{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"OR\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-merkley-announce-federal-investment-of-more-than-1-million-in-habitat-for-humanity-in-tillamook-county", "Wyden and Merkley Announce Federal Investment of More Than $1 Million in Habitat for Humanity in Tillamook County", "2023-12-28", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Federal loan will help Habitat open ReStore retail operations in Tillamook County\n\nWashington D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of more than $1.1 million for Habitat for Humanity in Tillamook to secure space for its retail operations and administrative offices.\n\n\u201cIn my town halls in Tillamook County and throughout the state, I hear from Oregon families and businesses that housing poses a huge challenge,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cHousing is a human right, and Habitat for Humanity has been on the frontline providing much-needed homes for Oregonians struggling to afford a roof over their heads. This investment will allow Habitat for Humanity to continue serving the citizens of Tillamook County for years to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cEveryone should have a safe, affordable place to call home. This federal investment heading to Habitat for Humanity in Tillamook County will help more rural Oregonians access quality housing,\u201d said Sen. Merkley, who formerly led one of Habitat for Humanity's Oregon chapters. \u201cI have seen firsthand the difference that accessible homeownership makes for families and the inspiring dedication of Habitat's staff and volunteers, who are working to realize a world where everyone has a decent home in a decent community.\u201d\n\nThe $1.13 million Rural Development loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be used to buy an 8,625-square-foot commercial facility for Habitat for Humanity of Tillamook County's ReStore's retail operations and the organization's administrative offices.\n\nHabitat for Humanity works with families, local communities, volunteers and partners to enable more people to live in affordable and safe homes. Its advocacy focuses on policy reform to remove systemic barriers preventing low-income and historically underserved families from having access to adequate, affordable shelter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-wyden-merkley-bonamici-colleagues-call-expanded-funding-community", "Salinas, Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Colleagues Call for Expanded Funding for Community Health Centers", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 On Wednesday, December 20, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), along with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), on a bipartisan letter urging the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide more access to federal resources for community healthcare centers.\n\n\u201cFederally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes fill critical gaps in our health care system and ensure more Americans can get the care they need, regardless of income or insurance status,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cWe need to give these health centers access to federal funding, so that they can better serve communities in Oregon and across the country. I join my colleagues in calling on HRSA to make it easier for FQHC Look-Alikes to get the support and resources they deserve.\u201d\n\nCurrently, there are 136 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alikes in Oregon and across the nation that provide services to over 1 million patients, but still don\u2019t receive federal resources they should be eligible for. FQHC Look-Alikes are organizations that meet all of the eligibility requirements of an FQHC that receives a Public Health Service Section 330 grant, but do not receive grant funding.\n\n\u201cThese community-based health care providers are already serving populations that may not otherwise be able to access care, and hope to expand the reach of their services to more people,\u201d the legislators said.\n\n\u201cHRSA should be leveraging the network of existing FQHC Look-Alikes. By prioritizing Look-Alikes that already comply with Health Center Program requirements over brand new sites, HRSA will ensure that federal dollars are being allocated to health centers with a proven track record of success that hope to expand the universe of patients they can serve and expand the care they are able to offer.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Sen. Wyden and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). Along with Salinas, Wyden, Merkley, and Bonamici, the letter also was co-signed in the Senate by the U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and in the House by U.S. Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif).\n\nThe text of the letter is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-22-million-for-rural-school-hybrid-program", "Wyden, Merkley Announce $2.2 Million for Rural School Hybrid Program", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $2.2 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development Program for Chemeketa Community College.\n\n\u201cStudents of all backgrounds deserve a fair shot at a solid education,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis funding is the perfect example of how to expand opportunitiesfor folks in rural Oregon and across the nation, and I applaud Chemeketa Community College for receiving this grant.\u201d\n\n\u201cHigher education helps connect students with resources, opportunities, and tools to thrive, building stronger communities, economies, and futures in Oregon,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cAs the first in my family to graduate from college, I know how challenging it can be to access higher education\u2014especially for those coming from underrepresented and underserved backgrounds. This incredibly important funding for Chemeketa Community College will help provide crucial support and opportunities, opening doors for Oregon\u2019s rural students\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled to receive this grant for the 'Chemeketa College-going Access and Regional Equity for Students (CARES)' project. This funding will empower us to expand educational opportunities for rural high school students, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure a brighter future for our region,\" said Jessica Howard, Ph.D., President and CEO of Chemeketa Community College.\n\nThe $2.2 million federal grant will support the Chemeketa College-going Access and Regional Equity for Students (CARES) program. The program expands career and technical education dual credit courses, develops hybrid CTE and combined school enrollment models, and provides teachers with effective technology and professional development opportunities.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act-passes-senate-will-become-law", "Salinas Bill to Amend Grand Ronde Reservation Act Passes Senate, Will Become Law", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced her legislation with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which restores the right to pursue land claims and compensation for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, has cleared both chambers of Congress. The legislation now heads to President Biden to be signed into law.\n\nThe bill was first introduced by Rep. Salinas in March as her first piece of legislation, and she ensured it passed the U.S. House of Representatives early last month. Senator Merkley has long championed the bill with success in the Senate, where it passed this week with unanimous support. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).\n\n\u201cI am deeply proud that my amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act has passed the Senate and will soon become law. This is a historic moment not only for the Grand Ronde Tribe, but for Indigenous peoples in Oregon and across the country,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cAt long last, the Grand Ronde Tribe will finally have the right to pursue land claims and compensation once again. I am so grateful to Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and everyone who helped get this important legislation across the finish line, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law in the coming days.\u201d\n\n\u201cA gross injustice against the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde is finally ending, and a new chapter of healing and justice for the Tribal community can begin,\u201d said Sen. Merkley. \u201cNearly three decades ago, the Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe\u2019s rights to future land claims and compensation. I\u2019ve long championed legislation to correct this egregious injustice. With the strong partnership of Representative Salinas, it is finally becoming a law that will ensure the Grand Ronde has the legal ability to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon\u2014rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cWords cannot express what this means to us and the pure joy I had hearing the news,\u201d said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cThis amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act is about correcting a historical wrong and restoring equity to the Tribe. We will forever be grateful to all those that worked to make this possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the Grand Ronde have been unjustly denied the right to pursue land claims and compensation,\u201d said Governor Kotek. \u201cWe have to do better for all of Oregon\u2019s sovereign Tribes. The enactment of this legislation will alleviate concerns and uncertainties stemming from the 1994 amendment, preserving the Tribe's pre-1994 right to compensation and ensuring a clear and just resolution in the event of any future land survey discrepancies. I am greatly appreciative of Oregon\u2019s federal delegation in leading on this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law by President Biden.\u201d\n\nSalinas and Merkley\u2019s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act corrects a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered.\n\nSalinas and Merkley\u2019s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase \u201clands within the State of Oregon\u201d with the phrase \u201cthe 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,\u201d clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip.\n\n\u201cI applaud and was pleased to strongly support this legislation correcting an injustice for the Grand Ronde Tribe,\u201d said Sen. Wyden. \u201cAs a nation we must address past mistakes. I will fight for every Oregon Tribe to ensure the federal government is fully and equitably honoring its obligations and responsibilities to them.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-crapo-applaud-senate-passage-of-legislation-honoring-medal-of-honor-recipients", "Wyden, Crapo Applaud Senate Passage of Legislation Honoring Medal of Honor Recipients", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The bipartisan bill would designate the longest U.S. highway as the \u201cNational Medal of Honor Highway\u201d\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho today applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation designating U.S. Highway 20 between Newport, Ore. and New England as the \u201cNational Medal of Honor Highway.\u201d\n\n\"It's an honor to have worked closely with veterans in Oregon and nationwide in the grassroots movement to designate our country's longest continuous highway, stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic, as the \u2018National Medal of Honor Highway,\u2019\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud that my bill to officially recognize U.S. Highway 20 as the \u2018National Medal of Honor Highway\u2019 has passed the Senate. This bill is more than a symbolic gesture\u2014it's a timeless tribute to the heroes of America. I am steadfast in my commitment to relentlessly champion this cause alongside our veterans, and I\u2019ll keep fighting tooth and nail to get this bill signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Medal of Honor represents the determination and courage of those who acted far beyond the call of duty. I look forward to the enactment of law cementing this national designation to honor each of them across these 400 miles,\u201d Crapo said.\n\nThe Medal of Honor is the nation\u2019s highest military award for valor, presented by the president in Congress\u2019 name. U.S. service members who distinguish themselves \u201cthrough conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty\u201d can receive the medal.\n\nRedesignating U.S. Highway 20\u2014 the longest continuous highway in the United States\u2014 as the \u201cNational Medal of Honor Highway\u201d would honor each state\u2019s current and future Medal of Honor recipients and recipients from any state who travel on it.\n\nLegislatures and governors in all 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 have designated their state Medal of Honor Highways covering 100 percent of the 3,365-mile Medal of Honor Highway across America. The 12 states along U.S. Highway 20 account for about 62 percent of all 3,516 Medal of Honor awards presented since the Civil War. Designating U.S. Highway 20 as the \u201cNational Medal of Honor Highway'' would ensure all 3,516 recipients and any future recipients from all 50 states and territories are honored.\n\nU.S. Senators Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Mike Braun, R-Ind., James Risch, R-Idaho, Chuck Schumer, D- N.Y., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Todd Young, R-Ind., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Deb Fischer, R-Neb., J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., cosponsored the Senate version of the bill. U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Brian Higgins, D-N.Y. led similar legislation in the House of Representatives.\n\nThe legislation is supported by the Bend Heroes Foundation, Military Officers Association of America, The American Legion, Legion of Valor, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.\n\nDick Tobiason, LTC US Army Retired, Chairman, Bend Heroes Foundation: \u201cAs the Bend Heroes Foundation\u2019s project manager of the Medal of Honor Highway Across America on US Hwy 20, I thank Senators Ron Wyden and Mike Crapo for their outstanding leadership resulting in today\u2019s Senate passage of the National Medal of Honor Highway designation. I\u2019m proud the project was launched in Oregon. And I also thank the national veterans groups who supported the Bend Heroes Foundation\u2019s request \u2013 American Legion, Legion of Valor, Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Medal of Honor Historical Society of the United States and Vietnam Veterans of America.\u201d\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-colleagues-call-for-expanded-funding-for-community-health-centers", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas, Colleagues call for Expanded Funding for Community Health Centers", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas, joined bipartisan colleagues today to urge the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide more access to federal resources for community healthcare centers.\n\nCurrently, there are 136 Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alikes in Oregon and across the nation that provide services to over 1 million patients, but still don\u2019t receive federal resources they should be eligible for. FQHC Look-Alikes are organizations that meet all of the eligibility requirements of an FQHC that receives a Public Health Service Section 330 grant, but do not receive grant funding.\n\n\u201cThese community-based health care providers are already serving populations that may not otherwise be able to access care, and hope to expand the reach of their services to more people,\u201d the legislators said.\n\n\u201cHRSA should be leveraging the network of existing FQHC Look-Alikes. By prioritizing Look-Alikes that already comply with Health Center Program requirements over brand new sites, HRSA will ensure that federal dollars are being allocated to health centers with a proven track record of success that hope to expand the universe of patients they can serve and expand the care they are able to offer.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Senator Wyden and U.S. Representative Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.). Along with Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici and Salinas, the letter also was co-signed in the Senate by the U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and in the House by Representatives Ken Calvert (R-Calif), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Young Kim (R-Calif.) and Katie Porter (D-Calif).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-urges-federal-trade-commission-to-block-kroger-albertsons-merger", "Wyden Urges Federal Trade Commission to Block Kroger-Albertsons Merger", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to block the proposed Kroger and Albertsons merger due to potential negative effects on consumers in Oregon and nationwide.\n\n\u201cSpecifically, I am concerned that the proposed merger, if approved, will result in fewer pharmacy options for Oregonians, fewer economic opportunities for Oregon\u2019s small farmers, and harm to Oregon\u2019s workers and consumers,\u201d Wyden wrote in the letter to FTC Chair Lina Khan. \u201cThe Oregon Health Authority undertook a preliminary review of the impact of the proposed merger on health care and found that the proposed merger would result in a harmful concentration of retail pharmacies in the state.\u201d\n\nIn the letter, Wyden also emphasized this merger would put Oregonians' privacy at risk due to Kroger\u2019s policies for sharing patient information with law enforcement without warrants.\n\n\u201cAs part of a recent inquiry I conducted into major pharmacy chains\u2019 privacy practices, I learned that Kroger provides pharmacy records to law enforcement officials without a warrant or any internal review by a legal professional. This finding places Kroger behind the majority of its peer chain pharmacies in terms of its commitment to safeguarding patient privacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cLess than a decade ago, Albertsons-Safeway proposed a similar divestiture only to buy back many of the divested stores two years later and watch the rest go out of business. I urge the FTC to use the Albertsons-Safeway outcome as a guide to the Commission as it considers possible outcomes of this proposed merger,\u201d Wyden continued.\n\nThe Kroger-Albertsons merger threatens to make the consolidation crisis in the retail food market worse, following on large deals like the Albertsons-Safeway merger in 2015, as well as the expansion of mega-retailers across the country that have driven independent grocers out of business.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-begins-2024-with-seven-town-halls-in-central-and-eastern-oregon", "Wyden Begins 2024 With Seven Town Halls in Central & Eastern Oregon", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Portland \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will begin his 2024 town hall schedule with seven in-person town halls the first week of January in Jefferson, Sherman, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Baker and Malheur counties.\n\nHeading into these initial town halls of the new year, Wyden has held a total of 1,065 town halls throughout Oregon in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon\u2019s 36 counties.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m very much looking forward to starting 2024 with these open-to-all town halls in the ongoing spirit of the \u2018Oregon Way\u2019 where anybody can ask questions, share opinions and suggest ideas,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cHeading into a new congressional year, these open-to-all town halls are especially timely because Oregonians in these counties can help shape legislative priorities for the next 12 months and beyond.\u201d\n\nThe schedule for the upcoming town halls is as follows:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-gonzalez-colon-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-remove-marine-debris", "Bonamici, Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Remove Marine Debris", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/15/23] \u2013Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n (R-Puerto Rico), Co-Chairs of the House Oceans Caucus, introduced legislation to help remove marine debris from the ocean and waterways.\n\nH.R. 6781 would reauthorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Marine Debris Program through 2028. The representatives introduced the bill ahead of the third anniversary of the bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation passed by Congress to address marine debris and strengthen NOAA\u2019s Marine Debris Program. Bonamici led the original bill with the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK).\n\n\u201cMarine debris threatens coastal communities, ecosystems, and marine life,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cCongress acted to strengthen NOAA\u2019s Marine Debris Program to better respond to the plastics, derelict vessels and fishing gear, and other harmful debris that litters the ocean\u2019s waters and shores. This legislation will build on that success to continue protecting the ocean and communities into the future. I\u2019m grateful to partner with my Oceans Caucus Co-Chair Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n in this important effort.\u201d\n\n\u201cNOAA\u2019s Marine Debris Program provides critical resources to address and mitigate the adverse impacts of marine debris in our ocean and coastal environments,\u201d said Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n. \u201cIn Puerto Rico, for example, it has supported initiatives to research and monitor the sources of marine debris within our watersheds, as well as multiple projects to help remove abandoned vessels, derelict fishing gear, and hurricane-generated debris throughout our coasts and waters. I\u2019m proud to join my fellow House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, to introduce bipartisan legislation to reauthorize NOAA\u2019s Marine Debris Program and ensure it can continue supporting state, territorial, and local efforts to comprehensively tackle this issue.\u201d\n\nThe text of the legislation can be viewed here.\n\nSenators Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the Senate companion bill.\n\nBonamici and Gonz\u00e1lez-Col\u00f3n co-chair the House Oceans Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members committed to protecting the health and future of the ocean. This Congress, the Caucus has been focused on environmental stressors (including ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms, and hypoxia); marine debris; ocean data and monitoring; coastal resiliency; deep sea mining; and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/oregon-officials-statements-on-600-million-federal-award-for-interstate-bridge-replacement-project", "Oregon Officials\u2019 Statements on $600 Million Federal Award for Interstate Bridge Replacement Project", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Wyden, Merkley, Kotek, Blumenauer, Bonamici and ODOT Director assess impact of funding for I-5 bridge\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici as well as the Oregon Department of Transportation issued the following statements about today\u2019s $600 million award from the U.S. Department of Transportation to the Interstate-5 Bridge replacement project.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s $600 million down payment on the federal investment needed for the Interstate Bridge is good news for freight traffic in Oregon and throughout the Northwest as well as helpful for commuters,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cJobs and the Oregon economy are big winners with a modern interstate bridge. I\u2019m all with seeing this vital project through to completion with the ongoing help of federal tax dollars and without any new tolling costs landing on Oregon motorists, many of whom are already battling to make ends meet. I also look forward to pressing ahead to pursue all available options to secure the federal investment needed for the Port of Coos Bay to achieve its innovative container terminal project, which has the power to change the economic future of the South Coast and our entire state.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat a historic day! The I-5 Bridge Replacement Project receiving a $600 million USDOT Mega Grant is not only a game changer for Oregonians who will soon have expanded transportation options to cross the Columbia River, but a huge win for our economy as the project will generate many good-paying union jobs,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis federal funding secured through the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the result of intense bipartisan teamwork, and a huge step forward to realize a long-sought project that will boost seismic resiliency in the region and ensure safer, faster, and more reliable transportation for generations to come. I\u2019ll also keep fighting for Coos Bay\u2019s transformative container port project, which would be a huge win for the region and the nation.\u201d\n\n\"This is a big moment for the Pacific Northwest and demonstrates the national significance of this effort,\u201d Kotek said. \u201cReplacing the Interstate Bridge is a critical infrastructure investment for our local communities, two states, and the entire West Coast. This project will help advance our goal of reducing emissions through a modern, multimodal bridge and will provide an infusion of federal funds to our region that will support local jobs and broader workforce opportunities.\"\n\n\u201cThis investment would not have happened without President Biden and Congressional Democrats\u2019 strong commitment to rebuilding and renewing America,\u201d Blumenauer said. \u201cThe I-5 bridge is a critical link for people and commerce and must be replaced to withstand a significant earthquake. It gets us a step closer to connecting Portland and Vancouver with light rail and safe pedestrian and cycling lanes \u2013 investments that will make a real difference for our climate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Interstate Bridge is an integral part of our regional economy and connects communities across the Columbia River,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cI have long advocated for federal resources to update this bridge so it can provide a safe connection for commuters and transit well into the future. This funding is great news for the people of NW Oregon and our entire region.\u201d\n\nThe $600 million for the Interstate Bridge project will go toward a seismically resilient replacement of the I-5 bridge over the Columbia River, connecting Vancouver, Washington to Portland, Oregon. The new bridge will include transit improvements such as additional light-rail transit service, enhanced zero-emission express bus service, and the expansion of active transportation networks.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-committee-advances-two-wyden-bills-key-to-oregons-future", "Senate Committee Advances Two Wyden Bills Key to Oregon\u2019s Future", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "One bill benefits Owyhee in Eastern Oregon; other bill reauthorizes signature Wyden legislation that\u2019s secured nearly $4 billion for counties statewide\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement applauding the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee for advancing his Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act (CEO Act) and his Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023:\n\n\u201cThe ENR Committee has advanced two of my bills key to Oregon\u2019s future.\n\n\u201cThe Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act preserves both a treasured way of life and a treasured landscape. The bill helps our state\u2019s ranchers and the small businesses in Eastern Oregon who call this breath-taking and nationally recognized area home. This legislation is the product of years of hard work with Malheur County ranchers, Tribes, conservationists and recreation lovers who all came together to develop what I believe should be a framework for conservation nationwide. It encapsulates a shared vision that leaves Eastern Oregon in effect as the CEO of one of America\u2019s most spectacular landscapes.\n\n\u201cThe Secure Rural Schools program has proven a vital lifeline for rural counties in Oregon and nationwide, but lapses in Congressional action leave counties dangling on an annual fiscal cliff. Reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is critical and necessary to support education, road maintenance, forest and watershed health, fire prevention, search and rescue, and other essential services in rural communities.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s action brings my two bills closer to full Senate consideration. I applaud my colleagues on the ENR committee for their partnership and hard work to get us here.\u201d\n\nThe Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act would preserve the Owyhee and introduce more flexibility into the established grazing management system. The legislation is informed by Eastern Oregon ranchers, tribes and environmental organizations convened by Wyden.\n\nThe Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023 would continue investment in rural communities across Oregon and the nation for essential services such as education, road maintenance, search and rescue, wildfire prevention and watershed restoration. Since Wyden first authored the program in 2000, Secure Rural Schools has provided nearly $4 billion to Oregon counties. To preserve this vital lifeline for rural communities, Secure Rural Schools must be reauthorized in fiscal year 2024.\n\nBoth bills now move to the full Senate for consideration.\n\nWatch a video of Wyden\u2019s remarks here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-end-voter-suppression-by-unreasonably-long-lines", "Wyden and Merkley Introduce Legislation to End Voter Suppression by Unreasonably Long Lines", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "POLL Act Ends Long Lines and Ensures Every Voter Can Cast a Ballot in 30 Minutes\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today introduced legislation that would end hours-long lines at polling places that suppress hundreds of thousands of votes, and restore Americans\u2019 constitutional rights to vote in free and fair elections.\n\n\u201cOregonians are fortunate to have the option to vote at home, but many other voters nationwide lack that opportunity and shouldn\u2019t be effectively cut off from the ballot box by lines that leave them on their feet for hours on end. Everyone has a right to make their voice count in our democracy,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cMaking voting easy shouldn\u2019t be a partisan issue. It\u2019s time to pass the POLL Act to end lengthy lines and empower voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box.\u201d\n\n\u201cForcing people to wait in long lines to vote is a discriminatory tool used to manipulate elections by preventing citizens from voting. Nobody should have to spend hours upon hours away from work, school, and other responsibilities and obligations to exercise their constitutional rights,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cIf we believe in the freedom to vote and democracy, let's make sure staffing and equipment are distributed equitably so nobody has to wait more than 30 minutes to vote.\u201d\n\nData from the 2020 election showed that nearly one-in-five in-person voters waited more than 30 minutes to vote and casting a vote typically took longer in poorer, less white neighborhoods than it did in whiter and more affluent ones.\n\nThe People Over Long Lines (POLL) Act would require state and local governments to end these forms of voter suppression. The bill requires states to file public plans detailing how they will ensure voters can cast ballots with waiting times of less than 30 minutes and require audits by the Election Assistance Commission to determine how many voters face longer waits. The bill includes $500 million to help states reduce voter wait times.\n\nThe POLL Act would also create a private right of action of $50 for voters forced to wait for longer than 30 minutes, with an additional $50 for every hour after that. Penalties would increase if a court determines long lines were the result of intentional voter suppression or reckless disregard for election plans. Successful plaintiffs would also be entitled to court costs.\n\nIt is supported by leading voting rights groups, including: Stand Up America, Fair Fight Action, End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund, League of Minority Voters, and GALEO Impact Fund.\n\nStatements of Support\n\nTiffany Muller, President, End Citizens United and Let America Vote Action Fund: \u201cForcing Americans to stand in long lines to vote is an anti-voter tactic deployed by power-hungry politicians to dissuade people from making their voices heard\u2013\u2013specifically communities of color. The People Over Long Lines Act would end illegal practices and intimidation tactics that are designed to prevent voters from participating in their democracy. We applaud Senator Wyden for his continued leadership on this issue and encourage the Senate to make this a bipartisan priority.\u201d\n\nTishan Weerasooriya, Senior Associate for Policy & Political Affairs, Stand Up America: \u201cEvery election, too many voters, especially those in low-income and majority-Black communities, face long lines, ballot shortages, and other barriers to casting their ballots. Ensuring polling locations are adequately staffed and resourced and wait times are reduced to no longer than 30 minutes is vital to protecting Americans\u2019 freedom to vote. Stand Up America thanks Senator Wyden for introducing the POLL Act, and we look forward to advocating for its swift passage into law,\u201d\n\nPriyanka Sharma, President and Founder, Promise King, and Co-chair, League of Minority Voters: \u201cWe enthusiastically support the POLL Act as it aims to increase access to the voting process. Increased access to voting options and ease of voting are key to achieving a representative democracy that reflects our country\u2019s diversity. League of Minority Voters is committed to inclusion of different perspectives and voices in the electoral process and working towards a more vibrant and robust democracy.\u201d\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\nWyden has been a national leader in the fight to make voting more accessible and secure. This year, Wyden introduced legislation to ensure American voters can vote more conveniently and securely at home and legislation to expand youth access to voting.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-urge-federal-agencies-to-boost-public-food-and-agriculture-research-funding-in-fiscal-year-2025", "Wyden, Colleagues Urge Federal Agencies to Boost Public Food and Agriculture Research Funding in Fiscal Year 2025", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "In a letter to USDA and OMB, senators call on agency leaders to increase USDA research funding by at least five percent, plus inflation\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he\u2019s joined Senate colleagues to urge top federal officials to increase the Department of Agriculture\u2019s research budget by at least five percent, plus inflation, for Fiscal Year 2025.\n\n\u201cAs the President\u2019s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request is prepared, we request that an increase of at least five percent, plus inflation, above the FY 2024 funding levels proposed by the Senate, be provided across the board for all USDA research activities underway within the Agricultural Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Economic Research Service, and the National Agricultural Statistics Service,\u201d the senators wrote in the letter to Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack and Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young.\n\nIn their letter, the senators emphasized the importance of public funding for food and agriculture research as it ensures the United States remains competitive globally.\n\n\u201cBetween 2008 and 2013, however, public investments in food and agricultural research dropped by 20 percent in inflation-adjusted terms, while the contributions by large private-sector corporations have increased by 64 percent over the same period\u2026 The public sector can pursue research into subjects and specialties that the private sector cannot or will not,\u201d wrote the Senators. \u201cOpen-access research helps to increase the pace of discoveries \u2026. by some estimates ranging between a 20 to 60 percent rate of return.\u201d\n\nThe senators also wrote that this increased funding would prepare the food and agricultural sector for future challenges including global population growth, sustainability, changing weather patterns, and plant and animal diseases.\n\nThe letter was led by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Along with Wyden, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-mandate-civil-rights-offices-in-federal-agencies-that-handle-artificial-intelligence", "Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Mandate Civil Rights Offices in Federal Agencies that Handle Artificial Intelligence", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) to introduce the Eliminating Bias in Algorithmic Systems (BIAS) Act to ensure that every federal agency that uses, funds, or oversees artificial intelligence has an office of civil rights focused on combating AI bias and discrimination, among other harms.\n\n\u201cThere is no place for racial and ethnic bias in Oregon and across the nation, and that same mindset must apply to technology,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cAs technology takes its next huge leap with artificial intelligence, it is absolutely fundamental that it is developed with no danger that it\u2019s misused to discriminate against any person or group.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlgorithms play a significant role in the way society interacts and behaves every single day, whether we like it or not,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cBecause we know AI has the potential to exacerbate discrimination and inequality, federal agencies that employ the use of AI must have safeguards and boundaries in place to combat discrimination and bias.\u201d\n\nWyden and Merkley said the legislation would also require every civil rights office to report their efforts to Congress and provide recommendations for congressional action.\n\nMany federal agencies lack civil rights offices whose principal mission is to protect vulnerable communities across the United States. There are only 30 civil rights offices within the federal government, yet many are not required to secure staff with the expertise needed to advise the agency on algorithmic bias and discrimination.\n\nThe legislation was led by Markey. Along with Wyden and Merkley, the bill also was co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-mcgarvey-lead-effort-improve-family-access-housing-assistance", "Bonamici, McGarvey Lead Effort to Improve Family Access to Housing Assistance", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/13/23] \u2013 Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) led 25 of their colleagues in drawing attention to the decline in federal housing assistance programs for families with children.\n\nSection 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit are two of the largest federal housing programs that can help prevent homelessness. Unfortunately, data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on Section 8 vouchers shows that families with children have received a smaller share of voucher recipients over the last decade.\n\n\u201cThe Biden Administration has shown historic dedication to improving opportunities for homeownership and increasing protections for families who rent,\u201d the Representatives wrote. \u201cUnfortunately, the number of families experiencing homelessness is on the rise nationally. We write to request information from your agencies so we can work together to improve federal programs to better serve vulnerable families.\u201d\n\nIn 2009, households with children received 42 percent of the benefits from subsidized HUD programs. By 2022, that percentage had declined to 33 percent. This includes Section 8 choice vouchers, public housing, and project-based vouchers.\n\nThe letter requests HUD and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provide information on policies to enhance support for families and youth at risk of homelessness, including:\n\nData on how many new families are being accepted in federal housing programs;\n\nA breakdown of information about families\u2019 access to developments subsidized by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers;\n\nConfirmation of the downward trend of families with children accessing federally subsidized housing and details on what may be the potential causes;\n\nInformation on initiatives HUD and IRS are undertaking to promote housing stability for families\n\nThe letter is supported by First Focus Campaign for Children and SchoolHouse Connection.\n\n\u201cAccess to safe and affordable housing is critical for healthy child development, yet publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shows that over the past decade, families with children are a declining share of subsidized housing recipients,\u201d said Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus Campaign for Children. \u201cFirst Focus Campaign for Children applauds Reps. Bonamici, McGarvey, and the rest of the signers for prioritizing children by sending this letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge and IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel to inquire about this concerning trend, as well as ask for more information about actions taken by HUD and the IRS to increase support for families and youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Bonamici and McGarvey, the letter was signed by 25 of their colleagues, including Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Scott Peters (D-CA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Nikema Williams (D-GA).\n\nBonamici is a Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. Bonamici and McGarvey also lead the bipartisan, bicameral Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act together.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Fudge and Commissioner Werfel,\n\nWe write today to inquire about efforts to safeguard affordable housing for families in the United States. The Biden Administration has shown historic dedication to improving opportunities for homeownership and increasing protections for families who rent. Unfortunately, the number of families experiencing homelessness is on the rise nationally.1 We write to request information from your agencies so we can work together to improve federal programs to better serve vulnerable families.\n\nThe Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers are our largest programs to secure housing stability for vulnerable Americans. It is essential that all our federal housing programs, but especially LIHTC and Section 8, directly serve the needs of low- income families. There is a potentially concerning trend of fewer fami lies with children accessing stable housing through federal assistance, especially LIHTC2and Section 8 vouche rs3. The database on the Department of Housing and Urban Development\u2019s website shows t hat the percent of people with children in subsidized housing nationally has fallen to 33 percent,4which is the lowest percentage in a decade and an overall decline of eight percent from 2010.\n\nAccording to research from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the number of families receiving rent assistance fell by 250,000 or 13 percent from 2004 to 2016.\n\nAlthough Congress has not provided needed investments to expand federal housing programs to fully meet the demands of our housing crisis, we remain concerned about fewer and fewer families with children being served by these programs. We ask that you provide responses to the following questions:\n\nDo your agencies have data showing how many new families are being accepted in federal housing programs?\n\nPlease provide a breakdown of information about families\u2019 access to developments subsidized by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers.\n\nDoes data available to your agencies reflect a downward trend of families with children accessing federally subsidized housing? If so, please detail the cause of this trend, including whether it is related to any or a combination of the following:\n\nPrioritization of people other than families with children by housing developers or local and state housing agencies;\n\nRehabilitation and construction of units that are not accessible to families with children;\n\nChildren in families who entered housing developments moving out and the rest of their family staying, which in turn keeps these units off the market;\n\nDiscrimination based on source of income or familial status by landlords against vouchers or other screening practices that disproportionately harm low-income families with children; and,\n\nLack of accessible units for families with children because of limited appropriations for housing programs.\n\nWhat initiatives is HUD taking to promote housing stability for families?\n\nWhat resources are needed to fully meet the mission of the Family Unification Program?\n\nWhen does HUD anticipate publishing guidance to better integrate services with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in response to the 2021 report, GAO-21-540?5\n\nHow will family housing stability be integrated into the LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness Initiative?6\n\nThe need for expanded resources to address housing and houselessness is clear. As demonstrated by the Emergency Rental Assistance Program created during the COVID-19 pandemic, dedicated federal resources prevent evictions, improve wellbeing and financial security, and fill gaps to mitigate housing cost increases. We remain committed to addressing underinvestment in housing and making housing and homeownership affordable and achievable for all Americans. It is essential that Congress addresses this important issue, and our effort must be coupled with policies that remove barriers to family access and enhance coordination of the full spectrum of services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.\n\nThank you again for your dedication to making affordable housing attainable for all Americans. We look forward to your answers and opportunities to partner with you to deliver the resources needed so everyone has a safe and affordable place to call home.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-gluesenkamp-perez-moore-urge-federal-government-expand-use-mass-timber", "Salinas, Gluesenkamp Perez, Moore Urge Federal Government to Expand Use of Mass Timber in Federal Buildings", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 This week, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03), and Barry Moore (AL-02) led a bipartisan letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) encouraging expanded use of mass timber in federal buildings.\n\nIn the letter, the lawmakers express concern that while the GSA recently awarded $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding for 150 projects, none of the funds were awarded to projects using sustainable wood products, including mass timber.\n\nUtilizing wood products is critical for supporting rural jobs and reducing wildfire risk, and it is one of the most effective ways to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings. These products come from renewable resources, store carbon, and don\u2019t require the same fuel-intensive manufacturing process common for other other building materials.\n\n\u201cCountries around the world have made building with wood a top priority to reach climate goals, yet our own federal government continues to lag in its adoption of low-embodied carbon wood products,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cAs GSA continues to take steps to reduce the carbon footprint for the built environment within its real estate portfolio, we strongly urge you to ensure that low-embodied carbon wood products, such as mass timber, play a role.\u201d\n\nAcross the United States, the forest products industry directly employs roughly 925,000 people and indirectly supports nearly 2 million jobs.\n\n\u201cI am deeply concerned about GSA\u2019s decision not to award Inflation Reduction Act funding to projects that use sustainable wood products. As a lead sponsor of the bipartisan Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act, I believe we must invest in our working forests and help make them more resilient to wildfires and climate change,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cI join my colleagues in urging the Administration to utilize sustainable wood products moving forward, and I will continue working to ensure Oregon\u2019s critical mass timber industry gets the support it deserves from our federal government.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we want to support Southwest Washington timber economies, prevent wildfires, and rebuild meaningful jobs in the trades, our federal government needs to lead by example by building with home-grown wood products,\u201d said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cI appreciate the support of my bipartisan colleagues to help ensure federal dollars going out the door make it to our local loggers and tradespeople. It\u2019s what\u2019s good for rural Americans and it\u2019s what\u2019s good for our environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cBuilding with mass timber is a great way to leverage value-added properties of American timber,\u201d said Rep. Moore. \u201cOur foresters here in Alabama and across America deserved the chance to benefit from these construction projects, and I hope the Biden Administration will consider them in the future.\u201d\n\nThe letter was also signed by Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Jim Costa (CA-21), Don Davis (NC-01), John Garamendi (CA-08), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Glenn Thompson (PA-15).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-over-36-million-for-safer-streets-heading-to-marion-umatilla-and-clackamas-counties", "Merkley, Wyden: Over $3.6 Million for Safer Streets heading to Marion, Umatilla, and Clackamas Counties", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $3,669,840 in federal funding heading to three Oregon counties to develop and update comprehensive road and street safety plans.\n\n\u201cWhether walking, driving, or biking, Oregonians in every corner of the state deserve safe streets in their communities to get where they need to go,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese investments will transform Oregon\u2019s roadways in Marion, Umatilla, and Clackamas counties into safer places for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. I will continue working to ensure every Oregonian is able to move about their daily lives conveniently, without fear of accident or injury.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregonians deserve to be safe on our streets no matter whether they\u2019re on foot, on a bike or in a car,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m gratified this federal investment will help ensure safer roadways in Clackamas, Marion and Umatilla counties, and I\u2019ll keep battling for similar community livability resources in every corner of the state.\u201d\n\nThese plans will integrate equity and community engagement and align with the requirements for the action plan in the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program, which was created under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nSafe Streets and Roads for All awards can be found below:\n\n$2.8 million to the City of Salem to update its existing Vision Zero Plan to meet SS4A Action Plan requirements by installing 20 MPH signs on residential streets, acquiring speed radar trailers and signs, and piloting an associated education campaign. This pilot demonstration activity will provide valuable data on the effectiveness of speed limit reductions in residential areas.\n\n$539,840 to Umatilla County to update the City of Umatilla and Umatilla County\u2019s comprehensive action plan.\n\n$330,000 to Clackamas County to update the county\u2019s existing Transportation Safety Action Plan to integrate equity and community engagement and align the plan with the SS4A Action Plan requirements.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been lobbying our state and federal partners and hoping that something like this would come through. Keeping our streets safe to bike on, walk on, and drive on is a huge issue for every growing city. This is going to be a tremendous help in saving the lives of our residents,\u201d said Mayor Chris Hoy, City of Salem.\n\n\"We are grateful, once again, for the advocacy and hard work from Senators Merkley and Wyden to ensure the safety of all Oregonians and our visitors who use our roadways. It was the efforts of Senators Merkley and Wyden that largely lead the way of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that established the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program that gave us this opportunity to apply. These funds will bring us closer to reaching the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Roadway Safety Strategy to reduce or eliminate roadway deaths through a Safe System Approach. We are also excited at the opportunity to work collaboratively with Umatilla County, once again, through our complementary projects. The County's Asset Management & Real-Time Transportation Situational Awareness System initiative will focus on all transportation systems in the unincorporated areas of the County, while the City of Umatilla's Action Plan will focus specifically on the needs and priorities within City limits. The result will be a large step forward for our collaborative populations towards making our respective transportation systems safer for all. Both the City and County are committed to coordinating these development efforts in the region to increase the effectiveness and safety of our roads; an effort that was unlikely to be made possible without the assistance of the SS4A funds,\u201d said City Manager, David Stockdale, City of Umatilla.\n\n\u201cClackamas County is proud to be the first county in the US to have adopted a Transportation Safety Action Plan with a goal to reduce and eventually eliminate fatal and serious injury crashes,\u201d said Chair Tootie Smith, Clackamas County. \u201cThis Safe Streets for All grant will help the County enhance this important work to create safer roads in our rural and suburban communities alike.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-lead-bipartisan-push-for-clear-guidance-on-the-new-free-application-for-federal-student-aid", "Wyden, Colleagues Lead Bipartisan Push for Clear Guidance on the New Free Application for Federal Student Aid", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he\u2019s joined Senate colleagues from both parties to urge federal officials to provide clear guidance and communication to students, families, educators, college access counselors, and schools leading up to and after the release of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).\n\nThe redesigned FAFSA will make it easier for students to get financial aid and help 1.5 million more students access the maximum Pell Grant award.\n\n\u201cWe understand that overhauling the current application and reconfiguring the federal student aid system requires significant time, preparation, and resources. However, despite a one-year delay in the implementation process, the Department recently announced the new FAFSA will be available to students by December 31, 2023, with no indication of an actual date,\u201d the senators wrote in a letter to the federal Department of Education.\n\n\u201cFurther, the Department\u2019s latest announcement also revealed that processing delays will take place in the first few months of 2024, meaning that schools will not be able to generate financial aid offers for their students in a timely fashion,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cWhile the simplified FAFSA is meant to provide more students with federal student aid, we fear the most vulnerable students will be negatively impacted by these delays.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cFAFSA delays can be particularly burdensome for students who lack reliable broadband access, students in foster care, students experiencing homelessness, first-generation students, students experiencing financial insecurity, and so many more.\u201d\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Along with Wyden, the letter is signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Michael Bennet (D-Conn.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-M.M.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.).\n\nThe letter is endorsed by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), National College Attainment Network (NCAN), and SchoolHouse Connection.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-and-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-reduce-foam-container-pollution", "Wyden, Merkley and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Reduce Foam Container Pollution", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland to introduce legislation that would phase out single-use plastic foam food service products, \u201cloose fill\u201d such as packing peanuts, and non-medical disposable coolers \u2013 materials known to harm human health and pollute waterways.\n\nThe Farewell to Foam Act they introduced along with Senate and House colleagues would reduce plastic foam pollution nationwide by requiring food service providers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to transition their stock of expanded polystyrene products such as foodware, coolers, and loose packing fill to alternative materials by January 1, 2026.\n\n\u201cCommunities in Oregon and across the nation suffer from the effects of pollution, and eliminating one of the contributors from single use plastic foam containers is a major step in improving public health,\u201c Wyden said. \u201cThere are plenty of sustainable alternatives that can replace single-use foam containers. Switching would benefit our communities and help tackle climate change at the same time.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis single-use, dangerous plastic foam product is not recyclable, not biodegradable, and pollutes our planet \u2013 but also is known to cause increased rates of cancer and disrupt the human endocrine system,\u201d said Merkley, who this year led the Senate\u2019s first ever hearings on plastics. \u201cSingle-use plastics are a human health crisis, a crisis that can be solved by producing and using more sustainable alternatives.\u201d\n\nThe bill also would authorize the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to impose escalating penalties on establishments that violate the expanded polystyrene prohibition during one calendar year: $250 for the first violation, $500 for the second, and $1,000 for the third and subsequent violations. Service providers and retailers with annual revenue less than $1 million and manufacturers and distributors with annual revenue less than $5 million will not be penalized more than once during any seven-day period. The legislation provides exemptions for expanded polystyrene material used for medical, industrial, or safety purposes.\n\nThe legislation was led by Senator Van Hollen, D-Md, and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas. Along with Wyden and Merkley, the bill also was co-sponsored in the Senate by the U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Angus King, I-Maine, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Peter Welch, D-Vt.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-reintroduces-legislation-to-boost-jobs-in-health-care", "Wyden Reintroduces Legislation to Boost Jobs in Health Care", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he reintroduced legislation that reauthorizes and modernizes the Health Profession Opportunity Grant program to help address health care shortages in Oregon and nationwide and create pathways to high quality, in-demand health care careers.\n\n\u201cAddressing the nation's health care worker shortage means helping struggling families with job opportunities,\u201d said Wyden.\"That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that would provide job training, child care, transportation and more to help low-income families in Oregon and nationwide begin well-paid careers as health professionals.\u201d\n\nThe Pathways to Health Careers Act would help to address health care provider shortages, provide pathway to well-paid, in-demand career opportunities in health care.\n\nCreated by the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program stands out among other job training approaches because of the mix of support services, career coaching, job placement, and post-employment training provided as part of the program. The program helps increase the number of qualified health professionals in rural, Tribal, and urban areas in need of more workers. The Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program expired in September 2021. The Pathways to Health Careers Act would reauthorize and modernize the program.\n\nTo date, the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program has served over 60,000 participants in 32 programs across 23 states. The Pathways to Health Careers Act would restart and expand the Health Profession Opportunity Grant Program, providing $425 million to make the Health Profession Opportunity Grant available nationwide from FY2024 through FY2028 and includes set asides for Tribes and U.S. Territories.\n\nAlongside Wyden the legislation was led by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. The bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. U.S. Representative Danny Davis, D-Ill. led the legislation in the House.\n\nThe Pathways to Health Careers Act has been endorsed by Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions, Center for Law and Social Policy, and others.\n\nA fact sheet is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-urges-senate-judiciary-committee-to-support-judge-amy-baggios-nomination", "Wyden Urges Senate Judiciary Committee to Support Judge Amy Baggio\u2019s Nomination", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here\n\nAs prepared for delivery\n\nChairman Durbin, Ranking Member Graham, members of the committee, I\u2019m very pleased to join you this morning to introduce Judge Amy Baggio, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon.\n\nJudge Baggio comes before the Committee today with extensive experience as both a jurist and a litigator. That experience includes four years on the bench as a judge with the Multnomah County Circuit Court, as well as 18 years practicing criminal defense. That includes a decade as a public defender, ensuring that defendants have counsel as is guaranteed under the Sixth Amendment. As a lawyer, she focused on especially complex cases and has argued before the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon as well as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In her career on the bench, she has presided over hundreds of civil and criminal matters and handled 42 trials, half of which were jury trials. Throughout her career as a judge, it is a testament to Judge Baggio\u2019s fairness that she has never had any party, either the defense or prosecution, file a request for a different judge.\n\nIn addition to being fair, she has consistently demonstrated an ability to make thoughtful decisions that protect communities and their values. For example, in one case, she sentenced a man to 34 years in prison for disturbing crimes, including first degree sexual abuse. That sentence was more than five times as long as the 75 month sentence sought by defense counsel. Despite an appeal from the defense on multiple issues, her decisions in that case were ultimately affirmed. This is just one of many examples in a record that is proof positive of her dedication to the law and extraordinary competence in applying it.\n\nI could go on and on about her judiciary accomplishments, but I also want to talk about Judge Baggio\u2019s volunteer experience mentoring the next generation of judicial talent. As an attorney, Judge Baggio long served as a mentor for newer lawyers, and following her appointment to the bench, she continued this through her roles with mentorship programs at the Oregon State Bar and the Oregon Judicial Department. She also spent a number of years volunteering at an elementary school, providing support to help individual students with reading. This is evidence of the deep care she has for her community and the time and energy she commits to giving back to those both inside and outside of the legal community.\n\nIt\u2019s clear why Judge Baggio advanced through a bipartisan judicial selection committee made up of a broad range of legal professionals that I established with Senator Merkley. That committee evaluated Judge Baggio\u2019s qualifications and character and was obviously impressed. And it is no surprise that she received a unanimous \u201cwell qualified\u201d rating from the American Bar Association. Her judicial temperament, evenhandedness, compassion, and dedication to the law will serve the District Court of Oregon well. I urge all members of this committee to support Judge Baggio\u2019s nomination, and I will happily speak further with any member to help get her nomination approved.\n\nCongratulations again to Judge Baggio on her nomination, and thank you again to Chairman Durbin and the committee for the opportunity to introduce her this morning.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-fitzpatrick-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-boost-education-research", "Bonamici, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Legislation  to Boost Education Research", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/11/23] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced bipartisan legislation to accelerate innovation in teaching and learning by establishing a national center to promote informed-risk, high-reward education research.\n\nThe New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act of 2023 would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) with the purpose of developing and disseminating effective practices and tools to improve students\u2019 academic performance and close longstanding achievement gaps. The NCADE would be the fifth center under the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and follow a successful model similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).\n\n\u201cInvesting in education research will support the development of literacy skills and other critical components of a well-rounded education, help students get back on track after the pandemic disrupted learning, and more,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThe NEED Act will focus on innovative approaches and technologies in education and will improve implementation of education R&D. These critical investments are designed to strengthen teaching and learning to reach more students\u2014particularly students who face the greatest opportunity gaps.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongress has the responsibility to ensure that students across America have the resources available to reach their full potential,\u201d said Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. \u201cOur bipartisan NEED Act will create a national center dedicated to developing innovative tools based on data and technological advances to help close learning gaps, and I am proud to join Congresswoman Bonamici on this important legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cEveryone should have the information they need to make informed decisions about their own education and workforce pathways, support individuals navigating these pathways, and create policies that might help others navigate smoother pathways,\u201d said Jennifer Bell-Ellwanger, president and CEO, Data Quality Campaign. \u201cData Quality Campaign applauds the efforts of Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Fitzpatrick to reimagine statewide longitudinal data systems as tools for providing better support, transparency, and high-quality data to individuals navigating their journeys through education and the workforce.\u201d\n\n\"For years, our nation has asked our teachers to innovate in a classroom environment that continues shifting - teachers have stepped up to meet that challenge,\" said Kira Orange Jones, CEO of Teach Plus. \"It is essential we stand alongside teachers and students by creating the infrastructure to use new data and research to meet the demands of a 21st century education and the learning challenges American children face. The NEED Act will create an infrastructure that helps to innovate schools and better serve our students.\"\n\nThe NEED Act would also update Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and help states better track the progress and outcomes of students through K-12 and into the workforce.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by: Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF); America Forward; American Educational Research Association; American Federation of Teachers; American Psychological Association Services; Association of Public Data Users (APDU); Beyond100K; CAST, Inc.; Coalition for Community Schools; Committee for Children; Common Sense Media; Data Quality Campaign; Digital Promise Global; EDGE Consulting Partners; Education Reform Now; Educators for Excellence; ExcelinEd in Action; Federation of American Scientists; Formation Ventures; Foundation for American Innovation; InnovateEDU; Institute for Educational Leadership; Knowledge Alliance; Kumar Garg; Schmidt Futures; LearningForge LLC; Lehigh University; Luminary Labs; National Alliance for Public Charter Schools; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Center for Learning Disabilities; New Classrooms; New Leaders; North Dakota Department of Public Instruction; Results for America; SETDA; Teach Plus; The Education Trust; The Learning Agency; The Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD); The Tech Interactive; Thomas B. Fordham Institute; TNTP; and Transcend.\n\nA summary of the legislation can be found here, and the full text of the legislation can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-demands-federal-review-of-crater-lake-concessionaire-contract", "Wyden Demands Federal Review of Crater Lake Concessionaire Contract", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senator: Aramark\u2019s failure to live up to its contractual agreements threatens safety of world-renowned national park, its visitors and employees\n\nWashington D.C.\u2014U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is asking federal officials to act immediately to prevent concessionaire mismanagement from continuing to pose safety risks to Crater Lake National Park, its visitors, and the employees who live and work at this world-renowned natural treasure in southern Oregon.\n\n\u201cThe annual concessionaire assessments paint a troubling picture of the concessionaire\u2019s fulfillment of its important responsibilities at Crater Lake National Park over several years,\u201d Wyden wrote in a letter to National Park Service Director Charles F. \u201cChuck\u201d Sams III,. \u201cThe National Park Service records make it clear that the concessionaire has continually failed to fulfill the requirements of the contract.\u201d\n\nIn his letter, Wyden wrote that Aramark \u2013 doing business as Crater Lake Hospitality \u2013 has failed under its concessionaire contract with the National Park Service to perform contractually required maintenance and has created unsafe living conditions for staff.\n\nWyden\u2019s letter also cited diesel spills at contractor-managed facilities, malfunctioning fire alarm systems and unsatisfactory public health inspections. And it noted the lack of investment and deferred maintenance by the concessionaire has prevented progress on a number of maintenance and improvement projects that the National Park Service has approved.\n\n\u201cAfter becoming aware of these issues, I directed my staff to conduct an in-person assessment of the conditions at facilities within Crater Lake National Park,\u201d Wyden wrote. \u201cThe issues that staff observed during this visit have only served to solidify my understanding of the seriousness of the concessionaire\u2019s failure to plan for and perform important regular maintenance, adequately train staff and address issues that directly threaten safety. \u201c\n\n\u201cIt was apparent to my staff that the dedicated National Park Service staff were spending hours of their time trying to manage the situation, are deeply concerned with the safety issues for guests and employees, and share our values of protecting the park,\u201d he wrote. \u201cI am grateful to the National Park Service staff for their dedication to our public lands. It is clear they have prevented the situation from becoming significantly worse through their efforts.\n\n\u201cDespite repeated and documented attempts by the National Park Service to secure performance, it is clear that little progress has been achieved to meaningfully resolve most of these serious issues,\u201d Wyden wrote.\n\nThe entire letter is here.\n\nRelated Files", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-porter-introduce-legislation-protect-student-borrowers-young", "Bonamici, Porter Introduce Legislation to Protect Student Borrowers, Young Consumers from Unscrupulous Lenders", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/08/23] \u2013 Today Congresswomen Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Katie Porter (D-CA) introduced legislation to restore the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office for Students and Young Consumers.\n\nBefore the Trump administration closed the Office for Students and Young Consumers in 2018, it helped return more than $750 million to students and student loan borrowers who had been cheated or misled by unscrupulous student loan companies and for-profit colleges. They assisted more than 60,000 borrowers who submitted complaints to the CFPB about the student loan industry. The Students and Young Consumers Empowerment Act will reopen the office and strengthen the CFPB\u2019s ability to protect students, prevent fraud, and preserve the integrity of the student loan marketplace and access to affordable higher education.\n\n\"Students and young consumers who are seeking to invest in their education should not be cheated by unscrupulous companies or for-profit colleges,\" said Suzanne Bonamici, senior member of the Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. \"The Biden administration has taken many important steps to improve the student loan system and compensate borrowers and students who have been duped or defrauded. But we can do more. Restoring the Office for Students and Young Consumers will provide a needed resource at the CFPB and help create a better, fairer, and more transparent system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen young people get cheated by student loan companies or for-profit colleges, they should have a partner in the federal government they can trust to get them justice,\u201d said Katie Porter, a longtime consumer protection attorney. \u201cA dedicated Office for Students and Young Consumers will prevent student loan borrowers from being overlooked and will be empowered to act on their behalf to crack down on fraudsters. I\u2019m proud to work with Congresswoman Bonamici on this important legislation to hold bad actors accountable for harming our nation\u2019s young people.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Students and Young Consumers Empowerment Act:\n\nEstablishes the position of the Assistant Director and Student Loan Borrower Advocate as head of a statutorily mandated Office for Students and Young Consumers (Office) charged with:\n\nempowering students, young consumers, and their families to make better informed decisions regarding consumer financial products and services;\n\nidentifying new risks to consumers and referring cases for enforcement; and\n\nmaking recommendations to Congress about how to protect young consumers;\n\nEmpowers the Office to work with private and Federal student loan borrowers to resolve complaints against lenders, servicers, and debt collectors;\n\nRequires information sharing between the head of the Office and senior officials across the federal government to allow the Office to carry out its duties and effectively protect student loan borrowers;\n\nGives the Office new tools to demand data from industry about risky practices, and requires annual reports about the student loan marketplace, campus banking, and risks to young consumers; and\n\nProvides Congress with new tools to hold CFPB accountable for the requirements in this Act.\n\nA summary of the legislation can be found here, and the text of the legislation can be found here. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-votes-against-reauthorizing-warrantless-surveillance-as-part-of-massive-military-policy-bill", "Wyden Votes Against Reauthorizing Warrantless Surveillance as Part of Massive Military Policy Bill", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., opposed reauthorizing warrantless government surveillance of Americans as part of the National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA), in a procedural vote today.\n\nA four-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was added to the NDAA without a vote or debate. Wyden and bipartisan members of Congress have pushed for years to reform that surveillance authority, which has been abused to allow warrantless searches for a U.S. Senator, a member of Congress, and a state court judge, among others.\n\n\u201cAmericans know they don\u2019t have to sacrifice their liberty to have security. They want policies that give them both, debated in the light of day,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI cannot support reauthorizing warrantless surveillance of Americans\u2019 communications without significant reforms and improvements to protect the Constitutional rights of people in Oregon and across the nation. I have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize this surveillance authority with significant new protections for Americans\u2019 rights.\u201d\n\nAlthough Wyden voted against the NDAA today, he supports a number of provisions within the massive military policy bill. He praised the inclusion of $105 million for an Oregon National Guard special tactics complex in Portland and readiness center in Washington County ($7.5 million more than was included in an earlier version of the bill), as well as a 5.2% pay increase for servicemembers - the largest military pay raise in 20 years.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-seeks-answers-from-justice-department-on-alleged-surveillance-of-apple-and-google-mobile-push-notifications", "Wyden Seeks Answers from Justice Department On Alleged Surveillance of Apple and Google Mobile Push Notifications", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., asked the Department of Justice to allow Apple and Google to be more transparent about alleged surveillance of mobile push notifications.\n\nWyden began investigating possible surveillance of push notification records after receiving a tip that foreign governments had requested such records from Google and Apple. According to the companies, the information they provided Wyden about this practice is restricted from public release by the U.S. government.\n\n\u201cApple and Google should be permitted to be transparent about the legal demands they receive, particularly from foreign governments, just as the companies regularly notify users about other types of government demands for data,\u201d Wyden wrote, in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. \u201cThese companies should be permitted to generally reveal whether they have been compelled to facilitate this surveillance practice, to publish aggregate statistics about the number of demands they receive, and unless temporarily gagged by a court, to notify specific customers about demands for their data.\u201d\n\nPush notifications are alerts sent by phone apps to users' smartphones. These alerts pass through a digital post office run by the phone operating system provider - overwhelmingly Apple or Google. Because of that structure, the two companies have visibility into how their customers use apps and could be compelled to provide this information to U.S. or foreign governments.\n\nRead the full letter to the Justice Department here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-supplemental-funding-vote", "Wyden Statement on Supplemental Funding Vote", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Funding Package for Israel, Ukraine, and Border Security Fails on Procedural Vote Due to Republican Opposition\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., lambasted Senate Republicans after they voted down a supplemental funding bill that included aid to Israel and funding for border security this afternoon.\n\n\u201cRepublicans chose to play politics with aid to Israel at the very moment it faces an existential threat,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cCraven is not a strong enough word to describe their actions.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-sullivan-applaud-senate-passage-of-resolution-celebrating-usphs-commissioned-corps-officers", "Wyden, Sullivan Applaud Senate Passage of Resolution Celebrating USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, today applauded the passage of their resolution commending the officers of the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) for 225 years of work protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the United States.\n\n\"For 225 years, officers of the USPHS Commissioned Corps have honorably served and safeguarded our nation's public health\u2014 particularly during times of public health emergencies,\" Wyden said. \"Through their commendable efforts in disease prevention, biomedical research, healthcare and various other initiatives, USPHS officers have played a pivotal role in maintaining the health of our country. I\u2019m especially grateful for their dedication to serving underserved and vulnerable populations. I\u2019m glad the Senate has passed our resolution recognizing the invaluable contributions of USPHS officers and I\u2019ll continue fighting to ensure they have the resources they need to continue their work for generations to come.\"\n\n\u201cThe Public Health Service Commissioned Corps play a critical role in providing health services to Alaska\u2019s most rural communities,\u201d Sullivan said. \u201cAlaska\u2019s vast, rugged geography and remote communities can make it difficult to access health care, and the Commission Corps have stepped up to the plate. Many of the Commissioned Corps in Alaska serve as our dentists, our nurses, and researchers in our cities and our rural communities. We applaud their commitment to ensuring underserved communities can access health services.\u201d\n\nThe USPHS Commissioned Corps is one of the nation\u2019s uniformed services \u2014 a branch committed to the service of health. For 225 years, USPHS Commissioned Corps Officers have advanced our nation\u2019s public health, serving in agencies across the government, as physicians, nurses, dentists, veterinarians, scientists, engineers and other professionals. USPHS is the only uniformed service in the world solely dedicated to public health.\n\nJacqueline Rychnovsky, Executive Director, The Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS: \u201cThe U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) has stood the test of time by responding to the largest public health crises in history. COA congratulates the USPHS on this milestone and looks forward to the impact the USPHS will have in the future. COA thanks Senator Wyden for amplifying the service and sacrifice of the USPHS and its Commissioned Corps, which often does not receive the recognition it deserves.\"\n\nThe text of the resolution is here.\n\nIn July, Wyden introduced legislation that would authorize dedicated annual funding to the USPHS Commissioned Corps. The USPHS is the only uniformed service without a budget line item dedicated to service operations and maintenance. Establishing a budget line item for service operations and readiness is vital to ensure a fully-deployable national public health asset.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-hoyle-announce-over-5-million-for-coastal-fish-habitat-restoration", "Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce Over $5 Million for Coastal Fish Habitat Restoration", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced a total of nearly $5.5 million in federal investments is heading to Oregon organizations for coastal climate resilience projects and restoring fish habitats. The funding comes from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation\u2019s National Coastal Resilience Fund, which supports the design and implementation of projects around the country to enhance the resilience of coastal communities and improve habitat for fish and wildlife.\n\n\u201cOur waterways and fish are the lifeblood of the Northwest, particularly coastal communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis critical federal support will prepare our region to better withstand more frequent extreme weather events caused by climate chaos. These projects will help strengthen natural infrastructure while also enhancing habitat for fish populations, including our beloved coho salmon and other native fish species.\u201d\n\n\u201cProtecting Oregon\u2019s coastal wetlands, floodplains and estuaries not only helps fight the devastating effects of climate change, but also helps increase resiliency of coastal communities against extreme weather,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis investment is a big win for Oregon\u2019s coastal communities, and I will continue to support successful programs proven to help protect and restore our bountiful coastal habitat.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to see federal funding supporting the Wild Salmon Center and the McKenzie River Trust\u2019s work to restore and protect estuaries and wetlands on the Oregon Coast,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThese projects on the Alsea, Coos, Siletz, and Siuslaw rivers in Oregon\u2019s Fourth Congressional District will reduce flood risk for coastal communities and increase habitat for salmon and other native fish species. This is a prime example of how we can effectively support coastal resilience and preserve Oregon\u2019s natural beauty as we combat the challenges of climate change.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are honored and thrilled to have received this grant award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. These funds will support estuary restoration projects that build on two decades of effort by partners at Ecotrust, the Siuslaw Watershed Council, the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, the state of Oregon, federal agencies, and many dedicated local community members. They set in motion a Siuslaw Whole Watershed Restoration initiative in 2004, something that gave us all a road map for effective land and water conservation. Congressional support for integrating this work with investments for community infrastructure and resilience shows the wisdom and importance of such long-term, broad scale approaches, especially in the face of a changing climate,\u201d said Joe Moll, Executive Director, McKenzie River Trust.\n\n\"Wild Salmon Center and our local partners at the Coos Watershed Association and the Siuslaw Watershed Council are thrilled to receive this grant award from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. These funds will support projects that will reconnect floodplains, which are vital for our threatened salmon populations, while at the same time mitigating risks associated with climate change. This dual approach of species conservation, paired with climate change resilience, will positively benefit both fish and human communities. We are grateful for all the support from Oregon\u2019s congressional members and look forward to implementing these projects over the next three years,\u201d said Tim Elder, Southwest Oregon Manager, Wild Salmon Center.\n\nOregon project descriptions and award amounts are below:\n\n$3,791,657.49: Wild Salmon Center \u2013 Florence and Coos Bay, OR\n\nExtreme weather events threaten human lives and infrastructure, public and private properties, and ecosystems due to the increased severity and frequency of storms. Wild Salmon Center will increase climate resilience in the Coos and Siuslaw watersheds through nine restoration projects that will result in 257.5 acres of restored floodplain and 7.47 miles of restored instream habitat. The project will reduce flood hazards in coastal communities by reducing peak flows and slowing water velocities, improve water retention and quality, and recover economically vital salmon populations.\n\n$1,012,692.18: McKenzie River Trust \u2013 Siuslaw River\u2019s estuary and watershed near Florence, Oregon\n\nCoastal communities and habitats are under increasing threats from coastal hazards, such as sea level rise, storm intensification, and other environmental stressors. The McKenzie River Trust will advance final design and permitting to restore the tidal exchange within the currently flow-restricted areas on four properties in the Siuslaw River\u2019s estuary, increasing the availability and protection of vital rearing and feeding habitat for coho salmon and other native fish species. The project will finalize designs to restore a total of 500 acres over the next four years that will enhance the estuary\u2019s ability to absorb the increased sea level impact of storm swells, king tides, and flooding.\n\n$651,021.88: Wild Salmon Center \u2013 Nehalem, Lincoln City, Waldport, and Alsea, Oregon\n\nFlood hazards pose a serious risk to urban areas, emergency road infrastructure, and vulnerable rural communities on the Oregon coast. Coastal resiliency to sea level rise and climate change depends upon conserving estuaries and wetlands through restoration of key ecological processes and functions including hydrological connectivity, nutrient cycling, and sediment transport. Wild Salmon Center will create final designs and secure permitting for five wetland systems across three watersheds in Nehalem, Siletz, and Alsea estuaries on the Oregon coast. The project will result in fully designed plans for 249 acres of floodwater storage, seven fish passage improvements across four miles of stream, and the restoration of 30 freshwater wetland acres and 219 acres of tidal wetlands to mitigate flood hazards, reduce erosion, and restore habitat for salmon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-group-house-members-introduces-bill-protect-older-workers-age", "Bipartisan Group of House Members Introduces Bill to Protect Older Workers from Age Discrimination", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. \u201cBobby\u201d Scott (VA-03), Representative Glenn Grothman (WI-06), Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12), and Representative Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act(POWADA), a bipartisan proposal to strengthen anti-discrimination protections for older workers.\n\nIn 2009, the Supreme Court\u2019s decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc. weakened protections against age discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Under Gross, plaintiffs seeking to prove age discrimination in employment are required to demonstrate that age was the decisive motivating factor for the employer\u2019s adverse action.\n\nPOWADA returns the legal standard for age discrimination claims to the pre-2009 evidentiary threshold, aligning the burden of proof with the same standards for proving discrimination based on based on race and national origin.\n\n\u201cDiscrimination should never be tolerated in the workplace. Yet too often, older workers encounter discrimination on the job or when seeking employment. And when they do, they face barriers to proving their case because workers who experience age discrimination have to meet a higher burden of proof than people claiming discrimination based on race, national origin, or religion. That\u2019s wrong, and it\u2019s time for a remedy. I\u2019m co-leading the bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to restore protections for older workers and give them the ability to hold employers accountable for age discrimination,\u201dsaid Ranking Member Bonamici (OR-01).\n\n\u201cEveryone\u2014regardless of their age\u2014should be able to go to work every day knowing that they are protected from discrimination. Unfortunately, age discrimination in the workplace is depriving older workers of opportunities and exposing them to long-term unemployment and severe financial hardship. More than a decade ago, the Supreme Court undermined protections for older workers by setting an unreasonable burden of proof for age discrimination claims. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is a bipartisan bill that would finally restore the legal rights of older workers by ensuring that the burdens of proof in age discrimination claims are treated in the same manner as other discrimination claims,\u201dsaidRanking Member Scott (VA-03).\n\n\u201cIn my mind, the one form of discrimination that is so widespread is age discrimination against older workers. This affects a whole generation of Americans. Countless people aged 50 and up get laid off at a time when they still have mortgages to pay and children to support, and they find it very difficult to find a job. Employers also let go of older individuals as companies look to avoid higher insurance costs. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act is a crucial bipartisan initiative that aims to restore legal safeguards for older workers by ensuring that age discrimination claims receive just as much credibility as other claims of workplace discrimination,\u201dsaid Grothman (WI-06).\n\n\u201cAll Americans, regardless of age, should be protected from discrimination in the workplace,\u201dsaid Congressman Fitzpatrick (PA-01). \u201cOur bipartisan Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act will ensure that age discrimination claims are subject to an appropriate burden of proof, and I am proud to join my colleagues on this legislation to protect workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must stand strongly against all forms of discrimination, which includes discrimination against older Americans. Labor law must protect the dignity of all workers and recognize that discrimination against older Americans is discrimination all the same. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA) will ensure that older workers will be fairly treated in the job market, returning the legal standard for proving discrimination back to its original intent. Discrimination based on age has no place in our workforce,\u201dsaid Ranking Member Alma Adams (NC-12).\n\n\u201cIn America, we uphold the principle of individuals being judged on their abilities, free from discrimination. Everyone, regardless of their age, deserves that same freedom,\u201dsaid Congressman Van Drew (NJ-02). \u201cFor far too long, older workers have faced barriers to employment. This has not only kept capable individuals out of the workforce but has also forced many into unemployment and hardship. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act to ensure that individuals in South Jersey, and nationwide, have equal opportunities to challenge discrimination, just as younger people do.\u201d\n\nPOWADAamends four laws\u2014the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Rehabilitation Act. A similar version of the bill was passed in the House with bipartisan support during the 117th Congress.\n\nRead the fact sheet for the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act here.\n\nRead the section-by-section summary of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-900000-coming-to-the-confederated-tribes-of-the-umatilla-indian-reservation-for-recycling-programs", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $900,000 Coming to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for Recycling Programs", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) $915,895 for projects to update and improve the Tribes\u2019 recycling plan, and to focus on practical recycling options that center culturally grounded approaches.\n\n\u201cThis critical funding for CTUIR will help ensure the Tribe has the resources it needs to implement its new and improved recycling plan,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis is an environmental win for the CTUIR community that comes at a critical time for our planet.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal investment in the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will help the Tribes to move forward with a modern and broader approach to recycling,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI know from my town hall there earlier this year how hard Tribal members are working to build an even stronger community, and I\u2019m glad the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is providing this grant to help achieve that goal.\u201d\n\nIn his role as the Senate Chair of the Environment and Public Works subcommittee overseeing environmental justice and chemical safety, Merkley has been holding a series of hearings investigating plastic production and pollution, one of which has examined reuse and refill systems.\n\nThe grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be used to replace and upgrade recycling equipment, and expand markets for recycled commodities through Tribal community education and recycled materials management.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-central-oregon-organization-earns-300000-federal-grant-to-fight-human-trafficking", "Wyden, Merkley: Central Oregon Organization Earns $300,000 Federal Grant to Fight Human Trafficking", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that J Bar J Youth Services in Bend has secured a $300,000 federal grant to battle human trafficking.\n\n\u201cThe crime of human trafficking devastates lives and demands a serious and substantive effort to end it in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d Wyden said. \u201dI\u2019m gratified that J Bar J Youth Services has earned these federal resources to fight this scourge in Central Oregon with its local expertise and hard-working staff.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must do everything in our power to protect people from the horrors of human trafficking,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis essential funding to J Bar J Youth Services will help ensure this critically important organization can continue to support youth in Central Oregon and protect Oregonians from dangerous situations.\u201d\n\nThe $300,000 for J Bar J Youth Services from the federal Administration for Children and Families will fund anti-trafficking efforts for domestic victims.\n\n\u201cThe at:project is grateful to have received this funding opportunity,\u201d said Breanne Barrett, Program Director for the at:project -- a program of J Bar J Youth Services. \u201cThis grant will allow us to extend and enhance crucial services to victims and survivors of human trafficking in Central Oregon. From crisis intervention services to long-term case management, the at:project is committed to supporting survivors through their healing journey. This funding is not just a financial boost; it\u2019s a lifeline for those who need it most. It fuels our passion, determination and commitment to creating a community free of exploitation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-announce-833000-to-osu-to-support-oregon-food-safety-outreach", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle Announce $833,000 to OSU to Support Oregon Food Safety Outreach", "2023-12-04", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today announced a federal investment of $833,127 for Oregon State University to develop food safety outreach programs.\n\n\u201cUnderserved communities in Oregon and across the nation deserve to know their food is both nutritious and safe to eat,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis federal investment in Oregon State University and its world-class researchers will help ensure those goals by promoting outreach and education while preserving the traditional practices of Tribal and coastal communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon-grown products are healthy, fresh, and support our local communities and state economy,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis crucial funding will ensure small to mid-sized farmers are able to access food safety training and education programs from community-based organizations \u2013 including safe, traditional Tribal practices \u2013 in order to provide Oregonians with healthy and safe food grown in the region.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am delighted that Oregon State University (OSU) received two federal grants from the USDA to support food safety education and outreach,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThese grants will specifically support Pacific Island communities and Oregon-based Tribal communities in their collaborative partnerships with OSU on culturally appropriate food safety practices and technical assistance. This grant is a testament to OSU\u2019s expertise and commitment to supporting communities through their research and outreach.\u201d\n\nThe funding to OSU, from the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, includes investment for culturally responsive food safety education in Oregon\u2019s tribal communities and for sharing safe methods of processing and preservation for traditional foods. Also included is investment to engage underserved Pacific communities in food safety education and training to address common food safety issues.\n\n\u201cPreserving seasonal foods has been a central part of the food culture of Indigenous people in Oregon since time immemorial, but new technologies and foods have introduced unique food safety risks,\u201d said Jared Hibbard-Swanson, Food Safety and Program Manager with Oregon State University Extension Family and Community Health Program. \u201cI am excited that this federal investment will enable OSU Extension and Tribal communities to work together to establish and teach safe methods for preserving culturally significant foods.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:56:20Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-harshbarger-introduce-bipartisan-bill-expand-telehealth-services-rural", "Salinas, Harshbarger Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Telehealth Services for Rural Americans", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Diana Harshbarger (TN-01) introduced the bipartisan Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act, legislation that would expand access to remote mental health and substance use services in rural America, especially for individuals working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are leading a companion bill in the Senate.\n\n\u201cAccessing mental health care shouldn\u2019t require an in-person visit, especially for Americans in rural areas who have to travel long distances to see a provider,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cOur bipartisan bill would expand telemental health services in rural Oregon, with an emphasis on those working in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. This legislation would save folks time and resources and help more Oregonians get the care they need, when they need it.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a community pharmacist for over three decades in one of the country\u2019s most rural Congressional Districts, I understand the challenges patients face in underserved areas,\u201d said Rep. Harshbarger. \u201cBy expanding access to telemental health services, this common-sense legislation will help improve patient outcomes.\u201d\n\nThe Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture, to award grants to entities to establish mental health and substance use services for rural Americans in their homes, particularly those working in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. It would also authorize up to $10 million for each fiscal year through 2027 using current funds.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NAMI Oregon, National Rural Health Association, Oregon Rural Health Association, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, Oregon Cattlemen\u2019s Association, Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association, and Friends of Family Farmers.\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association applauds Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for their introduction of The Home Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023,\u201d said Alan Morgan, Chief Executive Officer of the National Rural Health Association. \u201cThis important legislation creates a telemental health demonstration program designed to address specific behavioral health and substance use needs for folks in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations. This bill will increase access to behavioral health and substance use services for our most rural and medically underserved populations.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Oregon Council for Behavioral Health, as a non-profit trade association with a wide representation of rural and frontier providers, greatly appreciates and supports the Home Based Telemental Health Act of 2023,\u201d said Heather Jefferis, M.A., Executive Director of the Oregon Council for Behavioral Health. \u201cThis bill will help expand access for communities and individuals who have significant barriers to care, including geographic distance, stigma, and a lack of providers in their community. We extend our gratitude to Congress for their attention to our rural and frontier communities\u2019 needs. Thank you for helping local providers save lives.\u201d\n\n\"The Friends of Family Farmers is so grateful to Representatives Salinas and Harshbarger for taking on this effort,\" said Alice Morrison, Co-Director of the Friends of Family Farmers. \"Expanding telemental health options is a vital, tangible way to improve access to mental health services for our farmers, ranchers and others in rural communities. Everyone should have equitable access to care, and this legislation will help make that possible.\u201d\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-nsa-must-answer-whether-it-is-buying-americans-location-data-and-web-browsing-records-before-new-director-is-confirmed", "Wyden: NSA Must Answer Whether it is Buying Americans\u2019 Location Data and Web Browsing Records Before New Director Is Confirmed", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Wyden Places Hold on Nomination of Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh Until NSA Answers Basic Questions About Purchases of Americans\u2019 Data\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., announced he will place a hold on the nomination of Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to serve as director of the National Security Agency (NSA) until the NSA discloses whether it is buying Americans\u2019 location data and web browsing records.\n\nIn a statement placed in the Congressional record this afternoon, Wyden said the Defense Department has refused to make public important information about purchases of Americans\u2019 personal data \u2014 information that the government has already acknowledged is not classified.\n\n\u201cThe American people have a right to know whether the NSA is conducting warrantless domestic surveillance of Americans in a manner that circumvents the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution,\u201d he said, in a statement placed in the Congressional Record. \u201cParticularly as Congress is currently debating extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Congress must be able to have an informed public debate about the scope of the NSA\u2019s warrantless surveillance of Americans.\u201d\n\nWyden is the longest-serving member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and a staunch advocate for protecting the security of Americans without sacrificing their Constitutional rights. He first asked for information about DOD data purchases to be released in 2021, but the department refused to release it, even though the answer is not classified.\n\nWyden did not raise objections to Lt. Gen. Haugh\u2019s qualifications in his hold statement. A hold is a Senate procedure that prevents shortcuts to speed up consideration of a nominee. It can be overcome by a procedural vote.\n\nThe full statement for the Congressional Record is below:\n\nMr. WYDEN. Madam President, I must regretfully object to the promotion of Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh to the grade of general, and consequently, to be the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Commander of U.S. Cyber Command.\n\nIn January of 2021, I made public an unclassified memo I received from the Defense Intelligence Agency revealing that it was purchasing, retaining, and using location data revealing the movements of Americans. After receiving that information, I pressed the Department of Defense to identify which other agencies within the Department are buying Americans\u2019 personal data, including location data and web browsing records.\n\nThe Department provided me with that information in March of 2021, but marked the information \u201cControlled Unclassified Information\u201d (CUI) \u2014 a made-up designation with no basis in law. The Administration is abusing the C-U-I designation to keep this unclassified information from the American public. In May of 2021, I wrote to Secretary of Defense Austin to urge him to remove the restrictions on that information, so that the American people can be told which agencies are buying their information without court oversight, and so that Congress can conduct appropriate oversight. In August of 2021, I received a response letter from the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security, declining to clear the information for public release.\n\nIn connection with Lt. Gen. Haugh\u2019s pending promotion to lead the NSA, I narrowed my request. I asked that the American people simply be provided yes or no answers as to whether the NSA is buying their location data and web browsing records. Unfortunately, intelligence officials have been unwilling to release even that basic information.\n\nThe American people have a right to know whether the NSA is conducting warrantless domestic surveillance of Americans in a manner that circumvents the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. Particularly as Congress is currently debating extending Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, Congress must be able to have an informed public debate about the scope of the NSA\u2019s warrantless surveillance of Americans.\n\nUntil the NSA publicly releases the information described above, I must object to the Senate proceeding with the Haugh nomination.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-quantum-science-bill-passes-committee-moves-closer-becoming-law", "Salinas\u2019 Quantum Science Bill Passes Committee, Moves Closer to Becoming Law", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, a bipartisan bill led by U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jim Baird (IN-04) passed unanimously out of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. The Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, introduced last month by Reps. Salinas and Baird, would amend the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act and drastically accelerate quantum research and development in the United States. The legislation now awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cI am deeply proud that my bipartisan bill, the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, unanimously passed out of committee today.\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cQuantum science has the potential to change lives for the better and vastly improve our communications capabilities. Investing in more research and building a stronger quantum workforce will allow us to fully harness the benefits of these technologies. I am grateful to Congressman Baird and my colleagues on the Committee for their support, and I will continue working to get this legislation to the finish line.\u201d\n\n\u201cLeading the world in quantum research will have huge implications for America\u2019s economy and national security,\u201d said Rep. Baird. \u201cThis legislation will elevate research facilities nationwide and facilitate cooperation that will supercharge the industry. I\u2019m incredibly excited to have such broad support for this bill in Committee, and I\u2019m confident we will enjoy similar consensus on the House floor.\u201d\n\nThe Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants to upgrade research facilities and improve access to research resources, such as equipment and instrumentation, to support research and development in quantum information science, technology, and engineering. This bill would also improve coordination to enable better access to these resources among researchers, students, and companies. Finally, it would help the scientific community access the equipment, instrumentation, materials and devices, and other critical services needed to enable cutting-edge research on quantum information science, train the next generation of quantum scientists and workers, and translate research into commercial products and services.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Purdue University, and Indiana University.\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-500000-to-harney-country-for-brownfield-cleanup", "Merkley, Wyden: $500,000 to Harney County for Brownfield Cleanup", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Harney County has received $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up hazardous materials at the two-acre former Lincoln School site in Burns.\n\n\u201cThis funding is a major win for Harney County\u2019s natural resources, community member\u2019s health, and the local economy,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cRedeveloping Brownfield sites ignites growth in communities, revitalizes properties long forgotten, and most importantly, creates jobs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis federal investment in Burns will convert an old brownfield into bright new job opportunities and more for this rural community,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m gratified Harney County has secured these federal funds, and will keep working to secure similar resources that help build an even stronger economy and quality of life for all of Eastern Oregon.\u201d\n\nThe EPA announced $8,240,000 to expedite the assessment and cleanup of seven brownfield sites in Oregon, of which Harney County was one.\n\nBackground:\n\nEPA\u2019s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.37 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. EPA\u2019s investments in addressing brownfield sites have leveraged more than $36 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Over the years, the relatively small investment of federal funding has leveraged, from both public and private sources, nearly 260,000 jobs. Communities that previously received Brownfields Grants used these resources to fund assessments and cleanups of brownfields, and successfully leverage an average of 10.6 jobs per $100,000 of EPA Brownfield Grant funds spent and $19.78 for every dollar.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-address-rise-in-attacks-on-postal-workers", "Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Address Rise in Attacks on Postal Workers", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today introduced bipartisan legislation that would address the steep increase in armed robberies against postal workers, who are often targeted for their arrow keys that allow access to some mailboxes and their contents.\n\n\u201cFor over 200 years the United States Postal Service has been a central fixture of the American government. The recent cases of mail theft and the alarming uptick in assaults against postal workers is unacceptable,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIf Postmaster DeJoy refuses to act, Congress must do everything it can to improve protections for these essential workers.\u201d\n\nThe Postal Inspection Service reports that armed robberies of letter carriers increased sharply between 2018 and 2021, rising fourfold from 36 incidents to 154 incidents. The arrow keys can command thousands of dollars on the clandestine market because they allow access to cluster mailboxes and their contents, which include Social Security checks, prescriptions, and other valuable items.\n\nIn 2020, under the leadership of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the U.S. Postal Service issued a directive that restricted Postal Police Officers to physical USPS properties. This directive has prevented Postal Police Officers from protecting the postal service and the integrity of the postal system outside physical postal properties. Prior to the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which granted greater authority to USPS to control Postal Law enforcement, Congress regularly granted Postal Police Officers authority to carry out their duties both on and off USPS property through annual appropriations language. The Postal Police Reform Act of 2023 would counteract Postmaster General DeJoy\u2019s 2020 directive and again allow Postal Police Officers to operate outside of Postal Service real property.\n\nThe Act would clarify provisions in federal law to ensure that Postal Police Officers may be assigned to duty outside of Postal Service real property, for the purpose of protecting the mail, Postal Service property, persons on Postal Service property, and on-duty Postal Service employees. This clarification will allow the Postal Service to assign Postal Police Officers to protect letter carriers against robberies, which are often committed to steal \u201carrow\u201d master keys for use in later mail theft. The Postal Police Reform Act provides the Postal Service with the flexibility to use the Postal Police as the service needs, without imposing additional costs on the Postal Service.\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Susan Collins, R-Maine. Alongside Wyden, the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, R-Kan., Ben Cardin, D-Md., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Chris Coons, D-Del., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Angus King, I-Maine.\n\nThe Postal Police Reform Act has earned endorsements from the National Association of Postal Supervisors and the Postal Police Officers Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-and-colleagues-issue-joint-statement-on-proposed-threats-to-asylum-system-in-supplemental-aid-package-negotiations", "Wyden, Merkley and Colleagues issue Joint Statement on Proposed Threats to Asylum System in Supplemental Aid Package Negotiations", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with Senate colleagues today issued the following joint statement in response to reports of potentially harmful changes to the U.S. asylum system being considered in the ongoing bipartisan negotiations around the supplemental aid package:\n\n\u201cAs negotiations surrounding the supplemental aid package progress, we are concerned about reports of harmful changes to our asylum system that will potentially deny lifesaving humanitarian protection for vulnerable people, including children, and fail to deliver any meaningful improvement to the situation at the border. Using a one-time spending package to enact these unrelated permanent policy changes sets a dangerous precedent and risks assistance to our international partners. Any proposal considering permanent changes to our asylum and immigration system needs to include a clear path to legalization for long-standing undocumented immigrants.\n\n\u201cWe remain committed to working in good faith to modernize our outdated immigration system on a bipartisan basis and through a deliberative process. We cannot truly secure our border and help American communities without increasing lawful pathways for migration and legalizing long-time undocumented immigrants who put food on our tables, care for our elderly, and form the fabric of our communities.\u201d\n\nThe joint statement was led by Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif.. Along with Wyden and Merkley, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n, D-N.M., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/sullivan-baldwin-bonamici-joyce-lead-legislation-improve-harmful-algal-bloom", "Sullivan, Baldwin, Bonamici & Joyce Lead Legislation to Improve Harmful Algal Bloom Response", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), have introduced the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act (HABHRCA) of 2023, legislation to reauthorize the HABHRCA of 1998 and to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia by requiring better coordination among task force agencies, and state and local entities, including Indian tribes.\n\nThis legislation comes in response to the increasing severity of harmful algal blooms in Alaska, with the 2022 algal bloom in the Bering Strait region being one of the largest and most toxic blooms ever observed nationwide. HABs directly threaten food security and subsistence in Alaska. Additionally, HABs can reduce oxygen levels in the water in events called hypoxia, killing fish and other marine life and harming coastal ecosystems and economies. HABs occur in all 50 states, in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters.\n\n\u201cHarmful algal blooms and hypoxia events are occurring with increasing frequency, threatening the health of our marine and freshwater ecosystems and communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cI\u2019m introducing the bipartisan Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act to help people in NW Oregon and across the country better protect against and respond quickly to these disasters.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs America\u2019s leading seafood producer and home to more coastline than the contiguous Lower 48 states combined, Alaska is particularly vulnerable to harmful algal blooms,\u201d Senator Sullivan said. \u201cUnchecked HABs can threaten our marine life and coastal ecosystems, the livelihoods of our commercial fisheries and coastal communities, and the health and well-being of Alaskans. It is critical that we develop and coordinate effective responses to harmful algal blooms and efficiently monitor the health of our oceans for the sake of coastal communities, especially subsistence communities, and ecosystems across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur Great Lakes and abundant fresh waters are among Wisconsin\u2019s most valuable resources, supporting wildlife, our economy, and our way of life. I am proud to be a partner in protecting these critical ecosystems from harmful algal blooms that have the potential to endanger our Made in Wisconsin economy and public health,\u201d said Senator Baldwin. \u201cThe critical support provided by this bipartisan legislation ensures that we can monitor algal bloom and hypoxia growth in our fresh waters, while preventing and mitigating their spread. I am proud to lead this legislation with Senator Sullivan to ensure generations to come can enjoy and benefit from the Great Lakes and Wisconsin\u2019s inland waters.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe shallowest of all the Great Lakes, Lake Erie, is particularly vulnerable to harmful algal blooms, which have plagued the lake for more than 45 years. Any threat to Lake Erie is also a threat to the drinking water supply for 11 million people, our tourism industry, and all the plants and animals that are part of the lake\u2019s ecosystem,\u201d said Congressman Joyce. \u201cI am proud to introduce this bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure Lake Erie and every state in America is protected from these dangerous threats to our bodies of water.\u201d\n\nA copy of the bill, S.3348, can be found here.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe original Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) was passed in 1998 and established an interagency task force to assess the distribution of harmful algal blooms and their impacts on coastal waters and human health. HABHRCA has since been reauthorized three times, through FY 2023, and is currently due for reauthorization. This bill reauthorizes the original 1998 HABHRCA, and improves coordination among state and local entities, as well as Indian tribes, to improve monitoring, forecasting, prevention, and mitigation of HABs and hypoxia.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-over-4-million-for-water-conservation-projects-coming-to-oregon", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million for Water Conservation Projects Coming to Oregon", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Interior Department investments heading to Crooked River Watershed and Deschutes Land Trust\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $4.1 million in federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are heading to the Crooked River Watershed Council and the Deschutes Land Trust. These funds will boost collaborative projects focusing on water conservation, management, and restoration efforts.\n\n\u201cOur waterways and fish are the lifeblood of the Northwest,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cI\u2019ll continue to do all I can to ensure Oregon has the federal resources needed to carry out creative, forward-thinking projects that conserve water, restore healthy native fish populations, and stretch our water resources further.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese significant federal resources will help two standout Central Oregon organizations accomplish their crucial goals of conserving water and protecting habitat,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThat adds up to good news for Oregonians in the region who deserve both a dependable water supply and protection of the gifts from nature that make our state such a special place.\u201d\n\nThe federal resources for these two projects are part of a $51 million overall investment from President Biden\u2019s Investing in America agenda for 30 new Environmental Water Resource Projects in 11 Western states.\n\nOregon project descriptions are below:\n\n$1,400,000 \u2014 Crooked River Watershed Council, Lower Crooked River Riparian, Floodplain, and Habitat Restoration Project\n\nHydrology in the Crooked River watershed is impacted by upstream dams, including the Bureau of Reclamation\u2019s Bowman Dam, leading to loss of floodplain continuity, degraded channel structures, and water quality impairments, impacting native Spring Chinook Salmon and Columbia River Steelhead populations that inhabit the watershed. The Crooked River Watershed Council, working in partnership with the Ochoco Irrigation District, will restore habitat and enhance ecological features on two project sites just downstream from the city of Prineville.\n\n$3,000,000 \u2014 Deschutes Land Trust, Ochoco Preserve Restoration - Phases 2 and 3\n\nThe Crooked River and Ochoco Creek waterways frequently experience low flows, elevated summer stream temperatures, and poor water quality. These issues are compounded by a lack of suitable habitats for both fish and terrestrial wildlife, and the impacts to river ecology of Reclamation\u2019s Crooked River Project, including Bowman and Ochoco Dams. The Deschutes Land Trust, with support from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, will restore aquatic, floodplain, and upland habitat across 124 acres on the Ochoco Preserve, located in Crook County, Oregon, adjacent to the City of Prineville.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-applaud-43-million-portland-business-contract-support", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Applaud $43 Million Portland Business Contract to Support U.S. Antarctic Program", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today welcomed the announcement that a Portland manufacturer secured a $43.5 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop equipment for research in the Antarctic.\n\nThe Portland manufacturer, Gunderson Marine, LLC, will design and build a steel pier barge to support operations at McMurdo Station for the National Science Foundation\u2019s U.S. Antarctic Program.\n\n\u201cThe Antarctic is one of the least explored regions in the world, and this contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation matches a mainstay Portland business with cutting-edge scientific research,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis good news means jobs locally and groundbreaking research globally.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Northwest Portland to the South Pole, this partnership betweenGundersonMarineand the National Science Foundation will boost the local economy and lead to a greater understanding of one of the earth\u2019s final frontiers,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see a longtime Oregon business take the helm on this opportunity to further critical research in Antarctica and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon manufacturing companies are at the forefront of innovation. This new contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation will support research in the Antarctic and advance the development of vessels equipped to handle the extreme conditions of the region,\" Bonamici said. \u201cI had the opportunity to visit Antarctica with the National Science Foundation a number of years ago and know how important this research is to understanding our environment and world.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are thrilled to have the opportunity to work on this critically important project with great organizations like the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Science Foundation. This is only the beginning of Gunderson Marine diversifying into other markets since the rail car operation is no longer operating at the facility,\u201d said Dee Burch, Gunderson Marine President.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-applaud-43-million-portland-business-contract-to-support-us-antarctic-program", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici Applaud $43 Million Portland Business Contract to Support U.S. Antarctic Program", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley with U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici today welcomed the announcement that a Portland manufacturer secured a $43.5 million contract from the U.S. Army to develop equipment for research in the Antarctic.\n\nThe Portland manufacturer, Gunderson Marine, LLC, will design and build a steel pier barge to support operations at McMurdo Station for the National Science Foundation\u2019s U.S. Antarctic Program.\n\n\u201cThe Antarctic is one of the least explored regions in the world, and this contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation matches a mainstay Portland business with cutting-edge scientific research,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis good news means jobs locally and groundbreaking research globally.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Northwest Portland to the South Pole, this partnership betweenGundersonMarineand the National Science Foundation will boost the local economy and lead to a greater understanding of one of the earth\u2019s final frontiers,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see a longtime Oregon business take the helm on this opportunity to further critical research in Antarctica and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon manufacturing companies are at the forefront of innovation. This new contract between Gunderson Marine and the National Science Foundation will support research in the Antarctic and advance the development of vessels equipped to handle the extreme conditions of the region,\" Bonamici said. \u201cI had the opportunity to visit Antarctica with the National Science Foundation a number of years ago and know how important this research is to understanding our environment and world.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-usda-invests-228-million-to-expand-health-care-and-broadband-assistance-in-rural-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley: USDA Invests $2.28 Million to Expand Health Care and Broadband Assistance in Rural Oregon", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Communities to benefit include Hood River, Wasco, Marion, Yamhill and Clatsop counties\n\nWashington D.C.\u2014U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a federal investment of $2.28 million in rural telemedicine help for Clatsop, Hood River, Marion, Wasco, and Yamhill counties.\n\nThe funding, from USDA Rural Development, includes a first-in-the-nation Broadband Technical Assistance Program investment of $500,000 for Rural Prosperity Partners that will help address fundamental barriers faced by rural communities, giving Oregonians everywhere a fair shot at receiving state and federal broadband funding.\n\n\u201cThe message from my town halls and other meetings throughout Oregon is clear \u2013 Rural communities need better access to healthcare and telehealth is a must to achieve that goal in rural parts of our state,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m gratified these rural communities have earned these federal resources, and will keep battling to secure similar investments benefiting every nook and cranny of Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s rural communities must continue to be a focus as we work to support access to all aspects of health care,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese crucial investments across the state will ensure that folks living in more remote communities will have better access to behavioral health services, primary care, and dental care. I will keep working to ensure that these services reach Oregonians in every corner of the state.\u201d\n\nThe USDA Rural Development\u2019s 2023 distance learning and telemedicine grants include the following\n\nOne Community Health ($439,629): This investment will equip Hood River and Wasco Counties (and Klickitat County in Washington) with audio-visual and telehealth equipment that enable medical professionals at One Community Health in these counties to deliver diverse medical, behavioral health and dental telehealth treatment.\n\nSantiam Memorial Hospital ($996,935): This will help equip one hub site in Multnomah County and one end-user site in rural Marion County with a virtual ICU program to increase the critical care available at Santiam Memorial Hospital in Stayton. About 35 fellowship-trained, board-certified critical care physicians, and 30 highly-skilled registered nurses certified in critical care from Oregon Science & Health University Hospital will provide support and consultation to the Santiam Hospital ICU clinicians and nursing staff whenever needed through on-demand, two-way video communication and patient monitoring.\n\nProvidence Health and Services ($347,347): This investment will help equip Yamhill, Hood River and Clatsop counties with specialized telemedicine equipment. Medical professionals with Providence Health and Services of Oregon in Multnomah County will support capacity at smaller rural hospitals with psychological/behavioral health evaluations, stroke evaluations, and neonatal distress evaluations and guidance.\n\nIn addition, $500,000 will be invested in the Broadband Technical Assistance Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-protect-domestic-abuse-survivors-from-gun-violence", "Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Domestic Abuse Survivors from Gun Violence", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today announced they introduced legislation that would prevent domestic violence abusers from buying firearms.\n\n\"The profound grief suffered by Nicolette's family is a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cFirearms must remain inaccessible to domestic violence abusers\u2014 lives should not be lost due to inexcusable loopholes these criminals take advantage of. Congress must help break the cycle of gun violence and act to avert future tragedies by passing the Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cDomestic abuse survivors have incredible strength and deserve peace of mind to know they will be protected when they escape abusive situations,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cEnsuring abusers and violent offenders are barred from accessing firearms is the least we can do to protect the safety of both domestic abuse survivors and our broader communities.\u201d\n\nFederal law protects domestic violence survivors from gun violence by preventing their abusers from buying or having a firearm \u2013 but only once the court has issued a final restraining order. This leaves survivors unprotected exactly when they are in the most danger: when a domestic abuser first learns his or her victim has left and only an emergency restraining order is in place. Further, the definition of \u201cintimate partner\u201d used to prohibit respondents to restraining orders from buying or having a firearm includes spouses, former spouses, people with a child in common, and cohabitants. However, there are many survivors of dating violence who were never married, do not live with their abuser, and have no children.\n\nThe Lori Jackson \u2013 Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would restrict those under emergency restraining orders from buying or having a firearm, and would extend protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by their dating partners.\n\nThe bill is named for two women who were both shot and killed by their abusive, estranged partners even after securing emergency restraining orders: Nicolette Elias from Portland, Oregon; and Lori Jackson from Oxford, Connecticut.\n\nNicolette Elias was a 46-year-old Portland mother of two young daughters who for years sought and secured restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband. Despite all her attempts to protect herself and her daughters from a man who frequently threatened them and had access to firearms, in 2014, Nicolette was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish. He then forced their daughters out of the home, past their mother\u2019s body, and kidnapped them, taking them to his own home. There, later that day, he took his own life, shooting himself in the chest in front of the police.\n\nLori Jackson was a 32-year-old mother of two who fled her home with her two children and filed for a restraining order to protect her family from her estranged husband. She moved in with her mother in Oxford, Connecticut, and the court granted her a temporary protective order while she waited for a hearing to obtain a permanent restraining order. The day before the hearing was scheduled, Lori's husband shot and killed her and injured her mother Merry Jackson using a gun he legally possessed because a permanent protective order was not yet in place.\n\nThe Lori Jackson \u2013 Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act would expand on a provision in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that denies firearm sales to dating partners with misdemeanor domestic violence convictions \u2013 and not just abusers who had been married to, lived with, or had children with their victim.\n\nThe bill would also establish a new grant program to help state and local governments implement policies that keep firearms out of the hands of domestic violence perpetrators while they are subject to a temporary or emergency restraining order. These policies include: requiring a domestic violence abuser to surrender or sell any firearm or ammunition in their possession; revoking their permit or license to purchase, possess or carry a firearm or ammunition while the restraining order is in effect; and requiring that a background check to be performed before any firearm or ammunition is returned to the person subject to the restraining order.\n\nAlongside Wyden, the legislation was led by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and U.S. Representative Jim Himes, D-Conn.\n\nAlongside Merkley, the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Bob Casey, D-Pa., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Patty Murray, D-Wis., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, Dick Durbin, D-Ill., John Fetterman, D-Pa., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Chris Coons, D-Del., Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady, Giffords, March for Our Lives, Sandy Hook Promise, Newtown Action Alliance, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and Jewish Women International.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-urges-justice-department-to-release-information-about-hemisphere-phone-surveillance-program-that-would-outrage-americans-and-congress", "Wyden Urges Justice Department to Release Information About \u2018Hemisphere\u2019 Phone Surveillance Program that would Outrage Americans and Congress", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Unclassified Documents Contain Troubling Information About Dragnet Phone Surveillance Program\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to make public documents related to the Hemisphere phone surveillance program, which allows federal, state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to request searches of trillions of U.S. phone records, usually without warrants.\n\nAlthough the documents are not classified, the Justice Department has marked them as \u201cLaw Enforcement Sensitive,\u201d which is meant to prevent them from being publicly released. In a letter to Garland sent today, Wyden urged the department to remove those restrictions.\n\n\u201cI have serious concerns about the legality of this surveillance program, and the materials provided by the DOJ contain troubling information that would justifiably outrage many Americans and other members of Congress,\u201d Wyden wrote. \u201cWhile I have long defended the government\u2019s need to protect classified sources and methods, this surveillance program is not classified and its existence has already been acknowledged by the DOJ in federal court. The public interest in an informed debate about government surveillance far outweighs the need to keep this information secret.\u201d\n\nUnder the Hemisphere program, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) indirectly pays AT&T to allow any federal, state, local or Tribal law enforcement agency to search AT&T customers\u2019 phone records as far back as 1987, according to public records about the program.\n\nHemisphere has not been subjected to a federal Privacy Impact Assessment because of its unique funding structure. Rather than directly funding the surveillance program, the ONDCP provides a grant to the Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, which in turn pays AT&T to operate this surveillance program. Law enforcement agencies nationwide are able to request Hemisphere searches, including for investigations that are not drug related, Houston HIDTA officials told Wyden\u2019s office.\n\nThe bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act would require a court order for surveillance of Americans\u2019 phone records, the same standard currently required for the government to obtain historical email and instant message metadata records.\n\nRead the full letter to Attorney General Garland here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-takano-bowman-hayes-call-divisive-parental-rights-language-be-removed", "Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, Hayes Call for Divisive \u201cParental Rights\u201d Language to Be Removed from NDAA", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [11/17/23] \u2013 Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mark Takano (D-CA), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) led 23 colleagues in calling for language imposing so-called \u201cparental rights\u201d requirements on public schools run by the Department of Defense to be removed from the proposed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).\n\n\u201cThis section would impose burdensome, unnecessary, and redundant requirements on public schools funded and managed by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), an organization within the Department of Defense that provides military connected students and families with access to a high-quality public education,\u201d the Representatives wrote.\n\nThe Representatives outlined the following reasons for their opposition to Section 651 in the House-passed NDAA, titled, \u201cRights of parents of children attending schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity\u201d:\n\nDoDEA schools have a strong track record of high performance that should be recognized and supported.\n\nEffective family-school partnerships are best achieved by a collaborative, complementary relationship between educators, families, and community leaders to advance programs, practices, and policies that empower every parent to make their child\u2019s potential a reality.\n\nThe final Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) NDAA excluded similar language as the result of a thoughtful bipartisan compromise.\n\nIn addition to Bonamici, Takano, Bowman, and Hayes the letter was signed by Representatives Norcross, Carbajal, Norton, Grijalva, Wilson (FL), Sablan, Schakowsky, Porter, Williams, Trone, Chu, Adams, and Crockett.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be read here and below.\n\nEarlier this year Bonamici led more than 60 colleagues in introducing the Bill of Rights for Students and Parents, a resolution to advance an inclusive, aspirational, and affirmative vision for public education. Bonamici\u2019s resolution serves as a direct contrast to recent proposals that are unproductive, burdensome, and pit parents against educators. Statements in support of the resolution can be found here. Bonamici also led the Democratic response on the floor of the House of Representatives to H.R.5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-south-oregon-coast-earns-300000-federal-investment-for-tech-entrepreneurs", "Wyden, Merkley: South Oregon Coast Earns $300,000 Federal Investment for Tech Entrepreneurs", "2023-11-17", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the South Coast Development Council, Inc. in Coos Bay has secured a $300,000 federal investment to nurture local tech-based start-ups.\n\n\u201cThis federal investment in the South Coast will generate jobs, innovation and economic activity that will ripple out for years to come,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m gratified that key business, education and civic leaders in this rural Oregon community have teamed up to earn these resources. And I\u2019ll keep battling for communities throughout Oregon to receive similar funds that build strong local economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of Oregon\u2019s economy, and even more so for our rural and coastal communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese important investments heading to the South Coast Development Council will support jobs, drive innovation, and help strengthen the local economy of the South Coast.\u201d\n\nThe $300,000 from the federal Economic Development Administration is designed to accelerate technology entrepreneurship on the South Coast by increasing access to entrepreneurial support and startup capital. The South Coast Incubator Technology Industry Ecosystem Development project is led by the South Coast Development Council, Inc. with support from Southwestern Oregon Community College and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend.\n\n\u201cThis is a perfectly-timed opportunity for our rural communities on the south Oregon coast. Our center now can develop a technology-based business incubator to help grow new businesses that focus on the fast-evolving Green Energy and Blue Economy sectors,\u201d said Derek Tonn, director of Southwestern\u2019s Small Business Development Center. \u201cThat means direct assistance to local entrepreneurs developing tech-based products and services for clean energy innovation and people who work on the ocean and rivers.\u201d\n\n\"This collaboration between South Coast Development Council, Inc., Southwestern Oregon Community College, their Small Business Development Center, and the cities of Coos Bay and North Bend is a potentially transformative step for Oregon's South Coast,\u201d said Bryan Sykes, interim executive director, South Coast Development Council Inc. \u201cThe business incubator located on Southwestern\u2019s campus will foster tech-based entrepreneurship, offering prototyping services and comprehensive support to emerging businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-nearly-32-million-for-columbia-river-basin-projects-and-programs-in-oregon", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $32 Million for Columbia River Basin Projects and Programs in Oregon", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The federal investments come through the EPA\u2019s Columbia River Restoration Program, which was created by Senator Merkley to restore health, vitality of critical ecosystems\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investing $31,768,530 million across seven Oregon projects and programs to reduce toxics in fish and water, address climate chaos, and help restore the health of the Columbia River Basin.\n\nThe federal investments come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s historic $79 million total funding infusion into the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, which is proving essential to the Pacific Northwest\u2019s Tribes, communities, and economy that rely on the critical watershed. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed two years ago this week.\n\n\u201cOur rivers and waterways are the lifeblood of our communities. If they are dirty and polluted, our homes, schools, and businesses are dirty and polluted,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThe federal investments for these homegrown projects and programs will drive solutions that lead to a cleaner, healthier Columbia River Basin for our communities, wildlife, ecosystems, and economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Columbia River Basin is a rich and essential part of Oregon\u2019s history, as well an integral part of our present and future,\u201d said Wyden. \"Clean water is a key ingredient for thriving and healthy communities in the Basin. And I will continue to fight for federal resources just like these that protect this precious natural asset for generations to come.\u201d\n\nToxic pollutants can accumulate in water, sediment, and fish tissues. This threatens to decimate natural ecosystems and risk the health of Tribal communities and other Oregonians who consume affected fish populations.\n\nTo help tackle the issue, Senator Merkley\u2014who serves as a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee\u2014amended the Clean Water Act in 2016 to create the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Since then, he has used his position on the Appropriations Committee to fight for robust funding for the program.\n\nIn August 2022, Senators Merkley and Wyden were joined by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan at Broughton Beach in Portland to announce the first wave of grants from the program that were awarded funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce toxics in fish and water throughout the Columbia Basin.\n\n\u201cWe are making tremendous strides in understanding the challenges of water quality and salmon recovery in the Columbia River Basin,\u201d said EPA Regional Administrator Casey Sixkiller. \u201cWorking with our many talented partners in Oregon and across the Basin, we are expanding our efforts to support environmental and human health.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s announcement completes EPA\u2019s awards available for Columbia River Basin Restoration Program funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nA full list and description of each of the latest 18 projects and programs\u2014including the seven efforts in Oregon\u2014can be found HERE.\n\nThe 2023 Tribal Grants to Reduce Toxics in the Columbia River Basin are as follows:\n\n$1,999,055 for the Grand Ronde Toxics Reduction Planning and Action Project to launch a new effort to take concrete actions to reduce toxic pollution in the Willamette River Basin and allow the Tribe to develop a formalized toxics reduction plan for the first time. The project will benefit the health and well-being of Tribal members and improve water quality for fish and wildlife.\n\n$1,990,990 for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Strategic Pollution Prevention and Toxics Reduction Planning and Implementation Project to target toxics reduction actions in the Umatilla, Walla Walla, Snake, and John Day tributaries to the Columbia River. The comprehensive inventory of toxics will prioritize reduction actions. The project will focus on toxics and their impact on human health and the First Foods, which are a critical component of CTUIR Tribal member diets, and all depend on a healthy and functioning river and floodplain.\n\n\u201cFrom our water code: Water keeps all our bodies for us. ?\u00fau\u0161 is a part of everything. It is within nat\u00edtayt (the people), it is within tii?\u00e1m (the land), and it is within n\u00fasux (the salmon). It is essential for the survival of all life. Cold, clean, healthy water is the life blood of the land. This funding is an important step toward protecting cold clean water,\u201d said Mason K. Murphy, Energy and Environmental Sciences Program Manager for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.\n\n\u201cWe are pleased to partner with EPA to reduce toxic pollution. As long-time stewards of the land and water in the Willamette Valley, the Grand Ronde are committed to protecting and restoring clean water, salmon, and healthy communities,\u201d said Cheryle A. Kennedy, Chairwoman, Grand Ronde Tribal Council.\n\nThe 2023 Toxic Reduction Lead Grants in the Columbia River Basin are as follows:\n\n$6,344,510 for the Salmon-Safe Columbia Partner Network: Mobilizing Water Quality Protection Actions across the Inland Northwest Project to scale up its proven work and engage new Tribes, farmers, ranchers, developers, and other land managers in voluntary actions to protect water quality and enhance climate resiliency.\n\n$6,000,539 for the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program \u2013 Toxic Reduction Lead. The funding will be used to fuel activities that safeguard waterways from pesticides and mercury, remediate orphaned brownfield sites in communities historically impacted the most by toxic pollutants, and implement actions to PFAS compounds (known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d) to improve the health of Oregon\u2019s natural resources and those who depend on them.\n\n$5,599,735 for The Freshwater Trust\u2019s Mid-Snake Toxics and Runoff Reduction Program, which seeks to establish and support a coordinating committee of funders and implementers to target and implement high impact irrigation upgrades on agricultural fields that reduce the runoff that fuels dangerous methylmercury production in the Snake River. Methylmercury threatens human health, and the anoxic conditions that lead to methylmercury production threaten whole ecosystems.\n\n$5,546,005 for Scaling Up: Urban Waters and Wildlife Partners (De)pave the Way on Toxics Reduction in the Upper Willamette with Cascade Pacific RC&D, which aims to further expand their flagship stormwater retrofit program, continue to provide technical assistance for improved stormwater management and install twenty-four voluntary, green stormwater infrastructure facilities to reduce or eliminate pollution and runoff, improve water quality, and protect habitat while promoting citizen engagement and knowledge.\n\n$4,287,696 for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership \u2013 School Stormwater Reduction Program, which will work with community partners to design and build stormwater retrofit projects to reduce the stormwater pollution generated from schoolyards and school parking areas; highlight green infrastructure approaches at a communities\u2019 most public places; and engage and teach teachers, students, and community members about stormwater issues and solutions.\n\n\u201cWorking across the interior Columbia Basin from ranches on Oregon\u2019s John Day River to barley farms on Snake River tributaries in Idaho to commercial development in Bend and Spokane and Boise, the project builds a market-based movement of partnering organizations and conservation organizations and Tribes working together to inspire countless voluntary landowner actions across the basin to protect water quality and enhance climate resiliency,\u201d Dan Kent, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Salmon-Safe said.\n\n\"DEQ is excited to see this funding coming to Oregon and the Columbia River Basin to support our work on the ground with communities,\u201d said Oregon DEQ Director Leah Feldon. \u201cThis is one of North America\u2019s largest basins and home to so many cultural, natural and economic resources \u2013 it\u2019s important we do our part to reduce the impacts of toxics.\u201d\n\n\u201cMethylmercury threatens communities in the Columbia River Basin. Reductions in the agricultural runoff that help fuel methylmercury production can be easily achieved by converting surface irrigated fields to sprinkler irrigation systems. The barrier to implementing thousands of these upgrades in the Mid-Snake Basin (Eastern Oregon and Western Idaho) is not lack of producer interest. It\u2019s simply not anyone\u2019s job to solve the bigger funding, timing, and coordination barriers that currently inhibit project adoption at speed and scale. The Freshwater Trust, in partnership with a Coordinating Committee of regional funders and implementers, will use advanced watershed analytics to identify priority clusters of projects, make simple and financially compelling offers to producers to install new equipment, and work with local water user groups to continuously build up a queue of shovel-ready projects. We\u2019re excited EPA is giving us the opportunity to demonstrate a bigger, faster pathway forward that can benefit so many communities,\u201d said Tim Wigington, Vice President of Finance and Policy, The Freshwater Trust.\n\n\u201cUrban stormwater is the number one threat to clean water in the Willamette Valley- and we have brought partners together to provide solutions that create both habitat and better water quality in our urban neighborhoods. The Urban Waters and Wildlife Partnership (UWWP), led by the Long Tom Watershed Council, addresses this challenging problem through working with businesses to design and install Trout Friendly Landscapes on commercial and industrial properties throughout Eugene and Springfield. The Partnership is comprised of the Cities of Eugene & Springfield, Lane County, Willamalane, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Springfield Utility Board, Metro Wastewater Management Commission, Upper Willamette Soil & Water Conservation District, Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development (CPRCD), and all four regional Watershed Councils: McKenzie, Middle & Coast Fork of the Willamette and Long Tom. As the Toxics Lead, CPRCD will disperse EPA funding to UWWP projects and partners. Funds will support the expansion of the partnership's work to include new projects such as Lane County's Stormwater Basin Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP),\u201d said Kirk Shimeall, Executive Director, Cascade Pacific Resource Conservation & Development.\n\n\u201cThe School Stormwater Reduction Program is a profound investment in clean water and healthier communities. Thanks to Senator Merkley\u2019s leadership and the Columbia River Basin Restoration Act, we\u2019re installing stormwater treatment infrastructure/facilities at schools in Oregon and Washington \u2014 reducing the amount of toxic pollution entering local waterways while also transforming parking lots and schoolyards into watershed science learning laboratories for students,\u201d said Elaine Placido, Executive Director, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-call-for-implementation-of-critical-provisions-to-end-road-safety-crisis", "Wyden, Colleagues Call for Implementation of Critical Provisions to End Road Safety Crisis", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden along with Senate colleagues has sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requesting an update on the implementation of critical road safety provisions for Oregon and the country in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cLast year, nearly 43,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes. While this number represents a slight decrease from 2021 \u2014 the deadliest year on the road in sixteen years \u2014 bold action is necessary to address this road safety crisis,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cThere is no doubt our nation is at a critical moment for traffic safety, and NHTSA\u2019s task of implementing the much needed \u2026 safety provisions will determine whether we continue our progress and leave traffic fatalities in the rear view mirror.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe commend NHTSA for its work to curb the disturbing increase in traffic related deaths that culminated in 2021, but now is not the time to turn on cruise control when it comes to road safety.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the senators requested NHTSA to provide a written update on its progress in implementing ten safety provisions secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law:\n\nRecall Completion (Sec. 24202), which directs NHTSA to publish an annual list of recall completion rates;\n\nMotor Vehicle Seatback Safety Standards (Sec. 24204), which directs NHTSA to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to update Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 207 regarding seatback safety standards;\n\nAutomatic Shutoff (Sec. 24505), which directs NHTSA to issue a final rule to require manufacturers of vehicles with keyless ignitions to install a device that automatically shuts off the vehicle after it idles for a certain period;\n\nCrash Avoidance Technology (Sec. 24208), which directs NHTSA to issue minimum performance standards for crash avoidance technologies and to require all cars be equipped with a forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking system as well as a lane departure warning and lane keeping assist system;\n\nReduction in Driver Distraction (Sec. 24209), which directs NHTSA to conduct research on driver monitoring systems to reduce driver distraction and driver disengagement;\n\nHeadlamps (Sec. 24212), which directs NHTSA to issue a final rule amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 regarding performance-based standards for vehicle headlamps;\n\nHood and Bumper Standards (Sec. 24214), which directs NHTSA to request comment on potential updates to hood and bumper standards;\n\nEarly Warning Reporting (Sec. 24216), which directs NHTSA to conduct a study on existing requirements for manufacturers to report information and data to help identify potential safety issues;\n\nAdvanced Impaired Driver Technology (Sec. 24220), which directs NHTSA to issue a final rule requiring new vehicles be equipped with impaired driving prevention technology; and,\n\nChild Safety (Sec. 24222), which directs NHTSA to issue a final rule requiring new cars be equipped with a system to alert the driver to check rear seats after the engine is turned off.\n\nThe letter was led by Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Along with Wyden, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/blumenauer-wyden-introduce-groundbreaking-tribal-co-stewardship-model", "Blumenauer, Wyden Introduce Groundbreaking Tribal Co-Stewardship Model", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer and Senator Ron Wyden, along with Senator Jeff Merkley, reintroduced the Wy\u2019east Tribal Resources Restoration Act. The legislation directs the U.S. Forest Service to partner with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs to develop a co-management plan for agreed-upon Treaty Resource Emphasis Zones. The legislation would establish one of the first placed-based co-management strategies in the nation. This legislation was introduced last Congress, and it had a hearing in the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.\n\n\u201cIndigenous communities have been responsible stewards of Oregon\u2019s lands and wildlife since time immemorial. We must do more to capitalize on their leadership in our conservation efforts\u2014not just because the federal government has a moral obligation to do so but because we will not be successful without them,\u201d said Congressman Earl Blumenauer. \u201cTribal co-stewardship represents 21st?century public lands management.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have generations-long knowledge of best ecological practices and treaty rights with the federal government that must be protected,\u201d Senator Ron Wyden said. \u201cThis legislation would secure both goals in the Mount Hood National Forest by giving the Tribe an important voice and role in the management of its precious cultural resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are the largest neighbor to the Mt. Hood National Forest and are essential in maintaining and protecting the region\u2019s cultural and ecological resources,\u201d said Senator Jeff Merkley. \u201cThis legislation is a critical step in fulfilling our treaty and trust responsibilities to the Warm Springs community by creating a framework for them to take an active role in co-managing the forest and utilizing their knowledge, traditions, and expertise to improve forest management.\u201d\n\nThe Wy\u2019east Tribal Resources Restoration Act:\n\n\u00b7 Directs the U.S. Forest Service to develop a co-management plan with the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs to protect and enhance Tribal Treaty resources and protect the Reservation from wildfire within agreed-upon \u201cTreaty Resources Emphasis Zones.\u201d These zones are areas within the Mount Hood National Forest subject to the Warm Springs-Forest Service co-management plan;\n\n\u00b7 Requires implementation of the Cultural Foods Obligations, which were included in the Public Lands Management Act of 2009 but have never been implemented;\n\n\u00b7 Integrates traditional ecological knowledge as an important part of the best available scientific information used in forest and resource management areas within the Zone;\n\n\u00b7 Authorizes $3,500,000 in annual appropriations and the use of existing Forest Service revenue to ensure the Tribe is a full participant in management.\n\nClick here for bill text. Click herefor a one-page fact sheet.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Rep. Blumenauer and Senator Wyden for this legislation.?Warm Springs people have cared for the land since the Creator placed us here, and this legislation will help reconnect Wyeast to its original inhabitants and integrate?traditional ecological knowledge into federal land management.?The bill would allow the Warm Springs Tribe to?improve fish and wildlife habitat, reduce forest fuels and?wildfire risk in the borderlands of our Reservation \u2014 an area designated as a priority?fireshed by the U.S. Forest Service.? The result will improve forest and wildlife health for the benefit of all Oregonians,\u201d said Warm Springs Chairman Jonathan Smith.\n\n\u201cOur nonprofit agrees that shifting federal management of Mt. Hood towards a modern, community-empowered mindset is dearly needed.?Across wildfires mitigation, ecological or recreation public interests, current regulatory regimes hinder more than help,\u201d said Noel Johnson, President of Teacup/Mt. Hood Nordic.\n\n\"The Oregon Trails Coalition is thankful for Congressman Blumenauer and Senator Wyden's leadership in reintroducing the?Wy'east Tribal Resources Restoration Act, as we believe true partnerships with Tribes are crucial for honoring treaty rights and protecting the long-term health of the treasured lands and waters we turn to for recreation and renewal. We are committed to continuing to collaborate to increase investment in protecting natural and cultural?resources as well as recreation access on Wy'east/ Mt. Hood National Forest,\u201d said Stephanie Noll, Coalition Director of Oregon Trails Coalition.\n\n\u201cSustainable Northwest commends Representative?Blumenauer?and Senator Wyden for introduction of Wy\u2019east Tribal Resources Restoration Act, and its emphatic recognition of?tribal?sovereignty and treaty rights. Far too often, legislation designed to protect and enhance federal natural resource values fails to respect and honor the legally binding obligations the federal government has to?Tribal?nations in these landscapes. This legislation paves the way for a new and equitable approach to achieve protection and enhancement of treasured places, while explicitly upholding and supporting?Tribal?treaty rights and sovereignty in land management planning and decision-making,\u201d said Greg Block, President of Sustainable Northwest\n\n\u201cI applaud Congressman Blumenauer and Senator Wyden\u2019s efforts to expand the co-management of the Mt. Hood National Forest alongside the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. Scenic beauty and outdoor recreation are major motivators for tourism in Oregon?and these opportunities are greatly enhanced by the Tribes who have tended these treasured places since time immemorial. This bill takes important steps forward in recognizing tribal sovereignty and treaty rights to ensure that this stewardship can continue for generations to come,\u201d said Todd Davidson, CEO Travel Oregon?\n\n\u201cThis co-management strategy between the Forest Service and the Tribe is an excellent outline to improve the technical understanding of trust responsibilities while recognizing the need to integrate ecological and scientific knowledge with the intent to better fulfill the trust relationship between the US Government and Tribal relations,\u201d said Mike Quinn, Vice President of Mt. Hood Skibowl.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-nearly-400000-for-bend-small-business-to-research-environmental-solutions", "Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly $400,000 for Bend Small Business to Research Environmental Solutions", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "EPA resources for LeapFrog Designs will be used on development of graywater technologies\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a nearly $400,000 federal grant to LeapFrog Designs in Bend to develop a nature-based treatment technology to reuse onsite non-potable graywater. Graywater is wastewater from sources like kitchen sinks, bathtubs, showers and washing machines that do not include human waste.\n\n\u201cSmart and effective solutions to water shortages generated by the climate crisis will often come from small businesses just like LeapFrog Designs with its ethic of innovation and creativity,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m gratified this Bend company has secured this federal investment, and will keep working to support these small businesses in Oregon and across the nation while also investing in the green economy of the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cInvesting in Oregon\u2019s small businesses that create climate-friendly innovations and solutions is a win-win for local economies and the environment. LeapFrog in Bend is employing a creative use of technology that works to address both water scarcity and water pollution,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThis investment will create local jobs, protect the environment, and help keep small businesses competitive.\u201d\n\nThe $399,618 grant to LeapFrog Designs from the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s Small Business Innovation Research program is for researching solutions to complex climate issues.\n\n\u201cWater scarcity and water pollution are huge problems nationwide and worldwide,\u201d said Nick Sund, LeapFrog Designs Co-Founder and Head of Product. \u201cWater reuse solves both simultaneously.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-statement-on-white-house-nomination-of-amy-m-baggio-for-us-district-court-in-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley Statement on White House Nomination of Amy M. Baggio for U.S. District Court in Oregon", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today issued the following statement on the White House nomination of Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Amy M. Baggio for a seat on the U.S. District Court in Oregon.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-cuellar-norcross-dingell-propose-child-care-stipends-union", "Bonamici, Cuellar, Norcross, Dingell Propose Child Care Stipends for Union Apprenticeship Programs", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 In recognition of National Apprenticeship Week, Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), Donald Norcross (NJ-1), and Debbie Dingell (MI-6) introduced the Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act. The bill would establish a child care stipend pilot program available to Americans enrolled in Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeship programs.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by North America\u2019s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), Laborers\u2019 International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART), United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC), United Association of Union Plumbers & Pipefitters (UA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Operative Plasterers\u2019 and Cement Masons\u2019 International Association (OPCMIA) & Third Way.\n\n\u201cApprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships put workers on a path to quality, good-paying jobs that will support their family for years to come,\u201d said Representative Bonamici. \u201cIncreasing access to child care will encourage a more diverse workforce and foster inclusive economic growth by allowing more people to benefit from these programs while caring for their families. I\u2019m pleased to introduce the Apprenticeship-Related Child Care Act with my colleagues to make child care more affordable for apprentices and pre-apprentices and open the doors to opportunity.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve seen the benefits of the Registered Apprenticeship system first-hand in South Texas, where our local unions sponsor multi-year programs in a variety of trades,\u201d said Dr. Cuellar. \u201cDespite these successes, apprentices still face financial barriers to completion \u2013 particularly those with dependent children. The cost of child care has more than tripled in the last three decades. It\u2019s essential that we do more to address these costs and support American workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica will never reach peak workforce participation unless we as a country address the urgent and escalating issue of child care. It touches every office, business, and job site in the United States,\u201d said Sean McGarvey, President of North America\u2019s Building Trades Unions. \u201cThe lack of access to safe, quality, affordable child care prevents parents from being in the workforce, hurts our economy, and hurts families. All of us must do more. The building trades unions and our partners are stepping up to do our part, and we applaud those who are focused on exploring strategies to provide additional support. The Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act does just this, and we thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for their leadership on this issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnion apprenticeships are the best tool we have to lift Americans into the middle class. But far too often, historically underrepresented communities run into obstacles that prevent them from accessing the careers that we provide \u2013 one of the most prominent being affordable child care,\u201d said Michael Coleman, General President of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). \u201cThe Apprentice-Related Child Care Act would play a vital role in helping parents surmount that financial barrier, making it easier for unions like SMART to bring people of all backgrounds into our industries. This is a potentially life-changing piece of legislation for workers across the country, and we thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for introducing it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen someone thinks of the building trades, they think of workers who build things, but we are also people who like to break down barriers,\u201d said Kevin Sexton, the General President of the Operative Plasterers\u2019 & Cement Masons\u2019 International Association of the United States and Canada (OPCMIA). \u201cToday, one of the biggest barriers to entering the workforce is the high cost of childcare. By providing childcare stipends, the Apprentice-Related Child Care (ARCC) Act will help parents pursue careers that will enable them to better provide for their families. We thank Representatives Cuellar, Bonamici, Norcross, and Dingell for introducing the ARCC Act and their leadership by supporting parents in their pursuit of the American dream. Together, we will pave the road to the middle class.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe burdensome cost of child care prevents too many parents, especially mothers, from reaping the benefits of our country\u2019s apprenticeship system,\u201d said Gabe Horwitz, Senior Vice President of the Economic Program at Third Way. \u201cThis legislation takes an important step in making our apprenticeship system reach more parents and have the support they need to balance the demands of work and family.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former electrical apprentice, I know firsthand that registered apprenticeships are one of America\u2019s most successful job programs,\u201d said Representative Norcross. \u201cThe ARCC Act will expand access to apprenticeships and remove barriers to these highly successful programs by providing affordable childcare for hardworking Americans who are working to support their families. I am committed to making sure that all apprentices have the resources and opportunities they need to complete their programs, and I am proud to co-lead this bill that will strengthen America's workforce and expand pathways to the middle class.\"\n\n\u201cCaregiving is the foundation of our economy and allows all other work to be possible,\u201d said Representative Dingell. \u201cThe ARCC Act will help address the childcare crisis in this country, allowing Americans who would otherwise not be able to access apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships that lead to good-paying, high-value careers.\u201d\n\nThe ARCC Act would establish a two-year pilot program at the Department of Labor (DOL). Authorized at $200 million over Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, the bill directs the DOL to establish a competitive grant program, awarding grants to ten geographically diverse states for the purposes of administering child care stipends to American workers enrolled in Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeship programs.\n\nStipends are paid directly to child care providers serving apprentices and must be at least $500 per month, per dependent child. When administering child care stipends, states must include groups that are historically underrepresented in apprenticeships, including women and people of color. At the conclusion of the pilot program, DOL must report to Congress on the impact of these stipends, including any effect on persistence and completion rates. The stipends are not subject to income tax and not counted toward eligibility for public benefit programs.\n\nFor more information on the ARCC Act, click here. To read the ARCC Act\u2019s bill text, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-crapo-valadao-slotkin-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-boost", "Bonamici, Wyden, Crapo, Valadao, Slotkin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Exports of Fruit, Vegetables, Nuts and Other Specialty Crops", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., David Valadao, R-Calif., and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich, along with Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced legislation today to help farmers fight through trade barriers and sell more fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in foreign markets.\n\nThe Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act), responds to continued high tariffs, burdensome labeling requirements, and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. products from accessing foreign markets, threatening rural communities and agricultural producers who depend on customers overseas.\n\n\u201cOregon is world famous for our specialty crops, and products like blueberries and hazelnuts make up a significant portion of our state's export economy. Unfortunately, growers face many barriers to foreign markets, which limit their competitiveness,\u201d Bonamici said. \u201cThe Specialty CROP Act will improve the USDA\u2019s existing specialty crops trade report to better translate its findings into meaningful action and policy. I\u2019m pleased to introduce this important bipartisan legislation with Senator Wyden and several colleagues in the House and Senate.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cOur bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom high tariffs to onerous labeling requirements, America\u2019s specialty crop growers face a range of barriers imposed by foreign nations that hinder their ability to export their high-quality products around the world,\u201d Crapo said. Improving the USDA\u2019s Specialty Crop Report will arm producers and trade negotiators with detailed and up-to-date information, helping break down longstanding trade barriers, diversify export markets and expand export opportunities for Idaho\u2019s specialty crop producers.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpecialty crop producers in California have faced many challenges over the last few years \u2013 from supply chain backlogs at our ports, rising input costs, labor shortages, and drought,\u201d said Valadao. \u201cMany of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but too often face unfair trade barriers that make it difficult to stay competitive. This bill will better identify trade obstacles so that American-grown specialty crops have fair access to foreign markets.\u201d\n\n\u201cSpecialty crops \u2013 fruits, vegetables, nuts, and more \u2013 are vital to Michigan\u2019s economy and to the livelihoods of the farmers that grow them,\u201d said Slotkin. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m co-leading the Specialty CROP Act. This bipartisan bill will help growers access foreign markets, while also analyzing potential barriers to success \u2013 a straightforward, common-sense step that will support our agriculture community.\u201d\n\nThe legislation will help farmers by making key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report, in order to more effectively identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers, including to:\n\nExplicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR);\n\nHighlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers;\n\nInclude an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement;\n\nInclude specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier; and\n\nRequire a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.\n\nRequire the report to be made public, while allowing for a classified annex in order to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy.\n\nContinue to define \u201cspecialty crop\u201d as \u201cfruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.\u201d\n\nStatements of Support\n\n\u201cU.S. specialty crops are increasingly challenged in foreign markets by creative protectionist tariff and non-tariff barriers. The legislation championed by Senators Wyden and Crapo seeks to call out and identify remedies for these impediments as a first step in eliminating them on behalf of U.S. family farmers. We strongly support this commonsense effort to level the playing field,\u201d said Kam Quarles, Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Co-chair and National Potato Council CEO.\n\n\u201cMaintaining and expanding access to overseas markets is critical for apple, cherry, and pear growers in the Pacific Northwest. The legislation introduced by Senators Wyden and Crapo will help us understand the trade barriers in export markets and identify solutions to ensure growers remain competitive around the world,\u201d said Mark Powers, President, Northwest Horticultural Council.\n\n\"The North American Blueberry Council applauds Senators Wyden and Crapo for introducing the \u2018Expanding Agricultural Exports Act.\u2019 The global demand for blueberries continues to increase year-over-year. However, technical barriers and high tariff rates put U.S. blueberry producers at a competitive disadvantage in key export markets. This bill will not only help identify specific barriers affecting specialty crops, but also encourage productive engagement between the industry, Administration, and Congress on real solutions that will drive the growth of U.S. specialty crop exports,\u201d said Kasey Cronquist, President, North American Blueberry Council.\n\nRead the text of the legislation here.\n\nRead a one-page summary of the bill here.\n\nA web version of this release is here.\n\nThe bill is cosponsored by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Susan Collins, R-Maine.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-winner-oregon-first-districts-2023-congressional-app", "Bonamici Announces Winner of Oregon First District\u2019s 2023 Congressional App Challenge", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/13/23] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici announced that Aashna Nanal, a senior at Westview High School, won the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Oregon\u2019s First Congressional District.\n\nHer app, AP Course Picker, helps high school students navigate the selection of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. After gathering information about the user\u2019s interests, strengths, and goals through a series of questions, AP Course Picker generates a plan with recommended AP classes for each school year. The app is intended for incoming freshmen who are interested in planning their AP course load over their time in high school.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Aashna for winning the 2023 Congressional App Challenge,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cAashna\u2019s app is an innovative resource for students who attend high schools that offer AP classes. I wish Aashna well in her final year of high school, and I\u2019m excited to see what she accomplishes next.\u201d\n\n\u201cA lot of incoming freshmen in high school can be overwhelmed by the amount of AP classes offered as well as the progression of the courses,\u201d said Aashna Nanal. \u201cConsidering that AP classes can put students at a great advantage for college, it is very important that all students have accessible information and guidance about AP classes. The purpose of this app is to help high school students navigate choosing Advancement Placement courses by gathering information about their interests, strengths and goals to generate a four year AP course plan for the student.\u201d\n\nYou can view a video presentation of the app here.\n\nJudges gave an honorable mention to Lance Skarada for his app, Summit SAT: Math Made Easy. The app aims to make SAT math learning accessible and easy to understand. The app includes a custom study plan, formulas likely to appear on the SAT, tests, and flashcards. Skarada is a senior at West Salem High School and lives in the First Congressional District.\n\nYou can view a video presentation of Summit SAT: Math Made Easy here.\n\nExpert judges from Northwest Oregon selected the winning app. The judges evaluated submissions for creativity, originality, user experience, and design. The two judges are:\n\nCyreena Boston Ashby, CEO, Girls Inc.\n\nHazel Valdez, Executive Director, PDX Women in Tech (PDXWIT)\n\nBonamici joined participants from Oregon's First District at a virtual reception where the winning app, AP Course Picker, was announced. The app will be featured in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House of Representatives website.\n\nBonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into science, technology, engineering, and math education to encourage creative thinking and engage more students. By supporting and recognizing young coders, Congress is acknowledging the importance of these fields. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-cortez-masto-introduce-bicameral-bill-support-affordable-manufactured", "Bonamici, Cortez Masto Introduce Bicameral Bill to Support Affordable Manufactured Housing Communities", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced bicameral legislation with Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01) to help preserve and revitalize manufactured housing communities.\n\n\u201cWe have a severe shortage of housing across the country, and it\u2019s important to maintain and preserve the affordable options we have. Manufactured homes are often more affordable than other housing, but many manufactured housing communities do not have funds to upgrade and repair basic infrastructure such as water and sewer systems, and homeowners typically do not own the land beneath their homes,\u201d said Representative Bonamici. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to work with Senators Cortez Masto and Shaheen to introduce the PRICE Act, which will make the PRICE grant program permanent and protect a crucial source of funding for preserving manufactured housing.\u201d\n\n\u201cManufactured homes are critical for many families, and my legislation would help communities keep lot rents affordable and make vital infrastructure improvements,\u201d said Senator Cortez Masto. \u201cI\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues to address the affordable housing crisis and keep families in their homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cGranite State families shouldn\u2019t have to worry about losing the roof over their heads, but unfortunately, that\u2019s a reality that many face every day,\u201d said Senator Shaheen. \u201cNew Hampshire has more than 140 resident-owned manufactured housing communities (ROCs), and this crucial legislation would provide resources to those manufactured housing communities to make much-needed water and infrastructure upgrades and will keep working class families in affordable homes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe housing crisis is impacting communities all across the country,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cManufactured housing is a key solution to this problem and a vital source of affordable housing all over Minnesota,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cWe need to be doing everything we can to preserve and improve housing security and affordability, and that includes supporting manufactured housing. This bill would help preserve these affordable housing options for residents and owners for years to come, particularly in rural and tribal areas.\u201d\n\n\u201cEverywhere I go in Montana, from Billings to Missoula to Polson, I hear about the need to tackle the lack of affordable housing in our state,\u201d said Senator Tester. \u201cAs a third-generation Montanan who is fortunate enough to live on the same plot of land my grandparents homesteaded over 100 years ago, making sure that folks can afford to live in the community they grew up in is personal. Our commonsense legislation will help preserve the supply of affordable housing across our state and revitalize units badly in need of repairs, and I\u2019ll keep fighting until it becomes law.\u201d\n\n\u201cU.S. Sens. Cortez Masto and Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Bonamici have heard the voices of low-income homeowners in \u2018mobile\u2019 home communities,\u201d said Resident Owned Communities (ROC) USA\u00ae President Paul Bradley. \u201cThese are the stories of hardworking families and retirees who simply want to live in resilient and healthy communities, which is something that most Americans take for granted thanks to public investment.\u201d\n\n\u201cNetwork for Oregon Affordable Housing strongly supports the PRICE program and the resources it will bring to states and local communities across the country,\u201d said Bill VanVliet, Executive Director, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH). \u201cManufactured housing is America\u2019s largest source of unsubsidized affordable housing. The Price program will help preserve and improve existing manufactured housing communities and help create new affordable housing at a cost far below conventionally built housing.\n\nDemocrats created the Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) grant program in 2022 to help preserve and revitalize manufactured housing in eligible communities. This legislation would make the PRICE program permanent, providing funding for home improvements and neighborhood upgrades for thousands of Americans each year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act", "House Passes Bill to Amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 On Wednesday, November 8, the House passed legislation that amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to restore the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde\u2019s right to pursue land claims and compensation. The legislation is co-led by U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas(OR-06) andU.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.\n\n\u201cIt is fitting that during Native American Heritage Month we have moved a step further toward restoring a vital right held by members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici. \u201cThe passage of the Grand Ronde Reservation Act amendment in the House brings us closer to correcting historic wrongs, and I hope the Senate brings this needed legislation up for a vote soon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s Indigenous peoples, including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, have faced countless injustices at the hands of our government. Today, we took a historic step toward righting the wrongs of the past,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cI am very proud that my first bill to pass the House of Representatives would restore Grand Ronde\u2019s ability to pursue land claims and compensation\u2014a right already enjoyed by the rest of Oregon\u2019s federally recognized tribes. I am hopeful that the Senate will swiftly pass this bill and send it to President Biden for his signature. In the meantime, I am grateful for the continued support of Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and the many stakeholders who helped create the momentum we needed to make this legislation a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly three decades ago, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe\u2019s rights to future land claims and compensation. This is just plain wrong,\u201d said Sen. Merkley. \u201cI am thrilled the House passed the legislation I\u2019ve been championing for years, which is a critical step forward in the Grand Ronde\u2019s fight to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon\u2014rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon. I will keep pressing for the Senate to do the same, so Congress can finally correct this historic injustice for the Grand Ronde.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been working to restore its people\u2019s rights on ancestral lands,\u201d said Sen. Wyden. \u201cThis necessary bill is a critical step in correcting past injustices while protecting the rights of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the terms of the land exchange that it negotiated in good faith free from unfair legal restrictions.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday is a monumental day. We are grateful that the United States House of Representatives has helped pass legislation for the Grand Ronde Tribe that will help right a historic wrong,\u201d said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cWords cannot express what this means to us and the gratitude that we have for Senator Merkley and to Representative Salinas, who championed this legislation from the beginning.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government has a legal and moral obligation to correct the historic wrongs unleashed on Indigenous communities for centuries,\u201d said Rep. Blumenauer. \u201cThat includes restoring the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde\u2019s right to pursue land claims and revise surveying errors like the Thompson Strip. I\u2019m delighted that this critically overdue legislation will see to that.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to stand with the Oregon delegation in supporting this legislation to right a wrong, and I\u2019m thrilled that it has passed the House,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis bill is not just a technical fix\u2014it's a step towards justice for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde by restoring their right to pursue land claims and compensation, which should not have been taken from them. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation as well so that it can be signed into law.\"\n\n\u201cThe Grand Ronde tribe shouldn\u2019t face barriers that don\u2019t apply to other tribes, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m honored to join my Oregon colleagues in support of amending the Grand Ronde Reservation Act,\u201d said Rep. Chavez-DeRemer. \u201cI\u2019ll continue working with my colleagues and the Grand Ronde tribe to get this needed fix signed into law.\u201d\n\nSalinas and Merkley\u2019s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would correct a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered. Salinas and Merkley\u2019s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase \u201clands within the State of Oregon\u201d with the phrase \u201cthe 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,\u201d clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip.\n\nTo read the full bill text, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-merkley-bill-amend-grand-ronde-reservation-act-passes-house", "Salinas, Merkley Bill to Amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act Passes House", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 On Wednesday, November 8, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas(OR-06) successfully passed her first piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\nThe bill, which was introduced by Rep. Salinas in March, amends the Grand Ronde Reservation Act to restore the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde\u2019s right to pursue land claims and compensation. The legislation is co-led by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), as well as U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s Indigenous peoples, including the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde, have faced countless injustices at the hands of our government. Today, we took a historic step toward righting the wrongs of the past,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cI am very proud that my first bill to pass the House of Representatives would restore Grand Ronde\u2019s ability to pursue land claims and compensation\u2014a right already enjoyed by the rest of Oregon\u2019s federally recognized tribes. I am hopeful that the Senate will swiftly pass this bill and send it to President Biden for his signature. In the meantime, I am grateful for the continued support of Senator Merkley, my Oregon colleagues, and the many stakeholders who helped create the momentum we needed to make this legislation a reality.\u201d\n\n\u201cNearly three decades ago, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde sought to fix a historical surveying error within their reservation boundary, only for the federal government to make another error that relinquished the Tribe\u2019s rights to future land claims and compensation. This is just plain wrong,\u201d said Sen. Merkley. \u201cI am thrilled the House passed the legislation I\u2019ve been championing for years, which is a critical step forward in the Grand Ronde\u2019s fight to restore its right to pursue land claims in Oregon\u2014rights already available to other federally-recognized Tribes in Oregon. I will keep pressing for the Senate to do the same, so Congress can finally correct this historic injustice for the Grand Ronde.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor generations, the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde have been working to restore its people\u2019s rights on ancestral lands,\u201d said Sen. Wyden. \u201cThis necessary bill is a critical step in correcting past injustices while protecting the rights of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and the terms of the land exchange that it negotiated in good faith free from unfair legal restrictions.\"\n\n\u201cToday is a monumental day. We are grateful that the United States House of Representatives has helped pass legislation for the Grand Ronde Tribe that will help right a historic wrong,\u201d said Grand Ronde Chairwoman Cheryle A. Kennedy. \u201cWords cannot express what this means to us and the gratitude that we have for Senator Merkley and to Representative Salinas, who championed this legislation from the beginning.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is fitting that during Native American Heritage Month we have moved a step further toward restoring a vital right held by members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici. \u201cThe passage of the Grand Ronde Reservation Act amendment in the House brings us closer to correcting historic wrongs, and I hope the Senate brings this needed legislation up for a vote soon.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government has a legal and moral obligation to correct the historic wrongs unleashed on Indigenous communities for centuries,\u201d said Rep. Blumenauer. \u201cThat includes restoring the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde\u2019s right to pursue land claims and revise surveying errors like the Thompson Strip. I\u2019m delighted that this critically overdue legislation will see to that.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to stand with the Oregon delegation in supporting this legislation to right a wrong, and I\u2019m thrilled that it has passed the House,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis bill is not just a technical fix\u2014it's a step towards justice for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde by restoring their right to pursue land claims and compensation, which should not have been taken from them. I urge the Senate to swiftly pass this legislation as well so that it can be signed into law.\"\n\n\u201cThe Grand Ronde tribe shouldn\u2019t face barriers that don\u2019t apply to other tribes, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m honored to join my Oregon colleagues in support of amending the Grand Ronde Reservation Act,\u201d said Rep. Chavez-DeRemer. \u201cI\u2019ll continue working with my colleagues and the Grand Ronde tribe to get this needed fix signed into law.\u201d\n\nSalinas and Merkley\u2019s bill to fix the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would correct a drafting error in a 1994 legislative amendment to the Grand Ronde Reservation Act, which authorized a land exchange requiring the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to compensate the Grand Ronde Tribe for an 84-acre survey error by the federal government. The survey error occurred around 1871 and was not discovered by the Bureau of Land Management until 1988. In 1994, in pursuing federal legislation to rectify the error, an amendment was made to the bill at the time that further prohibited the Tribe from making any additional land claims if new errors were ever discovered. Salinas and Merkley\u2019s bill will end this inequitable restriction on the Tribe so that they may pursue recourse if additional survey errors are found. Currently, no other tribe in the State of Oregon is bound by this type of legal restriction and removing it will restore equity to the Grand Ronde Tribe. In case additional survey errors are discovered, this bill to amend the Grand Ronde Reservation Act would replace the phrase \u201clands within the State of Oregon\u201d with the phrase \u201cthe 84 acres known as the Thompson Strip,\u201d clarifying that they are only prohibited from making additional land claims to the area known as the Thompson Strip.To read the full bill text, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-jayapal-introduce-legislation-to-provide-alternatives-to-incarceration-for-parents-and-caregivers-to-keep-families-together-children-out-of-foster-care", "Wyden, Jayapal Introduce Legislation to Provide Alternatives to Incarceration for Parents and Caregivers to Keep Families Together, Children Out of Foster Care", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Legislation is endorsed by nearly 40 criminal justice, civil rights and child welfare organizations\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., today reintroduced legislation that would create an alternative to incarceration for eligible parents and caregivers and provide them the resources needed to keep their children safely at home instead of in the foster care system.\n\n\u201cChildren should not be subjected to trauma and uncertainty caused by a broken criminal justice system, which at times needlessly splits up families,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to once again join Representative Jayapal in introducing legislation to expand the work of successful programs in our home states to reduce mass incarceration nationwide and help keep more families together.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s broken criminal justice system disproportionately impacts Black and Brown communities, breaking up families and adding to our country\u2019s mass incarceration problem,\u201d said Congresswoman Jayapal. \u201cIt\u2019s time for us to finally prioritize policies that deliver humane alternatives and shrink the world\u2019s largest prison population, which is why I\u2019m so proud to reintroduce the FAMILIES Act. This legislation, proudly modeled after programs in Washington and Oregon that have reduced recidivism, will divert parents and caregivers from incarceration and invest in their wellbeing with comprehensive services so that we can keep families together and provide resources to ensure their safety and success.\u201d\n\nThe Finding Alternatives to Mass Incarceration: Lives Improved by Ending Separation (FAMILIES) Act would allow federal judges to divert parents and caregivers from incarceration into a comprehensive program that would better serve them, their families, and society by offering resources, services and training to meet their unique needs. The legislation is modeled after successful programs in Oregon and Washington state that have already kept hundreds of families together and have been vital to reducing recidivism.\n\nThe FAMILIES Act establishes a diversion program that includes education, employment services, parenting skills, mental health and substance abuse services. It also addresses basic needs of the individual and their family by connecting them with health care, housing assistance, and other potential public benefits.\n\nTo be eligible, an individual must be: pregnant, a parent of a minor child, a caregiver for a minor child or other minor relative, a caregiver for an individual with disabilities or a caregiver for an elderly family. When considering eligibility for the FAMILIES program, courts will consider the individual\u2019s significant parental or caregiver responsibilities, their history of justice involvement, the safety of their family, and a family impact statement describing the impact that a prison sentence would have on the family of the defendant. Judges will receive training in implementing the FAMILIES program including training on trauma-informed decision making, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse and addiction, and mental health.\n\nIn the Senate, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Cory Booker, D-N.J., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.\n\nIn the House, the legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., David Trone, D-Md., Gwen Moore, D-Wis., Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Troy A. Carter, D-La., Jonathan L. Jackson, D-Ill., Henry \"Hank\" Johnson, D-Ga., Jesus \"Chuy\" Garcia, D-Ill.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by: The Sentencing Project, AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families, Vera Institute of Justice, Drug Policy Alliance, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National Association of Counsel for Children, National Working Positive Coalition, Community Liver Alliance, National Council of Churches, National Center on Adoption and Permanency, PrEP4All, CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants), NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Washington Office on Latin America, StoptheDrugWar.org, Union for Reform Judaism, Safer Foundation, Law Enforcement Action Partnership, WE GOT US NOW, Washington Defender Association (Seattle, Wash.), the Osborne Association (New York, N.Y.), the New York Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents (New York, N.Y.), CARES of Southwest Michigan (Kalamazoo, Mich.), Sponsors Inc. (Eugene, Ore.), Center For Community Alternatives (New York, N.Y.), A New PATH (Spring Valley, Calif.), Black and Pink Massachusetts (Boston, Mass.), Partners for Our Children (Seattle, Wash.), National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Maryland Chapter (Baltimore, Md.), AIDS Foundation Chicago (Chicago, Ill.), Operation Restoration (New Orleans, La.), Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity (Oakland/Los Angeles. Calif.), Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Seattle, Wash.), Treatment Action Group (Chicago, Ill.), Illinois Alliance for Reentry and Justice (Chicago, Ill.), AIDS Action Baltimore (Baltimore, Md.), Philadelphia Family Pride (Philadelphia, Pa.), Hep Free Hawai'i (Honolulu, Hi.) and AIDS Alabama (Birmingham, Ala.).\n\nStatements of Support\n\nIsabel Coronado, Chair, Campaign to Keep Families Together: \"For too long, criminal justice reform has primarily focused on the incarcerated, leaving the children of the incarcerated as an afterthought. The Families Act addresses this oversight by offering an encouraging example of moving beyond traditional forms of punishment, which inflict years of needless trauma on children, and instead, it explores alternatives that keep families together. Through this legislation, we can invest in the next generation and provide millions of children with the opportunity to thrive, despite their parents' convictions.\"\n\nEbony Underwood, Founder and CEO, WE GOT US NOW: \"For decades children have been separated from their parents due to harsh and cruel policies of incarceration. The Families Act stops this cycle in its tracks with a solution that not only ensures the well-being of the parent through sentencing alternatives, but ensures that the children of the parent are also provided with necessary supports in the process. WE GOT US NOW believes that society must stop incarcerating our way out of problems and understand that children need their parents and some parents need a little more support than others. The Families Act is a legislative effort that acts as a turnkey solution to keeping families connected, creating fair sentencing, and empowering families and communities.\"\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-statement-on-judiciary-committee-vote-advancing-magistrate-mustafa-kasubhais-us-district-court-nomination-to-the-full-senate", "Wyden, Merkley Statement on Judiciary Committee Vote Advancing Magistrate Mustafa Kasubhai\u2019s U.S. District Court Nomination to the Full Senate", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to advance to the full Senate U.S. Magistrate Mustafa Kasubhai\u2019s nomination to the U.S. District Court.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-bipartisan-bill-lower-costs-cancer-patients", "Bonamici Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Lower Costs for Cancer Patients", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Brian Higgins (D-NY), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Cancer Drug Parity Act. This bill lowers costs for cancer patients prescribed oral medications by requiring that health insurers provide coverage for oral cancer treatments that is equivalent to conventional intravenous (IV) treatments.\n\nEvery year, approximately two million Americans are projected to receive a cancer diagnosis. For cancer patients, oral cancer treatments have proven to be a game-changer because they can be administered in the patient\u2019s own home and are overall less intrusive than IV treatments. Despite their proven success and reliability, oral medications have proved costly for patients. A study of patients prescribed oral cancer medications found that one in eight faced copayments of $2,000 or more for their first prescription.\n\n\u201cOral cancer treatments are an effective option for many patients and can allow for care at home and better disease management,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cUnlike traditional IV treatments, oral chemotherapy is typically not covered by health insurance plans, leading to high costs and unaffordable co-payments for patients. I\u2019m glad to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Cancer Drug Coverage Parity Act to level the playing field for cancer patients and expand access to lifechanging cancer treatments.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery American deserves the most effective cancer treatments available at the most affordable cost,\u201d said Grothman. \u201cAs oral medications increase in popularity among cancer patients, we cannot allow outdated health insurance plans to prevent patients from opting for their preferred method of treatment.\n\n\u201cI am glad both sides of the aisle have come together to lower costs for patients taking oral medications. Increased access to treatment, along with parity in the cancer drug marketplace, will improve patients\u2019 well-being and help save lives.\u201d\n\n\"Cancer patients should have access to whichever treatment gives them the best chance to fully recover. Technological advancements are improving patient outcomes while minimizing side effects. Patients deserve to benefit from these advancements. This important bill addresses this problem and enables patients to keep their primary focus on getting well,\" said Bilirakis.\n\n\u201cIt is expected that two million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in 2023 alone,\u201d said Fitzpatrick. \u201cI am proud to join my colleagues in leading the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act to expand parity protections for cancer patients who previously could not afford these lifesaving treatments.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Cancer Drug Parity Act is a crucial step in ensuring health insurance coverage evolves alongside the remarkable advancements in cancer treatment,\u201d said Morelle. \u201cBy bridging the gap between outdated technology and cutting-edge therapies, this act empowers patients to access the best care available. I\u2019m grateful to my colleagues for joining me in prioritizing the well-being of individuals battling cancer\u2014offering hope and relief when they need it most.\u201d\n\n\u201cA cancer diagnosis is tough on any family and patients deserve to focus on receiving the best treatments without worrying about the cost,\u201d said Higgins. \u201cAs Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting the bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act. Advancements in cancer care, like oral treatments, shouldn\u2019t place a greater financial burden on patients and families. Together we are making cancer care more affordable, accessible, and manageable, which will ultimately save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs oral cancer medications continue to increase in number, affordable access to these less intrusive treatments is crucial to ensure the best possible care,\u201d said Matsui. \u201cFamilies and patients battling cancer should never have to forgo treatment or necessary care because of crippling costs. The bipartisan Cancer Drug Parity Act would end the disparity in coverage for oral treatments \u2013 putting power back in the hands of patients and providers to determine the best path to recovery.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs leaders of the Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care (CIACC), the International Myeloma Foundation proudly endorses the Cancer Drug Parity Act. This crucial piece of legislation would mark a significant stride towards increased access to life-saving treatments, particularly for patients reliant on orally administered anticancer treatments. By eliminating financial barriers, this act empowers individuals battling cancer and their healthcare providers to make informed treatment decisions without undue financial strain. It is imperative that we prioritize affordability and equal access to all forms of anticancer treatments chemotherapy, and the Cancer Drug Parity Act is a pivotal step towards achieving this goal,\u201d said the International Myeloma Foundation.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re thankful to Congressman Grothman for spearheading lifesaving policy that, for many patients, would equalize out-of-pocket costs for cancer drugs, whether they\u2019re taken orally or delivered intravenously,\u201d said Lisa Lacasse, President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. \u201cMany new chemotherapies such as those in pill form can be easier to tolerate for patients and allow many to have a better quality of life. Ensuring health insurance plans cover cancer treatment at an affordable cost, regardless of how it\u2019s administered, is key to ensuring access to the most innovative therapies for patients across the country.\u201d\n\nBackground Information\n\nOral chemotherapy is becoming more common for many types of cancer, however, health insurance coverage for different types of cancer treatments is not uniform.\n\nUnder current law, traditional IV/injectable treatments are routinely covered under the medical benefit component of a health insurance plan, while orally administered anti-cancer medications are generally covered under the prescription drug component, which often results in a considerable disparity in cost and leaving patients responsible for paying high and often unaffordable copays.\n\nThis legislation accounts for the advancements in oral cancer treatments by prohibiting insurance companies from imposing pricier copayments on cancer patients compared to IV treatments.\n\nMore than 40 states and the District of Columbia have enacted \u201coral parity\u201d laws, which prevent health plans from creating separate cost-sharing requirements for oral versus IV cancer medicines. These laws have made a significant difference for those suffering from cancer. For example, an analysis of health plan claims from 2008 to 2017 found that the proportion of multiple myeloma patients initially charged $0 for oral medications nearly quintupled, rising from 11 percent to 49 percent, with the enactment of oral parity laws.\n\nThe Cancer Drug Parity Act will build on the success of state-level efforts to cancer patients whose health insurance is regulated at the federal level. The key provisions of the legislation include:\n\n\u00b7 Expanding oral parity protections to privately-insured patients under federal regulation.\n\n\u00b7 Preventing insurers from covering oral and self-administered medicines at different cost-sharing rates than IV chemotherapy.\n\n\u00b7 Implementing these requirements for health plans that already cover both oral and IV chemotherapy treatments.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-kaine-lead-colleagues-pushing-renew-expired-funding-child-care", "Bonamici, Kaine Lead Colleagues in Pushing to Renew Expired Funding for Child Care", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bob Casey (D-PA), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), led a bicameral group of their colleagues in urging congressional leadership to renew expired funding for child care in any supplemental funding package. Funding the lawmakers passed in the American Rescue Plan Act to allow parents to afford child care and keep their jobs during COVID expired in September, but the child care crisis continues. Without this funding, many child care providers are struggling with how they\u2019re going to continue to operate and serve families. The lawmakers\u2019 letter comes after President Biden\u2019s supplemental funding request to Congress included $16 billion to address the child care crisis, which the members called forin August.\n\n\u201cWe write today to urge you to include robust funding for child care in any supplemental funding package considered by the Appropriations Committee. Child care is unaffordable and hard to find for working families, and child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\n\u201cThe child care workforce has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, and wages for this critical workforce remain unacceptably low, further fueling the shortage of available child care options for families,\u201d the members continued. \u201cFamilies and child care providers are feeling increasingly squeezed following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funding for child care, as child care providers scramble to fill the gap in resources previously filled by federal funds.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cIt is essential that as supplemental funding to meet emergency needs is considered, Congress take action to address the child care crisis. We have an urgent need to further stabilize an industry that has been long underfunded, and Congress must provide robust funding for this sector through a supplemental package.\u201d\n\nKaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has been pushing to expand access to child care. Kaine has introduced the Child Care for Working Families Act, legislation that would expand access to child care, raise wages for providers, and lower costs for families by ensuring no family pays more than 7% of their income on child care. He has introduced the Child Care Stabilization Actto expand vital child care funding to help providers keep their doors open. He has also introduced bipartisan legislation to develop, administer, and evaluate early childhood education apprenticeships.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, Smith, Warren, Sanders, and Casey, the Senate letter is signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nIn addition to Bonamici, Jacobs, Sherill, and Castro the House letter was signed by Alma Adams (D-NC), Colin Allred (D-TX), Becca Balint (D-VT), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Donald Beyer (D-VA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Shontel Brown (D-OH), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Cori Bush (D-MO), Yadira Caraveo, Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Tony C\u00e1rdenas (D-CA), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), Troy Carter (D-LA), Greg Casar (D-TX), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), Jose Luis Correa (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Danny Davis (D-IL), Donald Davis (D-NC), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maxwell Frost (D-FL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-IL), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (D-AZ), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), James Himes (D-CT), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Val Hoyle (D-OR), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Henry \u201cHank\u201d Johnson (D-GA) Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), William Keating (D-MA), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Matsui, Doris; McBath, Lucy; McClellan, Jennifer; McCollum, Betty; McGarvey, Morgan; McGovern, James; Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Chris Pappas (D-NH), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katie Porter (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Patrick Ryan (D-NY), Gregoria Kilili Camacho Sablan (D-MP), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Terri Sewell (D-AL), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Emilia Sykes (D-OH), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Dina Titus (D-NV), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Norma Torres (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-CA), Lori Trahan (D-MA), David Trone (D-MD), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez (D-NY), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Susan Wild (D-PA), Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL).\n\nThe letter is endorsed by All Our Kin; American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME); American Federation of Teachers (AFT); Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy; Caring Across Generations; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Child Care for Every Family Network; Children\u2019s Institute; Community Change Action; Early Care & Education Consortium (ECEC); Family Values @ Work; First Focus Campaign for Children; House Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus; Mom Congress; Moms First; MomsRising; National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC); National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC); National Education Association (NEA); National Women\u2019s Law Center (NWLC); Oxfam America; Service Employees International Union (SEIU); Small Business Majority; YWCA USA; and ZERO TO THREE.\n\nA copy of the Senate letter is available here. A copy of the House letter is available here.\n\nFull text of the letter is available below:\n\nDear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Chair Murray, and Vice Chair Collins:\n\nWe write today to urge you to include robust funding for child care in any supplemental funding package considered by the Appropriations Committee. Child care is unaffordable and hard to find for working families, and child care providers across the country are struggling to stay afloat. We are extremely concerned that this crisis will continue to worsen following the expiration of the Child Care Stabilization Grants provided under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), vital funding that sustained an estimated 220,000 child care providers, saved an estimated 9.6 million child care slots, and maintained more than 1 million child care jobs. President Biden acknowledged this urgent issue by requesting significant funding for child care in his domestic supplemental appropriations request to Congress.\n\nDuring the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress took important steps to protect the child care industry from collapse by delivering historic funding in the economic relief packages passed. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) with $3.5 billion, the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act provided $10 billion in dedicated relief, and ARPA provided $15 billion for CCDBG and $24 billion for the stabilization grants. On September 30, 2023, the majority of this vital funding expired.\n\nPrior to the pandemic, the child care system was already in a crisis. In 2018, over 50 percent of counties in the United States were considered a child care desert \u2013 an area in which the demand for child care is far more than the supply. The broken child care market has resulted in an impossible tension between families, workers, and providers: child care providers cannot afford to run their businesses or pay adequate wages to their staff using revenue from parents alone, while child care costs are unaffordable and unsustainable for working families. For years, the situation has been far worse for families with low incomes, families of color, and families seeking infant and toddler care, care for children with disabilities, and care during non-traditional hours.\n\nThe child care workforce has been one of the slowest sectors to recover from the pandemic, and wages for this critical workforce remain unacceptably low, further fueling the shortage of available child care options for families. As of September 2023, the child care industry was missing more than 38,400 workers compared to pre-pandemic levels, and at the rate that child care jobs have been regained in 2023 so far, it could take almost 12 months\u2014until September 2024\u2014for the child care sector to recover pandemic-related job losses. This threatens America\u2019s economic stability and competitiveness. It is estimated that the lack of child care costs our economy $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue annually.\n\nFamilies and child care providers are feeling increasingly squeezed following the expiration of COVID-19 relief funding for child care, as child care providers scramble to fill the gap in resources previously filled by federal funds. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that child care prices increased 1.7% in September 2023, while the Consumer Price Index for all items rose by only 0.2% over the same period. Child care providers in communities across the country are at risk of closure. Already, local news outlets are sharing stories about communities losing child care providers as 43 in Kansas and seven programs serving 300 children in North Carolina have closed following the loss of pandemic-era funding and supports.\n\nDue to your continued support, the fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations process yielded a total of $8 billion for CCDBG, which represented a 30 percent increase from FY 2022 funding. We also appreciate that you were able to provide a $700 million increase for CCDBG in the Senate\u2019s proposed FY 2024 spending bill. However, we understand that you are limited on discretionary spending with the passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act in June. So, it is essential that as supplemental funding to meet emergency needs is considered, Congress take action to address the child care crisis. We have an urgent need to further stabilize an industry that has been long underfunded, and Congress must provide robust funding for this sector through a supplemental package.\n\nThe child care stabilization relief funds provided a much-needed lifeline to the child care industry, but it is crucial that, at minimum, we sustain that level of investment to ensure the industry\u2019s survival and prevent a new emergency. Our providers, workers, children, and families need your help. We urge you to utilize every possible tool to provide a robust investment to address the growing child care crisis. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-committee-advances-bonamici-legislation-improve-tsunami-warnings-address", "House Committee Advances Bonamici Legislation to Improve Tsunami Warnings, Address Harmful Algal Blooms", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [11/8/23] \u2013 Today the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology approved legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to improve tsunami warning systems and address harmful algal blooms.\n\nThe Committee advanced the legislation as amendments to the Weather Act Reauthorization Act, which was co-sponsored by Bonamici and designed to improve the United States\u2019 ability to better forecast, understand, and communicate about weather. The two amendments were based on Bonamici\u2019s Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act and Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act.\n\n\u201cUpdating the Weather Act provides an important opportunity to make our communities safer,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cI\u2019m grateful that the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology approved my bipartisan amendments to improve our tsunami warning systems and help protect coastal, lake, and river communities from harmful algal blooms that can disrupt local ecosystems and threaten health and the economy. I urge House leadership to quickly bring this legislation to the House floor.\u201d\n\nThe Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Amendments Act of 2023 strengthens tsunami research, detection, and warning systems, improves response and resiliency efforts, and better protects communities that are vulnerable to tsunami. Video of Bonamici\u2019s remarks on the amendment can be found here.\n\nThe Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2023 (HABHRCA) helps coastal, lake, and river communities better prepare for, mitigate, and intervene in harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events. These events, which release toxins and create massive \u201cdead zones\u201d respectively, have deadly consequences for fish, shellfish, and local ecosystems. Video of Bonamici\u2019s remarks on the amendment can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-nearly_38-million-in-federal-funds-for-ione", "Wyden, Merkley Announce Nearly  $3.8 Million in Federal Funds for Ione", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Morrow County city to receive USDA resources for sewer system\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced the city of Ione will receive nearly $3.8 million in federal funds to build a sewer system for the Eastern Oregon town.\n\n\u201cEnsuring Oregon\u2019s rural communities have the infrastructure their residents and small businesses need to grow and develop is paramount for our state\u2019s overall economic health,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIn my Morrow County town hall and others in every corner of the state, I\u2019ve heard how the need to modernize outdated infrastructure is an essential piece to achieve rural quality of life. Ione has worked tirelessly to upgrade its systems so homes keep their value, the new school is supported, and the community can grow.\u201d\n\n\u201cOutdated sewer infrastructure is at greater risk of failing and limits growth and development opportunities for communities,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cInvestments such as this are critical not just for the safety of Ione community members, but also for helping the City and surrounding areas thrive.\u201d\n\nIone lacks a community-wide wastewater collection or disposal system. Each residence and/or business has an individual septic tank and drain field, which limits community growth and development. The federal investment from USDA Rural Development is both a grant of $1.98 million and a loan of $1.81 million.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-31-million-investment-for-oregon-air-national-guard-training-facilities-passes-senate", "Merkley, Wyden Announce $31 million Investment for Oregon Air National Guard Training Facilities Passes Senate", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced Senate passage of two critical community-initiated projects totaling $31 million for the Oregon Air National Guard.\n\nThe investments were included in the FY24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill, which cleared the chamber with strong bipartisan support, putting the Oregon Air National Guard closer than ever to completing phases 3 and 4 of their project to consolidate training facilities for the 125th Special Tactics Squadron (STS).\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s Air National Guard do critical work to help protect the security of Oregon and our nation,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis funding for the Special Tactics Complex will help make Oregon a West Coast hub for special tactics training and provide Oregon\u2019s Air National Guard members with up-to-date training and resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s Air National Guard and its dedicated service members play an essential role in the defense of our state and country,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis Oregon unit, so key to national security, fully deserves this federal investment that would modernize its training and ensure it has the resources it needs to be strong and vital in the years ahead.\u201d\n\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the bill and is 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.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden teamed up to champion the significant investments for the Oregon Air National Guard, as their Special Tactics Squadron\u2019s current buildings for training are set to be returned to the Port of Portland in 2030. The funding will increase operational and energy efficiencies and reduce overall maintenance costs for Oregon National Guard. Once complete, this center is expected to become a West Coast training hub and will be a draw for the 125th Special Tactics Squadron in addition to those looking for specialized training.\n\n\u201cThe efforts from Senators Merkley and Wyden and their teams on these projects directly supports our overall mission success and readiness for your local Portland Air National Guard and its service members,\u201d said Brig. Gen. David Unruh, Commander of the Oregon Air National Guard.\n\nNow the bill has cleared the Senate, it will next head to the U.S. House of Representatives. The final legislation to emerge from the process must then be passed by both chambers before it is signed into law.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden urge the House to take up the legislation without delay to keep vital government systems and programs running and invest in targeted projects needed in communities across Oregon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-lee-davidson-and-lofgren-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-reauthorize-and-reform-key-surveillance-law-secure-protections-for-americans-rights", "Wyden, Lee, Davidson and Lofgren Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize and Reform Key Surveillance Law, Secure Protections for Americans\u2019 Rights", "2023-11-07", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The Government Surveillance Reform Act Will Establish New Safeguards for Government Surveillance and Accountability for Abuses; Reauthorize and Reform FISA Section 702; Establish Protections for Americans Whose Private Information is Collected Under Other Intelligence Authorities; and Modernize Outdated Surveillance Laws\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Government Surveillance Reform Act, to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act with important new protections for Americans\u2019 constitutional rights.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Steve Daines, R-Mont., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Cynthia Lummis, R-Wy., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Edward Markey, D-Mass.\n\nIn the House, the bill is cosponsored by Reps. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., Thomas Massie, R-Ky., Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., and Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.\n\n\u201cAmericans know that it is possible to confront our country\u2019s adversaries ferociously without throwing our constitutional rights in the trash can. But for too long surveillance laws have not kept up with changing times.\u201d Wyden said. \u201cOur bill continues to give government agencies broad authority to collect information on threats at home and abroad, including the ability to act quickly in emergencies and settle up with the court later. But it creates much stronger protections for the privacy of law-abiding Americans, and restores the warrant protections that are at the heart of the Fourth Amendment.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe FISA Court and the Director of National Intelligence have confirmed that our government conducted warrantless surveillance of millions of Americans\u2019 private communications,\u201d Senator Lee said. \u201cIt is imperative that Congress enact real reforms to protect our civil liberties, including warrant requirements and statutory penalties for privacy violations, in exchange for reauthorizing Section 702. Our bipartisan Government Surveillance Reform Act stops illegal government spying and restores the Constitutional rights of all Americans.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, U.S. Intelligence agencies have been circumventing our 4th Amendment right to privacy by spying on Americans without a warrant. The government Surveillance Accountability Act would end abuses under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and end unauthorized surveillance programs,\u201d said Rep. Warren Davidson.\n\n\u201cIt would be unwise for Members of Congress to greenlight another major surveillance reauthorization without carefully considering and enacting surveillance reform measures. For too long, federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies have had nearly unchecked access to Americans\u2019 personal data,\u201d said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. \u201cOur bipartisan, bicameral comprehensive and calibrated legislation provides reform solutions sought for decades. With widespread support from across the political spectrum the Government Surveillance Reform Act would dramatically curb surveillance abuse and protect Americans' civil liberties, while preserving national security.\u201d\n\nThe bill reauthorizes Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) for 4 years, allowing intelligence agencies to continue to use the authorities granted by that law, but with key new protections against documented abuses and new accountability measures when abuses occur. It also includes a host of reforms to government surveillance authorities beyond Section 702, including requiring warrants for government purchases of private data from data brokers.\n\nAlthough surveillance proponents claimed that the previous 702 reauthorization included sufficient safeguards to prevent abuse, intelligence agencies have documented extensive new violations in recent years. Abuses include warrantless searches for a U.S. Senator, a member of Congress, and a state court judge, among others.\n\nThe bill\u2019s reforms include:\n\nProtecting Americans from warrantless backdoor searches, ensuring that foreigners aren\u2019t targeted as a pretext for spying on the Americans with whom they are communicating, and prohibiting the collection of domestic communications.\n\nExtending similar reforms to surveillance activities under Executive Order 12333, including by limiting warrantless searches of Americans\u2019 communications and prohibiting the targeting of foreigners as a pretext for surveilling Americans. It also limits the acquisition of Americans\u2019 information as part of large datasets.\n\nRequiring warrants for surveillance of Americans\u2019 location data, web browsing and search records, including AI assistants like Alexa and Siri, vehicle data and by prohibiting the government from purchasing Americans\u2019 data from data brokers.\n\nExceptions to ensure the government can continue to use Section 702 for defensive cybersecurity purposes, to assist in locating and rescuing hostages overseas and emergency provisions in cases where there isn\u2019t sufficient time to get a warrant in advance.\n\nThe bill has been endorsed by dozens of civil society organizations:\n\nAsian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), AAPI Equity Alliance, AAPI Victory Alliance, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Americans for Prosperity, API Equality-LA, Asian American Federal Employees for Nondiscrimination (AAFEN), Asian Texans for Justice, Aurora Commons LLC, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, Center for Democracy & Technology, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Demand Progress, Due Process Institute, Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities, Fight for the Future, FreedomWorks, Free Press Action, Libertas Institute, Media Alliance, Muslim Advocates, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Oakland Privacy, OCA, OCA Greater Cleveland - Asian Pacific American Advocates, OCA Silicon Valley, Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability (PPSA), Project on Government Oversight (POGO), Restore the Fourth, Secure Justice, Stop AAPI Hate, Surveillance Technology Oversight Project and X-Lab.\n\nThe bill was hailed as the most comprehensive and balanced government surveillance legislation in years, by groups across the political spectrum:\n\nBob Goodlatte, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Senior Policy Advisor of the Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability (PPSA): \u201cFor far too long, the government has abused Section 702. This statute, enacted by Congress to surveil foreign threats in foreign lands, has become a tool to subject countless Americans to warrantless surveillance. The reforms in this bill ensure that our Constitutional rights will once again be respected, just as the Founders intended. PPSA appreciates this well-crafted bill \u2013 especially its tough accountability provisions. Rogue agents in the intelligence community and FBI who intentionally violate the law to spy on Americans must be held responsible.\u201d\n\nSean Vitka, Policy Director, Demand Progress: \u201cThis year represents the most significant opportunity for protecting Americans from warrantless government surveillance in generations, and the GSRA rises to the challenge. Section 702 must not be reauthorized without the critical, comprehensive privacy protections in this bill.\u201d\n\nJason Pye, Director of Rule of Law Initiatives, Due Process Institute: \u201cDue Process Institute strongly supports the bipartisan and bicameral Government Surveillance Reform Act. For too long, arrogance prevented the intelligence apparatus and its allies in Congress from coming to the table to negotiate reforms. Now that reauthorization of Section 702 has been made difficult by the politically diverse community of advocates and lawmakers demanding commonsense to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance, the intelligence community has become more willing to listen. Unfortunately, however, they have only put forward unacceptable half measures. The Government Surveillance Reform Act is the only path forward to protect Americans from warrantless surveillance.\u201d\n\nJohn C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice \u2013 AAJC: \"Asian Americans are disproportionately scrutinized as compared to other Americans in the name of \u2018national security.\u2019 When it comes to the federal government\u2019s surveillance\u2014whether pursuant to Section 702 of FISA or other surveillance authorities\u2014Asian Americans are likely to be \u2018incidentally\u2019 spied on at a higher rate, simply because we have family, friends, and business associates who live abroad. This is highly concerning, given how the federal government is able to run backdoor searches through this data without a warrant. This critical bill would put in place protections and transparency mechanisms that help to regulate the collection of Americans\u2019 sensitive communications, and reign in the likely greater impact that such existing authorities have on communities of color.\"\n\nJames Czerniawski, Senior policy Analyst, Americans for Prosperity: \u201cThe U.S. intelligence community has frequently misused its authorities under FISA, including Section 702, as well as other surveillance powers, eroding trust in institutions responsible for Americans' safety. Protecting our constitutional rights and national security are not mutually exclusive goals. The Government Surveillance Reform Act is a critical step toward restoring trust, protecting constitutional rights, and maintaining public safety. We commend Senators Wyden and Lee, along with Representatives Davidson and Lofgren for their leadership in advancing this important legislation.\u201d\n\nA one-page summary of the bill is here.\n\nA section-by-section summary of the bill is here.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\nThe bill\u2019s bipartisan, bicameral co-sponsors praised the introduction:\n\n\u201cFreedom and privacy are bedrock Montana values, and no DC bureaucrat or government agency should be able to access Montanans\u2019 personal information without a warrant,\u201d said Sen. Jon Tester. \u201cMy bipartisan bill will slam shut dangerous loopholes to ensure that government can\u2019t intrude on Montanans\u2019 personal lives and help folks across the Treasure State rest easy knowing their Constitutional rights won\u2019t be violated.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal intelligence agencies have access to powerful surveillance tools that help protect our national security from foreign threats \u2013 but these tools too often violate Americans\u2019 privacy rights,\u201d said Sen. Elizabeth Warren. \u201cThis bill will rein in these abuses and reform FISA\u2019s Section 702 to protect Americans from mass, warrantless surveillance.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans have a constitutional right to be protected from unreasonable searches and seizures that is nonnegotiable,\u201d said Sen. Steve Daines. \u201cAs the federal government is increasingly sticking it\u2019s nose into Americans\u2019 private conversations and records, we must put an end to illegitimate searches and protect this fundamental right.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans have a constitutional right to privacy, but Section 702 has been used to violate that right hundreds of thousands of times. That is why we cannot reauthorize FISA without a major overhaul,\u201d said Rep. Pramila Jayapal. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join Senator Wyden and Representatives Davidson and Lofgren in leading this legislation to ensure that the right to privacy is protected for all people.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, our intelligence agencies have offered us a false choice: either keep our country safe or protect Americans\u2019 constitutional right to privacy. But we can and must do both,\u201d said Rep. Sara Jacobs. \u201cYet, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) has enabled the warrantless collection of Americans\u2019 activities \u2013 from phone calls and website searches to emails and location data \u2013 with too little oversight and accountability. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so proud to co-lead the bipartisan and bicameral Government Surveillance Reform Act, which gives our intelligence agencies the necessary tools to combat terrorism, safeguards Americans\u2019 rights, and ensures robust oversight. This is the framework we need to protect our country and uphold our values.\u201d\n\n\u201cAdding these privacy safeguards to FISA will ensure our civil liberties are protected without sacrificing national security. We have learned the hard way that unchecked surveillance is a violation of our right to privacy. I strongly support comprehensive overhaul of FISA with the Government Surveillance Reform Act, and urge my colleagues to put their constituents first and do the same,\u201d said Rep. Barbara Lee.\n\n\u201cUnwarranted and unchecked surveillance violates our constitutional rights,\u201d said Rep. Lloyd Doggett. \u201cBy providing essential reforms to encompass new technological developments in an ever-changing landscape, this legislation recognizes that ensuring our national security need not require trampling individual liberties.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs new technologies emerge, we must ensure Americans\u2019 data privacy is protected,\u201d said Rep. Ted Lieu. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to co-author the bipartisan and bicameral Government Surveillance Reform Act, a comprehensive package of key reforms that strike an important balance between defending Americans\u2019 civil liberties while protecting our national security. I\u2019m also glad to see our Cell-Site Simulator Warrant Act and key provisions from our Government Surveillance Transparency Act included in the legislation.\u201d\n\n\"Since its passage in 2008, FISA's Section 702 has been used by federal law enforcement to access sensitive information about people in the United States without a warrant, including their communications and location information, that is otherwise protected by the Fourth Amendment,\u201d said Rep. Judy Chu. \u201cAs Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact Section 702 of FISA has on Asian Americans and members of the Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian, or AMEMSA, communities, who have been subject to Section 702 \u2018backdoor searches\u2019 simply because we have family, friends, and business associates in foreign countries. Racial profiling in the name of \u2018national security\u2019 has historically upended countless innocent lives, and that is why I joined as an original cosponsor of the Government Surveillance Reform Act, which would put in place much-needed, commonsense reforms to Section 702 that would protect the rights of Americans while preserving national security.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/advisory-wyden-lee-davidson-lofgren-biggs-to-announce-bipartisan-bicameral-surveillance-reform-legislation", "ADVISORY: Wyden, Lee, Davidson, Lofgren, Biggs To Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral Surveillance Reform Legislation", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Government Surveillance Reform Act will Reauthorize and Reform FISA Section 702, Add Accountability for Abuses of Government Surveillance and Strengthen Constitutional Protections for Americans\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 7, to unveil new legislation to reauthorize and reform Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and enact other reforms to protect Americans\u2019 rights while preserving key surveillance authorities.\n\nWHO:\n\nU.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore.\n\nU.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah\n\nU.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio\n\nU.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.\n\nU.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.\n\nSpeakers representing civil society organizations advocating for civil liberties and Constitutional rights\n\nAdditional cosponsors of the Government Surveillance Reform Act will be in attendance\n\nWHEN: 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 7\n\nWHERE: Senate Dirksen 215 -- Senate Finance Committee hearing room\n\nWHAT: Press conference to release bipartisan surveillance reform legislation\n\nMembers of the media are encouraged to attend and RSVP to luis_soriano@wyden.senate.gov\n\nFor those who cannot attend, the event will be livestreamed on Sen. Wyden\u2019s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/SenRonWyden\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-oregon-to-receive-nearly-900000-to-promote-local-and-regional-food-systems", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle: Oregon to Receive Nearly $900,000 to Promote Local and Regional Food Systems", "2023-11-06", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Rep. Val Hoyle today announced nearly $900,000 in federal funds for Oregon to help increase the availability of locally sourced agricultural products and strengthen local and regional food systems statewide.\n\n\u201cOregon has some of the best produce in the world growing right here in our state, and supporting hardworking Oregonians in agriculture and fishing is a huge priority,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThis federal investment is key to helping our state\u2019s farmers and fishers as well as all Oregonians to enjoy the bounty of produce from growers across Oregon.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s food, fiber, and fishing products are world-class, and folks across the state deserve to access and enjoy them,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese federal investments will expand and strengthen our local food systems and increase the availability of locally grown agricultural and fishing products. The result will be a win-win for the fishers and farmers driving our economy, and for Oregon families looking to put more homegrown products on their kitchen tables.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s farmers, fishers and consumers are all better off when we invest in our local and regional food systems,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cWe\u2019re bringing Oregonians\u2019 tax dollars back home to invest in projects through Central Coast Food Web in Newport to support more local consumption of Oregon\u2019s world-class sustainable seafood, and Friends of Family Farmers in Junction City to help create more opportunities for small local market farmers. This will mean jobs and more access to high-quality local products for Oregonians.\u201d\n\nThe $867,133 in federal funds comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s Local Agriculture Market Program, Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Programs and the Regional Food System Partnerships grant programs. These awards will be distributed in Oregon as follows:\n\nFriends of Family Farmers, Junction City \u2013 $264,360\n\nPacific NW CSA Coalition, Portland \u2013 $124,999\n\nCentral Coast Food Web, Newport - $477,774", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/dea-heeds-wydens-call-for-action-on-adhd-drug-shortage", "DEA Heeds Wyden\u2019s Call for Action on ADHD Drug Shortage", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Senator pressed agency to improve drug quota process\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden responded today to the Drug Enforcement Agency\u2019s (DEA) announcement that the agency will make changes to its prescription stimulants quota process to respond to shortages of ADHD drugs and other medications.\n\n\u201cIt is encouraging that ADHD medication manufacturers have committed to the DEA that they will use their allotted quota amounts and increase production,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that part of the reason that Americans are facing these prescription drug shortages, particularly in rural areas in my home state, is that the DEA\u2019s quota system relies on outdated or incomplete data. While I understand there is no silver bullet to fixing the drug shortage, I hope these rule changes will provide much-needed transparency and flexibility to the DEA quota process, which will help more Oregonians and Americans get the medicines they need when they need them. I will continue to watchdog and make sure these changes work as intended, and look for every opportunity to improve this serious crisis hurting families across Oregon and entire United States.\"\n\nThe DEA sets production quotas that limit the manufacturing of certain controlled prescription drugs. Over the past several months Senator Wyden has repeatedly pressed DEA Administrator Anne Milgram and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf to address the role that these quotas have played in the ongoing shortage of Adderall and other prescription stimulants. After the DEA and FDA released a joint statement at his request in August, Wyden urged ADHD drug manufacturers to boost their production or relinquish their excess quota to help address the shortage.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-reintroduce-legislation-to-end-criminalization-of-students-and-create-safer-environment-for-kids", "Wyden, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to End Criminalization of Students and Create Safer Environment for Kids", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues have reintroduced legislation that would invest in safe and nurturing school environments that support all students and address over-policing in K-12 schools.\n\n\u201cThe school to prison pipeline is a problem which disproportionately hurts students of color and creates an environment of learning in fear of being arrested,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cClosing the school to prison pipeline means investing in and improving student well-being. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to cosponsor legislation that would help create safer school environments by redirecting federal funding to support additional behavioral health and counseling staff in schools.\u201d\n\nResearch shows the presence of police in schools leads to an increase in arrests of students \u2014 particularly students of color and students with disabilities \u2014 often for common misbehavior that a school could address without law enforcement. Meanwhile the presence of mental and behavioral health personnel in schools, like counselors, social workers and psychologists improves educational outcomes for kids \u2014 specifically by improving attendance and graduation rates while lowering the rates of suspension, expulsion and other disciplinary incidents.\n\nThe Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would prohibit the use of federal funds to maintain police presence in schools and instead provide $5 billion in new grant funding to help schools hire more counselors, social workers, and other mental and behavioral health personnel \u2014 as well as implement services in schools that create positive and safe climates for all students.\n\nSpecifically, the legislation would:\n\nProhibit the use of federal funds for maintaining police in schools.\n\nInstead, federal funds would be diverted toward other uses related to school safety within applicable grant programs.\n\nInvest billions to help schools hire counselors, social workers, and other trauma-informed support personnel necessary to create safe, supportive learning environments for all students.\n\nThe grant funding would also help schools implement programs to improve school climate, such as school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports, and invest in trauma-informed services and professional development.\n\nProvide incentives to states and school districts to end the criminalization of young people \u2014 particularly Black, Native American and Latino students, immigrant students, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students and other historically marginalized students.\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senator Chris Murphy D-Conn. Alongside Wyden, the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Ed Markey, D-Mass., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.\n\nThis legislation is supported by Activists With A Purpose Plus, Advancement Project, Advocating 4 Kids Inc, Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint, Alliance for Quality Education, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, American Humanist Association, AMORC, ARISE, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Black Organizing Project, Black Swan Academy, Blue Future and many other organizations.\n\nA one-page summary of the legislation is here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-panetta-introduce-bill-connect-local-farmers-food-banks-keep-families", "Salinas, Panetta Introduce Bill to Connect Local Farmers with Food Banks, Keep Families Fed", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced the Farmers Feeding America Act, a bill that would help food banks meet demand and ensure families stay fed and healthy by expanding the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) ability to purchase food directly from producers, including Oregon\u2019s small family farms.\n\n\u201cThe pandemic caused higher rates of food insecurity in Oregon and across the country, and food banks have struggled to keep up with the increased demand,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThe Farmers Feeding America Act will address this problem by providing more funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, ensuring our local food banks are fully stocked. Furthermore, this legislation will support local farms by giving USDA more resources to purchase food directly from producers. I\u2019m proud to introduce this bill today because it will connect farmers with our communities and help families put food on the table this holiday season.\u201d\n\n\u201cRising food insecurity around the country has put a strain on community food banks tirelessly working to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable families,\u201d said Rep. Panetta. \u201cThe Farmers Feeding America Act tackles this pressing issue by doubling assistance to our local food banks and better supporting partnerships with local producers. California\u2019s 19th Congressional District is blessed with immense bounty, and as families share in our harvest over the holidays, this legislation would help us combat hunger throughout the year.\u201d\n\nLast year, 49 million people \u2013 or one in six Americans \u2013 received some form of food assistance. However, as higher prices continue to impact working families\u2019 ability to afford food and basic necessities, local food banks are often unable to meet supply and demand needs in their communities.\n\nThe Farmers Feeding America Act would significantly increase funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). TEFAP provides commodities like fruits and vegetables, as well as monetary support, to food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other types of emergency feeding organizations. In addition to serving individuals, TEFAP supports local agriculture by enabling USDA to purchase food directly from producers.\n\nIn addition to Reps. Salinas and Panetta, the Farmers Feeding America Act is supported by the following organizations: Feeding America, Alliance to End Hunger, Oregon Food Bank, Marion Polk Food Share, California Association of Food Banks, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, Share Our Strength, DoorDash, and the CEA Alliance.\n\n\u201cIn every community across the U.S., people are working hard to provide for themselves and their families. Yet in 2022, 44 million people\u20141 in 7 people\u2014experienced food insecurity in the U.S., according to the USDA. The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, helps bridge the food gap for millions of families and individuals by moving nutritious foods from U.S. farmers to local food banks. But in recent years, TEFAP support has decreased as demand for food assistance has increased. Feeding America food banks have seen a 48% decline in TEFAP foods over the last two years. The Farmers Feeding America Act introduced by Reps. Andrea Salinas and Jimmy Panetta would strengthen TEFAP, a cornerstone of the charitable food system, and ensure equitable access to the program for noncontiguous states. We urge Congress to ease the strain on our nation\u2019s food banks by including this crucial provision in the final 2023 Farm Bill,\u201d said Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer, Feeding America.\n\n\u201cThe recently reported increase in U.S. food insecurity shows what food banks have been keenly aware of\u2014food demand continues to be extraordinarily high. It is time to substantially increase our nation\u2019s investment in TEFAP to ensure community residents in need can access this vital support,\u201d said Minerva Delgado, Director of Coalitions & Advocacy, Alliance to End Hunger.\n\n\"Between rising food and housing prices and sharp reductions in federal support, far too many families are finding it hard to keep food on the table. The Farmers Feeding America Act is crucial to our efforts to meet the heightened need for food assistance here in Oregon and nationwide,\" said Oregon Food Bank President Susannah Morgan. \u201cWith increased funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program and new resources for food distribution and storage, this legislation will help our communities procure fresh produce and dairy products and address food deserts \u2014 especially in under-resourced and remote areas. No one should be hungry, and this investment will have resounding impact for millions of people facing food insecurity.\u201d\n\n\u201cFamilies and children are facing tough times right now. More than ever, our community needs the Farmers Feeding America Act to make sure children and families have the food they need to thrive,\u201d said Rick Gaupo, President & CEO, Marion Polk Food Share.\n\n\u201cWith the price of food continuing to climb and over one in five households in California experiencing food insecurity, food banks across the state are working nonstop to meet their communities\u2019 needs. TEFAP is the backbone of food banks\u2019 distributions, helping them to provide a steady variety of grocery staples. We are grateful to Rep. Panetta and Rep. Salinas for introducing this bill that will ensure robust funding for TEFAP, empowering food banks to prevent hunger for millions more people across the country,\u201d said Stacia Hill Levenfeld, Chief Executive Officer, California Association of Food Banks.\n\n\"Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, like so many food banks across the country, is serving almost the same number of people as during the height of the pandemic, but without the same level of community and government support,\u201d said Leslie Bacho, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. \u201cWith inflation in food and gas prices, and reductions in government benefits, many families are struggling to meet their basic needs and are turning to food banks to help close the gap. This additional TEFAP funding is crucial to support food banks in providing our communities with the food they need to thrive.\"\n\n\"Congressman Panetta's visionary leadership and this groundbreaking legislation are crucial for Central Coast food banks. In the wake of the pandemic's aftermath and the relentless surge in inflation, the demand for supplemental nutrition has soared. This bill would not just be a win; it would be a lifeline, bridging our agricultural partners to the tables of community members fighting food insecurity every single day,\" said Erica Padilla-Chavez, Chief Executive Officer, Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County.\n\nTo read the full text of this legislation, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-senate-passage-of-critical-affordable-housing-and-transportation-infrastructure-investments-for-oregon", "Merkley, Wyden Announce Senate Passage of Critical Affordable Housing and Transportation Infrastructure Investments for Oregon", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Federal investments included in the Fiscal Year 2024 Senate funding bill champion affordable housing, small ports, and more\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced major investments passed the Senate to expand affordable, rural, and veterans housing options and boost transportation infrastructure, including funding for 20 critical community-initiated projects across the state.\n\nThe investments were included in the FY24 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, which cleared the chamber with strong bipartisan support.\n\n\u201cAs I held a town hall in each of Oregon\u2019s 36 counties this year, I heard firsthand from folks about what matters most to them, including the need to take on the affordable housing crisis, build drought resilience, and move the state faster toward a renewable energy future,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThe funding included in these bills for programs and critical community-initiated projects will benefit Oregonians in every corner of the state for years to come, and I will keep championing them in Congress until they become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cWherever I go in our state, teachers, nurses, firefighters, veterans and other hardworking Oregonians tell me about the urgent need for housing they can afford,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m gratified to have teamed up with communities across Oregon on these federal funds to work toward those housing goals as well as equally crucial objectives that invest in transportation infrastructure, green energy and more.\n\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the bill and is 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.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden secured investments for a total of 20 Oregon community-initiated projects in the Senate THUD spending bill, which are as follows:\n\n$5 million for TriMet to construct a new facility that will be a critical hub for powering and maintaining hundreds of zero-emissions busses, key to achieving TriMet\u2019s commitment to a zero-emissions fleet by 2040.\n\n$4 million for the City of North Bend to help demolish the old Coos County annex and construct affordable workforce housing for critically needed workers in education, public safety, logistics, and the healthcare industry.\n\n$4 million for the Port of Hood River to help replace the Hood River/White Salmon Bridge. This lifeline across the Columbia River is almost 100 years old, inadequately sized, and dangerous to both bridge users and the river traffic that passes between its narrowly placed piers. Funding will cover early-phase costs of the project, including right-of-way acquisition and mitigation for impacts to tribal fishing access during construction, with the goal of breaking ground in 2025.\n\n$4 million for the Port of Portland to complete necessary infrastructure improvements to redevelop the Port\u2019s former Marine Terminal 2 into a housing innovation campus. This will become a housing hub for innovators to collaborate on ways to address the affordable housing crisis by improving the housing construction industry and creating more housing options. The Innovation Campus is expected to create about 17,000 good-paying jobs for rural, urban, and BIPOC communities and work to provide housing for working families and those on fixed incomes.\n\n$3 million for the Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation to develop affordable housing in The Dalles on Chenowith Loop. The 75-unit building will provide housing and services to veterans, families, and households experiencing severe and persistent mental health challenges.\n\n$2 million for the City of Portland to help with construction costs for its Barbur Apartments project in Southwest Portland. This development will offer 149 family-focused affordable rental units between one and four bedrooms, serving extremely low and low-income households.\n\n$2 million for Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc for its project to provide 75 units of multigenerational, affordable rental housing on the historic Williams and Russel block in inner Northeast Portland to help reverse displacement of BIPOC and low-income families who owned property and lived in the neighborhood before their homes were unjustly taken from them by the City fifty years ago.\n\n$1.565 million for DevNW to build 54 Community Land Trust (CLT) affordable homes in Corvallis. The homes will be 2-3 bedrooms and sold to low-to-moderate income families. The homes will be permanently affordable for subsequent Oregon homebuyers, helping to address the urgent affordable housing crisis in Benton County.\n\n$1.5 million for Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity to construct 15 permanently affordable townhomes for workforce families. Due to soaring home prices in Central Oregon, workforce families are being priced out of the housing market. With this permanent affordability model, this investment supports not only these 15 homes and families, supporting each family who lives in the homes in perpetuity. After the completion of this project, Bend-Redmond Habitat for Humanity will have built 230 homes in Bend and Redmond since 1989, 71 of which are permanently affordable.\n\n$1.5 million for the Pendleton Children\u2019s Center to purchase and renovate a building next to their current facility in Pendleton to provide more space for childcare. Affordable, reliable, and high-quality childcare is much needed in Pendleton and is necessary to allow parents to join the workforce or to further their own education. The center\u2019s goal is to help address this issue by enrolling a total of 150 children, in comparison to the current 36.\n\n$1.5 million for the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center and Rosemary Anderson High School to complete a two-acre mass timber community redevelopment called the Sunrise Learning Center. The property is in the diverse and economically disadvantaged Rockwood district. It will serve as a hub for small, locally owned businesses and community organizations, educational facilities for vulnerable youth, and affordable housing designed in collaboration with the community.\n\n$1 million for Neighborhood House, Inc.\u2014Portland\u2019s largest food pantry on the west side and the only senior center in Southwest Multnomah County\u2014 for construction costs to renovate a newly-acquired building. This project will allow for program expansion, including developing a consortium of food providers that will serve as a centralized hub for combating hunger through shared resources and greater efficiency.\n\n$900,000 for the City of Forest Grove for their project to install three 100 KW solar arrays at community facilities. This will reduce energy costs for low-income customers while reducing fossil gas dependence and combatting economic inequity.\n\n$775,000 toward construction for the relocation and expansion of the Ella Curran Food Bank in Polk County. This project will allow the Food Bank to continue to serve as a safety net against hunger and food insecurity amid increasing community need.\n\n$750,000 for Williams & Russell Community Development Corporation (CDC) for its project to construct a 20-unit townhouse style condominium development that will be affordable to families and prioritizes housing Black community members as an effort to foster restorative justice for their displacement from this block 50 years ago.\n\n$650,000 for the City of Sutherlin to acquire and develop a 13-acre parcel and 17,000-sq. foot building to provide emergency shelter and supportive, wrap around services to address health, financial, or other barriers to securing stable housing for people experiencing homelessness in Sutherlin, Oregon.\n\n$500,000 for the African Youth & Community Organization (AYCO) to go toward finalizing construction of a community center which will continue providing culturally specific, safe spaces for East African immigrants in Portland.\n\n$500,000 for Community Action Resource Enterprises, Inc. (CARE) to renovate an existing building to serve as Tillamook County\u2019s first low-barrier navigation center for folks experiencing houselessness. The center will be co-located with employment, support, and case management services.\n\n$400,000 for the Oregon Wildlife Heritage Foundation for their projects to secure wildlife crossings on I-5 in Southern Oregon, which bisects the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. The funding will complete design and engineering for fencing to accompany two high-priority wildlife overcrossings in the region renowned for its remarkable ecology and diverse range of biological resources.\n\n$220,000 for the Travel Information Council (TIC) to install panels of tribal-approved historical interpretation in 12 safety rest areas in Oregon. Currently, travelers stopping at rest areas in Eastern Oregon along I-84 have access to informational kiosks that feature the Oregon Trail. The funds will be used to update the text of these kiosks to be more accurate and more comprehensively describe the landscapes and the people along the Oregon Trail\u2014both those newly arriving as well as those who had already lived here for millennia.\n\nFor quotes from community-initiated project recipients included in the THUD bill, click HERE.\n\nOther key funding in the THUD bill that passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support include:\n\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\u2019s most vulnerable people\u2014low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities, including $8.875 billion for housing unit specific rental assistance. The THUD bill also protects funding for housing programs that benefit the elderly and people with disabilities.\n\nRural Housing: The Self-Help Homeownership Opportunity Program (SHOP) and Rural Capacity Building Program received $13.5 million and $6 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.\n\nHUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing: The program received an additional $30 million to provide rental assistance vouchers for homeless veterans, along with case management and clinical services. This increase will provide additional rental vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness, and when combined with prior year appropriations and available unleased vouchers, has the potential to dramatically reduce veteran homelessness.\n\nHomeless Assistance and Prevention: The THUD bill includes $3.9 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants, a $275 million increase that will benefit organizations across Oregon. Within that funding, rapid rehousing programs for victims of domestic violence would receive an additional $52 million; homeless youth programs would receive $107 million; and Emergency Solutions Grants\u2014particularly important to the Portland metro area\u2014will receive $290 million to support street outreach, emergency shelter, homelessness prevention, and rapid re-housing assistance.\n\nHOME Investment Partnerships Program: The THUD bill includes $1.5 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.\n\nNeighborhood Reinvestment Corporation: The program, also known as NeighborWorks America, received $168 million in the bill. The national nonprofit offers support for affordable housing and community development through public-private partnerships.\n\nCommunity Development: The bipartisan THUD bill includes $3.3 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.\n\nNow the bill has cleared the Senate, it will next head to the U.S. House of Representatives. The final legislation to emerge from the process must then be passed by both chambers before it is signed into law.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden urge the House to take up the legislation without delay to keep vital government systems and programs running and invest in targeted projects needed in communities across Oregon.\n\n###\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-eshoo-lesko-reintroduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-prevent-domestic-abusers-from-targeting-survivors-with-technology", "Wyden, Eshoo, Lesko Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Prevent Domestic Abusers from Targeting Survivors with Technology", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore, and U.S. Representatives Anna G. Eshoo, D-Calif., and Debbie Lesko, R-Arizona, today reintroduced their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help prevent domestic abusers from using technology to stalk, harass or control survivors.\n\n\u201cDomestic abuse survivors are already recovering from tough situations \u2013 they shouldn\u2019t also have to worry about their abusers hacking their social media or tracking their location. Unfortunately, these frightening scenarios have become increasingly common, and yet, not enough is being done to support and protect survivors from this misuse of technology,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIncreased education, resources and services are essential to making sure survivors get the protection and care they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cTechnology has allowed domestic violence abusers to threaten, stalk, and harass with little effort and free tools.,\u201d said Eshoo. \u201cThat makes the recovery process for survivors even more difficult and longer. It also makes it harder for advocates to support survivors since most of them are not tech professionals. Advocates report that domestic violence victims have low levels of confidence in being able to recognize and address technology-enabled abuse. Our legislation will provide resources to survivors and advocates to prevent and address this heinous psychological abuse.\u201d\n\n\"I am a survivor of domestic violence, so I know firsthand the devastating impact it has on survivors and the difficulties they face as a result. As more capabilities and opportunities continue to be exploited for technology-enabled abuse of this tragically vulnerable population, our resolve must be even greater to ensure that these survivors receive the care and attention they deserve,\u201d said Lesko. \u201cI am grateful to again join this bipartisan coalition of legislators to show Congress\u2019 unwavering devotion to every one of America\u2019s brave survivors.\u201d\n\nDespite the seriousness and rise of technology-enabled abuse \u2014 especially during the COVID-19 pandemic \u2014 programs providing support to victims of intimate partner violence report low levels of confidence that survivors recognize or know how to prevent technology-enabled abuse. From the most basic social media platforms and phone-based apps to specialty spyware apps, technology-enabled abuse takes many forms and engaging in this type of abuse does not require huge financial resources or complex technological savvy.\n\nThe Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act would help close this gap in support by providing new grant funding to clinics and other partnerships focused on addressing domestic violence and technology-enabled abuse, as well as supporting new training and education to equip more organizations with the specialized services needed to help more survivors.\n\nThe legislation would take two significant actions to combat technology-enabled domestic abuse:\n\nIt would authorize a pilot project run by Department of Justice\u2019s Office on Violence Against Women to establish more tech-enabled abuse clinics. The grant program would provide $2 million grants for up to 15 clinics and other partnerships providing support to sexual and domestic violence victims who are experiencing technology-enabled abuse.\n\nIt would establish an additional grant program, also under the Office on Violence Against Women, for nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to develop and implement training and educational programs and technical assistance for organizations and individuals who provide support for victims of tech-enabled abuse.\n\nStatements of Support\n\nRuth Glenn, CEO of Public Affairs, The National Domestic Violence Hotline: \"As technology becomes an even greater part of our lives, the ability of an abusive partner to leverage this technology to abuse, control, harass, and stalk a survivor continues to grow increasing the harm to survivors of domestic violence. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is proud to endorse the Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act introduced by Senator Wyden. This bill ensures that the systems who support survivors experiencing technology-related abuses have the necessary resources available to best serve those needing services.\"\n\nThomas E. Kadri, Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy, Clinic to End Tech Abuse: \"People experiencing tech-enabled abuse often don\u2019t know where to turn. Our clinic has helped hundreds of New Yorkers over the last few years, but survivors around the country urgently need assistance. This Act could expand access to similar support services and develop knowledge about evolving forms of tech-enabled abuse.\"\n\nMartina Shabram, PhD, Executive Director, Sexual Assault Support Services of Lane County, Oregon: \"The availability of new and emerging technological tools far outpaces the resources, services, and laws needed to combat perpetrators who use those technologies to facilitate their abuse of others. The Tech Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Act helps service providers catch up and build out the resources that survivors of technology-facilitated abuse deserve. Advocates are experts in providing trauma-informed, survivor-centered care, but we're not tech professionals! This act lets us bring together the multidisciplinary teams that we need to combat technology-facilitated abuse; advocates, tech experts, and survivors will be able to work together to create a safer world. On behalf of all of us at Sexual Assault Support Services, we thank Senator Wyden for the support he has provided for survivors of sexual violence throughout his career.\"\n\nThe bill is endorsed by National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Legal Momentum, Clinic to End Tech Abuse, EndTAB, New Beginnings, Natalie Dolci of the Technology-Enabled Coercive Control Initiative (endorsed in her personal capacity), Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Sexual Assault Support Services of Oregon, Center for Hope and Safety of Oregon, and the Oregon Attorney General\u2019s Sexual Assault Task Force.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-whitehouse-launch-investigation-into-climate-change-fueled-insurance-crisis", "Wyden, Whitehouse Launch Investigation into Climate Change-Fueled Insurance Crisis", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2014 U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said today that he and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have launched an investigation into how insurance companies are navigating mounting risks from climate change, including where companies will next pull coverage or raise premiums.\n\nThe inquiry from Wyden, a member of the Senate Budget Committee; and Whitehouse, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, builds on a related investigation the committee launched in June into the U.S. insurance industry\u2019s decisions to continue investing in and underwriting fossil fuel expansion projects that drive climate change.\n\nIn light of the economy-wide harms from widespread uninsurability, the senators sent letters to the 20 largest private sector insurance companies in California, Louisiana, Florida, and Texas\u2014a total of 40 companies\u2014to request documents and information related to the companies\u2019 plans to address increased underwriting losses from climate disasters.\n\n\u201cThe Committee is increasingly concerned about the potential economic consequences of an eventual widescale decline in property values caused by increasing exposure to climate risks and the attendant increase in insurance premiums and decrease in insurance availability,\u201d the senators wrote. \u201cShould such a situation come to pass, the effects on households\u2014and federal revenues and spending\u2014would be quite damaging and long-lasting, as we saw during and after the 2008 financial crisis.\u201d\n\nAmong other requests, the senators are seeking information related to the following:\n\nCurrent consideration of risks from climate-related extreme weather events, sea level rise, and/or wildfires when determining property and casualty insurance premiums for homes, rental units, automobiles, commercial properties, and/or crops;\n\nPremium rate forecasts over the next five years;\n\nClimate-related threats to company solvency; and\n\nA list of all counties (or county equivalents) in the United States in which the subject company has not renewed a minimum threshold of homeowners\u2019 policies in years 2018 through 2023.\n\nThe committee has held a series of hearings on the economic toll of climate change. Insurance industry executives, economists, actuaries, and other experts have testified that climate change could trigger cascading failures that undermine financial and economic stability. Their testimony has made clear that:\n\nClimate-related losses have already grown substantially and are projected to continue to rise;\n\nAs climate-related risks increase, insurance premiums will increase and/or insurers will pull out of at-risk markets;\n\nAs insurance becomes increasingly expensive and/or unavailable, property values in affected markets will decline;\n\nInsurance unavailability will cause affected properties to become unmortgageable; and\n\nA widescale decline in coastal and wildland-urban interface (WUI) community property values would present a systemic risk to the U.S. economy, similar to what occurred in the 2007-2008 mortgage meltdown.\n\nLetters were sent to American International Group, Allied Trust, American Integrity, Allstate, American Family, AmTrust, Auto Club Enterprises, AXA, Berkshire Hathaway, Chubb, CNA, CSAA, Fairfax, Farmers, Florida Peninsula, First Protective, Gulf States, Hartford, Heritage, Homeowners of America, Homeowners Choice, Kemper, Louisiana Farm Bureau, Liberty Mutual, Mercury General, Nationwide, Olympus, People\u2019s Trust, Progressive, Security First, Shelter Mutual, Slide, State Farm, SURE, Tokio Marine, Tower Hill, Travelers, Universal Insurance Holdings, USAA, and Zurich. The companies have until November 17, 2023, to respond to the committee\u2019s request.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-collins-durbin-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-help", "Bonamici, Collins, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Runaway and Homeless Youth", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), and U.S. Senator Susan Collins and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide.\n\n\u201cYoung people thrive when they have a safe and stable home,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici, Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. \u201cWe must help and protect youth experiencing homelessness and survivors of trafficking in their time of need. This bipartisan update to the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act will expand and improve the services many youth need when they do not have a place to call home, and it strengthens programs that can empower them to transition out of homelessness.\u201d\n\n\u201cHaving a caring and safe place to sleep, eat, grow, and study is crucial for any young person\u2019s development,\u201d said Senator Collins. \u201cOur bipartisan legislation would support young people who run away, are forced out of their homes, or are disconnected from their families, by extending basic social services to these most vulnerable youth in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis legislation is an investment in the future of our nation and a promise not to give up on any child,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cIt will help us empower our youth\u2014especially those in underserved communities\u2014to realize their dreams for a better and brighter future, regardless of the traumatic experiences they may have faced.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the number of homeless and runaway youth increases, we must increase our federal efforts to assist and protect these youth who are particularly susceptible to trafficking,\u201d said Rep. Bacon. \u201cThis bill provides agencies with the means to support youth who are in vulnerable positions and gives them the resources to address these problems.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery young person deserves a safe and secure environment to grow up in,\u201d said Rep. Nunn. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation ensures young people in vulnerable situations can receive the help they need to sleep, eat, study, and develop.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo child should ever be forced to live on the streets in fear of their wellbeing and safety,\u201d said Rep. McGarvey. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is going provide critical resources to young people experiencing homelessness, especially LGBTQ+ and trans youth who are at a higher risk of being forced out of their homes. I\u2019m proud to continue former Congressman Yarmuth\u2019s fight to help young people in Louisville and across our country; it takes a village to care for our children, and I\u2019m committed to safeguarding our most vulnerable youth.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe applaud our congressional champions for introducing the important Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, because our young people continue to face limited access to housing options, education, and living wage employment. This legislation makes critical expansions to meet the needs of today\u2019s youth, and continues the powerful legacy of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program. Further, it builds on what we already know: ending youth homelessness prevents human trafficking,\u201d said Darla Bardine, Executive Director, National Network for Youth.\n\nThe landmark Runaway and Homeless Youth Act was first passed by Congress in 1974, providing nationwide support to address youth and young adult homelessness. This reauthorization would expand protections to youths who are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking and would authorize funding for state and local programs to help provide transitional housing, street outreach, and crisis intervention programs to address the needs of homeless and runaway youth.\n\nAmong other improvements, this legislation would:\n\nReauthorize, modernize, and increase authorization levels for programs under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act;\n\nCreate a new Prevention Services Program that would make additional resources available to organizations providing counseling, mediation, and other services aimed at preventing youth from running away or becoming homeless;\n\nIncrease annual competitive grants for rural youth demographics from $100,000 to $200,000;\n\nRequire the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a national estimate of the prevalence of homeless youth every three years; and\n\nIncrease the allowable length of stay in the Basic Center Program from 21 days to 30 days.\n\nThe legislation is supported by youth advocacy organizations including the National Network for Youth, which has supported the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act since it was first enacted in 1974.\n\nA complete list of organizations endorsing this bill can be read HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-torres-introduce-legislation-keep-pedestrians-vulnerable-road-users", "Bonamici, Torres Introduce Legislation to Keep Pedestrians & Vulnerable Road Users Safe", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced today the introduction of the Pedestrian Hazard, Awareness and Safety Expansion (PHASE) Act to address rising pedestrian accidents and fatalities.\n\n\u201cOur country has experienced a significant increase in pedestrian fatalities, making us an outlier among peer nations. This is a personal issue for me\u2014earlier this year my husband and I were struck by a car as we walked across the street in a marked crosswalk with the light. We recovered, but too many people are not as fortunate. I\u2019m grateful to join my colleague Congresswoman Norma Torres in introducing the PHASE Act, which will direct needed federal resources to research and implement road safety strategies to prevent deaths and make streets safer for drivers and pedestrians,\u201d said Congresswoman Bonamici.\n\n\u201cWhether Americans are choosing to walk, bike, or even take a scooter to their next stop, they deserve the peace of mind and public policy forethought from Congress that we take their safety seriously. With rising pedestrian accidents and fatalities in California and across the nation, our current transportation infrastructure is clearly inadequate at keeping bike and pedestrian road users safe.. My PHASE Act is an important step toward developing stronger pedestrian safety policies and making our roads safer for all vulnerable road users,\u201d said Congresswoman Torres.\n\nA report released this year found the number of pedestrians who were struck and killed by vehicles in 2022 was the highest it has been since 1981. To reverse this dangerous trend, the\n\nPHASE Act:\n\nDirects the National Institute of Standards and Technology to devise solutions to better equip drivers and protect pedestrians, while ensuring its recommendations do not distract drivers.\n\nDirects the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on developing physical alternatives to better protect pedestrians.\n\nCreates a grant program for cities and municipalities to implement pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.\n\nThe PHASE Act is cosponsored by Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and is supported by the League of Conservation Voters, Safe States, League of American Bicyclists, California Bicycle Coalition, and Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.\n\n\u201cVulnerable road user safety, which encompasses all road users outside the vehicle, is critically important and urgently in need of improvement. Pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities are at the highest levels in decades. Proven solutions must be advanced including roadway safety infrastructure upgrades and vehicle safety technologies that prevent or mitigate crashes. We commend Congresswoman Torres for her focus on enhancing safe roadway travel for all with the introduction of the PHASE Act,\u201d said Cathy Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-announce-over-36-million-improve-coastal-ports", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle Announce Over $36 Million to Improve Coastal Ports in Oregon", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced a total of $36,489,508 in federal investments heading to the ports of Astoria, Coquille Indian Tribe\u2019s Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf, and Newport.\n\n\u201cPier 2 West in Astoria is crucial to the region\u2019s economy, but the structure has been deteriorating over the years,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the Port of Astoria will receive close to $25.3 million from USDOT to make overdue repairs to this essential infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cPorts play a crucial role in keeping the economies of Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest running smoothly\u2014transporting goods, people, and services throughout our region\u2014and we rely on them to export our amazing, homegrown products around the world,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis funding will provide crucial support to Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and Newport to improve existing infrastructure, increase storage capabilities, and bolster security while improving operational capacity for these critical ports.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s ports produce jobs and act as economic linchpins for their communities as well as the entire state economy,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m glad these three ports have secured these significant federal infrastructure investments to ensure they can keep exporting our state\u2019s world-renowned products as well as generating economic opportunities for Newport, Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm thrilled that the Port of Newport will be receiving this important grant to upgrade its port infrastructure,\" said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis is exactly the type of support that the federal government should be providing to Oregon's ports, which are essential for local jobs and businesses on the Oregon coast. I will continue to strongly support investment in Oregon\u2019s coastal communities.\u201d\n\nThis past spring, Senators Merkley and Wyden and Rep. Bonamici sent a letter to U.S. Maritime Administration urging their support for the Port of Astoria\u2019s rehabilitation project application as well as a letter of support from Merkley and Wyden for the Newport operational capacity project application. Today\u2019s federal investments come from the Fiscal Year 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Astoria is extremely grateful to be a recipient of Port Infrastructure Development Program funding through MARAD for the rehabilitation of Pier 2 on the Astoria waterfront,\u201d said Will Isom, Port of Astoria, Executive Director. \u201cThe seafood processing cluster on Pier 2 is vital to the Port, the City of Astoria and the entire region. Federal investment into this infrastructure was critical for its future and will help provide a safe, economically viable pier for generations to come!\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Coquille Indian Tribe is proud to take part in the nationwide effort to rebuild our port infrastructure. With this funding, our Tribal One team will continue their work to rebuild Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf as a productive and reliable economic resource that will help secure the future of the Coquille Tribe and our North Bend community and become a valuable member of the nation\u2019s maritime industry,\u201d said Brenda Meade, Chairman, Coquille Indian Tribe.\n\n\"The Port of Newport greatly appreciates the support of our Federal Legislators and the Maritime Administration for this investment in our International Terminal. We are also grateful for our State Legislators, stakeholders and community for years of investment in our terminal. This will allow us to expand our operational capacity through the purchase of equipment and the improvement of a nine-acre parcel for lay-down purposes. These enhancements make the Port more attractive to prospective customers and support economic opportunity in Lincoln County,\" said Paula Miranda, Port of Newport, Executive Director.\n\nOregon projects funding and descriptions can be found below:\n\n$25,315,758 to Port of Astoria: This project funds the rehabilitation of the Port of Astoria\u2019s Pier 2 West \u2013 the region\u2019s hub for seafood processing and maritime commerce \u2013 which is in critical need of repairs and rehabilitation. Project elements include: (1) a new steel bulkhead wall with a 75 year lifespan and that will include a new fendering system, 50 ton double bitt bollards, and a cast-in-place concrete bullrail; (2) removal of the old timber dock; (3) backfill; (4) underpinning of the Pier 2 warehouse; (5) warehouse building concrete slab repairs; (6) new concrete pavement on the pier surface; (7) construction of a stormwater drainage system; and (8) replacement of a water line and fire hydrants adjacent to the warehouse for fire protection of Pier 2.\n\n$7,729,650 to Coquille Indian Tribe: This project funds the following three components: (1) repairs of the dock face along Lot 2 of Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf that will bring the entire dock area up to safe operating standards and open opportunities for new uses of the terminal and wharf facility; (2) bring 800-amp service and a shore power outlet box to the wharf to reduce or eliminate the need for idling diesel engines; and (3) support development phase activities leading to the construction of a 600\u2019-700\u2019 extension of the Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf dock.\n\n$3,444,100 to Port of Newport: This project and funding will support the Port of Newport in the grading of 9 acres of land adjacent to the port\u2019s existing Newport International Terminal to create additional laydown and storage space; fence three acres of land for increased security; and purchase two loaders to load, unload and move cargo within and around the port, especially breakbulk cargo, which the port's current cargo handling equipment is not well suited to safely and efficiently handle. These improvements to the Newport International Terminal enable the Port of Newport to continue to support the economic development and prosperity of the Oregon Coast.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/farms-food-and-fiber-merkley-wyden-announce-senate-passage-of-major-investments-for-oregon-agriculture-and-rural-communities", "Farms, Food, and Fiber: Merkley, Wyden Announce Senate Passage of Major Investments for Oregon Agriculture and Rural Communities", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Funding included in the fiscal year 2024 Senate agriculture funding bill champions family farms, rural housing, broadband, and more\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced major investments in Oregon agriculture, rural housing, food assistance, and rural business priorities has passed the Senate, including more than $5 million in funding for Oregon community-initiated projects.\n\nThe investments were included in the FY24 Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill, which cleared the full chamber with strong bipartisan support.\n\nThe federal funding in this legislation will support programs and projects that benefit farms, families, and rural communities throughout the state.\n\n\u201cAgriculture is a huge part of Oregon\u2019s economy, and it\u2019s essential to ensure our world-class agriculture sector and rural communities have the support needed to grow and thrive,\u201d said Merkley, who previously served as the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that writes the agriculture bill. \u201cThis agriculture bill includes significant investments for family farms, rural housing, food assistance, habitat restoration, and wildfire smoke recovery. The legislation also prioritizes making Oregon\u2019s agriculture more resilient to the impacts of climate chaos to protect the livelihoods of our farmers, ranchers, and producers. These huge investments will benefit Oregon\u2019s farms and families for years to come, and I will keep championing them in Congress until they become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cOne of the things Oregon does best is grow things, and investing in farmers and rural life is essential to keep cultivating our state\u2019s world-renowned agriculture,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cAs I\u2019ve met throughout this year with Oregonians who grow our state\u2019s bounty, I\u2019ve heard consistently about the need for federal investments that combat drought and wildfire smoke hurting their livelihoods, expand rural broadband, support housing in small communities and more. I\u2019m glad this legislation helps achieve those goals and I\u2019ll continue pressing the case until this gets over the finish line.\u201d\n\nMerkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield to serve on the Appropriations Committee, which wrote the bill and is 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.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden secured investments for five Oregon community-initiated projects in the Senate\u2019s agriculture funding bill, which are as follows:\n\n$3 million for the Arnold Irrigation District in Deschutes County to help complete the third phase and begin the final phase of its resiliency and modernization project. As persistent drought continues to impact the Deschutes Basin, these irrigation modernization efforts will better serve farmers and ranchers and strengthen habitat for wildlife, making the region more resilient to climate chaos.\n\n$2 million for the North Unit Irrigation District in Jefferson County to begin its irrigation modernization project, which will transition open ditch irrigation canals to buried pressurized piping. This infrastructure modernization project will lead to significant water savings that benefit farmers, ranchers, and wildlife.\n\n$250,000 for the Condon Arts Council to restore the historic Liberty Theatre in downtown Condon. The rehabilitated theatre will serve as a regional hub for performing arts events and community arts programs for Oregonians living in Gilliam County and beyond.\n\n$113,000 for the Grant County CyberMill Expansion project in John Day to support more equitable internet access for rural Oregonians. The federal funding will be used for distance learning, telemedicine, and broadband equipment and technology.\n\n$76,000 for the South Lane Mental Health Center to help modernize their existing facilities, including a new roof, a new computer server, and security upgrades. These upgrades will benefit patients and staff by providing a safer, cleaner environment.\n\nClick HERE for quotes from community-initiated project recipients included in the Senate agriculture bill.\n\nOther key funding for Oregon\u2019s world-class agriculture that passed out of the Senate with broad bipartisan support includes:\n\nWater Conservation and Habitat Restoration: The bill includes $90.4 million for the Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations, including $20 million set aside for multi-benefit projects, which benefit Western states. In Oregon, this funding is primarily used to replace open irrigation ditches with pipes and is crucial 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 keep Oregon\u2019s family farms in business while improving the habitats of endangered species.\n\nWine Grape Smoke Exposure Research: Recent wildfire seasons have blanketed much of Oregon with thick, hazardous smoke, which has significantly impacted the state\u2019s wine grape harvest. To better understand and address the challenges facing Oregon\u2019s wine growers, the bill includes level funding at $4.5 million for research into smoke-impacted grapes at Oregon State University (OSU) and other West Coast universities.\n\nVineyard and Orchard Acreage Study: The bill encourages the Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to resume data collection and reporting on vineyards and orchards, so that Oregon\u2019s grape, wine, and juice producers can use this important data to remain competitive.\n\nHemp Production Systems: The bill provides $4 million for Agricultural Research Services to partner with institutions conducting biotech and genomics research to improve hemp genetic research and breeding with new techniques. Hemp has quickly become one of Oregon\u2019s leading cash crops, and indicators suggest it has the potential to bring in more than $1 billion in sales to Oregon in the coming years given a fair and consistent regulatory framework.\n\nRangeland Precision Livestock Management: The bill includes $4 million to promote economically efficient and environmentally responsive livestock production systems for the Western rangeland. The bill supports precision nutrition strategies for rangeland-based livestock as well as technology-based rangeland and livestock management strategies to optimize the health and productivity of Western rangeland ecosystem.\n\nOregon Agricultural Research and Facilities Investment: The Agricultural Research Service is receiving $88 million in funding for cutting-edge research to improve the productivity, sustainability, and health of the nation\u2019s agricultural systems. In addition, funding was secured for key Oregon agriculture research programs, including funding for research on the Sudden Oak Death pathogen plaguing Oregon\u2019s South Coast. Other research funding victories include research for alfalfa, barley, tree fruits, pear, wheat, hops, hemp, apple, shellfish, small fruits, seaweed, floriculture, nurseries, and rangeland ecology.\n\nRural Housing: The bill includes $1.6 billion for rental assistance and $48 million for Rural Housing Service Vouchers, which will help address the urgent affordable housing crisis facing Oregon\u2019s rural communities.\n\nRural Energy Saving Program: Senator Merkley successfully protected the RESP program from drastic cuts and secured $10.7 million in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023. The program\u2014which provides funding to rural utilities and other companies to increase energy efficiency\u2014was created by Senator Merkley, who prioritized getting the funding needed to kickstart the program when he was the top Democrat on the Agriculture subcommittee. The funding from this bill would be leveraged for an additional $60 million in investment.\n\nRural Business: The bill includes funding for a number of USDA\u2019s Rural Development programs, including $77.7 million for business development programs. These business development programs help businesses grow as well as provide job training for rural America.\n\nSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): The bill provides $6.3 billion for WIC which provides free food packages designed to safeguard the health of pregnant, breast-feeding, and postpartum women and infants who are at nutrition risk because of inadequate nutrition.\n\nNow the bill has cleared the Senate, it will next head to the U.S. House of Representatives. The final legislation to emerge from the process must then be passed by both chambers before it is signed into law.\n\nSenators Merkley and Wyden urge the House to take up the legislation without delay to keep vital government systems and programs running and invest in targeted projects needed in communities across Oregon.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-hoyle-announce-over-36-million-to-improve-coastal-ports-in-oregon", "Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici, Hoyle Announce Over $36 Million to Improve Coastal Ports in Oregon", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Val Hoyle (OR-04), announced a total of $36,489,508 in federal investments heading to the ports of Astoria, Coquille Indian Tribe\u2019s Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf, and Newport.\n\n\u201cPorts play a crucial role in keeping the economies of Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest running smoothly\u2014transporting goods, people, and services throughout our region\u2014and we rely on them to export our amazing, homegrown products around the world,\u201d Merkley said. \u201cThis funding will provide crucial support to Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and Newport to improve existing infrastructure, increase storage capabilities, and bolster security while improving operational capacity for these critical ports.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregon\u2019s ports produce jobs and act as economic linchpins for their communities as well as the entire state economy,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI\u2019m glad these three ports have secured these significant federal infrastructure investments to ensure they can keep exporting our state\u2019s world-renowned products as well as generating economic opportunities for Newport, Astoria, the Coquille Indian Tribe and beyond.\u201d\n\n\u201cPier 2 West in Astoria is crucial to the region\u2019s economy, but the structure has been deteriorating over the years,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici. \u201cI\u2019m thrilled that the Port of Astoria will receive close to $25.3 million from USDOT to make overdue repairs to this essential infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cI'm thrilled that the Port of Newport will be receiving this important grant to upgrade its port infrastructure,\" said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cThis is exactly the type of support that the federal government should be providing to Oregon's ports, which are essential for local jobs and businesses on the Oregon coast. I will continue to strongly support investment in Oregon\u2019s coastal communities.\u201d\n\nThis past spring, Senators Merkley and Wyden and Rep. Bonamici sent a letter to U.S. Maritime Administration urging their support for the Port of Astoria\u2019s rehabilitation project application as well as a letter of support from Merkley and Wyden for the Newport operational capacity project application. Today\u2019s federal investments come from the Fiscal Year 2023 Port Infrastructure Development Program.\n\n\u201cThe Port of Astoria is extremely grateful to be a recipient of Port Infrastructure Development Program funding through MARAD for the rehabilitation of Pier 2 on the Astoria waterfront,\u201d said Will Isom, Port of Astoria, Executive Director. \u201cThe seafood processing cluster on Pier 2 is vital to the Port, the City of Astoria and the entire region. Federal investment into this infrastructure was critical for its future and will help provide a safe, economically viable pier for generations to come!\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Coquille Indian Tribe is proud to take part in the nationwide effort to rebuild our port infrastructure. With this funding, our Tribal One team will continue their work to rebuild Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf as a productive and reliable economic resource that will help secure the future of the Coquille Tribe and our North Bend community and become a valuable member of the nation\u2019s maritime industry,\u201d said Brenda Meade, Chairman, Coquille Indian Tribe.\n\n\"The Port of Newport greatly appreciates the support of our Federal Legislators and the Maritime Administration for this investment in our International Terminal. We are also grateful for our State Legislators, stakeholders and community for years of investment in our terminal. This will allow us to expand our operational capacity through the purchase of equipment and the improvement of a nine-acre parcel for lay-down purposes. These enhancements make the Port more attractive to prospective customers and support economic opportunity in Lincoln County,\" said Paula Miranda, Port of Newport, Executive Director.\n\nOregon projects funding and descriptions can be found below:\n\n$25,315,758 to Port of Astoria: This project funds the rehabilitation of the Port of Astoria\u2019s Pier 2 West \u2013 the region\u2019s hub for seafood processing and maritime commerce \u2013 which is in critical need of repairs and rehabilitation. Project elements include: (1) a new steel bulkhead wall with a 75 year lifespan and that will include a new fendering system, 50 ton double bitt bollards, and a cast-in-place concrete bullrail; (2) removal of the old timber dock; (3) backfill; (4) underpinning of the Pier 2 warehouse; (5) warehouse building concrete slab repairs; (6) new concrete pavement on the pier surface; (7) construction of a stormwater drainage system; and (8) replacement of a water line and fire hydrants adjacent to the warehouse for fire protection of Pier 2.\n\n$7,729,650 to Coquille Indian Tribe: This project funds the following three components: (1) repairs of the dock face along Lot 2 of Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf that will bring the entire dock area up to safe operating standards and open opportunities for new uses of the terminal and wharf facility; (2) bring 800-amp service and a shore power outlet box to the wharf to reduce or eliminate the need for idling diesel engines; and (3) support development phase activities leading to the construction of a 600\u2019-700\u2019 extension of the Ko\u2019Kwel Wharf dock.\n\n$3,444,100 to Port of Newport: This project and funding will support the Port of Newport in the grading of 9 acres of land adjacent to the port\u2019s existing Newport International Terminal to create additional laydown and storage space; fence three acres of land for increased security; and purchase two loaders to load, unload and move cargo within and around the port, especially breakbulk cargo, which the port's current cargo handling equipment is not well suited to safely and efficiently handle. These improvements to the Newport International Terminal enable the Port of Newport to continue to support the economic development and prosperity of the Oregon Coast.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-urge-good-faith-negotiations-between-the-portland-association-of-teachers-and-portland-public-schools", "Merkley, Wyden Urge Good Faith Negotiations Between the Portland Association of Teachers and Portland Public Schools", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden issued the following statement, urging the Portland Association of Teachers and the Portland Public Schools Board of Education to continue bargaining in good faith amid the first-ever teachers\u2019 strike in the district:\n\n\u201cOver the last three years, our educators have strived to maintain a quality, equitable education program for our children through the enormous difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have been underpaid and overstressed, and we strongly affirm our support for Portland\u2019s educators exercising their right to strike for an equitable collective bargaining agreement.\n\n\u201cAt the same time, we urge leadership from both the Portland Association of Teachers and Portland Public Schools to continue working in good faith toward an agreement that addresses a number of key issues, including class size, salaries and benefits, safety in the classroom, stronger equity programs, and expanded services for early learning and special education.\n\n\u201cWith deeply committed, skilled educators and a dedicated Board of Education and administration, we are confident both sides can reach a contract that ensures students are appropriately served, educators are fairly compensated, and community priorities are honored for years to come.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-praises-decision-to-expand-access-to-federal-broadband-program-for-rural-and-underserved-areas", "Wyden Praises Decision to Expand Access to Federal Broadband Program for Rural and Underserved Areas", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Administration Announcement Comes After Repeated Pressure From Wyden to Increase Flexibility for Participation in the Federal BEAD program\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised an announcement by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to help small internet service providers (ISPs) invest in rural and underserved communities across Oregon, by making it easier for them to participate in the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.\n\nOregon will receive a record $689 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s BEAD program to expand access to broadband internet to rural and underserved communities \u2013 the largest single broadband grant in Oregon\u2019s history. NTIA, which is administering the BEAD program at the federal level, had previously required a large financial guarantee from broadband providers, called an irrevocable letter of credit, to participate in the BEAD program. Wyden warned the administration that its policy risked excluding many small, rural, and diverse ISPs across Oregon, as well as nonprofits and municipalities, all of whose participation in the program is vital to its success.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement out of NTIA is great news for communities across Oregon, who will be better able to access critical federal funding to boost broadband access in rural and underserved areas of our state,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cOnce again, Assistant Secretary Alan Davidson listened to Oregonians and took steps to address their needs, so my constituents can get a fair shake. I\u2019ll be counting on this partnership to continue until every Oregonian has access to reliable, affordable, high-quality broadband.\u201d\n\nNTIA\u2019s announcement will give internet service providers much more flexibility to qualify for the BEAD program, including by allowing Oregon\u2019s credit unions to participate. It will also permit the use of performance bonds, as an alternative to the letter of credit. Additionally, it will also allow the Oregon Broadband Office to reduce obligations on certain ISPs provided they meet provided deployment milestones.\n\n\u201cWe thank Senator Wyden and NTIA for their tireless efforts to ensure our smaller and medium sized ISPs are able to fully participate in the BEAD program to bring access to all Oregonians currently lacking high-speed, reliable broadband internet\u201d said Oregon Broadband Office Director Nick Batz.\n\n\u201cObtaining an irrevocable letter of credit posed challenges perhaps unique to our small, rural broadband providers operating throughout Oregon,\u201d said Brant Wolf, executive vice president of the Oregon Telecommunications Association. \u201cThe relief granted by NTIA will go a long way toward ensuring BEAD program funding is used in the highest, best manner in rural and frontier areas of Oregon! Access to the internet using fiber will provide these rural areas and communities with the highest speed possible, ensuring their place and participation in the 21st century economy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-successfully-presses-the-international-trade-administration-to-prevent-the-promotion-of-surveillance-technology-to-foreign-governments", "Wyden Successfully Presses the International Trade Administration to Prevent the Promotion of Surveillance Technology to Foreign Governments", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "In a letter to Wyden, the Commerce Department details new policies that would help ensure export promotion efforts do not violate human rights\n\nWashington, D.C.\u2014 Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in response to a Commerce Department letter detailing new policies the International Trade Administration (ITA) has implemented to prevent the promotion of surveillance technology to foreign governments:\n\n\u201cI appreciate the Commerce Department's thoughtful response to my inquiry. For the first time the Department is making clear that the United States will not help companies find foreign markets for products or services that undermine democracy or enable repressive surveillance and discrimination. While I remain concerned about the U.S. government\u2019s prior promotion of these technologies, I look forward to monitoring the implementation of these new policies and ensuring they are followed in practice.\u201d\n\nIn May, Wyden sent a letter calling on the ITA to answer questions about its promotion of dangerous surveillance technology in foreign markets, and explain what steps it is taking to prevent such technology sales from harming human rights.\n\nWyden chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over international trade policy. He first requested information from ITA about its activity promoting the sale of surveillance technology abroad in May 2022. The agency informed Wyden\u2019s office last year it had promoted the sale of surveillance technology, but declined to share which products it promoted, or which foreign markets it targeted. In March 2023 ITA informed Wyden\u2019s office that it had issued a new policy to restrict promotion of surveillance products, but refused to share that policy without a formal letter.\n\nThe ITA is a component of the Department of Commerce responsible for promoting the sale of American products and services in foreign countries.\n\nRead the Commerce Department\u2019s letter to Wyden here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:49:58Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-converts-town-hall-meetings-telephone-town-hall-meeting", "Bonamici Converts Town Hall Meetings to Telephone Town Hall Meeting", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [10/31/23] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced that she will hold a telephone town hall meeting on Monday, November 6 at 6 p.m. PT.\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives has changed its schedule and representatives will now need to be in Washington, D.C. on dates that conflict with previously scheduled in-person town hall meetings. The meetings are cancelled for Portland on Nov. 6, St. Helens on Nov. 7, and Hillsboro on Nov. 9.\n\nBecause Rep. Bonamici will be in Washington, D.C. on those dates, she is offering an opportunity for constituents to participate in a town hall meeting by telephone.\n\nAnyone interested in participating in the telephone town hall meeting can sign up to receive a call here. The telephone town hall meeting will also be livestreamed here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-hoyle-oregon-to-receive-nearly-27-million-to-improve-road-safety", "Wyden, Merkley, Hoyle: Oregon to Receive Nearly $2.7 Million to Improve Road Safety", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Cities of Medford, Corvallis. Eugene, Bend and Stayton as well as Crook, Benton, Deschutes counties and Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs to benefit\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with U.S. Representative Val Hoyle today announced nearly $2.7 million in federal funds for cities, counties and Tribes in Oregon to help plan road improvements and transportation safety.\n\n\u201cThis is exactly the type of investment I fought for in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law because it will directly save Oregonians\u2019 lives on our state\u2019s busiest roadways ,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cI am committed to making our streets in Oregon and across the nation as safe as possible for this generation and the next.\u201d\n\n\u201cOregonians in every corner of the state deserve safe streets in their communities,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThese investments will transform Oregon\u2019s roadways into safer places for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. I will continue working to ensure every Oregonian is able to move about their daily lives conveniently, without fear of accident or injury.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese projects mark a significant step forward to help ensure safer roads and streets for every Oregonian. I\u2019m proud that our communities, including Benton County and the Cities of Corvallis and Eugene, are taking proactive measures to enhance safety for all modes of transportation.\u201d said Congresswoman Hoyle. \u201cThese initiatives not only safeguard our residents, they also promote equitable access and mobility for all.\u201d\n\nThe $2.65 million in federal funds come from the federal Department of Transportation\u2019s Safe Streets and Roads for All Planning Grant program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will be distributed as follows in Oregon:\n\nCity of Medford - $400,000\n\nCrook County - $96,000\n\nThe Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs - $320,000\n\nDeschutes County - $144,000\n\nBenton County - $320,000\n\nCity of Corvallis - $664,000\n\nCity of Eugene - $384,000\n\nBend Metropolitan Planning Organization - $200,000\n\nCity of Stayton - $120,000\n\n\u201cThis grant will allow the City to move forward with critical evaluation and planning efforts which will allow the City to strategically incorporate safety improvements in our transportation investments,\u201d said Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan.\n\n\u201cImproving walking and biking conditions to and from transit stops through this project will play a vital role in supporting sustainable transportation trips and mitigating future greenhouse gas emissions,\u201d said Jenifer Willer, City of Eugene Engineering Division manager. \u201cEugene is grateful for this award and for the support of Oregon\u2019s congressional representatives.\"\n\n\"Benton County, Oregon's SS4A Planning Grant for a Safety Action Plan is a crucial step towards enhancing safety and accessibility for all transportation users in this vibrant region we call home. With a population of over 92,000, from the high volume of commuters to the growing number of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, Benton County faces a unique blend of transportation needs. The Safety Action Plan seeks to address these challenges in a comprehensive and responsible way,\u201d said Benton County Commissioner Pat Malone.\n\n\u201cRoad safety is a priority for Crook County. This grant will help us develop a plan to ensure safe roads for years to come,\u201d said Crook County Judge Seth Crawford.\n\n\"We are thrilled to receive federal SS4A funding to update our Transportation Safety Action Plan (TSAP),\u201d said Tony DeBone, Deschutes County Commissioner. \u201cThe TSAP update will allow us to identify emerging safety issues in our system and utilize low cost improvements and non-infrastructure investment opportunities to improve the safety of our transportation system.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-murray-sanders-baldwin-lead-44-senators-in-urging-the-biden-administration-to-require-insurers-to-fully-cover-over-the-counter-birth-control-with-no-out-of-pocket-costs-or-prescription-barrier", "Wyden, Murray, Sanders, Baldwin Lead 44 Senators in Urging the Biden Administration to Require Insurers to Fully Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control, With No Out-of-Pocket Costs or Prescription Barrier", "2023-10-30", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "More than two-thirds of voters across parties support birth control pills being sold over-the-counter\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) led 44 of their Senate colleagues today in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill\u2014the first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill, which will become available in early 2024\u2014with no copays or out of pocket costs, and without a prescription requirement.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to improve health insurance coverage, both public and private, of the full range of FDA-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive products\u2014including birth control that is available over-the-counter (OTC) without requiring a prescription for coverage,\u201d the senators wrote today in their letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and the Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie Su. \u201cOver 19 million women live in counties with limited access to health care providers that offer comprehensive contraceptive services, and about one-third of women who have received prescription contraceptives have reported barriers to access. Expanding access to affordable coverage for eligible, uninsured populations would improve the quality of contraceptive care that patients receive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe availability of safe and effective OTC birth control products has enormous potential to help people overcome significant barriers to consistent contraceptive use, including the many logistical and financial challenges to obtaining a prescription. The FDA\u2019s approval of Opill is a milestone; however, for an OTC birth control pill to meet its potential and be truly accessible, federal departments must ensure that it is covered without cost-sharing and without the need for a prescription as a condition of coverage,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cTo expand access to affordable contraception, we urge the tri-departments to issue new guidance that reflects current HRSA guidelines and clarifies that federally and state-regulated private health plans must cover OTC contraceptive products without cost-sharing, including when purchased without a prescription\u2026 Given the increased need for access to contraception in the wake of the Dobbs decision, this issue is incredibly timely and important,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nDana Singiser, co-founder of the Contraceptive Access Initiative said: \u201cIt makes no sense to cover contraception when obtained with a prescription, and not cover it without\u2014the enormous health benefits are the same. People should be able to use their insurance coverage for birth control pills whether they get it by prescription from a medical provider or whether they simply purchase it off the shelf at a pharmacy. I applaud Senators Murray, Baldwin, Sanders, and Wyden and their Senate colleagues for raising their collective voices to help ensure that over-the-counter contraception is financially accessible.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Senators Wyden, Murray, Sanders and Baldwin, the letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-demand-answers-from-tax-prep-companies-after-ftc-warns-of-improper-sharing-of-confidential-data", "Wyden, Colleagues Demand Answers from Tax Prep Companies After FTC Warns of Improper Sharing of Confidential Data", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he and six congressional colleagues are demanding answers from five tax preparation companies that recently received notices of penalty offenses from the Federal Trade Commission.\n\nThe lawmakers sought those answers in letters sent to H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Ramsey Solutions, and Intuit regarding the improper sharing of taxpayer\u2019s sensitive and confidential information with Meta (formerly Facebook Inc.).\n\n\u201cThe FTC\u2019s warning followed the release of our months-long investigation revealing that major tax preparation companies sent tens of millions of Americans\u2019 sensitive personal data to Meta without providing appropriate disclosures or obtaining taxpayer consent\u2014in apparent violation of taxpayer privacy laws,\u201d the lawmakers wrote. \u201cAccordingly, we write to confirm that, in accordance with the FTC\u2019s notice of penalty offenses, your company is not engaged and will not be engaged in any further abuses of taxpayer privacy.\u201d\n\nIn their letters, lawmakers reiterated their support for Direct File, an IRS initiative that would let Americans file their taxes online and directly with the federal government for free. They also asked a series of questions to determine whether the tax preparation companies have been and will be compliant with the FTC\u2019s recent notice and to further ensure that taxpayer privacy will not be violated in this way again. They have demanded answers by Nov. 8, 2023.\n\nIn addition to Wyden, other lawmakers signing the letters were U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.); Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.); Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.); Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.); and U.S. Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-announce-51-million-to-improve-air-quality-in-oregon", "Wyden, Merkley Announce $5.1 Million to Improve Air Quality in Oregon", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Federal investment to help Klamath County and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation\n\nWashington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Klamath County Public Health and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have secured a combined $5.1 million in federal funds for air quality.\n\n\u201cThis federal investment packs a one-two punch because it improves overall air quality and helps Oregonians get efficient heat sources to replace their wood-burning units,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThat adds up to a huge win for quality of life in Klamath County as well as for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese critical investments will be used to help ensure folks in Klamath County and on the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation have the support and innovation to better monitor and improve air quality,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cAir pollution often goes unnoticed, but can contribute greatly to chronic health conditions. This funding will help improve health outcomes and quality of life for thousands of Oregonians.\"\n\nThe $4.67 million from the Environmental Protection Agency will go to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to partner with Klamath County Public Health, allowing the two agencies to change out around 300 woodstoves and weatherize 100 houses in Klamath County, with a focus on improving services to underserved populations who rely on wood for heat. As part of the $4.67 million, $323,630 in utility assistance will be granted to low-income applicants who change out their woodstoves through the program.\n\nAn additional $451,250 in EPA funding will go to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for air quality monitoring.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-bonamici-salinas-urge-inclusion-of-chips-permitting-reform-in-defense-bill", "Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici, Salinas Urge Inclusion of CHIPS Permitting Reform in Defense Bill", "2023-10-27", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas said today they are joining more than 100 congressional colleagues to urge leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to preserve the Building Chips in America Act in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\n\nThe chips permitting bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support as an amendment to the Senate NDAA in July, streamlines National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review requirements for semiconductor manufacturing projects to maximize the impact of the CHIPS and Science Act in Oregon and nationwide. The permitting bill by U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) clarifies the scope of NEPA reviews while keeping in place state and federal protections for clean air and clean water.\n\nSenate and House leaders are preparing to negotiate a final, compromise version of the NDAA that could pass both chambers and be signed into law. The letter signed by Wyden, Merkley, Bonamici and Salinas and their colleagues urges Senate and House leaders to maintain the Senate-passed microchip permitting reforms in that final version.\n\n\u201cHistorically, NEPA reviews apply to projects that receive a significant portion of federal funding, giving the Federal government sufficient control over the project\u2019s outcome. This is not the case for the CHIPS program,\u201d the lawmakers wrote.\n\nFederal funding for CHIPS Act projects will comprise a minimal share of the cost, but would still be deemed \u201cmajor federal actions.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis could halt or delay commencement of new projects, impacting the United States\u2019 ability to bolster its national security interests, economic growth, competitiveness, and technological leadership,\u201d the lawmakers\u2019 letter continued.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-molinaro-introduce-bipartisan-bill-reduce-childhood-hunger", "Bonamici, Molinaro Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Childhood Hunger", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [10/26/23] \u2013 Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to healthy meals and snacks for children in care settings.\n\nThe Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act updates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow an additional meal or snack for children in care for a full day, and streamlines the program to make it easier for early learning programs and child care providers to participate. CACFP currently serves 4.2 million low-income children in child care centers, Head Start and afterschool programs, homeless shelters, and other settings. Affordable child care and access to nutritious meals contribute to the health and economic vitality of working families.\n\n\u201cChild care providers play an essential role in the fight against hunger,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cUpdating and expanding CACFP will allow this effective program to reach more children, reduce food insecurity, and lower the cost of care. This bipartisan legislation is especially important as many providers struggle to keep their doors open amid rising costs. Child care is economic infrastructure, and removing unnecessary paperwork and boosting resources for child care businesses will help families afford the care and education their young children need. I\u2019m grateful to partner with Rep. Molinaro to provide more children with a healthy start to life.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo fight childhood hunger and combat our nation\u2019s childcare crisis, we are expanding the Child and Adult Care Food Program to adequately feed children in care facilities and make it easier for more providers to participate in the program,\u201d said Congressman Marcus Molinaro. \u201cAs a member of the Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort with Rep. Suzanne Bonamici to ensure our nation\u2019s children don\u2019t have to worry about where their next meal is coming from.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Heart Association, Bipartisan Policy Center, CACFP Roundtable, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), Child Care Aware of America, Children\u2019s Institute, Early Care and Education Consortium (ECEC), Feeding America, First Children\u2019s Finance, First Five Years Fund, First Focus Campaign for Children, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Home Grown, Independent Restaurant Coalition, KidKare by Minute Menu, KinderCare, National Association for Family Child Care, National CACFP Sponsors Association, National Child Care Association, National Head Start Association, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Oregon Food Bank, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), YMCA of the USA, ZERO TO THREE, MomsRising and National Association of Counties (NACo).\n\n\u201cAcross the country, we continue to face an unprecedented shortage of child care workers, which will only worsen if providers don\u2019t receive critical federal investment,\u201d said to Lee Saunders, President of AFSCME. \u201cParents today are working longer hours and depend on child care providers to meet essential needs, including proper nutrition, which is expensive. The bipartisan Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act would alleviate this crisis by ensuring providers can afford to serve nutritious meals all day, including suppers. We applaud Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Marcus Molinaro for leading on this issue and introducing this crucial bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cA quality meal is essential to the well-being and development of children, and like child care providers throughout the country, YMCAs are working to ensure every child in our care has regular access to nutritious meals and snacks,\u201d said Suzanne McCormick, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. \u201cWe are grateful to Representatives Bonamici and Molinaro for their proposal, which would cut red tape and allow a third meal for children who are in our care all day. This bill would improve the CACFP program and enable more providers to participate, giving more children access to the nutrition they need to thrive.\u201d\n\nParticipation in CACFP provides essential nutrition guidance and significant support for quality child and adult care programs, a sector in which workers are underpaid and overworked. Unfortunately, many providers have struggled with overly burdensome requirements to participate in CACFP. Nationally, these outdated policies and the increased cost of food are cutting into the funds child care providers need to stay open and offer quality care.\n\nA summary of the bill can be found here, and the bill text is available here. Additional statements of support from the National CACFP Sponsors Association, Home Grown, and Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s Early Childhood Initiative can be found here.\n\nIn addition to Bonamici and Molinaro, the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act is cosponsored by Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).\n\nBonamici is Ranking Member of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over the federal child nutrition programs. She is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, where she is a leading voice to secure investments in child care that are fundamental for children, families, and the economy. Additionally, Bonamici and Congressman Greg Landsman are leading the Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act, which would further enhance CACFP by increasing reimbursement levels nationally and put family child care providers on equal footing with center-based providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-and-merkley-announce-energy-assistance-for-oregonians", "Wyden and Merkley Announce Federal Energy Assistance for Oregonians", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Oregon Awarded $40.2 Million from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\n\nWashington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon was awarded $40.2 million in federal funding to help low-income households and Tribes pay for energy bills, prevent utility shut-offs and more.\n\n\u201cWith temperatures forecast to drop near or below freezing this weekend in Oregon, this assistance is especially timely,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThese federal funds will help Oregonians already struggling to make the choice between paying for utilities or food. Maintaining a warm home in cold weather is crucial, especially for households with young children, older adults, and people with disabilities.\u201d\n\n\u201cCountless Oregon families are living paycheck-to-paycheck and struggling to pay their monthly bills,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThe assistance from the LIHEAP program will keep the homes of Oregonians warm this winter and help ease the financial burden of rising utility costs.\u201d\n\nAdministered through the Administration for Children and Families\u2019 Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this funding from Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills, prevent energy shutoffs, restore services, make minor energy-related home repairs, and weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient.\n\nOf the $40.2 million, LIHEAP is funding $38,447,662 to the state, with $639,111 going directly to Tribes; $1,140,973 came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cThe LIHEAP program is absolutely critical for many low-income Warm Springs residents who face extremely hot summers and cold winters. We are deeply appreciative for this federal assistance for our tribal membership,\u201d said Tribal Council Chairman Jonathan Smith.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-thune-reintroduce-tribal-child-support-enforcement-act", "Wyden, Thune Reintroduce Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), today reintroduced the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act, which would improve child support enforcement for tribal child support agencies by allowing the more than 60 tribes that operate their own child-support programs to access the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program, which lets them collect past-due child support from non-custodial parents.\n\nThe bill would also, among other things, create parity between tribes and states by ensuring tribal child support agencies have access to the same information as states do to administer their child support programs.\n\n\u201cTribes in Oregon and nationwide need and deserve the same abilities as state child support agencies to ensure families can recover past-due child support payments,\u201d said Wyden, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. \u201cThis common-sense, bipartisan bill takes a significant step to ensure Tribal youngsters aren\u2019t deprived of financial support that can be used for food, housing and other essentials that add up to the healthiest and safest possible childhood.\u201d\n\n\u201cTribal child support agencies do not currently have access to certain federal programs and information that would make it easier for them to collect past-due child support from non-custodial parents,\u201d said Thune, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and Internal Revenue Service Oversight. \u201cBy ensuring that tribes have the same access to these programs and information as states, we can help Native American families in South Dakota \u2013 and across the country \u2013 receive the child support payments that they are owed, and also put tribal and state programs on equal footing.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe National Child Support Engagement Association (NCSEA) has long-supported this legislation to provide our tribal partners with the same tax offset tools that states have as well as give all child support agencies necessary access to tax information to further support children,\u201d said Erin Frisch, president of NCSEA. \u201cThis legislation is our top priority this year and we are pleased to see the bipartisan support for the measure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Nation Tribal Child Support Association (NTCSA) supports the legislation to provide tribal child support programs with the Federal Tax Offset Program,\u201d said Sand Cloer, president of NTCSA. \u201cOur state partners have has this tool for many years. Tribal child support programs continue to work hard for our Indian children in order to afford them the same financial opportunities as all other children. This legislation is vital to our programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe economic, political, and social linkages between our Tribe and children are critical and often ignored at the children\u2019s peril,\u201d said Gregg Duffek, president of the National Association of Tribal Child Support Directors. \u201cWith passage of this critical legislation, we will be able to provide greater enforcement of child support for our families. We applaud the efforts of Senator Thune and Chairman Wyden for continuing to support tribal families.\u201d\n\nStates have several enforcement methods at their disposal to enforce child support, one being the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program. With this program, when a non-custodial parent is due a refund but owes past-due child support, the U.S. Department of the Treasury can withhold the tax refund and send it to the child support agency to get it to the family.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-votes-no-on-reckless-removal-of-us-troops-in-niger", "Wyden Votes No on Reckless Removal of U.S. Troops in Niger", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after voting against a resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from the Republic of Niger:\n\n\u201cI voted against this resolution, which recklessly removes U.S. troops combating terrorism from the Republic of Niger and the wider region within 30 days. A sudden withdrawal would not only send a harmful message to our partners in West Africa who rely on our support to curb violent extremism, but it would also make it easier for Russian-affiliated mercenaries to deploy to Niger and commit additional atrocities. While I could not in good conscience support this resolution, I urge President Biden to quickly update his plan and seek explicit congressional approval for the U.S. presence in the region. Oregonians can rest assured that I remain steadfast in my commitment to assert Congress\u2019 authority to declare or not declare war and to end forever-wars.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-introduces-3-bipartisan-bills-expand-job-opportunities", "Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Expand Job Opportunities", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [10/25/23] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan package of legislation that will help people get quality jobs by increasing access to apprenticeships, workforce training programs, and youth career counseling programs.\n\nThe ACCESS Act \u2013 introduced with Rep. Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (R-PA) \u2013 would improve career counseling programs for youth to help them access high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand jobs.\n\nThe BUILDS Act \u2013 also co-led by Rep. Thompson \u2013 would provide workers with skills needed to fill infrastructure jobs by creating new grants for industry partnerships in the infrastructure sector. The bill includes funding for support services, such as child care and transportation, to help workers with program retention and completion.\n\nThe PARTNERS Act \u2013 co-led with Reps. Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Haley Stevens (D-MI), and Drew Ferguson (R-GA) \u2013 would establish a grant program to support the creation and expansion of industry partnerships to help small- and medium-sized businesses develop work-based learning programs and provide mentoring and support services for workers.\n\n\u201cInvesting in workers and workforce training improves lives, strengthens the economy, and offers Oregonians and Americans a path to the middle class,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cSupporting partnerships among businesses, colleges, and other organizations is vital to building a diverse pool of skilled workers. I\u2019m grateful to work with my colleagues to introduce this bipartisan package of legislation to support workers and create more opportunities for people to access good-paying, in-demand jobs.\u201d\n\n\"As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am proud to join Rep. Bonomici in introducing these two critical pieces of legislation that will help connect the next generation to in-demand jobs and support our nation's infrastructure,\" said Rep. Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson. \"These bills continue to support Americans looking to climb the ladder of opportunity and develop skills to find high quality, family sustaining jobs.\"\n\n\u201cSmall and medium sized businesses are the backbone of our Commonwealth and the backbone of our national economy,\u201d said Congressman Brett Guthrie. \u201cAs I travel throughout my district, I hear from businesses far and wide that are facing increasing challenges due to rising costs and historically high inflation. This has made it increasingly difficult to fill workforce shortages across all industries. Apprenticeships are a great way for people to learn new applicable skills, while earning a paycheck, making apprenticeships a critical path into the workforce for many individuals. For these reasons, I am proud to once again co-lead the PARTNERS Act which will allow small and medium size businesses to join with community partners to create work-based opportunities for the individuals who need them the most.\u201d\n\n\u201cHelping smaller businesses build out their training capacity is a win-win; it provides companies with much needed skilled labor and Americans with paths to good-paying, secure jobs,\u201d said Rep. Haley Stevens. \u201cThe Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers\u2019 Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act will give small- and medium-sized businesses access to funding for workforce training programs, such as apprenticeships. I am proud to co-sponsor the PARTNERS Act because creative steps like these are critical to ensuring every American has access to a quality job and that we retain our competitive economic edge with the best workforce in the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn order to stay competitive on the world stage, communities across the country need the flexibility and resources to create work-based learning opportunities catered to their local job markets,\u201d said Congressman Drew Ferguson. \u201cIn Georgia, employers are seeing the value of putting skills training directly in the workplace \u2013 and programs like the Central Education Center in Newnan have been implementing an innovative style of apprenticeship that prepares our young people for 21st century careers. I\u2019m proud to reintroduce the PARTNERS Act, which is an innovative solution that give every American the opportunity to live the American dream.\"\n\nThe ACCESS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Association of Workforce Boards, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, American Federation of Teachers, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen\u2019s Issues, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the ACCESS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here.\n\nThe BUILDS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, ACTE, Advance CTE, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen\u2019s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the BUILDS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here.\n\nThe PARTNERS Act has been endorsed by: Jobs for the Future, National Skills Coalition, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen\u2019s Issues, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and National Community Action Foundation. A summary of the PARTNERS Act can be found here, and the full text can be found here.\n\n\"It is vital that the next generation of workers understand the educational and career opportunities available to them,\u201d said Bradford C. Turner-Little, CEO, National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). \u201cEqually as important is having access to professional assistance in navigating those opportunities. NAWB is proud to endorse the ACCESS Act, which will ensure our youth gain high-quality, in-demand jobs through the public workforce development system.\"\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan BUILDS, PARTNERS and ACCESS bills being introduced by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici are just what we need to support the workforce development efforts of our member organizations and the diverse women they are preparing to enter the construction workforce,\u201d said Connie Ashbrook and Janelle DeJan, Co-Chairs, National Taskforce on Tradeswomen\u2019s Issues. \u201cThese women will be important additions to the workers needed to repair and build our nation\u2019s infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a country, we are making important investments in infrastructure, clean energy, and technology but the promise of these investments won\u2019t be fully realized without the support of workers with the skills required to do the work. These bills will help us meet our nation\u2019s workforce needs by bringing employers together, supporting workers\u2019 access to skills training and supportive services, and providing our nation\u2019s young people with awareness of the career opportunities available to them.\u201d \u2013 National Skills Coalition\n\nBonamici is a co-chair of the Congressional Apprenticeship Caucus and the Career and Technical Education Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases/salinas-statement-speaker-mike-johnson", "Salinas Statement on Speaker Mike Johnson", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Andrea Salinas", "S001226", "salinas.house.gov", "salinas", "https://salinas.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to elect Rep. Mike Johnson as Speaker as the House:\n\n\u201cAfter 22 days of chaos and disarray, House Republicans have elected a MAGA extremist who voted to overturn the 2020 election as Speaker of the House. Mike Johnson has consistently supported legislation that would rip away Americans\u2019 reproductive freedom and slash critical programs like Social Security and Medicare. I have deep concerns about Speaker Johnson\u2019s ability to govern responsibly. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that the new Speaker will set aside his extreme views and work to find a bipartisan path forward. It is past time for Congress to get back to work for Oregonians and for the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/key-committee-holds-hearing-on-bill-that-provides-critical-funding-to-oregon-counties", "Key Committee Holds Hearing on Bill that Provides Critical Funding to Oregon Counties", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act provides funding for schools, roads, and other essential services\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining for holding a hearing on the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act\u2014bipartisan legislation that Wyden co-leads with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho.\n\nThe legislation would invest in rural communities across Oregon and the nation for essential services such as education, road maintenance, search and rescue, wildfire prevention and watershed restoration by reauthorizing the U.S. Forest Service Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through 2026.\n\n\u201cThe Secure Rural Schools program has been a vital lifeline for rural counties in Oregon and nationwide, but lapses in Congressional action leave rural counties dangling on an annual fiscal cliff,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cReauthorizing Secure Rural Schools is critical and necessary to support education, road maintenance, forest and watershed health, fire prevention, search and rescue, and other essential services in rural communities. That\u2019s why I\u2019m working hard to continue this important program, and I applaud ENR Subcommittee Chair Catherine Cortez Masto for aiding in this effort by holding a hearing on my bill. Reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools is one step closer to the finish line.\u201d\n\nSince Wyden first authored the program in 2000, SRS has provided nearly $4 billion to Oregon counties. To preserve this vital lifeline for rural communities, Secure Rural Schools must be reauthorized in fiscal year 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-join-colleagues-urging-the-fcc-to-improve-access-to-local-journalism", "Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues Urging the FCC to Improve Access to Local Journalism", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve access to local media on streaming platforms. Current law and FCC rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear streaming services over the internet are not required to negotiate directly with local television stations.\n\nStreaming services have a large and growing portion of the video media market as consumers are switching from traditional television providers, like cable and satellite TV, to streaming services over the internet. In 2014, nearly 9 in 10 households subscribed to cable or satellite. In 2023, fewer than half of families are subscribed. As streaming services surge, it is critical for Congress to ensure consumers have continued access to local journalism.\n\n\u201cInternet-based streaming services now have a sizable portion of the video programming distribution market \u2013 and this is only expected to grow as streaming companies actively urge consumers to switch from traditional television providers like cable and satellite TV to virtual offerings and other video streaming services. The shift from broadcast, cable, and satellite to streaming has profound impact on existing laws, regulations, and agreements that have been foundational in support of public safety and access to local news,\u201d wrote the Senators.\n\nThe Senators continued, \u201cIn light of these marketplace changes, we urge the Commission to examine the video marketplace and seriously consider how it can ensure the viability of local broadcast stations and promote localism.\u201d\n\nThis letter is led by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-N.M.) and \u2013 along with Merkley and Wyden \u2013 is signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Michael Bennett (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Elizabeth Warren, (D-Mass.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).\n\nFull text of the letter is available HERE and below:\n\nDear Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioner Carr, Commissioner Starks, Commissioner Simington, and Commissioner Gomez:\n\nWe write today out of concern for the future of the media market and our constituents\u2019 ability to access broadcasters\u2019 unique locally-focused content on streaming platforms, otherwise known as virtual multichannel video programming distributor (vMVPDs).\n\nUnder current law and Commission rules, a traditional cable system or other multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) must gain consent from a local television station before retransmitting its signal. This retransmission consent system was the centerpiece of Congress\u2019s commitment in the Cable Television Consumer Protection and Competition Act to providing local television stations the ability to offer American viewers more locally-focused programming. In 2014, the Commission initiated a proceeding to evaluate the potential modernization of the definition of MVPD to include streaming platforms that offer linear multichannel programming. Virtual MVPDs are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as traditional distributors, including with respect to retransmission consent and requirements to negotiate directly with local television stations for the retransmission of their programming.\n\nMeanwhile, nearly a decade since the public comment period closed, there has been a monumental shift in the marketplace and the way people access video content. Internet-based streaming services now have a sizable portion of the video programming distribution market \u2013 and this is only expected to grow as streaming companies actively urge consumers to switch from traditional television providers like cable and satellite TV to virtual offerings and other video streaming services. The shift from broadcast, cable, and satellite to streaming has profound impact on existing laws, regulations, and agreements that have been foundational in support of public safety and access to local news.??\n\nIn light of these marketplace changes, we urge the Commission to examine the video marketplace and seriously consider how it can ensure the viability of local broadcast stations and promote localism. As the expert agency, the Commission should be developing a record and recommendations to ensure that our regulatory system \u2013 which has enabled a thriving locally-focused broadcast system that is the envy of the world \u2013 is not undermined by the explosion of new technologies that were not foreseen even a mere decade ago. Accordingly, we urge you to refresh the aging, unclosed record from the 2014 proceeding by seeking new public comments to provide updated video marketplace information.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important issue, and we look forward to your prompt reply.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/oregon-congressional-delegation-announces-two-national-tech-hubs-coming-to-oregon", "Oregon Congressional Delegation Announces Two National Tech Hubs Coming to Oregon", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Tech hub designations primed for technological innovation and job creation benefiting national security and sustainable housing\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas, today announced the designation of two tech hubs coming to Oregon from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. These hubs are created through the Tech Hubs program and the 2022 bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, an economic development initiative intended to strengthen manufacturing, commercialization, and deployment of technology that advances American competitiveness. Today\u2019s announcement also includes a federal grant heading to Portland State University for smart battery energy storage systems.\n\n\u201cStrengthening manufacturing in Oregon is a win-win. If we don't make things in America, we won't have a middle class in America,\u201d said Senator Merkley. \u201cThese hubs coming to Oregon will generate jobs, help support our state\u2019s leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and national security, renewable energy, and ensure Oregon\u2019s Mass Timber economy remains sustainable and can continue to innovate and thrive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is great news for our entire state when it comes to jobs in Oregon and cutting-edge research that flows from the investments made by the CHIPS & Science Act,\u201d said Senator Wyden. \u201cI\u2019m gratified this landmark legislation that I worked to pass continues to generate such positive benefits for mass timber, semiconductor technology and green energy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Pacific Northwest is poised to play a critical role in the development of sustainable building materials,\u201d said Rep. Blumenauer. \u201cMass timber is the key to a low carbon, sustainable future. I am pleased with the Biden Administration\u2019s selection of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub. It recognizes that Oregon already has a great deal of experience and some terrific mass timber projects. This will further reinforce our progress and our prospects for the future. I look forward to tracking the progress with the Oregon State University, the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, and many others.\u201d\n\n\u201cResearchers at Oregon State University and its partners have been leading the effort to develop cutting-edge mass timber that will benefit the environment, create jobs, stimulate rural economies, and make housing more affordable,\u201d said Rep. Bonamici. \u201cAddressing the climate crisis must include making our built environment more sustainable. Having this tech hub in the Pacific NW will benefit the region and the country as we work to build more affordable, climate-smart structures. Innovative renewable energy storage will also be key to addressing the climate crisis, enhancing the resilience of our electric grid, and building a more sustainable future. Congratulations to the Pacific Northwest Smart Energy Strategy Development Consortium for earning this Tech Hub grant award to continue their work leading the transition to a clean energy economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am thrilled that the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Hub\u2014a consortium led by OSU-- is one of the 31 Tech Hubs designated by the Biden Administration as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. This designation will help Oregon continue to advance mass timber technologies that tackle two of my biggest priorities in Congress: reducing wildfire risk and building affordable housing. I am grateful for this federal investment that will bring innovation to manufacturing and construction, and boost pathways for middle class jobs,\u201d said Rep. Hoyle. \u201cOSU is also receiving much deserved recognition for its leadership in microfluidics with a Tech Hub designation by the Biden Administration as part of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. Their cutting-edge research will benefit advanced energy technologies and Oregon\u2019s leading semiconductor economy. I am grateful for this federal investment into jobs and manufacturing.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to see the Biden Administration recognizes Oregon\u2019s innovative reputation with these highly competitive tech hub designations from the CHIPS and Science Act,\u201d said Rep. Salinas. \u201cThese hubs will position our state at the forefront of technology and manufacturing for decades to come, creating thousands of good jobs and moving us toward a better, more sustainable future for all Oregonians. One hub in Corvallis will support our state\u2019s critical semiconductor industry, while another Portland State University-led consortium will promote renewable energy storage technologies. Finally, I\u2019m excited that our timber industry is receiving a designation to help develop affordable and sustainable wood products\u2014something I\u2019ve championed in Congress with my Timber Innovation for Building Rural Communities Act. This is a great day for Oregon and I look forward to seeing these investments come to fruition.\u201d\n\nThe Tech Hubs program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of President Biden\u2019s Investing in America agenda. This legislation was championed by the Oregon delegation and was signed into law in August 2022. The program invests directly in burgeoning, high-potential U.S. regions and aims to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. Earlier this year, Merkley, Wyden and Hoyle urged the administration to approve the authorization of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub.\n\nOregon Tech Hubs designees and grant information can be found below:\n\nThe Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub, led by Oregon State University, aims to establish global leadership in the development, scaling, and commercialization of microfluidics technology for use in semiconductor and electronic cooling. Through the development, scaling, and commercialization of microfluidics technologies, this Tech Hub will create a platform for high-performance computing, biotechnology, advanced energy, and advanced materials and manufacturing companies to collaboratively demonstrate microfluidics technologies. By capitalizing on the innovation of a material critical to semiconductor manufacturing and bioscience, the Corvallis Microfluidics Tech Hub will mitigate supply chain risks and contribute to advancing a technology central to our national security.\n\nThe Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub (PNW Mass Timber Tech Hub), OR Mass Timber Coalition aims to be a global leader in mass timber design and manufacturing to lower the construction industry\u2019s carbon footprint and increasing housing affordability. Building off the region\u2019s wood products research and development expertise and density of architectural, engineering, and construction firms, this Tech Hub will invest in advanced materials science to position mass timber as a viable and sustainable construction alternative.\n\nPacific Northwest Smart Energy Strategy Development Consortium will develop a regional strategy that advances \u201cfront of the meter\u201d energy storage technologies and products to facilitate renewable energy sources\u2019 integration into the utility grid.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-announces-virtual-town-hall-on-oct-31-for-malheur-county", "Wyden Announces Virtual Town Hall on Oct. 31 for Malheur County", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Online town hall is open to all county residents to ask questions of Wyden staff & local supporters of the senator\u2019s Community Empowerment for the Owyhee (CEO) Act\n\nPortland \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced a live on-line town hall Oct. 31 hosted by People\u2019s Town Hall for residents of Malheur County to ask questions of his staff and local supporters of his Community Empowerment for the Owyhee (CEO) Act.\n\n\u201cThis landmark Owyhee legislation shows the entire country how a rural Oregon community can come together to preserve both a natural treasure and a rich agriculture heritage that generates jobs,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThe Malheur CEO Act is the product of a local process driven by ranchers, conservationists and Tribal leaders putting the \u2018Oregon Way\u2019 into practice by rolling up their sleeves and designing solid solutions.\u201d\n\nThe virtual town hall will begin at noon MT (11 am PT) on Tuesday, Oct. 31 and can be watched here on Facebook Live. Malheur County residents who want to ask a question during the town hall can RSVP here.\n\nThe online Oct. 31 town hall follows an in-person town hall Wyden held June 23 in Ontario for Malheur County residents to discuss the Owyhee bill and other issues of local and national significance.\n\n\u201cConstituents showing up and speaking out about pending legislation is vital to our democracy,\u201d said Nathan Williams of People's Town Hall, a town hall series from the founders of Town Hall Project. \u201cPeople\u2019s Town Hall invites all Malheur County residents to join this community conversation about the Malheur CEO Act.\u201d\n\nNext Article Previous Article", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-help-homeowners-install-new-renewable-energy-systems", "Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Homeowners Install New Renewable Energy Systems", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", "wyden", "https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has introduced legislation that would help state, local and Tribal governments accelerate the permitting and inspection process for residents to install home energy systems, like rooftop solar panels.\n\n\u201cEach year, more Americans are installing solar panels and other clean energy products into their homes but local governments are struggling to streamline the permitting and inspection process for qualifying clean home energy systems,\u201d said Wyden. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to cosponsor the SHINE Act which would simplify the permitting process for homeowners and local governments and build on the clean energy tax credits I authored in the Inflation Reduction Act. Together, these two pieces of legislation would create more green jobs in Oregon and nationwide and lower energy costs for homeowners.\u201d\n\nAcross the country, local governments are struggling to keep pace with the number of permit applications they are receiving for home energy systems like rooftop solar. When these permits take weeks, or even months, to process, it means higher prices, fewer local jobs, and a worse customer experience for homeowners.\n\nThe Streamlining Homeowner Installation of New Energies (SHINE) Act directs the Department of Energy to work with local authorities to automate permitting and approvals of residential renewable energy systems, saving time, lowering utility costs, and creating new jobs in the transition to a clean energy future.\n\nThe legislation was led by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. Alongside Wyden, the bill was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto, D-Nev., Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif.\n\nThe SHINE Act is supported by the Solar Energy Industries Association; Advanced Energy United; GRID Alternatives; Solar United Neighbors Action; Vote Solar and others.\n\nThe text of the bill is here.\n\nA fact sheet on the bill is here.\n\nEarlier this year, Wyden successfully urged the Biden Administration to establish a Civilian Climate Corps program and create green union jobs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:43:12Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 301, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "OR", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 301, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 169, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 132, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "OR", "label": "OR", "count": 301, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 301, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-10-23,https~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ewyden~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fwyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-help-homeowners-install-new-renewable-energy-systems", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OR&year=2023&_next=2023-10-23%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwww~2Ewyden~2Esenate~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fpress-releases~2Fwyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-help-homeowners-install-new-renewable-energy-systems&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 268.54285411536694, "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"}