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after the House passed government funding legislation through the end of the fiscal year. Included in the legislation was the Rural Act, one of many provisions built in to help rural Oregon communities flourish.Walden co-sponsored the Rural Act,which would help keep electric costs affordable and expand access to broadband in rural Oregon. In May, Walden urged the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee to move forward this legislation. Click here to read Walden's letter. Our rural electric cooperatives should not get punished when they receive broadband build out grants or emergency recovery funding,\" said Walden. \"Yet, because of a drafting error in prior legislation, that's precisely what would happen.It is not an overstatement to say this fix is essential to their survival.\"  \n\t  \n\tThe 2020 spending bills also provided full funding for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program, which supports essential services, like forest management, in Oregon. Full funding for PILT keeps an important commitment to rural counties in Oregon, said Walden on the full funding of PILT. The federal government controls a majority of the land in our district and these funds help to make up for lost property tax revenue and help counties provide basic services such as roads and law enforcement. In continuation of Congress' efforts to support rural communities, the legislation also extended funding for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) for 2019 and 2020. This funding comes after Walden was joined by his colleagues last week in sending a letter to Congressional Leadership urging them to reauthorize the SRS program. Walden has long fought for safety-net funding for rural communities, and this most recent effort builds on those efforts to secure the last four years of funding in legislation in 2018 and 2015. Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding helps Oregon's forested communities pay for essential services like schools, roads, and law enforcement,saidWalden on the funding extension for SRS.SRS has never replaced the dramatic reduction in federal timber revenue over the last 30 years, but it does provide some level of support. Last year, we passed the most significant reform to forest policy in a decade to help improve the management of our forests. While this is progress toward reversing the decades long decline in timber revenue, an extension of SRS is needed to ensure counties have a safety-net as we work to further improve forest management and utilize our natural resources to provide sustainable jobs and revenue to Oregon's rural communities. Also included were provisions funding economic development for communities affected by the creation of the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area, funding Walden has fought for for 21 years. The $2 million included in this year-end funding package will support the ongoing economic development in the Gorge, said Walden on the funding for the Columbia Gorge Scenic Area. I was glad to work with Senator Merkley and our colleagues across the river in Washington to secure this remaining funding owed to our communities under the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area Act. As the area continues to recover from the effects of the Eagle Creek Fire, these funds are all the more important and I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law. Walden recently introduced the Lower Costs, More Cures Act, which would help lower the prices of prescription drugs. A piece of his legislation, the CREATES Act, was included as a provision in the 2020 spending bills. The provision would help increase access to affordable prescription drugs by stopping pharmaceutical companies from blocking access to affordable drugs for patients. The passage of the CREATES Act puts an end to a scam where pharmaceutical companies deny samples to generic drug competitors.This measure will help improve access to affordable prescription drugs for Oregonians, said Walden on the passage of the CREATES Act. This provision will help prevent the anti-competitive behavior that denies patients more affordable options at the pharmacy counter. While this provision provides needed progress, much more work needs to be done to lower the prices of prescription drugs. In addition to including the CREATES Act, the spending bills also included provisions to increase access to affordable insulin.\nToday, the House made some progress to fund the government, but we also provided support for our rural communities, our military and America's veterans,\" said Walden.\"I also supported efforts to improve access to affordable prescription drugs, but there is much more that needs to be done. I remain committed to continuing to expand access to high speed rural broadband, lower drug prices, improve our country's infrastructure, and improve our forest management. I look forward to continuing to work in a bipartisan way to improve the livelihoods of Oregonians and all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-usda-loan-of-over-425-million-for-tillamook-electricity-infrastructure-upgrades", "Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 17, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Tillamook People's Utility has received a 30-year loan of over $42.5 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee Program for critical line expansion and improvement.\r\nThis loan will help ensure that Tillamook's electricity needs are met for years to come, and help hundreds of Oregonians gain access to new lines, said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture and Rural Development, which oversees the USDA. That's a big win for the community, and I will continue to do everything I can to identify opportunities to support the growth, jobs, and infrastructure upgrades our families need to thrive.\r\nThese resources to add electric transmission lines and improve existing lines will be a big plus for quality of life and jobs in the Tillamook community, Wyden said. This investment in the Tillamook People's Utility spotlights well how the federal government can help rural Oregon build on its strengths to grow for generations to come.\r\nTillamook People's Utility serves more than 21,000 Oregonians with 1,200 miles of line. The $42,575,000 loan will fund 10 new line miles, improve 231 miles of distribution line, and provide service to 600 new consumers. In addition, this loan will finance installation of nine new miles of transmission and a new headquarters facility to efficiently serve the community's electricity demands.\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-pacific-coast-members-announce-major-win-for-trawlers-in-year-end-spending-bill", "Merkley, Wyden, Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 17, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden, Pacific Coast Members Announce Major Win for Trawlers in Year-End Spending Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Greg Walden (R-OR-2), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-3), Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Jared Huffman (D-CA-2), today announced a major, bipartisan victory for West Coast trawlers in the 2020 spending bill that Congress is expected to pass this week.\r\nThe language proposed by Merkley and supported by the other West Coast Senators and Representatives would forgive more than $10 million in accrued loan interest that was forced onto the West Coast groundfishing fleet because of mismanagement by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).\r\nToday's news is a huge victory for our coastal communities in Oregon and up and down the West Coast, said Senator Merkley, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which negotiated the spending bills. It was outrageous that the federal government forced family fishermen to foot the bill because of bureaucratic incompetence. This win will lift a huge burden off our trawlers' backs, helping them keep their small businesses afloat and keep our coastal economies humming.\r\nAfter years of uncertainty for our fishers, I'm glad we were able to secure some much-needed relief for Washington state's groundfishing fleet. Our fisheries play a vital role in the Pacific Northwest, and this provision is an overdue correction by Congress to lift an unnecessary burden off of our trawlers who do so much to support our culture, economy and communities, said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. \r\nI'm glad this issue for West Coast fishermen will finally be resolved. Groundfish fishermen shouldn't be held responsible for interest accrued on a disaster loan before the federal government had a repayment plan in place. Removing the unfair interest charges will go a long way toward helping these fishermen rebuild and flourish, said Senator Feinstein.\r\nOregonians working on trawlers along the coast can now enter the new year without this senseless burden on the bottom line of their fishing operations, said Senator Wyden. Fishing on the Oregon Coast for a living is a key piece of our state's economy that never should have been a victim of this bureaucratic bungling, and I am glad to have teamed up with fishermen and my congressional colleagues to get this problem fixed.\r\nThis is a victory for West Coast groundfish fishermen and fishing jobs in the Pacific Northwest, said Senator Cantwell. This legislation is an important step to ensure year-round economic activity and stability for rural fishing communities.\r\nFor years, Oregon's groundfish vessels have been subject to a heavy financial loan burden, caused solely by government ineptitude. Groundfish fisheries are a vital part of Oregon's coastal economy that need support, not red tape, from Washington. I'm proud to have helped right this ridiculous wrong and ease the financial burden on our region's fishermen. I will be vigilant to ensure the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) follows through with Congress's decision and does not short-change Oregonians, said Rep. DeFazio.\r\nCommercial fishing is an important part of Oregon's economy. It's hard enough work without government failures making business harder. Government inaction has left the fishing industry with a costly and unnecessary burden. This legislation corrects that wrong and I was glad to work with my colleagues to get this long overdue fix into law, said Rep. Walden.\r\nFor the groundfish trawlers that provide jobs along our coast, today's news is a relief and a victory. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, I was pleased to help successfully advocate for providing relief to these employers, said Rep. Herrera Beutler.\r\nFisheries are an integral part of the Oregon Coast's economy,said Rep. Schrader. When the federal government asked West coast fishermen to make a sacrifice for the future of their fisheries, they did.But when the government failed to implement the buyback program correctly, they turned their back on those same fishermen. Today we are righting those wrongs. Thank you to all of those who have been tireless advocates for West coast fishermen for so many years. \r\nIn Northwest Oregon, the robust groundfish fishery helps provide year-round economic stability for our coastal communities, said Rep. Bonamici. But the industry is still working to recover from the fishery disaster in 2000. I'm proud to have worked withcolleagues to address debt accrued by the Pacific Coast groundfish trawl industry as a result of delays in NMFS regulations to collect loan payments for the buyback programs. This was the not the fault of the industry, and we are pleased to stand with them in securing these long-overdue federal dollars. As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I know how important our fisheries are to the blue economy. I will keep advocating for strong, effective management to help more species like the West Coast groundfish recover.\r\nThe recovery of the West Coast groundfish fishery is an environmental success story, said Rep. Huffman. We all know how vital this industry is: sustainable fisheries are critical to the economic health of communities up and down California's North Coast. I have been working to ease the fleet's unnecessary financial burdens since I was first elected to Congress. Along with Appropriations Committee leaders like Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro, and our west coast congressional delegation, it is incredibly rewarding to be able to announce that the 2020 funding package will direct the Commerce Department to finally and fully forgive the unwarranted loan interest on the West Coast groundfish trawl fleet. This is an essential step to ensure a sustainable economic future for this fishery.\r\nThe West Coast congressional delegation has stepped up and righted a wrong that will have a huge economic benefit for Oregon trawl fishing businesses, said Heather Mann, Director of the Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. The west coast trawl rationalization program, which has been an environmental success, will now start realizing some real economic benefits as well, thanks to our champions in Congress.\r\nAfter the Secretary of Commerce declared the West Coast groundfish fishery an economic disaster in 2000, the NMFS provided a $36 million buyout loan to retire one-third of the fishing fleet to reduce overcapacity.\r\nAfter providing the loan, however, the NMFS inexplicably failed for nearly two years to implement a repayment mechanism and refused to allow the owners of the remaining vessels to start paying off the loan.\r\nAs a result, $4 million in interest accrued before repayment was even permitted to start. That additional interest has grown over time; the industry today owes at least $10 million more than it would have if repayment had started immediately as intended. Over the years, this additional interest has created an albatross around the neck of an industry that is already facing significant challenges.\r\nThe bipartisan members of Congress last week sent a letter advocating for the change.\r\nThe provision secured in today's bill would forgive the interest resulting from the bureaucratic error, finally making West Coast trawlers whole and helping grow and revive coastal economies from Northern California all the way up to the Canadian border.\r\nThe bill is expected to be passed by both the House and Senate this week, and to be signed into law prior to December 20 to avert a government shutdown.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-introduces-safe-sex-workers-study-act", "Wyden Introduces SAFE SEX Workers Study Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 17, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden Introduces SAFE SEX Workers Study Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Legislation requires the first national study on the health and safety impacts on sex workers from SESTA/FOSTA and the loss of access to certain online platforms\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., to introduce the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act, a bill to require the first ever national study on the health and safety of sex workers, including impacts from SESTA/FOSTA  legislation that dealt with sex work and websites. Wyden was one of only two members of the Senate to vote against SESTA/FOSTA.\r\nToday, December 17, is also the International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers.\r\nLast year I warned that forcing websites to take down any mention of sex work would remove agency from sex workers and put them at great risk of violence and abuse, all while making it harder to catch sex traffickers and aid victims of human trafficking. So far, initial reports from cities across Oregon and the country show that violence against sex workers is rising dramatically and there's little evidence that this law is helping victims. The SAFE SEX Workers Act is a common-sense step to ensure the federal government will study the impacts of SESTA/FOSTA on the most vulnerable members of society, so that Congress can make informed policy decisions, rather than chasing knee-jerk responses, Wyden said.\r\nThe bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct the first national study on the health and safety of sex workers in consultation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and report to Congress on the study within one year of the date of enactment.\r\nThe study will analyze the impacts of SESTA/FOSTA, the combined package of a Senate bill [Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA)] and a House bill [Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA)]. While SESTA/FOSTA holds websites liable for knowingly facilitating sex trafficking, it also impacts online platforms where users discuss consensual sex work and related topics. This bill will also investigate health and safety disparities for LGBTQI+ individuals, people living in rural areas, racial and ethnic minorities, Tribal communities, people experiencing exploitation and trafficking and undocumented and documented foreign nationals.\r\nAnecdotal reporting suggests SESTA/FOSTA and the loss of certain web services have had profound impacts on sex workers, who are frequently among the most marginalized members of our society. In the 2015 United States Transgender Survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, 19% of respondents reported having exchanged sex for resources, such as money, food or a place to sleep. Transgender women of color, including Black (42%), American Indian (28%), multiracial (27%), Latina (23%), and Asian (22%) respondents, were more likely to have participated in sex work than the overall sample.\r\nJoining Wyden, Khanna and Warren on this bill are U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Andr Carson, D-Ind., Judy Chu, D-Calif., Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-District of Columbia, Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-N.Y. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J.\r\nSupporters of this bill include AIDS United, Advocating Opportunity, American Civil Liberties Union, Athlete Ally, Baltimore Harm Reduction Coalition, Best Practices Policy Project, BiNet USA, Black and Pink, Black and Pink -Boston Chapter, Black Sex Worker Collective, CARES, The Center for Constitutional Rights, The Center for HIV Law and Policy, the Center for Sexual Pleasure and Health, Charm City Care Connection, Collective Action for Safe Spaces, Counter Narrative Project, Determine Your Destiny, Equality North Carolina, FORGE, Free Speech Coalition (FSC), GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, HIPS, HIVenas Abiertas: A Network of Latinx People Living with HIV, Human Rights Campaign, LaGender Inc, Lambda Legal, National Center for Transgender Equality, National Center for Lesbian Rights, The National Equality Action Team, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, New Jersey Red Umbrella Alliance, No Justice No Pride, Positive Women's Network - USA, Positively Trans, Promundo-US, Rad Care, Red Canary Song, Reframe Health and Justice, Sero Project, Sex Workers Outreach Project - Behind Bars, Sex Workers Outreach Project - USA, Sex Workers Outreach Project - Baltimore, Sex Workers Outreach Project - Sacramento, St. James Infirmary, URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity, Vera Institute of Justice, Voices of Hope, Whitman Walker-Walker Health and Woodhull Freedom Foundation.\r\nAs an organization providing holistic legal services to people who have been trafficked in the commercial sex industry, we have seen an increase in violence against those engaged in trading sex following the passage of SESTA/FOSTA. We've received multiple reports that SESTA/FOSTA has led to increased arrests of sex workers, including those being trafficked, while hampering law enforcement efforts to identify victims and prosecute traffickers. While anecdotal reports are valuable, a comprehensive study of the effects of criminalization of online sex work on those involved in the sex trade is exactly the kind of evidence-based approach we need to more fully understand the unintended consequences of SESTA/FOSTA, said Megan K. Mattimoe, Executive Director at Advocating Opportunity\r\nThis bill is historic in recognizing that the lives, health, and safety of people who trade sex matter. Some members of the LGBT community, particularly transgender women of color, sometimes rely on sex work for survival because they face extreme discrimination in the formal employment sector. After the passage of SESTA/FOSTA, people who trade sex have been pushed to the streets where there are higher risks of violence and exploitation. This bill takes a critical step to understand these impacts in a thorough and rigorous manner. We commend Congressman Ro Khanna, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Senator Ron Wyden, for their leadership in seeking to understand the impact of SESTA/FOSTA in these vulnerable populations, said Puneet Cheema, Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal.\r\nWe were honored to have been consulted on how federal legislation impacts the people we represent. Our voices should be centered in this conversation and we are proud to know our elected officials are taking action in furtherance of our goals laid out in multiple meetings with members of the Sex Worker Advocacy Coalition. We are working with many others from across this nation and are working to bring about concrete change and recognition of the hundreds of thousands of people in the Sex Industry, particularly Black and brown trans and cis women, LGBTQ communities, and poor communities, said Tamika L Spellman, Vice President at Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS). This bill examines the negative and unproductive legislation that categorically disenfranchised people who have been marginalized for far too long. On behalf of SWAC, we stand in full support of this proposed legislation as it will study the needs of Sex Workers impacted by the implementation of SESTA/FOSTA nationwide.\r\nAs trans women of color experience an epidemic of violence, the SAFE SEX Workers Study Act will foster better understanding of how laws impacting sex workers contribute to that violence. Understanding the impacts of losing on-line platforms for transgender people engaged in the sex trade will provide critical information for developing policies that support their health and safety, and for all sex workers, said Tyrone Hanley, National Center for Lesbian Rights Senior Policy Counsel.\r\nThe data show that criminalizing the lives of those who trade sex hits transgender people especially hard. Since passage of SESTA-FOSTA, we've heard communities across the country raise the alarm that it is making people less safe. We need to understand those unintended consequences so we can take action, and we thank Rep. Khanna, Rep. Lee, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ron Wyden and the co-sponsors of this simple bill for working to do just that. Every member of Congress should support finding out whether such a consequential law is helping people the way they hoped or is actually making things worse, said Mara Keisling, Executive Director, National Center for Transgender Equality\r\nSex workers have for years been talking about how access to the internet has been an important tool for safety and autonomy. Before FOSTA/SESTA passed, sex workers knew exactly what the impact would be. After the FOSTA/SESTA passed it was sex workers who were forced to live its consequences and have been diligently collecting stories and sharing knowledge and showing the meaning of mutual aid. The SAFE SEX Worker Act is recognition that sex workers should not silently live these collateral consequences but instead be looked at as a valuable voice of expertise and a community deserving of dignity, said Kate D'Adamo, partner at Reframe Health and Justice, a collective committed to developing and delivering holistic, harm reduction solutions to social injustices.\r\nA copy of the bill text is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-blumenauer-bonamici-defazio-schrader-file-amicus-brief-supporting-the-indian-child-welfare-act", "Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 17, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Merkley, Blumenauer, Bonamici, DeFazio, Schrader File Amicus Brief Supporting the Indian Child Welfare Act \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Amicus makes the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act and Congress's authority to legislate for the benefit of Indian Tribes\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio and Kurt Schrader filed an amicus brief in federal court making the case for the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), a proven and effective way to keep Native children connected to their communities and cultures. \r\nThe bipartisan brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as the court re-opens its August ruling that affirmed ICWA's constitutionality in Brackeen v. Bernhardt. The amicus brief urges the Fifth Circuit to uphold the court's previous decision affirming the constitutionality of IWCA. The decision the Fifth Circuit issued in August reversed an unprecedented ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, which wrongly struck down ICWA as unconstitutional.\r\nThe landmark Indian Child Welfare Act has signaled for more than four decades Congress' willingness to right past wrongs against indigenous peoples, especially children, Wyden said. If this law is struck down in the courts, it will turn back the clock to a terrible time when the United States government ripped Native children from their families at alarming rates. I will stand up against this unconscionable policy reversal and always fight to keep families together and respect tribal sovereignty. \r\nEvery child deserves to be safe, healthy, and connected with their community, said Merkley. For over 40 years, the Indian Child Welfare Act has been integral to our mission to make that vision a reality, by keeping Native families together and respecting the sovereignty of tribes. It couldn't be more important that this law remains in full effect, and I'm committed to fighting alongside my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to make sure it is upheld by the courts.\r\nThe IWCA is essential to safeguarding the connection of Native children to their heritage, said Representative Blumenauer. Reversing this policy would not only jeopardize child welfare standards, but it would threaten tribal sovereignty. This is unacceptable. I will continue fighting to make sure that does not happen.\r\nCongressional intent when passing the Indian Child Welfare Act was clear  Native children should not be separated from their families, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. I joined my colleagues on this amicus brief to demonstrate our support of Tribal sovereignty. We will continue working to protect the well-being of Native children and help Native communities overcome generations of historical injustices and trauma from forced assimilation policies.\r\nThe Indian Child Welfare Act is a vital piece of legislation for Native American families, said Rep. Peter DeFazio. It's important to uphold and protect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination by ensuring Tribes have a say in determining what is in the best interest of Native children. I'm proud to be a part of the amicus brief asserting its constitutionality.\r\nI am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Oregon Delegation and our Tribes in the state by signing this amicus brief in support of the Indian Child Welfare Act. ICWA is a model child welfare program and an important part of our responsibility to legislate for the benefit of tribes and to preserve their tribal sovereignty and self-governance, Schrader said. \r\nCongress passed ICWA in 1978 after receiving testimony that 25 to 35 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native children were removed from their homes by state and private adoption agencies. ICWA sets best-practice standards for child welfare and adoption proceedings involving children who are members of a federally-recognized Tribe or are eligible for membership in a federally-recognized Tribe. Over four decades, the law has become the gold standard for child welfare policy.\r\nA copy of the amicus brief, along with the full list of signers from both political parties, is available here.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-votes-no-on-defense-policy-bill", "Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill", "2019-12-17", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 17, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Wyden Votes Against Expanded Defense Spending and Endless Foreign Wars; Wyden Praises Authors for Including 15 Wyden Provisions to Help Whistleblowers, Improve Cybersecurity, Bolster Election Security and Secure Wireless Networks\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted against a massive defense policy bill today, in opposition to the measure's misplaced priorities, including $740 billion in military spending, the creation of Donald Trump's Space Force, and its failure to end U.S. support for Saudi Arabia's brutal war in Yemen, overturn Trump's ban on transgender troops or block the trumped-up emergency at the border.\r\nWhile this bill contains a number of worthwhile provisions, including more than a dozen that I authored, ultimately I had to oppose this $740 billion behemoth of military spending. I cannot in good conscience vote for legislation that continues our country's legacy of runaway defense spending and endless foreign wars, Wyden said. Congress needs put the needs of the American people ahead of defense contractors and Trump's wasteful fake emergency at the border. \r\nAlthough Wyden voted against the overall bill, he praised the inclusion of includes 15 Wyden provisions he previously secured in the Intelligence Authorization Act, to protect whistleblowers, target Russian money laundering, shore up weakness in wireless networks and an unclassified report about who was responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.\r\nThe combined Fiscal Year 2018-2020 bill includes 15 Wyden provisions:\r\n \r\nRequiring reporting on the national security implications of the adoption of foreign 5G technology.The provision also requires the DNI to report on possible mitigation efforts, including U.S. efforts to promote the use of strong encryptionand open-source technology.\r\nRequiring reporting on cybersecurity and surveillance threats to Congress.The provision addresses a key counterintelligence concern by obtaining information on cyber attacks and espionage against U.S. Senators.\r\nRequiring an unclassified report identifying those who carried out, participated in, ordered or were otherwise complicit in or responsible for the death of Jamal Khashoggi.\r\nCodifying an appeals process for IC whistleblowers who have been reprised against.This provision is necessary to protect whistleblowers and ensure that waste, fraud and abuse are reported.\r\nRequiring harmonization of whistleblower processes and procedures.Currently, whistleblowers face a confusing set of disparate procedures across the IC.The amendment will assist whistleblowers by harmonizing those procedures with an aim to maximizing transparency and whistleblower protections.\r\nImproving oversight of Inspector Generals' treatment of whistleblowers. This provision allows the Intelligence Community Inspector General to track whistleblower complaints and ensure that policies are in place that assure that investigations are conducted and whistleblowers are protected from reprisals.\r\nAssisting whistleblowers with access to cleared attorneys.This provision requires a report and recommendations so that whistleblowers with classified concerns can be represented.\r\nRequiring a report on the threat to the United States from Russian money laundering.The provision directs the intelligence agencies to work with the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to assess the scope and threat of Russian money laundering to the United States.\r\nRequiring Congressional notification before the establishment of any U.S.-Russia cybersecurity unit, including a report on what intelligence will be shared with the Russians, any counterintelligence concerns and how those concerns would be mitigated.\r\nRequiring a report from the Intelligence Community on whether cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the U.S. cell network, including known vulnerabilities to SS7, are resulting in foreign government surveillance of Americans.\r\nProhibiting Intelligence Community officials who are nominated for Senate-confirmed positions from making declassification decisions about themselves. The decisions would be made by the Director of National Intelligence.\r\nRemoving the cap on the number of state election officials with security clearances, to better prepare for future threats to election systems.\r\nEstablishing new cybersecurity protections for Intelligence Community officials' personal devices.\r\nRequiring a study on encrypting the Intelligence Community's unclassified communications.\r\nRequiring a report on protecting the confidentiality of whistleblowers' communications during ongoing security clearance evaluations.\r\n \r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-announces-major-broadband-investment-in-2020-funding-2019", "Merkley Announces Major Broadband Investment in 2020 Funding", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Announces Major Broadband Investment in 2020 Funding \n\t\n\t\t Three-year infrastructure push yields over $1.5 billion for rural connectivity \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 16, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced that for the third year in a row, his rural development subcommittee has put more than a half-billion dollars to bringing high-speed internet to rural America. The 2020 Agriculture and Rural Development spending bill includes $555 millionbringing the three-year total to nearly $1.6 billionto build broadband infrastructure across America, improving rural communities' economies, health care, and quality of life.\r\n \r\nI do a town hall in every country in Oregon every year, and I keep hearing that too many rural communities still don't have access to high-speed interneta fundamental need in today's connected world, Merkley said. Already Grant and Wheeler counties have been awarded funding to extend broadband across more than 242 square miles, and that is just the start. This additional funding will improve the economy, education, and quality of life for folks all across rural Oregon.\r\n \r\nIn 2018, Merkley secured an initial $600 million investment in rural broadband in the 2018 spending bill, through his role as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. He won $500 million for the program in the 2019 spending bill.\r\nThrough the ReConnect pilot program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture makes available grants, low-interest loans, and loan and grant combinations. Projects funded through the program will serve communities with fewer than 20,000 people that currently have no broadband service, or have service that is extremely slow.\r\nThe House and Senate are both expected to vote on the spending package this week. From there, it goes to the president's desk to be signed into law.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/pacific-northwest-delegation-announces-house-passage-of-bill-to-improve-safety-and-sanitation-at-columbia-river-tribal-fishing-sites-2019", "Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites  \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 16, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law.\r\nThe legislation would enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make important safety and sanitation improvements at the tribal treaty fishing access sites along the Columbia River, which are on lands held by the United States for the benefit of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes.\r\nThe bill, authored by Merkley and Blumenauer, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2019.\r\n \r\nThe current conditions at Columbia River fishing sites are unacceptable, unjust, and must be fixed, Senator Merkley said. I've personally seen the shocking conditions at Lone Pine. We owe better to thetribal communities in the Northwest, and the very least we can do is uphold our commitments to tribes and ensure basic sanitation and safety. I'm pleased that our colleagues in the House of Representatives have joined us in passing this bill, and I urge the president to sign it into law without delay.\r\nCongress has a responsibility to address the egregious misdeeds committed against the tribes who have lived along the Columbia River since time immemorial, said Rep. Blumenauer. We cannot pretend that this bill rectifies all of these injustices, but passing it is an important step in helping improve the lives of those who still reside there. This is just the start, and Congress must continue its work to right these wrongs.\"\r\nI'm excited to see this important legislation for our Columbia River tribes head to the President's desk. It is the federal government's duty to ensure our tribal communities along the river have access to safe, sanitary housing and infrastructure at historical fishing access sitesa critical component of their culture and heritage, as well as an important source of sustenanceand this bill takes another vital step toward fulfilling our government-to-government obligation, said Senator Murray. As a representative for our state's tribes in the Senate, I urge the President to sign this bill into law.\r\nImproving the health and safety at tribal fishing sites along the Columbia River is an important and long overdue step toward righting historic wrongs, Senator Wyden said. The federal government can't stop hereit must do more to finally meet all obligations promised to indigenous peoples in the Northwest.\r\nImproving housing and infrastructure at Tribal fishing sites is a critical step to fulfill our treaty promises. I hope the president will sign this legislation into law so we can get to work on providing clean and safe living conditions at these sites as soon as possible, said Senator Cantwell.\r\nI am grateful that the House passed this legislation to address historical injustices and honor the fishing treaty rights of four Columbia River Tribes, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. This bill will finally provide access to safe and sanitary housing and infrastructure at several fishing access sites. For too long the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been without the support that the federal government is legally and morally obligated to provide. I look forward to seeing this important legislation signed into law and will continue to do all I can to protect tribal rights.\r\n \r\nBeginning in the 1930s, the construction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. These tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accustomed places.\r\nThe Senators and Representatives have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at tribal fishing access sites constructed by the Army Corps following construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping; however, in many cases tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. In fact, many people at these sites are living in extremely distressed, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has not committed the resources necessary to ensure the basic necessities of clean and safe living conditions at these sites.\r\nSimultaneously, the Senators and Representatives have been working to address unmet federal obligations to the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes, many of whom are living at these fishing sites, for flooding tribal communities and houses during the construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams.\r\nIn 2017, after the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) halted work by the Army Corps on a Village Development Plan specific to The Dalles Dam, the members successfully pushed OMB to reverse its decision, and later announced that the Army Corps allocated $1.8 million to complete The Dalles Dam Tribal Housing Village Development Plan.\r\nIn the 2019 spending bill, Merkley successfully included language acknowledging the Army Corps' mission, and instructing the Corps to uphold its responsibility to tribes that were displaced by the construction of The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River, and to mitigate the impact of that displacement.\r\nThe Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Actwould address the urgent need for improved conditions by:\r\n \r\nCalling on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct a much-needed assessment of current safety and sanitation conditions at the sites, in coordination with the affected Columbia River Treaty Tribes; and\r\n \r\n \r\nAuthorizing the Bureau to work on improving sanitation and safety conditions in several key areas such as structural improvements (restrooms, washrooms, and other buildings); safety improvements (wells and infrastructure to address fire concerns, and more); electrical infrastructure to ensure safe electrical hookups; and basic sewer and septic infrastructure.\r\n \r\nThe legislation is supported by the four Columbia River Treaty tribesConfederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nationas well as the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.\r\n###\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-crapo-merkley-risch-announce-two-year-authorization-for-secure-rural-schools-program-in-end-of-year-funding-package_-2019", "Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package    \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 16, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today announced that a two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is included in the end-of-year funding package that will be considered by Congress this week.\r\n\r\nThis significant win for rural communities in the Northwest and nationwide follows calls from the senators to reauthorize the lapsed program and provide financial certainty for counties containing federally-owned lands.\r\n\r\n \r\nCongress took one big step closer to making sure people living and working in rural communities have the resources they need for their schools, roads and other essential services, Wyden said. A two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program means counties can breathe a little easier now as Congress works toward a long-overdue permanent solution that gets rural counties off the roller coaster of uncertainty.\r\n\r\nNearly two-thirds of Idaho is federally owned, which severely limits the tax base for roads, law enforcement and schools because federal lands contribute no property taxes. The Secure Rural Schools program provides critical funding streams for rural Idahoans, Crapo said. A two-year extension of SRS funding is one step closer to a more predictable source of funding for rural communities and school districts encompassed by federal land.\r\nSecure Rural Schools payments provide a much-needed lifeline for critical services ranging from schools to roads to public safety, said Merkley. Our rural communities shouldn't be left in the dark about whether the federal government will meet its obligation to help pay for those vital services. I am grateful to my colleagues for joining us in our mission to make these payments reliable, and am pleased that together we were able to secure this program extension.\r\n\r\nEvery year, the fight for SRS funding seems to get a little tougher, and every year, our rural communities need that security and certainty just a little bit more. I consistently hear from Idaho counties that without increased timber production they depend on SRS to get by, which is why Senators Crapo, Wyden, Merkley and I work so hard on SRS reauthorization each Congress, said Risch. This reauthorization will create greater stability for rural counties, and I'm proud we were able to secure this critical program for communities in Idaho and throughout the West.\r\n \r\n\r\nEarlier this year, the senators led 27 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting at least a two-year reauthorization of the SRS program as Congress works to establish a permanent county payments solution. They introduced their proposed solutionthe Forest Management for Rural Stability Actlegislation that makes the program permanent by creating an endowment fund to provide stable, increasing and reliable funding for county services.\r\n\r\nThe Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Actoriginally co-authored by Wydenwas enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. Since then, Wyden, Crapo, Merkley and Risch have worked to give SRS a more permanent role in assisting rural counties with large tracts of federal lands.\r\n\r\nCritical services at the county level have historically been funded in part with a 25 percent share of timber receipts from federal U.S. Forest Service lands and a 50 percent share of timber receipts from federal Oregon and California Grant Lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. As those revenues have fallen or fluctuated due to reduced timber harvest and market forces, SRS payments helped bridge the gap to keep rural schools open, provide road maintenance, support search and rescue efforts and other essential county services. Since enacted in 2000, SRS has provided a total of $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school districts in more than 40 states to fund schools and essential services like roads and public safety. In recent years, however, Congress has allowed SRS funding to lapse and decrease, creating massive uncertainty for counties as they budget for basic county services.\r\nA web version of this release is here.\r\n###\r\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/2020-democrats-tout-education-plans-pittsburgh", "2020 Democrats tout education plans in Pittsburgh", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A group of 165 Democrats, led by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), wrote a letter last week to DeVos citing concerns with ne hiring at the Office of Federal Student Aid and what they said was a failure to hire enough employees in the Office for Civil Rights. The Department's refusal to adequately staff OCR is inexcusable, especially when compared with its rapid, unrestrained hiring at FSA, they wrote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/us-house-passes-bill-improce-safety-sanitation-columbia-river-tribal-fishing-sites", "U.S. House passes bill to improve safety, sanitation at Columbia River Tribal fishing sites", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law.\nBonamici said she was grateful that the House passed the legislation to address historical injustices and honor the fishing treaty rights of four Columbia River Tribes.\nThis bill will finally provide access to safe and sanitary housing and infrastructure at several fishing access sites. For too long the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been without the support that the federal government is legally and morally obligated to provide, Bonamic said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-congratulates-local-student-who-won-district-s-congressional-app", "Bonamici Congratulates Local Student Who Won Districts Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BEAVERTON, OR [12/16/19]  Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a member of the House Education and Science Committees, announced that Sanjana Ilango of Westview High School won the Congressional App Challenge for Oregon's First Congressional District.\n\nIlango's mobile phone application, Spoiler Alert!, helps consumers determine if food and medications are safe to use. The app scans the barcodes of foods and medications and connects directly to the Food and Drug Administration database to check if there is a recall on the product. It supports English, French, and Spanish languages. You can watch a video of Ilango describing her app here.\n\nThe future of our economy and our country depend on having an innovative and creative workforce with the technological skills to succeed, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. This year's Congressional App Challenge brought in exciting submissions from students who will be future leaders in whatever field they choose. I applaud Sanjana for designing and building a useful app that fills a real need in the community for better and more accessible safety information.\n\nA panel of expert judges from Northwest Oregon selected the winning app. The judges evaluated the submissions for creativity, originality, user experience, and design. \n\nBonamici recognized Ilango in an informal ceremony at her office. The winning app will be featured on a display in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House of Representatives website. You can download a photo of the student with Bonamici here. \n\nBonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to encourage creative thinking and engage more students. By supporting and recognizing young programmers, Congress is acknowledging the growing importance of technology development. Students across the country competed in the Congressional App Challenge by creating and demonstrating a software application, or app, for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/pacific-northwest-delegation-announces-house-passage-bill-improve-safety-and", "Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law.\nThe legislation would enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make important safety and sanitation improvements at the tribal treaty fishing access sites along the Columbia River, which are on lands held by the United States for the benefit of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes.\nThe bill, authored by Merkley and Blumenauer, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2019.\nThe current conditions at Columbia River fishing sites are unacceptable, unjust, and must be fixed, Senator Merkley said. I've personally seen the shocking conditions at Lone Pine. We owe better to thetribal communities in the Northwest, and the very least we can do is uphold our commitments to tribes and ensure basic sanitation and safety. I'm pleased that our colleagues in the House of Representatives have joined us in passing this bill, and I urge the president to sign it into law without delay.\nCongress has a responsibility to address the egregious misdeeds committed against the tribes who have lived along the Columbia River since time immemorial, said Rep. Blumenauer. We cannot pretend that this bill rectifies all of these injustices, but passing it is an important step in helping improve the lives of those who still reside there. This is just the start, and Congress must continue its work to right these wrongs.\"\nI'm excited to see this important legislation for our Columbia River tribes head to the President's desk. It is the federal government's duty to ensure our tribal communities along the river have access to safe, sanitary housing and infrastructure at historical fishing access sitesa critical component of their culture and heritage, as well as an important source of sustenanceand this bill takes another vital step toward fulfilling our government-to-government obligation, said Senator Murray. As a representative for our state's tribes in the Senate, I urge the President to sign this bill into law.\nImproving the health and safety at tribal fishing sites along the Columbia River is an important and long overdue step toward righting historic wrongs, Senator Wyden said. The federal government can't stop hereit must do more to finally meet all obligations promised to indigenous peoples in the Northwest.\nImproving housing and infrastructure at Tribal fishing sites is a critical step to fulfill our treaty promises. I hope the president will sign this legislation into law so we can get to work on providing clean and safe living conditions at these sites as soon as possible, said Senator Cantwell.\nI am grateful that the House passed this legislation to address historical injustices and honor the fishing treaty rights of four Columbia River Tribes, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. This bill will finally provide access to safe and sanitary housing and infrastructure at several fishing access sites. For too long the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been without the support that the federal government is legally and morally obligated to provide. I look forward to seeing this important legislation signed into law and will continue to do all I can to protect tribal rights.\nBeginning in the 1930s, the construction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. These tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accustomed places.\nThe Senators and Representatives have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at tribal fishing access sites constructed by the Army Corps following construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping; however, in many cases tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. In fact, many people at these sites are living in extremely distressed, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has not committed the resources necessary to ensure the basic necessities of clean and safe living conditions at these sites.\nSimultaneously, the Senators and Representatives have been working to address unmet federal obligations to the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes, many of whom are living at these fishing sites, for flooding tribal communities and houses during the construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams.\nIn 2017, after the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) halted work by the Army Corps on a Village Development Plan specific to The Dalles Dam, the members successfully pushed OMB to reverse its decision, and later announced that the Army Corps allocated $1.8 million to complete The Dalles Dam Tribal Housing Village Development Plan.\nIn the 2019 spending bill, Merkley successfully included language acknowledging the Army Corps' mission, and instructing the Corps to uphold its responsibility to tribes that were displaced by the construction of The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River, and to mitigate the impact of that displacement.\nThe Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Actwould address the urgent need for improved conditions by:\n Calling on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct a much-needed assessment of current safety and sanitation conditions at the sites, in coordination with the affected Columbia River Treaty Tribes; and\n  Authorizing the Bureau to work on improving sanitation and safety conditions in several key areas such as structural improvements (restrooms, washrooms, and other buildings); safety improvements (wells and infrastructure to address fire concerns, and more); electrical infrastructure to ensure safe electrical hookups; and basic sewer and septic infrastructure.\n The legislation is supported by the four Columbia River Treaty tribesConfederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nationas well as the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/pacific-northwest-delegation-announces-house-passage-of-bill-to-improve-safety-and-sanitation-at-columbia-river-tribal-fishing-sites-", "Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 16, 2019\n\t\t\t Pacific Northwest Delegation Announces House Passage of Bill to Improve Safety and Sanitation at Columbia River Tribal Fishing Sites  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), along with Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act, sending it to the president's desk to be signed into law.\r\nThe legislation would enable the Bureau of Indian Affairs to make important safety and sanitation improvements at the tribal treaty fishing access sites along the Columbia River, which are on lands held by the United States for the benefit of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes.\r\nThe bill, authored by Merkley and Blumenauer, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate on June 28, 2019.\r\nThe current conditions at Columbia River fishing sites are unacceptable, unjust, and must be fixed, Senator Merkley said. I've personally seen the shocking conditions at Lone Pine. We owe better to thetribal communities in the Northwest, and the very least we can do is uphold our commitments to tribes and ensure basic sanitation and safety. I'm pleased that our colleagues in the House of Representatives have joined us in passing this bill, and I urge the president to sign it into law without delay.\r\nCongress has a responsibility to address the egregious misdeeds committed against the tribes who have lived along the Columbia River since time immemorial, said Rep. Blumenauer. We cannot pretend that this bill rectifies all of these injustices, but passing it is an important step in helping improve the lives of those who still reside there. This is just the start, and Congress must continue its work to right these wrongs.\"\r\nI'm excited to see this important legislation for our Columbia River tribes head to the President's desk. It is the federal government's duty to ensure our tribal communities along the river have access to safe, sanitary housing and infrastructure at historical fishing access sitesa critical component of their culture and heritage, as well as an important source of sustenanceand this bill takes another vital step toward fulfilling our government-to-government obligation, said Senator Murray. As a representative for our state's tribes in the Senate, I urge the President to sign this bill into law.\r\nImproving the health and safety at tribal fishing sites along the Columbia River is an important and long overdue step toward righting historic wrongs, Senator Wyden said. The federal government can't stop hereit must do more to finally meet all obligations promised to indigenous peoples in the Northwest.\r\nImproving housing and infrastructure at Tribal fishing sites is a critical step to fulfill our treaty promises. I hope the president will sign this legislation into law so we can get to work on providing clean and safe living conditions at these sites as soon as possible, said Senator Cantwell.\r\nI am grateful that the House passed this legislation to address historical injustices and honor the fishing treaty rights of four Columbia River Tribes, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. This bill will finally provide access to safe and sanitary housing and infrastructure at several fishing access sites. For too long the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation have been without the support that the federal government is legally and morally obligated to provide. I look forward to seeing this important legislation signed into law and will continue to do all I can to protect tribal rights.\r\nBeginning in the 1930s, the construction of the three lower Columbia River dams displaced members of the four Columbia River Treaty tribes: Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. These tribes have a treaty-protected right to fish along the Columbia River in their usual and accustomed places.\r\nThe Senators and Representatives have been fighting to address the urgent need for adequate housing and infrastructure at tribal fishing access sites constructed by the Army Corps following construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams. The Army Corps designed the sites to be used primarily for daily, in-season fishing access and temporary camping; however, in many cases tribal members now use the areas as longer-term or even permanent residences. In fact, many people at these sites are living in extremely distressed, unsafe, and unsanitary conditions, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs has not committed the resources necessary to ensure the basic necessities of clean and safe living conditions at these sites.\r\nSimultaneously, the Senators and Representatives have been working to address unmet federal obligations to the four Columbia River Treaty Tribes, many of whom are living at these fishing sites, for flooding tribal communities and houses during the construction of The Dalles, Bonneville, and John Day dams.\r\nIn 2017, after the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) halted work by the Army Corps on a Village Development Plan specific to The Dalles Dam, the members successfully pushed OMB to reverse its decision, and later announced that the Army Corps allocated $1.8 million to complete The Dalles Dam Tribal Housing Village Development Plan.\r\nIn the 2019 spending bill, Merkley successfully included language acknowledging the Army Corps' mission, and instructing the Corps to uphold its responsibility to tribes that were displaced by the construction of The Dalles Dam on the Columbia River, and to mitigate the impact of that displacement.\r\nThe Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Actwould address the urgent need for improved conditions by:\r\n \r\nCalling on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to conduct a much-needed assessment of current safety and sanitation conditions at the sites, in coordination with the affected Columbia River Treaty Tribes; and\r\n \r\n \r\nAuthorizing the Bureau to work on improving sanitation and safety conditions in several key areas such as structural improvements (restrooms, washrooms, and other buildings); safety improvements (wells and infrastructure to address fire concerns, and more); electrical infrastructure to ensure safe electrical hookups; and basic sewer and septic infrastructure.\r\n \r\nThe legislation is supported by the four Columbia River Treaty tribesConfederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Nez Perce Tribe, and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nationas well as the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-crapo-merkley-risch-announce-two-year-authorization-for-secure-rural-schools-program-in-end-of-year-funding-package-", "Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package", "2019-12-16", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 16, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Jim Risch, R-Idaho, today announced that a two-year authorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program is included in the end-of-year funding package that will be considered by Congress this week.\r\nThis significant win for rural communities in the Northwest and nationwide follows calls from the senators to reauthorize the lapsed program and provide financial certainty for counties containing federally-owned lands.\r\nCongress took one big step closer to making sure people living and working in rural communities have the resources they need for their schools, roads and other essential services, Wyden said. A two-year extension of the Secure Rural Schools program means counties can breathe a little easier now as Congress works toward a long-overdue permanent solution that gets rural counties off the roller coaster of uncertainty.\r\nNearly two-thirds of Idaho is federally owned, which severely limits the tax base for roads, law enforcement and schools because federal lands contribute no property taxes. The Secure Rural Schools program provides critical funding streams for rural Idahoans, Crapo said. A two-year extension of SRS funding is one step closer to a more predictable source of funding for rural communities and school districts encompassed by federal land.\r\nSecure Rural Schools payments provide a much-needed lifeline for critical services ranging from schools to roads to public safety, said Merkley. Our rural communities shouldn't be left in the dark about whether the federal government will meet its obligation to help pay for those vital services. I am grateful to my colleagues for joining us in our mission to make these payments reliable, and am pleased that together we were able to secure this program extension.\r\nEvery year, the fight for SRS funding seems to get a little tougher, and every year, our rural communities need that security and certainty just a little bit more. I consistently hear from Idaho counties that without increased timber production they depend on SRS to get by, which is why Senators Crapo, Wyden, Merkley and I work so hard on SRS reauthorization each Congress, said Risch. This reauthorization will create greater stability for rural counties, and I'm proud we were able to secure this critical program for communities in Idaho and throughout the West.\r\nEarlier this year, the senators led 27 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting at least a two-year reauthorization of the SRS program as Congress works to establish a permanent county payments solution. They introduced their proposed solutionthe Forest Management for Rural Stability Actlegislation that makes the program permanent by creating an endowment fund to provide stable, increasing and reliable funding for county services.\r\nThe Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Actoriginally co-authored by Wydenwas enacted in 2000 to financially assist counties with public, tax-exempt forestlands. Since then, Wyden, Crapo, Merkley and Risch have worked to give SRS a more permanent role in assisting rural counties with large tracts of federal lands.\r\nCritical services at the county level have historically been funded in part with a 25 percent share of timber receipts from federal U.S. Forest Service lands and a 50 percent share of timber receipts from federal Oregon and California Grant Lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. As those revenues have fallen or fluctuated due to reduced timber harvest and market forces, SRS payments helped bridge the gap to keep rural schools open, provide road maintenance, support search and rescue efforts and other essential county services. Since enacted in 2000, SRS has provided a total of $7 billion in payments to more than 700 counties and 4,400 school districts in more than 40 states to fund schools and essential services like roads and public safety. In recent years, however, Congress has allowed SRS funding to lapse and decrease, creating massive uncertainty for counties as they budget for basic county services.\r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-cotton-jones-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-stop-predatory-unsolicited-loans-2019", "Merkley, Cotton, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Predatory Unsolicited Loans", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Cotton, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Stop Predatory Unsolicited Loans \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 13, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, DC Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senators Doug Jones (D-AL) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) today to announce the introduction of the bipartisan Unsolicited Loan Act, legislation that would mirror an existing ban on mailing live' credit cards by halting the predatory practice of mailing live' checks that are actually hidden high-interest loans.\r\nThe checks, which consumers are led to believe are refunds from their bank or another trusted financial institution, have put countless unsuspecting Americans on a path to financial ruin. The legislation would also ensure that consumers are not held liable for debt incurred from illegal, unsolicited live' check loans.\r\n \r\nFamilies across the country have fallen victim to scams where they think they're getting a lucky windfall or refund from their bank, and instead are being lured into a high-interest loan theynever asked for,said Senator Merkley. It should be illegal to trick unsuspecting customers into loans they don't want, and that's why I'm urging my colleagues to take a stand for consumer fairness and transparency by passing the Unsolicited Loan Act.\r\nWe need to continue to take a stand for hard-working families and make sure we have protections in place to prevent these predatory tactics, said Senator Jones, a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Many honest folks are not aware that by depositing these checks they are actually taking on a high-interest loan. Congress must act now and pass this common-sense legislation to protect consumers from this predatory scam.\r\nPeople should understand exactly what they're getting into when taking on debt. But many individuals don't understand that live' checks mailed directly to consumers are just high-interest loans in disguise. Congress put an end to live' credit cards decades ago, it's time to do the same with live' checks, said Senator Cotton.\r\n \r\nNearly 50 years ago, Congress banned the practice of mailing live' credit cards, in standing with the long recognized view that consumer loans should require an application by a customer. The Senators' legislation would extend existing consumer protections to include the mailing of live' checks that mislead consumers into taking high-interest loans, without limiting access to credit for those who willingly apply for and seek lending products.Additionally, the bill would also ensure that companies cannot shift from the mailing of live' checks to other forms of transfer, such as a gift card or an e-check.'\r\nThis legislation has been endorsed by The National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low-income clients.\r\nThe full text of the Unsolicited Loan Act is available here.\r\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-leads-164-members-demanding-devos-return-bargaining-table", "Bonamici Leads 164 Members in Demanding DeVos Return to the Bargaining Table", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/13/19]  Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Chair of the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, led 164 of her colleagues in calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to revoke an imposed contract and return to the bargaining table.\n\nThe Members expressed concern about DeVos' implementation of a non-bargained Collective Bargaining Agreement with AFGE Council 252, which represents the employees at the Department of Education. The members wrote that they had learned of new and disturbing hiring processes and program administration within Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), including the Department designating positions for FSA as administratively determined to avoid typical hiring structures, and failing to hire employees for open positions in OCR.\n\nThe Department did not discuss or bargain for these changes and decisions with AFGE, and we are concerned that the hiring process is now insulated from appropriate accountability and transparency, the Members wrote. Additionally, this appears to signal an intention to privatize the oversight and administration of federal student loan programs, potentially costing student loan borrowers greater sums of money, threatening their credit ratings, and making the rules governing for-profit institutions and lenders less transparent.\n\nThe Members called for answers about why the Department hasn't hired staff for OCR or used the funds that were allocated by Congress for that purpose.\n\nDespite high caseloads and staff attrition that has increased during this Administration, few positions have been allocated and even fewer have been filled in OCR, the Members wrote. The hiring practices in OCR and the apparent diversion of appropriated funds intended to address the case backlog raise questions about how the Department is addressing cases involving serious and often widespread violations of civil rights in incidents of sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Specifically, we are concerned that OCR senior management has interfered with the regional offices' normal processing of its cases and also asserted political authority to narrow decisions and limit remedies.\n\nThe full letter can be found here and below.\n\nDecember 12, 2019\n\nThe Honorable Betsy DeVos\nSecretary of Education\nUnited States Department of Education\n400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Room 7W301\nWashington DC, 20202\n\nDear Secretary DeVos:\n\nLast year, Members of Congress urged the Department of Education (the Department) to return to the bargaining table to negotiate in good faith with AFGE Council 252 (AFGE) for a fair and equitable contract.The Members outlined concerns about your priorities within the Department and the unilateral imposition ofa non-bargained Collective Bargaining Agreement (Management Edict) as implemented more than a year ago in March 2018. Since then, we have learned of new and disturbing hiring practices and policies that were adopted without AFGE input and which require an immediate and thorough response from your office. Specifically, we are concerned with hiring practices and program administration within Federal Student Aid (FSA) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).\n\nIt is our understanding that the Department is hiring new FSA employees outside of typical Department hiring structures. Instead, the Department has deemed certain positions to be administratively determined, and therefore not posted to USAJobs or open for application by Department employees. The Department did not discuss or bargain for these changes and decisions with AFGE, and we are concerned that the hiring process is now insulated from appropriate accountability and transparency. Additionally, this appears to signal an intention to privatize the oversight and administration of federal student loan programs, potentially costing student loan borrowers greater sums of money, threatening their credit ratings, and making the rules governing for-profit institutions and lenders less transparent.\n\nDespite high caseloads and staff attrition that has increased during this Administration, few positions have been allocated and even fewer have been filled in OCR. Congress recognized the importance of hiring more OCR staff and explicitly directed the Department to do so in the 2018 appropriation explanatory statement.[1] Reports indicate that hiring to date has been extremely slow and inefficient, and as a result, has not even kept pace with attrition. The Department's refusal to adequately staff OCR is inexcusable, especially when compared with its rapid, unrestrained hiring at FSA.\n\nThe hiring practices in OCR and the apparent diversion of appropriated funds intended to address the case backlog raise questions about how the Department is addressing cases involving serious and often widespread violations of civil rights in incidents of sexual harassment and racial discrimination. Specifically, we are concerned that OCR senior management has interfered with the regional offices' normal processing of its cases and also asserted political authority to narrow decisions and limit remedies.\n\nWe raise these concerns because your imposition of the Management Edict, including the elimination of the Department's requirement to consult with AFGE before making agency-wide decisions and subsequent hiring and policy changes, significantly affects the rights of Department employees. More importantly, these actions negatively affect the quality of services the Department provides to students, school districts, vocational programs, and colleges and universities.\n\nWith this letter, we demand that you revoke your unilateral Management Edict and return to the bargaining table with AFGE Local 252 to negotiate in good faith a collectively bargained contract. Additionally, please provide a response by January 9, 2020 to the following requests:\n\n Please provide us with a report of all positions (with descriptions) hired for FSA in the past year; whether these positions were administratively determined, posted to USAJobs, or open to Department employees; and whether these positions are full-time, part-time, or contract.\n\tPlease provide us a report explaining all OCR attorney and Equal Opportunity Specialist (EOS) attrition since the Management Edict was issued, and identify which positions remain unfilled and the timeline for filling these positions.\n\tPlease provide an accounting of the use of all funds designated for staff hiring for OCR since March 2018, and the extent to which those funds have been used for other purposes, including overtime, training, travel, and supplies or other materials.\n\tPlease provide us all information circulated to OCR staff regarding which cases are subject to review by OCR headquarters and the criteria for such review.\n \nWe appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.\n\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-works-lower-emissions-power-economy-0", "Greg Walden Works to Lower Emissions, Power Economy", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Walden holds up a block of lumber from DR Johnson Lumber at he Innovation Showcase. \nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Monday, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) hosted the Energy and Environment Innovation Showcase. The showcase highlighted the importance of investing in the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies to reduce emissions, power the economy of tomorrow, and provide greater value to American consumers.\nThe eventfeatured companiesfrom around the country withinnovative energy and environmentsolutions, including two companies Walden invitedfrom Oregon. One of the companiesthat participatedwas NuScale, an Oregon based company developing small modular nuclear reactors.NuScale has partnered with Oregon State University, the Department of Energy's Idaho National Lab, and others in developing the next generation of carbon-free nuclear power. \nRep. Walden looks at NuScale's booth on small modular nuclear reactors.\n\"Any serious efforts to reduce emissions from energy production must include new, safe, and small modular nuclear power, like that being developed by NuScale in Oregon,\"said Walden.\"Nuclear power is emissions-free, and the technology being designed by NuScale can help communities transition from coal to cleaner energy sources.\" \nRep. Walden and DR Johnson Lumber's Levi Hoffman at the showcase. \nIn addition to NuScale, Walden invited Oregon's DR Johnson Lumber. The company was the first in the U.S. to produce Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels certified for construction. CLT, and other mass timber products, could help reduce the carbon footprint of new buildings. These products also present an opportunity to improve economic development in rural communities, while also improving forest management and reducing the threat of wildfire.\n\n\nClick here or on the image above to watch Rep. Walden's discussion on how innovation is good for American consumers, energy security, and reducing emissions. \nAt the event, Walden sat down with Kristin Soltis Anderson for a discussion on how innovation is good for American consumers, energy security, and reducing emissions. You can watch their entire discussion here. \nWaldenspoke about hisplan, \"12 in '20\", a bipartisan set of bills that Congress could pass right now to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in emissions reduction, economic productivity, and clean energy production all at the same time. \nRep. Walden speaks with reporters at the Innovation Showcase. \nWe want to come forward with ideas we think make good common sense and can actually become law, Walden told reporters about his plan. The president would sign all of these. \nIn addition to Walden's \"12 in '20\" plan, hehas led efforts to reformfederal forest policy to both protectlocal communities and the environment. Earlier this year, Walden introduced the Resilient Federal Forests Act, a bill that would improve forest management and reduce wildfire risk in Oregon. \n\"Studies from the Nature Conservancy and Forest Service tell us that active forest management can reduce the size and intensity of wildfires by 70 percent. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that active forest management will have the largest sustained carbon mitigation benefit,\" said Walden in May after he introduced the bill. \nLearn more about Walden's recent efforts to reduce emissions, promote clean energy, and conserve natural resources here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-warren-and-paul-ask-credit-reporting-agencies-for-transparency-about-their-handling-of-fbi-requests-for-consumer-financial-data-", "Wyden, Warren and Paul Ask Credit Reporting Agencies for Transparency About Their Handling of FBI Requests for Consumer Financial Data", "2019-12-13", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 13, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Warren and Paul Ask Credit Reporting Agencies for Transparency About Their Handling of FBI Requests for Consumer Financial Data  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t New documents show FBI has frequently requested sensitive information from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., yesterday sent letters to the Chief Executive Officers of the three major credit reporting agencies  Equifax, Experian and TransUnion  regarding the companies' lack of transparency in their handling of consumer financial information requested through national security letters (NSLs) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The letters follow the recent release of documents gained via a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit indicating that the three credit reporting agencies have frequently been the recipients of such requests.\r\nNSLs are akin to administrative subpoenas that require the recipient to divulge information that the FBI deems relevant to national security investigations, which in the case of the credit agencies can even include full credit reports. They do not require prior approval from a judge, and are frequently accompanied by nondisclosure orders preventing companies from notifying consumers that the company has received a letter.\r\nUnder the USA FREEDOM Act, companies that receive NSLs from the FBI may publish information about the volume of NSLs they receive and release redacted versions of the letters if and when the nondisclosure orders are lifted by the FBI. However, while dozens of technology and telecommunication companies have been transparent about their receipt and handling of NSLs, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion have not.\r\n\"Because your company holds so much potentially sensitive data on so many Americans and collects this information without obtaining consent from these individuals, you have a responsibility to be transparent about how you handle that data,\" the senators wrote. \"Unfortunately, your company has not provided information to policymakers or the public about the type or the number of disclosures that you have made to the FBI.\"\r\nTo gain a better understanding of the content that the credit reporting agencies share with the FBI, the senators asked the companies to answer a series of questions about their receipt, handling and reporting of NSLs, and asked if the companies would follow the lead of their peers and release regular transparency reports about NSLs.\r\n\"American consumers deserve to know what happens to the data that your company collects, which can encompass all of the major financial relationships that a consumer might have over the course of their lifetime,\" the senators continued.\r\nThe senators requested responses to their letters by December 20, 2019.\r\nCopies of the letters are available here.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392641", "Rep. Schrader Votes to Lower Drug Prices for Oregonians", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Schrader Votes to Lower Drug Prices for Oregonians \r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) voted today in the House of Representatives for HR 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This legislation will allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors. HR 3 will also establish a cap on the out-of-pocket drug costs seniors must pay each year, for the first time ever, directly keeping money in their pockets. It will also enhance transparency of the pharmaceutical prescription drug chain to expose areas for greater savings going forward. Much of the savings from negotiation have been allocated for additional benefits in Medicare.\r\nThe Lower Drug Costs Now Act will finally empower Medicare to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs, said Rep. Schrader. It is high time that our struggling seniors are given the right to negotiate drug costs like is done by commercial plans, the VA, DOD and Medicaid. Price negotiation is a free market principle that our country embraces in almost every other aspect of life. I am proud to be a strong supporter of this legislation. However, I am disappointed that the savings from this plan have not been used to improve the solvency of Medicare itself which faces dire straits in just 6 years. With Medicare per capita spending expected to grow at over a 5% annual rate we should be using the savings to ensure the future solvency of the current Medicare program rather than adding more untenable mandates. Hopefully, comparable bipartisan efforts in the Senate will get us there. This is a critical first step for our seniors and Medicare's future.\r\nRep. Schrader's bipartisan BIOSIM Act was included in the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. This bill will offer greater incentives for the creation of biosimilar drugs which are lower cost generic versions of biologic drugs. Biologics are often used by those with rare diseases and can be extremely expensive. The Bolstering Innovative Options to Save Immediately on Medicines Act will temporarily increase the reimbursement for biosimilar drugs from the average sales price (ASP) of the drug plus six percent to the average sales price of the drug plus eight percent for five years to help increase their utilization by doctors. Currently, Medicare patients pay a twenty percent coinsurance on Part B drugs which both biologics and biosimilars are. This legislation will reduce patient cost and cost to the government, by increasing the use of lower cost biosimilars.\r\nRep. Schrader voted to advance the Lower Drug Costs Now Act in the Energy & Commerce health subcommittee and in the committee as a whole, where he spoke in support of the bill. He also spoke on the floor of the House in support of this legislation.\r\nIn the Fifth District of Oregon alone there are 130,603 people enrolled in a Medicare Part D plans, all of whom will benefit from the passage of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act.\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-introduces-legislation-to-boost-energy-efficiency-lower-energy-costs-at-wastewater-treatment-facilities-2019", "Merkley Introduces Legislation to Boost Energy Efficiency, Lower Energy Costs at Wastewater Treatment Facilities", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Introduces Legislation to Boost Energy Efficiency, Lower Energy Costs at Wastewater Treatment Facilities \n\t\n\t\t Many facilities use outdated technology, while costing ratepayers billions of dollars \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 12, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley today introduced new legislation to provide necessary resources to wastewater treatment facilitiesfrequently the largest energy user in municipalitiesto upgrade their energy and water efficiency. The infrastructure updates would curb emissions from wasted energy and reduce facility costs.\r\n \r\nWastewater treatment facilities run equipment around the clock so that Oregonians' rivers and streams are safe and clean, said Merkley. If we can make that equipment cleaner and more efficient we'll stop wasting energy unnecessarily and save ratepayers money.\r\n \r\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Energy, American wastewater treatment facilities spend about $2 billion in electric costs every year. These costs often make up between 25 and 40 percent of a plant's annual operating budget, and in turn, are a significant share of each municipality's total energy costs.\r\nThe Wastewater Efficiency & Treatment Act of 2019 would allow the nearly 17,000 municipal wastewater facilitiessmall and largein the U.S. to apply for grants or loan guarantees for energy and water efficiency upgrades to reduce those costs.\r\nSmall communities would be eligible to apply for grants up to $25,000, which can make a considerable difference for facilities that serve fewer constituents. Larger communities would be able to apply for millions of dollars of loan guarantees administered by the Department of Energy. These loan guarantees could be valued at up to 80 percent of loans, allowing municipalities to leverage the guarantees into millions more in wastewater infrastructure improvements. The financing could be used for the installation of power generation technology, such as biogas recovery and other innovative equipment.\r\n \r\nWEF is pleased to endorse the Wastewater Efficiency and Treatment Act of 2019 because it will move our nation toward a circular economy for wastewater treatment, where recovered energy will help power the treatment process and reduce our use of fossil fuels while cleaning the water and air in our communities, said Walter Marlowe, P.E., CAE, Executive Director of the Water Environment Federation.\r\n \r\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies and the Water Environment Federation.\r\nThe full text of the bill is available here.\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-democratic-senators-request-update-on-federal-steps-towards-critical-medical-marijuana-research-2019", "Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Senators Request Update on Federal Steps Towards Critical Medical Marijuana Research", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Senators Request Update on Federal Steps Towards Critical Medical Marijuana Research \n\t\n\t\t Agencies said they would begin to issue manufacturing licenses for research in 2016, delayed, and made a similar announcement again in 2019 \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 12, 2019\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined six of their Democratic colleagues today in writing to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to request an update on the issuance of manufacturing licenses necessary for the completion of long-awaited federal research on medical marijuana.\r\nThe senators seek guidance on how the DEA will make these licenses available to qualified researchers in a timely manner, given that the federal government has a unique responsibility to coordinate medical marijuana research effortsand has delayed issuing these licenses in the past. The lack of federal action has made it nearly impossible for scientists to conduct new research on marijuana, despite the growing use of medical and recreational marijuana in Oregon and across the nation.\r\nWith millions of American adults having access to recreational marijuana and a growing number seeking the drug for medicinal purposes, the federal government is not providing the necessary leadership and tools in this developing field, wrote the Senators. Evidence-based public policy is crucial to ensuring our marijuana laws best serve patients and health care providers.\r\nThis research is crucial to developing a thorough understanding of medical marijuana and would be invaluable to doctors, patients, and lawmakers across the nation, they continued.\r\nThe lawmakers have requested responses no later than January 10, 2019, to better understand both the DEA's decision-making and its work with HHS and ONDCP to expand medical marijuana research.\r\nSenators Merkley and Wyden were joined by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).\r\nA copy of the letter can be found here and is available below.\r\n###\r\nDear Secretary Azar, Director Carroll, and Acting Administrator Dhillon:\r\nWe write to inquire about your respective agencies' ongoing efforts with regard to scientific research on the potential health and therapeutic benefits of marijuana when used for medical purposes (medical marijuana). In light of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) most recent announcement that it will issue additional marijuana manufacturing licenses for research purposes  an announcement that comes three years after a similar yet unfulfilled DEA commitment  we are also requesting written guidance on how the DEA will make these licenses available to qualified researchers in a timely manner.[1]\r\nSeveral of us wrote to your respective agencies in December 2015 and June 2016 to request detailed information regarding medical marijuana research and highlight the federal government's unique responsibility to coordinate these efforts.[2] Since we last wrote, an additional eight states have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, bringing the national total to thirty-three states plus the District of Columbia.[3] More than fifty-nine percent of Americans now believe marijuana use should be legal, and this number continues to grow.[4] To date, eleven states allow for the legal recreational adult-use of marijuana, and more than a dozen states have passed laws specifically allowing for access to cannabidiol.[5]\r\nWhile millions of Americans are now lawfully able to use marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes, there remains limited research on its therapeutic benefits. With an ever-growing number of Americans consulting their doctors about marijuana treatment options for conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and terminal illnesses, it is imperative that your agencies make a concerted effort to improve our understanding of cannabis, its potential health benefits, and its health risks.\r\nSeveral barriers, many of which have existed for decades, continue to limit this critical research. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana remains a Schedule 1 substance, alongside dangerous and lethal substances such as heroin and methamphetamine; meanwhile, substances such as cocaine and Oxycontin are Schedule II substances. Marijuana's Schedule I classification as a drug with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse, is, in itself, a significant barrier to conducting research.[6] Hampering these research opportunities and discouraging qualified, independent researchers attempting to conduct studies on the benefits of medical marijuana is detrimental to states that wish to thoughtfully implement their own marijuana laws. This research is crucial to developing a thorough understanding of medical marijuana and would be invaluable to doctors, patients, and lawmakers across the nation.\r\nWe appreciate the DEA's recent actions to begin to close this gap in knowledge and lack of access for qualified researchers and welcome its August 2019 announcement pledging to issue additional marijuana manufacturing licenses for research purposes. To better understand both the DEA's decision-making, as well as its work in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to expand medical marijuana research, we request answers to the following questions:\r\nThe DEA is responsible for issuing permits for the bulk manufacturing of marijuana for research and scientific purposes. The DEA recently issued notice of pending applications in order to increase the variety of marijuana available for these purposes.\r\nAs of today, how many pending applications are currently awaiting DEA consideration?\r\nHow many of these applications does the DEA expect to approve?\r\nHow many of these applications have been withdrawn?\r\nWhat is the timeline for DEA to act on these applications?\r\nIn the past, ONDCP and DEA have suggested that the current supply of marijuana for research purposes was not a significant barrier.[7] Please provide detailed information on the current supply of marijuana, including a breakdown of all strains, amounts available in each strain, amount of each strain researchers have requested, and the amount of each strain that is in surplus. How many new strains of marijuana does the DEA hope to gain access to the supply of through its August notice?\r\nMarijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug, which, according to DEA and HHS, means it has no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Under the authorities outlined under the Controlled Substances Act, does DEA or HHS have plans to review the scheduling of marijuana?\r\nPlease describe the application process for qualified researchers who wish to conduct research using marijuana. How do your agencies plan to work together to encourage qualified research applicants to grow marijuana for research purposes?\r\nMany states that allow for the medicinal use of marijuana, including Massachusetts, permit physicians to prescribe it for the treatment of chronic pain. Do your agencies have any plans to support research on the use of marijuana for the treatment of chronic pain, particularly as a treatment alternative to opioids?\r\nWith millions of American adults having access to recreational marijuana and a growing number seeking the drug for medicinal purposes, the federal government is not providing the necessary leadership and tools in this developing field. Evidence-based public policy is crucial to ensuring our marijuana laws best serve patients and health care providers. Federal agencies have a unique opportunity to collaborate with one another to expand our nation's understanding of marijuana's potential to create safe and effective therapies. We respectfully request that you provide responses to these questions no later than XXXXXXX.\r\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter.\r\n\r\nSincerely,\r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-improve-water-quality-and-services-for-western-tribes-2019", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Western Tribes", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Western Tribes \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 12, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon.\r\nNative American tribes in Oregon and across the West are suffering from inadequate water infrastructure, with aging drinking water treatment and distribution systems subjecting these communities to serious problems such as failed pressure relief valves, burst pipes and unsafe drinking water. Wyden and Merkley's Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act will help move these communities out of the cycle of temporary and emergency fixes to those problems by ensuring stable and reliable federal investments in water infrastructure projects.\r\n \r\nAccess to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and yet, federal resources to help tribal governments in Oregon to fix damaged water systems are woefully lacking, Wyden said. The federal government must step up and do more to support these communities working to make permanent fixes and ensure water security needed for their long-term health and quality of life.\r\nAs the crisis on the Warm Springs Reservation illustrated, Native American communities in Oregon are facing serious water infrastructure challenges, said Merkley. We need to invest in replacing outdated pipe systems, to help ensure that tribal nations have reliable access to safe drinking water for years to come. This legislation provides a pathway to making those infrastructure upgrades happen, and I'm urging my colleagues to join us in fighting to get it across the finish line and signed into law.\r\nThis legislation would throw a lifeline to tribes like Warm Springs that are in dire need of water infrastructure improvements to serve their tribal membership, said Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Chairman Raymond Tsumpti.\r\nClimate change is threatening the water supply of many Oregon communities  even on the coast.Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley's bill would help Oregon tribes access funds to avert those challenges, said Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Chairman Dee Pigsley.\r\n \r\nThe legislation builds on steps taken by Congress to address the water crisis facing tribes. Most recently in the 2018 Water Resources and Development Act, Congress established the $20 million Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program for tribes located in the Upper Missouri River Basin and the Upper Rio Grande Basin.\r\nThe Tribal Water Infrastructure Act introduced today will:\r\n \r\nHelp Oregon tribes connect, expand or repair existing public water systems to improve water quality, water pressure or water services by ensuring tribes in the Columbia River Basin, and its adjacent coastal river basins, are eligible for the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program;\r\n \r\n \r\nAuthorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund up to 10 water improvement projects per year for tribes in the Columbia River Basin and its adjacent coastal river basins;\r\n \r\n \r\nRequire that at least one of the 10 authorized water improvement projects help Western Oregon tribal governments improve water infrastructure; and\r\n \r\n \r\nMake the Indian Reservation Drinking Water program permanent and increase its funding from $20 million per year to $30 million per year.\r\n \r\nA web version of this release is here.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-welcome-step-forward-for-secure-rural-schools-program-recreation-opportunities-and-wildfire-prevention-in-oregon-2019", "Wyden, Merkley Welcome Step Forward for Secure Rural Schools Program, Recreation Opportunities and Wildfire Prevention in Oregon", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Merkley Welcome Step Forward for Secure Rural Schools Program, Recreation Opportunities and Wildfire Prevention in Oregon \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 12, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today welcomed passage of legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to ensure much-needed funding for rural counties, as well as legislation to boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County and strengthen wildfire prevention work in both of those regions. Both bills are now eligible to be considered by the full Senate.\r\nThe Committee passed S. 430, legislation introduced by Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Wyden, James Risch, R-Idaho, and Merkley to authorize the Secure Rural School Program for two years. The program expired at the end of FY2018. The Committee also passed an amendment, negotiated by Wyden, that ensures counties receive a ten percent increase in funding, efficient and timely appointments to Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees, and that no program funds are used for lobbying. The Committee also passed an amendment to allow Secure Rural School funds to support rural broadband projects.\r\n \r\nCongress desperately needs to extend this lifeline for rural communities in Oregon, Wyden said. A two-year extension will provide rural counties the resources they need now to support schools and roads, and it will also lay the groundwork to create a permanent solution  my bill to create an endowment fund to get these communities off the financial roller coaster once and for all.\r\nSecure Rural Schools payments provide a much-needed lifeline for critical services ranging from schools to roads to public safety, said Merkley. Our rural communities shouldn't be left in the dark about whether the federal funding they need for these vital services will be gone from one day to the next. That's why I'm pleased that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted today to pass a two year extension of this program, and I'll be fighting to get this funding across the finish line and signed into law.\r\n \r\nThe Committee also passed the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act, legislation introduced by Wyden and Merkley that would create the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and prohibit destructive mining on pristine rivers in Southwestern Oregon. Provisions, negotiated by Wyden and based on local feedback, also passed that further strengthen wildfire mitigation by requiring the Bureau of Land Management to implement wildfire risk reduction plans for the recreation areas and consultation with the Oregon Governor's wildfire council to prepare studies and plans.\r\n \r\nThe ORE Act builds on our state's proud legacy to protect our special places for future generations, Wyden said. Importantly, this legislation will be a huge boost to outdoor recreation in Southwestern Oregon and in rural Clackamas County, while continuing and strengthening critical wildfire prevention and forest health efforts and helping local communities prepare for wildfire.\r\nThese areas are among Oregon's most breathtaking landscapes, Merkley said. Not only do they fuel a robust outdoor recreation economy, they also are part of who we are as Oregonians. This legislation emphasizes that it is our responsibility to protect these lands from degradation, increasingly intense wildfires, and other impacts so our greatest resource is available to future generations, and I'm looking forward to it coming to the floor for a full Senate vote.\r\nSouthwest Oregon's wild rivers are the heart and soul of our tourism and recreation economy, said Pam Marsh, Oregon House of Representative, District 5.They bring people from all over the world that spend money that ripples throughout our communities. Thank you to Senators Merkley and Wyden for stepping up to protect the Wild Rogue Wilderness and pass legislation to stop strip mines threatening the Smith and Illinois Rivers.\r\nOur business, the Motel Del Rogue, credits our iconic, majestic Rogue River for its name and rich history of housing fishermen, fisherwomen, rafters, kayakers, hunters, hikers, adventurers, tourists and all lovers of nature for generations, said Kevin and Constance Marr, Owners, Motel Del Rogue. The health of the river and surrounding lands is vital to our business, our family, our employees and their families, and by extension our entire local economy.\r\nMy business, South Coast Tours, depends on clean, healthy rivers and access to public lands, and my family and town care about these things too. For these reasons, I support the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act. I'm grateful that Senator Wyden is working to protect our wild rivers from the threat of strip mining, said Dave Lacey, owner of South Coast Tours, resident of Gold Beach.\r\nProtecting the Rogue River and its tributaries promotes not only the health of the ecosystem, but the health of the Southern Oregon economy.Tourism on the Rogue supports outfitters like us, but also restaurants, hotels, transportation services, and more.A healthy Rogue River means more jobs and more business growth for the region. Thanks to Senator Wyden for his efforts to protect the special lands and rivers in Rogue basin, said Kate Wollney, OARS Oregon Regional Manager\r\nThe rivers of the South Kalmiopsis are some of the most unique and special rivers in the world. I want to thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for working to protect these rivers as well as the famous Rogue and Molalla Rivers with the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act. Without protections, development would degrade our lands, which would greatly impact our rivers, said Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company.\r\nAs the largest trade association of commercial fishing families on the west coast, we thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for working to protect the headwaters of Oregon's Wild and Scenic Illinois, Rogue and Smith Rivers, said Glen Spain, NW Regional Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA).If we want salmon to continue to exist, we have to protect their home streams.These key salmon-producing rivers are no place for strip mines.\"\r\nFrom fishing to rafting and boating, to hiking and camping, our Rogue supports tourism and our economy, said Dave Strahan of Big Rock Sports. The lower Rogue is a huge community asset, contributing up to $30 million annually to the local economy. While some of the Rogue canyon is protected, most is not. We owe it to our children and grandchildren, and our economy, to expand the protection of this irreplaceable resource. Thanks to Senator Wyden and Merkley for their efforts to protect this special place.\r\nThe stretch of the Wild Rogue between Grave Creek and Foster Bar is something to hand down to our children and grandchildren. It is our local treasure  it is the lifeblood of so many of us  and it deserves our best efforts to protect it, said Alyssa WarrenWood, Owner, Rogue Infinity Outfitters.\r\n \r\nA web version of this release is here.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n        \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-backed-bill-lower-prescription-drug-prices-passes-house", "Bonamici-Backed Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices Passes House of Representatives", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/12/19]  Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) applauded the House passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which she co-sponsored.\n\nOregonians are demanding that Congress address outrageous and ever-increasing costs of life-saving prescription medications, said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. With this vote today, the House is taking an important step. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act will ease the burden on seniors and working families who often face prescription prices so unaffordable that they must choose between paying for necessary medications or putting food on the table.\n\nI am supporting H.R. 3 to stand with all Oregonians who are fighting for their health in the face of unreasonable and unfair drug prices. I have heard from constituents like Rohan, a student from Beaverton who relies on expensive insulin to manage his Type 1 Diabetes. Dave in Newberg, wrote to me - distressed - about the thousands of dollars it costs to treat his wife's metastatic breast cancer.\n\nVideo of Bonamici sharing her support for H.R. 3 can be found here. \n\nH.R. 3, the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, takes important steps to reduce expenses related to prescription drugs. It allows Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, creates an international pricing index to prevent companies from charging much more for the same drug in the U.S. than abroad, and implements a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare beneficiaries. Many of these benefits would be passed on to private employers and individuals.\n\nBonamici helped craft H.R. 3 through her role on the Education and Labor Committee, which marked up the legislation earlier this year. \n\nH.R. 3 will reduce drug costs for millions of Americans, including thousands in NW Oregon. You can find a fact sheet prepared by the House Ways and Means Committee with details about how much prices are expected to decrease for Oregonianshere. \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-confronts-sec-devos-about-failure-protect-defrauded-students", "Bonamici Confronts Sec. DeVos About Failure to Protect Defrauded Students", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/12/19]  Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) pressed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos about her decision to continue to demand loan repayment from students who were defrauded by for-profit institutions.\n\nThe Secretary's answers about the Education Department's failure to protect students from deceptive for-profit institutions were deeply unsatisfactory, as is her plan to provide only partial relief to some borrowers, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici said after the hearing. It is not justice if students who were defrauded are denied full student loan forgiveness. The actions of Secretary DeVos are contrary to the Education Department's mission, which is to help students and foster educational excellence. I will continue my oversight responsibility to hold her accountable and make sure students receive a quality education.\n\nVideo of Bonaimci's questions at the hearing can be found here.\n\nBonamici noted that hundreds of thousands of students, including thousands in Oregon, were left with burdensome loans and useless degrees after the collapse of Corinthian Colleges and other for-profit institutions that engaged in deceptive practices. The Department of Education has repeatedly delayed implementation of the Borrower Defense rule, and just recently instituted a new formula for processing Borrower Defense claims that will result in loan forgiveness for only a fraction of borrowers.\n\nIt also violated a court order by illegally demanding repayment from Corinthian borrowers. The Department originally reported seeking repayment from more than 16,000 Corinthian borrowers, but we now know that this number is 45,000.\n\nI'm a former consumer protection lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission, and I know fraud when I see it, Bonamici said during the hearing. These students were misled and cheated. And the fact that some of them may be making money doesn't mean they weren't defrauded. If someone went into one of these programs hoping to become a nurse, for example, and now they're selling clothes at a department store, it doesn't mean that they weren't defrauded. \n\nI hope you can put yourself in the shoes of some of these borrowers. I know it's challenging. They went to try to find a better life for themselves and instead of getting a good education they got collection notices and wage garnishments.\n\nWhen Bonamici questioned DeVos about how many times the Department illegally billed borrowers who were applying for Borrower Defense in violation of a court order, the Secretary failed to provide specifics. \n\nCongresswoman Bonamici is anoutspoken advocate for student loan borrowersand has led effortsto protect students and taxpayers from predatory for-profit colleges. She has supported the gainful employment andborrower defenserules, which are aimed at reining in predatory for-profit colleges, and has spoken out following efforts by this Department to weaken these and other consumer protections for borrowers. \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-from-rep-peter-defazio-on-hr-3-the-elijah-e-cummings-lower", "Statement from Rep. Peter DeFazio on H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today released the following statement on his vote in support of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act:\nBecause of pharmaceutical companies' price gouging, Americans pay more out-of-pocket for prescription drugs than individuals in any other country. It's beyond time for Congress to enact important reforms to deliver immediate relief.\nThat's why today I voted for H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. I believe this legislation takes some important first steps towards lowering the cost of prescription drugs and improving the health and financial security of American seniors and families.\nAmong other things, H.R. 3 will cap the out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs at $2,000, set a minimum for the number of drugs that must be negotiated per year, combat pharmaceutical price-gouging for upwards of 150 million Americans with private health care plans, and expand Medicare to cover vision, dental, and hearing for the first time.\nWhile H.R. 3 will ultimately improve the health and financial security of millions of American seniors and families, I believe Congress can and must do more to combat rising drug prices and price-gouging pharmaceutical companies.\nRight now, pharmaceutical companies charge outrageous prices because there is no adequate law to prevent drug companies from reaping massive profits with drugs developed on the taxpayer's dime.\nI've repeatedly introduced legislation that would close this ridiculous loophole and end price-gouging on prescription drugs developed by taxpayer-funded research. Americans should not pay to develop a drug only to see it put on the shelves in the U.S. at a much higher price than other nations.\nI will continue to push for this and other commonsense legislation to help put an end to the worst abuses of pharmaceutical companies and drive drug prices down for Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-democratic-senators-request-update-on-federal-steps-towards-critical-medical-marijuana-research", "Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Senators Request Update on Federal Steps Towards Critical Medical Marijuana Research", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 12, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden, Democratic Senators Request Update on Federal Steps Towards Critical Medical Marijuana Research \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Agencies said they would begin to issue manufacturing licenses for research in 2016, delayed, and made a similar announcement again in 2019\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined six of their Democratic colleagues today in writing to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), to request an update on the issuance of manufacturing licenses necessary for the completion of long-awaited federal research on medical marijuana.\r\nThe senators seek guidance on how the DEA will make these licenses available to qualified researchers in a timely manner, given that the federal government has a unique responsibility to coordinate medical marijuana research effortsand has delayed issuing these licenses in the past. The lack of federal action has made it nearly impossible for scientists to conduct new research on marijuana, despite the growing use of medical and recreational marijuana in Oregon and across the nation.\r\nWith millions of American adults having access to recreational marijuana and a growing number seeking the drug for medicinal purposes, the federal government is not providing the necessary leadership and tools in this developing field, wrote the Senators. Evidence-based public policy is crucial to ensuring our marijuana laws best serve patients and health care providers.\r\nThis research is crucial to developing a thorough understanding of medical marijuana and would be invaluable to doctors, patients, and lawmakers across the nation, they continued.\r\nThe lawmakers have requested responses no later than January 10, 2019, to better understand both the DEA's decision-making and its work with HHS and ONDCP to expand medical marijuana research.\r\nSenators Merkley and Wyden were joined by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).\r\nA copy of the letter can be found here\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-bill-to-improve-water-quality-and-services-for-western-tribes", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Western Tribes", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 12, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Improve Water Quality and Services for Western Tribes \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to improve water quality and services for tribal communities in Oregon.\r\nNative American tribes in Oregon and across the West are suffering from inadequate water infrastructure, with aging drinking water treatment and distribution systems subjecting these communities to serious problems such as failed pressure relief valves, burst pipes and unsafe drinking water. Wyden and Merkley's Western Tribal Water Infrastructure Act will help move these communities out of the cycle of temporary and emergency fixes to those problems by ensuring stable and reliable federal investments in water infrastructure projects.\r\nAccess to clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and yet, federal resources to help tribal governments in Oregon to fix damaged water systems are woefully lacking, Wyden said. The federal government must step up and do more to support these communities working to make permanent fixes and ensure water security needed for their long-term health and quality of life.\r\nAs the crisis on the Warm Springs Reservation illustrated, Native American communities in Oregon are facing serious water infrastructure challenges, said Merkley. We need to invest in replacing outdated pipe systems, to help ensure that tribal nations have reliable access to safe drinking water for years to come. This legislation provides a pathway to making those infrastructure upgrades happen, and I'm urging my colleagues to join us in fighting to get it across the finish line and signed into law.\r\nThis legislation would throw a lifeline to tribes like Warm Springs that are in dire need of water infrastructure improvements to serve their tribal membership, said Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Chairman Raymond Tsumpti.\r\nClimate change is threatening the water supply of many Oregon communities  even on the coast.Senator Wyden and Senator Merkley's bill would help Oregon tribes access funds to avert those challenges, said Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Chairman Dee Pigsley.\r\nThe legislation builds on steps taken by Congress to address the water crisis facing tribes. Most recently in the 2018 Water Resources and Development Act, Congress established the $20 million Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program for tribes located in the Upper Missouri River Basin and the Upper Rio Grande Basin.\r\nThe Tribal Water Infrastructure Act introduced today will:\r\n \r\nHelp Oregon tribes connect, expand or repair existing public water systems to improve water quality, water pressure or water services by ensuring tribes in the Columbia River Basin, and its adjacent coastal river basins, are eligible for the Indian Reservation Drinking Water Program;\r\n \r\n \r\nAuthorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fund up to 10 water improvement projects per year for tribes in the Columbia River Basin and its adjacent coastal river basins;\r\n \r\n \r\nRequire that at least one of the 10 authorized water improvement projects help Western Oregon tribal governments improve water infrastructure; and\r\n \r\n \r\nMake the Indian Reservation Drinking Water program permanent and increase its funding from $20 million per year to $30 million per year.\r\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-welcome-step-forward-for-secure-rural-schools-program-recreation-opportunities-and-wildfire-prevention-in-oregon_", "Wyden, Merkley Welcome Step Forward for Secure Rural Schools Program, Recreation Opportunities and Wildfire Prevention in Oregon", "2019-12-12", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 12, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Merkley Welcome Step Forward for Secure Rural Schools Program, Recreation Opportunities and Wildfire Prevention in Oregon   \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.  U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today welcomed passage of legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to ensure much-needed funding for rural counties, as well as legislation to boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County and strengthen wildfire prevention work in both of those regions. Both bills are now eligible to be considered by the full Senate.\r\nThe Committee passed S. 430, legislation introduced by Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Wyden, James Risch, R-Idaho, and Merkley to authorize the Secure Rural School Program for two years. The program expired at the end of FY2018. The Committee also passed an amendment, negotiated by Wyden, that ensures counties receive a ten percent increase in funding, efficient and timely appointments to Secure Rural School Resource Advisory Committees, and that no program funds are used for lobbying. The Committee also passed an amendment to allow Secure Rural School funds to support rural broadband projects.\r\nCongress desperately needs to extend this lifeline for rural communities in Oregon, Wyden said. A two-year extension will provide rural counties the resources they need now to support schools and roads, and it will also lay the groundwork to create a permanent solution  my bill to create an endowment fund to get these communities off the financial roller coaster once and for all.\r\nSecure Rural Schools payments provide a much-needed lifeline for critical services ranging from schools to roads to public safety, said Merkley. Our rural communities shouldn't be left in the dark about whether the federal funding they need for these vital services will be gone from one day to the next. That's why I'm pleased that the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted today to pass a two year extension of this program, and I'll be fighting to get this funding across the finish line and signed into law.\r\nThe Committee also passed the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act, legislation introduced by Wyden and Merkley that would create the Rogue Canyon Recreation Area and the Molalla Recreation Area, expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness Area, and prohibit destructive mining on pristine rivers in Southwestern Oregon. Provisions, negotiated by Wyden and based on local feedback, also passed that further strengthen wildfire mitigation by requiring the Bureau of Land Management to implement wildfire risk reduction plans for the recreation areas and consultation with the Oregon Governor's wildfire council to prepare studies and plans.\r\nThe ORE Act builds on our state's proud legacy to protect our special places for future generations, Wyden said. Importantly, this legislation will be a huge boost to outdoor recreation in Southwestern Oregon and in rural Clackamas County, while continuing and strengthening critical wildfire prevention and forest health efforts and helping local communities prepare for wildfire.\r\nThese areas are among Oregon's most breathtaking landscapes, Merkley said. Not only do they fuel a robust outdoor recreation economy, they also are part of who we are as Oregonians. This legislation emphasizes that it is our responsibility to protect these lands from degradation, increasingly intense wildfires, and other impacts so our greatest resource is available to future generations, and I'm looking forward to it coming to the floor for a full Senate vote.\r\nSouthwest Oregon's wild rivers are the heart and soul of our tourism and recreation economy, said Pam Marsh, Oregon House of Representative, District 5.They bring people from all over the world that spend money that ripples throughout our communities. Thank you to Senators Merkley and Wyden for stepping up to protect the Wild Rogue Wilderness and pass legislation to stop strip mines threatening the Smith and Illinois Rivers.\r\nOur business, the Motel Del Rogue, credits our iconic, majestic Rogue River for its name and rich history of housing fishermen, fisherwomen, rafters, kayakers, hunters, hikers, adventurers, tourists and all lovers of nature for generations, said Kevin and Constance Marr, Owners, Motel Del Rogue. The health of the river and surrounding lands is vital to our business, our family, our employees and their families, and by extension our entire local economy.\r\nMy business, South Coast Tours, depends on clean, healthy rivers and access to public lands, and my family and town care about these things too. For these reasons, I support the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act. I'm grateful that Senator Wyden is working to protect our wild rivers from the threat of strip mining, said Dave Lacey, owner of South Coast Tours, resident of Gold Beach.\r\nProtecting the Rogue River and its tributaries promotes not only the health of the ecosystem, but the health of the Southern Oregon economy.Tourism on the Rogue supports outfitters like us, but also restaurants, hotels, transportation services, and more.A healthy Rogue River means more jobs and more business growth for the region. Thanks to Senator Wyden for his efforts to protect the special lands and rivers in Rogue basin, said Kate Wollney, OARS Oregon Regional Manager\r\nThe rivers of the South Kalmiopsis are some of the most unique and special rivers in the world. I want to thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for working to protect these rivers as well as the famous Rogue and Molalla Rivers with the Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act. Without protections, development would degrade our lands, which would greatly impact our rivers, said Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company.\r\nAs the largest trade association of commercial fishing families on the west coast, we thank Senators Wyden and Merkley for working to protect the headwaters of Oregon's Wild and Scenic Illinois, Rogue and Smith Rivers, said Glen Spain, NW Regional Director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations (PCFFA).If we want salmon to continue to exist, we have to protect their home streams.These key salmon-producing rivers are no place for strip mines.\"\r\nFrom fishing to rafting and boating, to hiking and camping, our Rogue supports tourism and our economy, said Dave Strahan of Big Rock Sports. The lower Rogue is a huge community asset, contributing up to $30 million annually to the local economy. While some of the Rogue canyon is protected, most is not. We owe it to our children and grandchildren, and our economy, to expand the protection of this irreplaceable resource. Thanks to Senator Wyden and Merkley for their efforts to protect this special place. \r\nThe stretch of the Wild Rogue between Grave Creek and Foster Bar is something to hand down to our children and grandchildren. It is our local treasure  it is the lifeblood of so many of us  and it deserves our best efforts to protect it, said Alyssa WarrenWood, Owner, Rogue Infinity Outfitters.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392637", "Rep. Schrader Votes in Support of National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2020", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\r\nDecember 11th, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\nRep. Schrader Votes in Support of National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2020\r\nCongressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) voted for the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal Year 2020 Act today which included his amendment that creates retirement pay protections for service members who have suffered serious injuries after being involuntary called back to service. The overall defense package includes a pay raise for service members, provides key reforms for military housing and infrastructure improvements, phases out the Widow's Tax, finally deals with the military's sexual assault problem, and secures twelve weeks paid parental leave for civilian federal employees.\r\nWhile this bill still spends too much on a bloated military budget, it has some big wins for our servicemen and women, their families, and veterans back home in Oregon, said Rep. Schrader. It includes a 3.1 percent pay raise for our brave service members, improves the reporting and investigative procedures for sexual assault, domestic violence and harassment cases and authorizes key reforms and remedies for inferior base housing. It also sets parameters and boundaries for the executive branch with regard to its dealings with Russia, China, and North Korea. However, I am disappointed that language to repeal the outdated 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force was eliminated from the final version of this bill. After nearly two decades of war in the Middle East, it is high time for Congress to reassert our role in this incredibly important national conversation. I am hopeful under Chairman Smith's leadership that provisions to repeal this outdated AUMF will be included in next year's bill.\r\nAfter three years, Rep. Schrader's Recalled Veterans Protection Act (RVPA) amendment was included in the final version of the bill. This amendment creates retirement pay protections for service members who have suffered serious injuries after being involuntary called back to service. Congressman Schrader began this initiative after hearing from a constituent, Sergeant First Class Alan Certain who sustained injuries that rated him 100% service-connected disabled when he was involuntarily recalled after serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon his retirement in 2014, Certain should have begun to receive retirement pay. However, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has withheld his retirement checks until he returns the VSI amount in full. Rep. Schrader's RVPA amendment provides DOD with the authority to waive these repayments for veterans when they sustain a total service-related injury during involuntary recall.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392640", "Rep. Schrader Votes for Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\r\nDecember 11th, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\n  \r\nRep. Schrader Votes for Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) voted today in the House of Representatives for the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act. This bill will fill year-round labor needs for America's farms, streamline the H-2A program and offer earned legalization for certified agricultural workers.\r\nThe bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act is the product of a tremendous collaborative effort that represents the first real breakthrough for America's farm labor crisis in over six years. American agriculture is facing a labor crisis. A stable and legal workforce is desperately needed to ensure that our nation's farmers can continue to produce the best food and fiber in the world,said Rep. Schrader. This bill reforms the H2A programby reducing costs and bureaucracy for employers, improving working conditions and safeguards for farmworkers, andadvances the legalization of our nation's farmworkers and their families.This legislation is good for workers, good for farmers, and good for Oregon.\r\nThe Oregon Dairy Farmers Association, the trade association representing Oregon's dairy farmers since 1892, enthusiastically embraces the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and applauds the efforts of this Congress to address these complex issues, said the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association. This bill provides the framework for a much-needed workforce. A reliable and available workforce is imperative to every dairy regardless of number of cows in the milking herd. Every one of Oregon's 200+ multi-generational dairies works every day of the year to care for their cows and the environment. \r\n\"The nursery and greenhouse industry is facing a labor crisis, and Congress has failed repeatedly to solve the immigration issue, said Executive Director of the Oregon Association of Nurseries, Jeff Stone. As Oregon's largest sector of agriculture, the nursery and greenhouse industry support many aspects of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and we urge passage of the bill.\"\r\n\"More than one million immigrant farm workers who perform one of the toughest jobs producing our food will be relieved of their pervasive fear and have the opportunity to freely work, travel, rejoin loved ones, and live without uncertainty, said Reyna Lopez, President of Pineros Y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (Treeplantersand Farmworkers of the Northwest) Children of undocumented farm workers will no longer have to worry whether their moms and dads are coming home from work.Workers will return to join loved ones in their home countries for funerals and weddings, and other vital family reunions. We look forward to passing this legislation that honors the professional agricultural workers who feed all of America and much of the world.\"\r\nCongressman Schrader is an original cosponsor of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act and spoke on the House floor in support of this legislation. More information about the Farm Workforce Modernization Act can be found here. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-more-than-74-million-in-usda-funds-will-help-rural-oregon-save-on-energy-costs-2019", "Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs \n\t\n\t\t Financing program helps Oregonians shift toward renewables \n\t\n\t\n\tWednesday, December 11, 2019\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards totaling more than $7.4 million for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy infrastructure that will help lower their monthly energy costs.\r\nThe awards, which are allocated through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), will provide 15 grants to install solar array systems, one grant to upgrade greenhouse vents and siding, and a loan to install a biomass boiler.\r\n \r\nBusinesses across Oregon know that leaning into renewable energy sources can help them lower their energy costs and make their businesses more sustainable over the long run, said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Unfortunately, the upfront costs of making that switch often leaves rural businesses stuck with outdated energy infrastructure and higher monthly bills. I've made funding the REAP program one of my priorities in the appropriations process to help Oregonians make those investments, and I'm pleased that 17 businesses will receive that assistance this year.\r\nThese 17 rural Oregon companies are making green energy investments that will help them continue to create jobs and long-term savings for Oregonians, benefiting communities throughout the state, Wyden said. I congratulate each of them for their foresight that's earned them these federal renewable energy resources.\r\n \r\nThe full list of awards for Oregonians are as follows:\r\n \r\n7 Devils Brewing Co              $11,259      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nAshland Community Solar 1 LLC     $33,287      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nAstoria Cooperative              $47,824      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nBiodynamics LLC                $6,750,000   Install a biomass boiler\r\nBlue Line Farms, Inc.            $31,651      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nBrad R Graff                   $2,253      Upgrade Greenhouse Vents & Siding\r\nHillock's Solar LLC              $26,145      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nJ&S Speedy Mart, Inc.           $15,435      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nMid-Valley Farms, Inc.           $123,206     Installing a Solar Array System\r\nModern Building Systems, Inc.     $49,863      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nNW Bend Boats, LLC            $37,899      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nOR-Park Street Solar LLC         $39,089      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nStoller Vineyards, Inc.           $117,170     Installing a Solar Array System\r\nTimber Country Umpqua, LLC     $78,645      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nUmpqua Valley Millworks        $20,000       Installing a Solar Array System\r\nVazquez, Alberto              $24,001      Installing a Solar Array System\r\nOWR Community Solutions, Inc.   $20,000      Installing a Solar Array System\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-blumenauer-statement-new-nafta-trade-agreement", "Chairman Blumenauer Statement on New NAFTA Trade Agreement", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, today issued the following statement on the preliminary NAFTA 2.0 agreement secured by House Democrats.\n\nNAFTA has failed to live up to its promises for workers, and the NAFTA 2.0 agreement submitted to Congress by Trump was a mixed bag. This new agreement was a huge victory for Democrats, who insisted that radical change over old NAFTA be made and demanded that we set a new template for all future trade agreements.\n\nIn my role as Trade Subcommittee chair and member of Speaker Pelosi's working group tasked with taking on pharmaceuticals, major reforms to the biologics provisions was a top priority of mine. I am proud of the work we did to strip Trump's sweetheart deal for big pharma, which was defeated for the first time ever in a trade agreement by stripping out language that would have protected their patents. We were also able to secure a first-of-its-kind rapid-response labor enforcement mechanism, and provide new resources for enforcement of environmental protections.\n\nWhile this is no panacea, helping workers, the environment, and consumers have been Democratic priorities for decades. This agreement is a vast improvement over NAFTA and Trump's original agreement.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-blumenauer-statement-national-defense-authorization-act", "Congressman Blumenauer Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Senior Members of the Ways and Means Committee, today issued the following statement after voting against the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report.\n\nThis is the best NDAA bill in decades. Chairman Smith did a masterful job including many of our most valued priorities. There were many things to applaud, including paid family leave for all federal workers and my House-passed amendments to modify reporting requirements and promote climate resiliency at Department of Defense facilities. I've been committed for years to securing and protecting Special Immigrant Visas for thousands of Afghan and Iraqi allies, and it was extremely gratifying to see it included as well.\n\nHowever, this bill authorizes far too much money for defense spending. It irresponsibly allows for the proliferation of low-yield nuclear weaponry, does not reduce U.S. support for Saudi aggression in Yemen, and does not repeal language authorizing the 2002 AUMF. This bill also does not prohibit border wall construction, which is unacceptable.\n\nI applaud Chairman Smith for extracting as much as he possibly could out of this package, but it's not something I can in good conscience vote for. However, the direction we are heading is very encouraging, and clearly shows that Democratic leadership makes a difference.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-democrats-labor-secretary-scalia-uphold-protections-tipped-workers", "House Democrats to Labor Secretary Scalia: Uphold Protections for Tipped Workers", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, led by Chairman Robert C. Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41), House Democrats sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia condemning the Department's proposed changes to tip regulations that the Economic Policy Institute estimates could workers more than $700 million annually.\n\nFor nearly three decades, the Department of Labor enforced guidance, commonly referred to as the 80-20 rule, that prohibits employers from paying a tipped employee the tipped subminimum wage when the employee has spent more than 20 percent of their workweek performing related, non-tipped duties at work.\n\nThe Department's proposal would, in part, place no limitation on the amount of time a tipped employee can perform related, non-tipped activities and still be paid the tip subminimum wage. The Members note that even Department concedes that this proposal could cost jobs for non-tipped workers who would have their duties shifted to tipped workers, and cost tipped workers much-needed tip income.\n\nAs the Department concedes, without the safeguard of the 80-20 rule, tipped employees could lose tipped income by spending more of their time performing duties where they are not earning tips, while still receiving cash wages of less than minimum wage,' the Members wrote. While we believe the most protective standard for tipped workers is ensuring they are paid the full federal minimum wage for all hours worked, until Congress passes such a law,the Department should uphold its longstanding 80-20 rule to protect tipped workers.\n\nThe Members also note that, contrary to rulemaking requirements, the Department failed to include quantitative estimates of the impact of its proposed ruleechoing previous concerns about the Department's failure to publish relevant information about its proposed rules. In 2018, the Department withheld evidence showing a previously proposed tip rule would cut wages for tipped workers. Those actions are currently the subject of an investigation by the Office of Inspector General.\n\nRead the full text of the letter to Secretary Scalia here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/announcing-the-winner-of-rep-defazio-s-2019-congressional-app-challenge", "Announcing the Winner of Rep. DeFazios 2019 Congressional App Challenge", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In conjunction with Computer Science Education Week, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today announced the Oregon fourth district winner of the 2019 Congressional App ChallengeAjay Sridhar, a senior at Crescent Valley High School. Sridhar's app will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol.\nI'm impressed by Ajay's work, said DeFazio. Sparked by a real-life need, he developed an app that can help people navigate safely through any community. Ajay shows us one of the myriad of benefits computer science brings to our lives.\nInspired to find a solution for his sister's fear of walking home alone late at night, Sridhar designed an App called Cautios, to help protect people from potentially dangerous encounters. Cautios uses public data from the Oregon State Police Sex Offender Registry to track the location of level three sex offenders in relation to the user's real-time position. Another feature enables the user to press a help button when in danger that sends their exact location along with a message requesting help to select pre-set contacts. To view Sridhar's video explanation of his app, click here.\nStarted just three years ago, the Congressional App Challenge allows middle and high school students to compete against their peers by creating an application (also known as an app) for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or other devices. The Challenge is designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science. For more information on the App Challenge, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chairman-defazio-statement-from-hearing-on-federal-aviation", "Chairman DeFazio Statement from Hearing on Federal Aviation Administrations Oversight of the Boeing 737 MAX", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following are the opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio (OR-04) during today's hearing titled: The Boeing 737 MAX: Examining the Federal Aviation Administration's Oversight of the Aircraft's Certification.\nFAA Administrator Stephen Dickson will testify at this hearing, as well as a panel of whistleblowers and aviation safety experts who will be voicing their concerns about production pressures at Boeing and whether FAA ceded to Boeing's pressures.\nThis is the fifth hearing as part of a Committee investigation into two accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX airplane that killed 346 people. The accidents led to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft.\nThe Committee launched an investigation to ensure accountability, transparency in the certification process, and most importantly the safety of the traveling public. More information on the Committee's Boeing 737 Max Investigation can be found here. A live-stream of the hearing can be viewed here.\nA video of Chairman DeFazio's remarks as delivered can be found here.\n\n* * * * *\nChair DeFazio:\nThank you to our witnesses for being here today. This is the Committee's fifth hearing on the design, development and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX in response to two catastrophic crashes that claimed 346 lives in the span of five months.\nOnce again, I'd like to recognize the family members of those killed in these preventable crashes, some of whom are here today. Our thoughts are with you all. We are here to ensure that the lives of your family members were not lost in vain.\nYou can be sure this Committee will continue to be aggressive in our oversight efforts to determine what went so horribly wrong and why, and we will not rest until we have enacted legislation to prevent future unairworthy airplanes from slipping through the regulatory cracks and into airline service.\nIn November 2018, a few days after a powerful system running in the background of the 737 MAX called MCAS pushed Lion Air flight 610 into an unrecoverable dive, the FAA issued an emergency airworthiness directive that purported to inform pilots on how to respond to an erroneous activation of MCAS, while never actually mentioning that system by name. In fact, during the certification of the 737 MAX, Boeing actively pushed the FAA to remove references to MCAS from the flight crew operating manual, as revealed in the e-mails and instant messages from Boeing executive Mark Forkner, which Boeing initially failed to provide to the Committee. The FAA accepted Boeing's push, and Forkner went on to boast that he was Jedi mind-tricking other civil aviation regulators to adopt the FAA's faulty decision.\nBut perhaps most chillingly, we have learned that shortly after the issuance of the airworthiness directive, the FAA performed an analysis that concluded that, if left uncorrected, the MCAS design flaw in the 737 MAX could result in as many as 15 future fatal crashes over the life of the fleetand that was assuming that 99 out of 100 flight crews could comply with the airworthiness directive and successfully react to the cacophony of alarms and alerts recounted in the National Transportation Safety Board's report on the Lion Air tragedy within 10 seconds. Such an assumption, we know now, was tragically wrong.\nDespite its own calculations, the FAA rolled the dice on the safety of the traveling public and let the 737 MAX continue to fly until Boeing could overhaul its MCAS software. Tragically, the FAA's analysiswhich never saw the light of day beyond the closed doors of the FAA and Boeingwas correct. The next crash would occur just five months later, when Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 plummeted to earth in March 2019.\nUpdate on Investigation\nThe Committee's investigation into the two 737 MAX crashes was launched just days after the second accident in March, and we have received more than half a million pages of documents from Boeing, the FAA and other parties that my staff continues to analyze. And that doesn't even include numerous emails from the FAA that we have requested; we just received a large batch on Monday night in response to our April request. And others are yet to be provided.\nWe have interviewed or spoken with FAA employees and Boeing whistleblowers, among others. These documents, email and interviews are crucial to our investigation, which has uncovered a broken safety culture within Boeing and an FAA that was unknowing, unable or unwilling to step up, regulate, and provide appropriate oversight of Boeing. The FAA failed to ask the right questions and failed to adequately question the answers that agency staff received from Boeing.\nOur investigation has revealed that many of the FAA's own technical experts and safety inspectors believe FAA's management often sides with Boeing rather than standing up for the safety of the public. Mr. Dickson, I have read your testimony and appreciate the tenor and substance of your remarks. I commend your commitment to cultivating a just culture among FAA employeesand ensuring that they have the analysis and tools necessary to make the right decisions in the name of safety. But our investigation to date has established that FAA employees did not have the analysis and tools necessary to make the right decisions in the case of the 737 MAX. These safety specialists need your support. There is no imaginable situation in which they should be jammed or subjected to end-runs by Boeing to their managers. I expect you and your subordinates to back them up: to defend their reasonable decisions based on technical evidence and mandated compliance with FAA regulations in the interest of safety.\nBoeing made egregious errors, including the furtive implementation of MCAS while knowing it could present a catastrophic risk. The FAA also failed to do its job. It failed to provide the regulatory oversight necessary to ensure the safety of the flying public. The FAA trusted, but did not appropriately verify, key information and assumptions Boeing presented to the agency about the 737 MAX. And this was at a time when Boeing's own employees, as we learned at our last hearing, reported they perceived undue pressure from management.\nPurpose of Hearing\nWe are striving to understand what went wrong here and what we need to fix legislatively. Our goal is to prevent a future unsafe airplane design from slipping through the cracks and exposing millions of airline passengers to an unacceptable risk.\nIn that spirit, on our first panel, we will hear from FAA Administrator Steve Dickson and a member of the review panel that is assessing remedial changes to the 737 MAX design.\nMr. Dickson, I appreciate what I read in your testimony about your approach to improving safety. But, I will have some tough questions for you, and I hope to hear from you about what the FAA has identified as faults and failures in the certification of the 737 MAX and FAA processes generallyand what concrete steps you have taken to date to correct them. I also appreciate your commitment that the 737 MAX will not take flight again until youand your employees responsible for overseeing Boeing and certifying its MCAS overhaulare 100 percent confident in its safety.\nOn our second panel, we will hear from two former FAA and Boeing employees as well as two well-respected experts in the fields of aviation safety and human factors for their perspectives on the faulty design of this airplane.\nUndue Pressure\nOn our second panel we'll hear from an FAA whistleblower that Boeing applied undue pressure on FAA managers to overrule those managers' own safety engineers and experts on safety-critical matters. According to information provided to the Committee, FAA safety engineers determined that an uncontained engine failure on a 737 MAX could send shrapnel through the rudder control cables. And in a high-thrust, low-energy situation such as initial climb off the runwayor even during the takeoff rollthe pilots would likely lose control of the airplane. But the FAA dismissed this concern. We need to know why.\nChair Larsen and I wrote Administrator Dickson about this issue early last month, and on Friday afternoon we finally received a response. However, your response still doesn't explain how the unanimous judgment of more than a dozen FAA safety experts was overruled by a single manager. On what data was that manager relying? I am glad that one of our witnesses on the second panel was directly involved in the rudder cable issue while he was at FAA so we can get his straightforward perspective on this issue based on his nearly three decades of experience at the agency.\nPromotion of Industry\nIn 1996, I pushed to remove the FAA's statutory mandate to promote the civil aviation industry following the ValuJet flight 592 accident. That's why I'm particularly concerned this investigation has produced rumors that some people within the FAA either feel it's their role to facilitate the U.S. aviation industry's agenda, or feel pressure from outside or from above to do so.\nI want Administrator Dickson's absolute assurance today that he and Deputy Administrator Dan Elwell will clearly and frequently communicate to the FAA workforceand to the industrythat the work of every single FAA employee must be in the service of one and only one objective: preserving aviation safety.\nLet the industry promote itself. If it needs help in that effort, I'm sure the Commerce Department is happy to oblige. Your job, Administrator Dickson, is to regulate. The only thing you should be promoting is the highest possible level of safety.\nMillions of lives are at stake. We have to get this right. We will be changing the certification laws to ensure the 346 lives lost in Ethiopia and in the Java Sea were not lost in vain.\nI look forward to hearing from our witnesses about how we can accomplish that goal. Thank you.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-from-rep-peter-defazio-on-2019-national-defense-authorization", "Statement from Rep. Peter DeFazio on 2020 National Defense Authorization Act", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today released the following statement on his vote against the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019:\nToday I voted against the Conference Report to Accompany S.1790, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019.\nWhile this legislation includes a number of provisions that I strongly supportincluding the largest pay raise for servicemen and women since 2010, the establishment of twelve weeks paid parental leave for federal employees, and the termination of the unfair so-called Widow's Tax, which cuts spouse survivor benefitsthe bill is still a continuation of the status quo and falls far short of the more progressive bill the House passed earlier this year.\nThe House-passed version of the NDAA included provisions that would have curtailed President Trump's war-making powers and prevented him from using unauthorized force in Iran, prohibited U.S. support for and participation in the Saudi-led coalition's military operations in Yemen, and repealed the 9/11-era authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) in Iraq.\nFurthermore, the previous version of the bill included an amendment that would have required the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances(PFAS) as a hazardous substance and would restrict discharges into drinking water.\nBeyond the loss of these important provisions, this final package includes yet another massive spending increase to an already bloated Pentagon budget. I have long supported a financial audit of the Pentagon, and for the second year in a row, the Pentagon has spectacularly failed its comprehensive audit. It is ridiculous to provide the Department of Defense (DoD) another massive spending increase when they cannot even account for how it spends taxpayer money.\nI believe this legislation could have made responsible cuts to our defense budget without jeopardizing the safety of our troops or undermining our national security. For years, Congress has continued to increase the Pentagon's budget despite overwhelming evidence of its waste and abuse of taxpayer money. While this administration has cut SNAP benefits, Medicaid, reproductive health services, and more, Congress has thus far boosted the Pentagon's budget by more than $130 billion during President Trump's first term.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-approval-oregon-water-project-funding", "Greg Walden Statement on Approval of Oregon Water Project Funding", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced they approved funding for multiple Oregon water projects.Last year, Walden led the effort modernize America's critical water infrastructure, passing into law the Drinking Water System Improvement Act which authorizes over $4 billion in funding to improve drinking water systems nationwide through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF). The EPA will provide $35 million to support safe drinking water projects, and another $190 million will help improve wastewater and irrigated agriculture infrastructure, and address pollution.\nMany rural communities across Oregon struggle with failing water infrastructure and limited funding, said Walden. These communities rely on funding from DWSRF to provide the resources necessary to complete clean water projects. These investments allow us to update our aging drinking water infrastructure to ensure they can operate well into the future. Having led the effort to modernize the DWSRF last year, I appreciate the Trump Administration and the EPA for recognizing the need to improve Oregon's drinking water infrastructure, and approving funding for these important projects across our state. Funding from the DWSRF will support water projects throughout the state and Second District, including $2.1 million going towards the Crystal Springs/Odell Water Company consolidation project in the Hood River Valley and $9.3 million for the City of Lakeview's water system improvements project. You can find a full list DWSRF funded projects here.\nIn addition to the projects funded by DWSRF, EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) will provide funding for multiple other Oregon water projects including $10.5 million to Baker City to help design and construct a new wastewater treatment facility, $10 million to Bend to build Bend Septic Solutions that will improve the local sewage system, and $38.8 million to Klamath Falls to design and build the Spring Street Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade that will protect aquatic life andimprove water quality.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-more-than-74-million-in-usda-funds-will-help-rural-oregon-save-on-energy-costs", "Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 11, 2019\n\t\t\t Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Financing program helps Oregonians shift toward renewables\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Washington, D.C.  Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awards totaling more than $7.4 million for Oregon agricultural producers and rural small businesses to invest in renewable energy infrastructure that will help lower their monthly energy costs.\r\nThe awards, which are allocated through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), will provide 15 grants to install solar array systems, one grant to upgrade greenhouse vents and siding, and a loan to install a biomass boiler.\r\nBusinesses across Oregon know that leaning into renewable energy sources can help them lower their energy costs and make their businesses more sustainable over the long run, said Merkley, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Rural Development. Unfortunately, the upfront costs of making that switch often leaves rural businesses stuck with outdated energy infrastructure and higher monthly bills. I've made funding the REAP program one of my priorities in the appropriations process to help Oregonians make those investments, and I'm pleased that 17 businesses will receive that assistance this year.\r\nThese 17 rural Oregon companies are making green energy investments that will help them continue to create jobs and long-term savings for Oregonians, benefiting communities throughout the state, Wyden said. I congratulate each of them for their foresight that's earned them these federal renewable energy resources.\r\nThe full list of awards for Oregonians are as follows:\r\n \r\n7 Devils Brewing Co  $11,259  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nAshland Community Solar 1 LLC  $33,287  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nAstoria Cooperative$47,824  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nBiodynamics LLC  $6,750,000 Install a biomass boiler\r\nBlue Line Farms, Inc.  $31,651  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nBrad R Graff  $2,253  Upgrade Greenhouse Vents & Siding\r\nHillock's Solar LLC   $26,145  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nJ&S Speedy Mart, Inc. $15,435  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nMid-Valley Farms, Inc.  $123,206  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nModern Building Systems, Inc.  $49,863  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nNW Bend Boats, LLC  $37,899   Installing a Solar Array System\r\nOR-Park Street Solar LLC  $39,089   Installing a Solar Array System\r\nStoller Vineyards, Inc.  $117,170   Installing a Solar Array System\r\nTimber Country Umpqua, LLC  $78,645   Installing a Solar Array System\r\nUmpqua Valley Millworks  $20,000  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nVazquez, Alberto  $24,001  Installing a Solar Array System\r\nOWR Community Solutions, Inc.  $20,000  Installing a Solar Array System\r\n \r\n###\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-grassley-introduce-bill-to-help-youth-aging-out-of-foster-care-system", "Wyden, Grassley Introduce Bill to Help Youth Aging Out of Foster Care System", "2019-12-11", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 11, 2019\n\t\t\t Wyden, Grassley Introduce Bill to Help Youth Aging Out of Foster Care System \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington  Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced the Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act, bipartisan legislation to improve services for older youth aging out of the foster care system.\r\nThe Increasing Opportunities for Former Foster Youth Act builds on the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program, created by Sen. John Chafee (R-R.I.) in 1999 to better support youth who age out of the foster care system at the age of 18. The program provides financial support for youth who are transitioning to adulthood with the goal of helping them become successful adults. Wyden and Grassley helped expand the program in 2008 through the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, and again in 2018 through the Family First Prevention Services Act, which allows states to provide foster care services to youth through the age of 23.\r\nThere's no magic age at which young people suddenly turn into adults, fully capable of taking care of their needs without support. The Chafee program was created to address that reality for youth in foster care who often age out' of the system and are left to navigate the transition to adulthood on their own. Wyden said. This bill will help build and expand programs that successfully support young people aging out of foster care, giving them solid footing for a successful future.\r\nThe 20,000 kids who age out of foster care each year need support to get an education, find a job, secure housing and do everything else it takes to succeed as an adult, Grassley said. There are innovative programs across the country seeking to help these youth. It's important to evaluate those programs to ensure that they are effective in improving outcomes. This bill would create a pipeline of programs with proven results to ensure that the needs of older youth in foster care are being met. \r\nThe legislation introduced today would establish innovation grants within the Chafee program to help identify and evaluate programs that are most successful in serving youth aging out of care. This legislation would award grants to evaluate programs for older foster youth at three levels:\r\n \r\nDevelopment: Programs with preliminary evidence of the potential for positive impacts;\r\nValidation: Programs with at least one quasi-experimental study showing positive results;\r\nReplication: Programs with at least one experimental study demonstrating positive results.\r\n \r\nThe cost of the grants is paid for through measures that improve child support collections and increase resources for families owed child support. These provisions include helping states locate those who owe child support by requiring reporting of basic information on independent contractors, allowing the Department of Health and Human Services to transmit requests directly to financial institutions at the request of a state, and reducing the burden on small banks by allowing them to use an existing multi-state system used today by larger banks to identify those who owe child support.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=392635", "Rep. Schrader Issues Statement on the Introduction of Articles of Impeachment", "2019-12-10", "2019", "2019-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\r\nDecember 10, 2019\r\nContact: Larkin Parker, 202-225-5711\r\n  \r\nStatement on the Introduction of Articles of Impeachment \r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) issued the following statement after the introduction of the Articles of Impeachment: \r\n\r\nAfter solemn deliberation, reading the documents relevant to the impeachment inquiry and closely following the hearings, I will be supporting the two articles of impeachment for the President of the United States. President Trump's conduct in his interactions with the President of Ukraine were illegal and he obstructed justice by refusing to cooperate with Congressional investigations. \r\nPresident Trump released a transcript of his call on July 25th, 2019 with the newly elected Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky. The call transcript revealed Trump asking President Zelensky for a favor that would directly benefit him in an American political election. That is illegal. The details of the call and his actions for his own political benefit were corroborated by numerous Administration officials, both career and recent political appointees. In the process of asking for this favor, the President also directly engaged in political election discussion while conducting official business, which is also illegal. All elected officials, including the President and myself, must abide by election laws and keep our political election discussions separate from our official role as public servants. \r\nNo President, Republican, or Democrat has so completely defied lawfully issued subpoenas by Congress in its constitutional duty as President Trump. Our Founders put Congress, not the President, in charge of this country. \r\nI feel these actions put our country, the United States of America, at great risk and therefore warrant the President's impeachment at this time. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1490, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "OR", "p2": "2019"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1358, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 132, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1490, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "OR", "label": "OR", "count": 1490, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2019", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019", "results": [{"value": "2019", "label": "2019", "count": 1490, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2019-12-10,http~3A~2F~2Fschrader~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D392635", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=OR&year=2019&_next=2019-12-10%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fschrader~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D392635&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 371.59061105921865, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}