{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where state = \"OR\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-capuano-request-ptc-status-update-from-chao-plan-to-introduce", "DeFazio, Capuano Request PTC Status Update from Chao, Plan to Introduce PTC Legislation in January", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Michael Capuano (D-MA) sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao requesting a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing critical Positive Train Control (PTC) technology and when railroads will meet the PTC implementation deadline.\nWe believe it is high time that the railroads implement PTC. It has been nearly a decade since passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which required freight, commuter, and intercity passenger railroads to implement PTC by December 31, 2015. That deadline was later extended to December 31, 2018. We understand that PTC is complex but there is no excuse for it taking this long and for some railroads to be lagging so far behind, as indicated in the progress reports submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration, wrote the Members.\nAccording to the Federal Railroad Administrations (FRA) website, only seven railroads will not meet the 2018 deadline. However, many railroads have failed to progress in equipping locomotives, completing track segments, installing radio towers, training employees, acquiring spectrum, installing back office servers, and submitting safety plans for FRAs review and approval.\nWhile the Rail Safety Improvement Act allowed DOT to extend the PTC deadline for up to 24 months if the railroads meet certain criteria that Congress insisted upon, the extension was intended to be used in limited circumstances. However, a new graphic on the FRA website seems to suggest that the Department of Transportation is tracking railroad efforts to meet the 2020 extension rather than holding them accountable for meeting the 2018 deadline.\nDeFazio and Capuano will introduce legislation in early January to address the significant funding gap for PTC and to push the railroads to implement PTC.\nA full copy of the letter is below.\n\n\n\n\nDecember 28, 2017\n\nThe Honorable Elaine Chao\nSecretary\nU.S. Department of Transportation\n1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE\nWashington, DC 20590\n\nDear Secretary Chao:\n\nOn December 18, Amtrak Cascades Train 501, operating from Seattle to Portland, derailed south of Tacoma, killing three people and injuring numerous others. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the lead investigator of the accident, the train was traveling approximately 80 miles per hour into a 30 mile-per-hour curve.\nThe circumstances surrounding this accident are eerily similar to the tragic 2015 derailment of an Amtrak Northeast Regional train in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, killing eight people and injuring more than 200 others, 11 critically. Within days of the accident, the NTSB announced that it would not have occurred had Positive Train Control (PTC) been operational on the line. While we do not yet know whether the Tacoma accident was PTC-preventable, it once again demonstrates the need for implementing PTC now.\nSince 1969, the NTSB has investigated 151 accidents that would not have occurred had PTC been installed. These accidents resulted in 298 fatalities and 6,763 injuries (see attached). PTC has been on the NTSBs Most Wanted List of safety improvements since its inception in 1990.                                                                                \nWe believe it is high time that the railroads implement PTC. It has been nearly a decade since passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-432) which required freight, commuter, and intercity passenger railroads to implement PTC by December 31, 2015. That deadline was later extended to December 31, 2018. We understand that PTC is complex but there is no excuse for it taking this long and for some railroads to be lagging so far behind, as indicated in the progress reports submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration.\nAccording to your website, only seven railroads will not meet the 2018 deadline: Trinity Rail Express in Texas (2019), Canadian National (2020), Central Florida Rail Corridor (2020), CSX (2020), Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (2020), Norfolk Southern (2020), and Metra in Illinois (2020)[1]. We find that hard to believe given the lack of progress by a host of other railroads in equipping locomotives, completing track segments, installing radio towers, training employees, acquiring spectrum, installing back office servers, and submitting safety plans for FRAs review and approval.[2] For example, Long Island Railroad, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, Consolidated Rail Corporation, Maryland Area Regional Commuter MARC trains, New Mexico Rail Runner Express, New Jersey Transit, Altamont Corridor Express, South Florida Regional Transportation (Tri-Rail), Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Nashville Regional Transportation Authority are among a host of railroads that are significantly behind, but have projected a 2018 final implementation date in FRA-submitted reports.\nAlthough the law allows you to extend the deadline for up to 24 months if the railroads meet certain criteria that we insisted upon, Congress always intended this extension to be used in limited circumstances. Yet a new graphic on your website seems to suggest that the Department of Transportation is tracking railroad efforts to meet the 2020 extension rather than holding them accountable for meeting the 2018 deadline.\nGiven the confusing and seemingly out-of-date information on your website, we request a detailed status update on where the railroads are in fully implementing PTC and when they will finally meet the mandate. We also request a briefing from you and your staff on this issue in the early part of January.\nIn addition, we strongly urge you to include robust funding in any infrastructure or other package the Administration sends to the Hill to help the commuter and intercity passenger railroads implement PTC. In 2016, the American Public Transportation Association estimated that PTC implementation would cost the commuter rail industry more than $3.5 billion, yet only $25 million was requested in the Presidents FY2018 Budget for a rail safety and infrastructure program that we created in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act, which includes PTC as an eligible project. Congress has also only appropriated $285 million for PTC, although we have long fought for more funding. We urge you to provide additional funding to help meet their needs. In the interim, we plan to introduce legislation in early January to address the significant funding gap and push the railroads to implement PTC.\n\nSincerely,\n\n\n\n\nPETER DeFAZIO MICHAEL CAPUANO\nRanking Member Ranking Member\nCommittee on Transportation and  Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and\nInfrastructure   Hazardous Materials\n\n\n\n--30--", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/year-in-review", "Year-in-Review: Greg Waldens top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Year-in-Review: Greg Waldens top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017 \nWASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today released a list of top seven legislative wins for Oregon in 2017. Walden authored important bills that have been signed into law and passed in the House of Representatives this year to support Americas military and veterans, protect Oregons public lands and grow family wage jobs in local communities, modernize the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), improve forest management to prevent catastrophic wildfire, and helped pass major tax reform to bring much-needed relief for middle class families in Oregon.\nAccording to www.congress.gov, Walden leads the Oregon House delegation with 23 bills passed through the House of Representatives this year. Walden also leads the House delegation with five pieces of legislation sent to the President in 2017.\nWalden has assisted over 1,200 Oregonians this year with problems they were having with federal agencies, including 500 veterans and military service members, and over 120 Oregonians with their Social Security and Medicare benefits. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with a federal agency such as the Veterans Administration (VA) or Internal Revenue Service (IRS), you can all Waldens office toll free from Oregon at 800-533-3303.\n Walden bill to protect Mt. Hood, boost family wage jobs sent to Presidents desk \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nBipartisan legislation authored by Oregon Reps. Greg Walden and Earl Blumenauer, and Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkleyto help protect the local water source for the City of Hood River and upper Hood River Valley, while promoting economic growth and family wage jobs for the local communities, is heading to the Presidents desk. The Mt. Hood-Cooper Spur Land Clarification Act passed the House of Representatives in February on a 415-1 vote, and passed the Senate in December. Walden has worked closely over the years with Rep. Earl Blumenauer to protect Oregons public lands around Mt. Hood and grow the local economy.\n\"Completing the Cooper Spur land exchange is key to protecting Crystal Springs, the water source for the City of Hood River and the upper Hood River Valley, while also encouraging economic and job growth around Mt. Hood,Walden said.These communities have waited nearly nine years for the Forest Service to complete the exchange Congress gave them 16 months to finish. This is long past due and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law so the job can finally get done.\n Mt. Hood land exchange heads to Trumps desk \nA long-delayed land swap on Mount Hood that sets out areas for commercial development and protected forest land has cleared Congress. The bill unanimously passed the Senate on Thursday night, Dec. 21, which means its headed to President Donald Trumps desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan legislation written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives Greg Walden, (R-Ore.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) was aimed at protecting and enhancing Oregons land conservation and recreation priorities on the mountain.\nPlease click here to read more from the Hood River News.\n Greg Walden bill to ensure military access to lifesaving medical treatments signed into law \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nPresident Trump signed into law legislation introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to ensure the military has access to lifesaving medical treatments. Waldens legislation (H.R. 4374) passed the House and Senate unanimously, and will amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of injuries on the battlefield.\n''Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for this country, and they deserve to have the earliest possible access to medical products that could save their lives on the battlefield, said Walden in a speech on the House floor when the legislation passed the House in November. In short, H.R. 4374 addresses the critical issue of military access to the newest available products by expanding the circumstances under which emergency use authorizations can be issued, and by establishing an expedited pathway to full approval of products that the Secretary of Defense requests.\n Walden resolution passed \nPresident Trump signed House Resolution 4374, a piece of legislation introduced by Representative Greg Walden. The resolution amended a law that would allow for the use of unapproved medical products during a military emergency. It is intended to speed up development and review of medical products for military emergency use within 45 days.\nClick here for more from KTVL News Channel 10.\n Greg Walden bill to modernize Food and Drug Administration signed into law \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nPresident Trump signed Rep. Waldens FDA Reauthorization Act (FDARA) of 2017 into law in August. Waldens legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously, and will help deliver new medical devices, treatments, and therapies to patients in Oregon and across the country. This bill reauthorizes and modernizes the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) critical medical productuser fee programs, ensuring the agency has the tools it needs to more efficiently deliver safe and effective drugs, devices, and treatments to patients.\nThis law will encourage new medical innovations, bring lower cost drugs to market faster, improve the regulatory review process for devices and treatments and, most importantly provide certainty to patients and the health industry, said Walden.\nClick here to read more from the Energy and Commerce Committee, where Walden serves as Chairman.\nGreg Walden helps pass landmark legislation to bring tax-relief to middle class Oregonians\nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act\nContinuing his efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and boost job growth in Oregon, Rep. Walden voted to pass landmark tax reform through Congress in December. Walden applauded the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), as a win for hard-working Oregon taxpayers and job creators.\nThe measure Congress will send to the President this week means that a hardworking family of four in eastern Oregon that earns about $50,000 a year -- which is the median household income in my district -- will receive a tax break of about $1,300 compared to the existing law. Instead of a bloated federal government taking and spending your money, I want families to keep more of what they earn. Thats $10,400 in lower federal income taxes over the next eight years for that one family, Walden said.\nWalden has heard from constituents across Oregons second district about the importance of this tax reform legislation. To read more about what people in Oregon are saying about the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, please click here.\n Oregon Farm Bureau: Tax reform will help agriculture \nThe Oregon Farm Bureau said the tax reform package passed by Congress and signed Friday by President Trump includes many provisions that will help Oregon's farm and ranch families. \"This bill lowers taxes for the vast majority of our agricultural families,\" said Oregon Farm Bureau President Barry Bushue. Bushue pointedout that the bill simplifies rate structures and eliminates the death tax for estates under $11 million while maintaining annual indexing for inflation, which covers nearly all family ag operations.\nClick here to read more from News Channel 21.\n Greg Walden leads forest management reform through House for fifth year in a row \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nFor the fifth time in five years, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) voted in November to pass legislation to improve federal forest management and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires that ravage Oregon and much of the West every year.The Resilient Federal Forests Act (H.R. 2936),which Walden helped craft, addresses the growing economic and environmental threats of catastrophic wildfire that scorched over 710,000 acres of land across Oregon this year.\nMy intensity on this issue is almost that of the fires we fight, said Walden. We can reduce the size and intensity of fire up to 70 percent, if we do the kinds of projects that thin out the forests and allow us to better manage and be better stewards of our federal forests that are contemplated as a result of this legislation.\n Forest reform bill passes House \nFor the fifth time in as many years, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would expedite certain forest thinning projects to lower the risk of destructive wildfires across the country. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Oregon) hailed it as a big day for the Northwest during a conference call with reporters, saying the bill not only solves the issue of fire borrowing but gives agencies more leeway to thin overcrowded and diseased forests.\nClick here to read more from the East Oregonian.\n Greg Walden bill to improve care for Oregon veterans passes House unanimously \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks\nThe U.S. House of Representatives in June unanimously passed a plan co-authored by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to improve the care Oregons veterans receive at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Walden worked with House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman, Dr. Phil Roe, to introduce the VA Medical Scribes Pilot Act of 2017. Waldens legislation would implement a pilot program for medical scribes at VA facilities, which will help unburden VA doctors and allow them to see more patients.\nGood news for Oregon veterans: the House passed legislation I co-authored with Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Dr. Phil Roe, that will allow veterans doctors to do what they do best -- spend more time taking care of veterans, said Walden. This legislation sets up a pilot program to try something that has worked successfully in the private sector -- having scribes work side-by-side with doctors, so that doctors can focus on the patient and scribes can focus on the paperwork.\n Guest Opinion: Bills would improve the VA for Oregon veterans \nVeterans in Oregon and across the country deserve quality care in a timely manner when they go to the VA. Unfortunately, long wait times at many facilities have resulted in delayed access to essential health services, especially in rural and underserved areas in Oregon. We can and must solve this problem, and Ive sponsored legislation to help. Lets start by making sure the VA is adequately staffed with qualified medical providers, and that these providers are able to devote their undivided attention to serving those whove served our country.\nClick here to read Rep. Waldens guest column in the Medford Mail Tribune.\n Walden paves the way for self-driving cars \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens floor speech\nRep. Walden, chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, helped pass landmark legislation through the House of Representatives in September to pave the way for self-driving cars. Walden has led a bipartisan effort to advance self-driving vehicle technology to help make Oregons roads safer, create new economic opportunities, and help seniors and those with disabilities live more independently.\n\"Almost 40,000 lives were lost on our roads last year. This represents yet another yearly increase in traffic-related fatalities. In my home state of Oregon, traffic fatalities were the highest theyve been in 14 years, increasing by an alarming 20 percent from the year before, said Walden. Statistics show that 94 percent of accidents relate to human behavior. During our morning commute into work, just look around. We all see folks on their phones in the cars next to us. While National Highway Traffic Safety Administration cannot write a safety standard to make us all perfect drivers, it can work to advance life-saving technologies -- which is the underlying goal of todays bipartisan legislation.\n\n Rep. Greg Walden Is Oregon's Champion Of Self-Driving Cars \nThe U.S. House on Tuesday passed a bill to spur the widespread use of self-driving cars that was partly crafted by Rep. Greg Walden,R-Oregon. Walden used his chairmanship of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to work with automakers and tech companies to hammer out a measure that allows testing of more self-driving cars on Americanroads. Today marks a really important milestone in our pursuit to make our roadways safer and support American leadership in self-driving innovation, Walden said on the House floor before the measure passed on a voice vote with noobjection.\nClick here to read more from Oregon Public Broadcasting.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-extends-critical-medical-marijuana-protections-through-january", "Congress Extends Critical Medical Marijuana Protections Through January 19", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congress voted to extend protections for state medical marijuana programs through January 19. The provision, known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, was continued in legislation to fund the government for a month.\nRepresentative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and champion of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, released the following statement:\nPatients around the country who rely on medical marijuana for treatmentand the businesses that serve themnow have some measure of certainty. Our fight, however, continues to maintain these important protections in the next funding bill passed by Congress.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-oregon-delegation-congratulate-oregon-state-university-673000-federal", "Members of Oregon Delegation Congratulate Oregon State University on $673,000 Federal Grant to Study Ocean Health", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader congratulated Oregon State University on securing a $673,000 federal grant through NOAA Fisheries to study the effects of ocean acidification on the shellfish industry. OSU is one of three universities to receive two-year grants through a competitive, merit-based process under the new Ocean Acidification Regional Vulnerability Assessment Competition. OSU has been at the forefront of ocean acidification research nationally. Coastal communities and the fishing industry are uniquely vulnerable to ocean acidification, especially the 3,200 people employed in the West Coast shellfish industry.\nOregons economy depends on the health of our oceans and coastal communities,said Congresswoman Bonamici.Ocean acidification threatens our valuable fisheries and thousands of jobs. Thankfully scientists at Oregon State University are leading the way in understanding this challenge and how we can best address it. I am grateful to OSU for investing in research that will directly benefit coastal communities and help us better understand and respond to ocean acidification.\nOcean acidification is one of the earliest signs of climate change, and the Pacific Northwest is already feeling its effects on our dwindling shellfish stocks, said Senator Wyden. Our region is a canary in the coal mine for these very real environmental challenges, but thankfully, Oregon State University is leading impressive research to better understand and mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification on ecosystems as well as Oregons coastal economy.\nOregons economic health is tied to our oceans healthin order to preserve our regions shellfish, recreation and tourism industries, we musttake steps to protect against ocean acidification and other effects of climate change, said Representative DeFazio. These funds will help our top scientists at OSU continue to lead in the research and response to this challenge.\nThe Pacific Northwest has much to lose when it comes to ocean acidification, said Representative Blumenauer. With OSUs leadership and strong federal support, we will better learn to address this pressing challenge.\nOregon State University scientists are on the forefront of finding solutions to our most complex marine challenges, said Cynthia Sagers, Vice President of Research for Oregon State University. Through this grant support from NOAAs Ocean Acidification Program, OSU scientists will take an interdisciplinary approach to advance further understanding of the complex social, economic, and environmental issues associated with ocean acidification and the shellfish industry to help inform practical and impactful methods of adaptation.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/western-oregon-tribal-restoration-bill-passes-senate-goes-to-president-s", "Western Oregon Tribal Restoration Bill Passes Senate, Goes to Presidents Desk to Become Law", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation authored by Representatives Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Greg Walden (OR-02) and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., to address western Oregon tribal priorities passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to be signed into law.\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act would place 17,519 acres of federal land currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into trust for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and 14,742 acres of federal land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. It would also amend the Coquille Restoration Act to require the Interior Department to manage the Coquille Indian Tribes forest lands in the same way as other tribal forest lands.\nWhile there is still much work to be done to correct our nations injustices towards Native Americans, the passage of the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act is an encouraging move towards progress,DeFazio said. This legislation will finally grant the Coos, Cow Creek and Coquille Tribes the long-deserved opportunity to manage their own economic development and exercise their own authority over tribal lands.\nThe passage of this bill is an important step for these three tribes. The Cow Creek and Coos tribes see a restoration of lands and the Coquille will finally be able to manage their forest lands the same way as other tribes,Walden said.This bill ensures these tribes can sustainably manage these lands to benefit the environment and local economy, creating jobs in their communities. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to pass this long-overdue bill out of Congress, and look forward to the President signing it into law.\nWhile more can and must be done to rectify the injustices that tribes have long faced, passing this bill into law marks an important step forward in recognizing the sovereignty of western Oregon tribes,Wyden said.By returning land to both the Coos and Cow Creek tribes, and by putting the management of Coquilles lands on equal footing with other tribal lands, this bill honors and respects each tribes right to be economically self-sufficient and provide jobs and resources for their communities.\nWith the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act, we will enable tribes to enhance their self-determination and ability to restore ancestral lands, while creating greater economic opportunity,Merkley said.Its long-overdue, and I am thrilled this bill is heading to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act passed the House of Representatives in July. The bill passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously in March.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-nominates-six-oregon-students-acceptance-us-service", "Greg Walden nominates six Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden nominates six Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies \nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced today that he has nominated six Oregon students for acceptance to one of the prestigious United States service academies. Waldens Service Academy Nomination Board -- retired military officers who interview potential candidates for the service academies -- recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character. It is an honor and privilege to nominate these remarkable young Oregonians to our nations service academies, Walden said. They have earned these much-deserved nominations through years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to character. These students have shown a desire to grow intellectually, lead by example, and serve their country by pursuing a higher education at one of our countrys select service academies. I am confident that each will be successful in this admirable endeavor, and that Americas future is in good hands. Id like to thank my Service Academy Nomination Board for recommending these future leaders. Their service to our country and experience wearing our nations uniform speaks to the unique qualities of the students they interviewed and referred for nomination. These nominations would not be possible without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to excel and succeed at the U.S. service academies, said Walden. Serving on Waldens Service Academy Nomination Board are: retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Frank Toney, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Harriet Harris, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Bud Hart, retired U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Richard Halsted, andretired U.S. Marine Corps. Col. Dave Dotterer.Retired U.S. Navy Com. John Howardserved as the Recorder for the Service Academy Nomination Board. The service academies include the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Final selection for admission to the service academies will be determined by officials at each respective academy this spring. Students who are interested in learning more about service academy nominations can visit Waldens website at https://walden.house.gov/academynominations.  The nominees from Oregon are as follows: Baker County\nClay Keller, son of Douglas and Theresa Keller of Baker City, attending Baker High School -- nominated to the Naval Academy.\nJackson County\nGarrett Bates, son of Patrick and Lisa Bates of Central Point, attending St. Marys School -- nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.\nKlamath County  \n\tThomas Morgan, son of Robert and Tanya Morgan of Klamath Falls -- nominated to the Air Force Academy.\nMatthew Yuckniuk, son of Scott and Debbie Yuckniuck of Klamath Falls, attending College of the Siskiyous -- nominated to the U.S. Military Academy.\nMalheur County\nKirk Eiguren, son of Michael and Robbin Eiguren of Jordan Valley, attending Jordan Valley High School -- nominated to the Air Force Academy.\nWallowa County\nJames Wells, son of Larry and Ilene Wells of Joseph, attending Enterprise High School  nominated to the Naval Academy.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-nominates-sixteen-oregon-students-acceptance-us-service", "Greg Walden nominates sixteen Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden nominates sixteen Oregon students for acceptance to U.S. service academies \nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced today that he has nominated sixteen Oregon students for acceptance to one of the prestigious United States service academies. Waldens Service Academy Nomination Board -- retired military officers who interview potential candidates for the service academies -- recommended each student based on their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character. It is an honor and privilege to nominate these remarkable young Oregonians to our nations service academies, Walden said. They have earned these much-deserved nominations through years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to character. These students have shown a desire to grow intellectually, lead by example, and serve their country by pursuing a higher education at one of our countrys select service academies. I am confident that each will be successful in this admirable endeavor, and that Americas future is in good hands. Id like to thank my Service Academy Nomination Board for recommending these future leaders. Their service to our country and experience wearing our nations uniform speaks to the unique qualities of the students they interviewed and referred for nomination. These nominations would not be possible without their guidance and understanding of what it takes to excel and succeed at the U.S. service academies, said Walden. Serving on Waldens Service Academy Nomination Board are: retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Frank Toney, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Harriet Harris, retired U.S. Navy Capt. Bud Hart, retired U.S. Marine Corps. Lt. Col. Richard Halsted, andretired U.S. Marine Corps. Col. Dave Dotterer.Retired U.S. Navy Com. John Howardserved as the Recorder for the Service Academy Nomination Board. The service academies include the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; the Military Academy at West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Final selection for admission to the service academies will be determined by officials at each respective academy this spring. Students who are interested in learning more about service academy nominations can visit Waldens website at https://walden.house.gov/academynominations.  The nominees from Oregon are as follows:  \n\t\nBaker County\nClay Keller, son of Douglas and Theresa Keller of Baker City, attending Baker High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\nAustin Rasmussen, son of Julie Rasmussen of Baker City, attending Baker High school nominated to the United States Military Academy.\nDeschutes County\nEmily Brockman, daughter of Chuck and Toni Brockman of Bend, attending Bend Sr. High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.\nJordan Andrews, daughter of Corey Andrews and Lisa Jacobs of Sisters, attending Sisters High School -- nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\nJonathan Gregory, son of Brian Gregory and Tina Ogle of Redmond, attending Redmond High School nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\nJackson County\nGarrett Bates, son of Patrick and Lisa Bates of Central Point, attending St. Marys School  nominated to the United States Military Academy, the United States Airforce Academy, and the United States Naval Academy.\nRosemary Weston, daughter of Cael and Marcella Weston of Ashland, attending St. Marys School nominated to the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy, and the United States Air Force Academy.\nPatrick Royal, son of Jole and Debra Royal of Central Point, attending South Medford High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy.\nCaleb Cheshire, son of Walter and Kathryn Cheshire of Central Point, homeschoolnominated to the United States Naval Academy, United States Military Academy, United States Air Force Academy.\nTrent Snyder, son of Richard Snyder and Gail Schneider-Ross of Medford, attending South Medford High School nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\nJosephine County\nNathan Burton, son of Guy and Leanne Burton of Grants Pass, attending Grants Pass High School -- nominated to United States Naval Academy.\nKlamath County  \n\tThomas Morgan, son of Robert and Tanya Morgan of Klamath Falls, homeschool  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\nMatthew Yuckniuk, son of Scott and Debbie Yuckniuck of Klamath Falls, homeschooled nominated to the United States Military Academy and the United States Naval Academy.\nMatthew Edwards, son of Jeffrey and Teresa Edwards of Klamath Falls, attending Henley High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\nMalheur County\nKirk Eiguren, son of Michael and Robbin Eiguren of Jordan Valley, attending Jordan Valley High School  nominated to the United States Air Force Academy.\nWallowa County\nJames Wells, son of Larry and Ilene Wells of Joseph, attending Enterprise High School  nominated to the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/what-people-oregon-are-saying-about-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act", "What People in Oregon Are Saying About The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "What People in Oregon Are Saying About \n\n\n\"Pro-growth tax reform is on its way to hardworking, middle-class Americans. And its about time.The biggest percentage of tax reductions next year will go to those earning between $20,000 and $50,000 a year. Thats according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. An Eastern Oregon family earning the median income of approximately $50,000 a year will pay about $1,300 less next year. Over the next eight years thats a savings of $10,400 for that family.\" - Representative Greg Walden\nhttp://www.bendbulletin.com/opinion/5858096-151/guest-column-tax-reform-for-oregons-middle-class\nInsitu - Boeing and Insitu applaud Congress for taking critical steps to reform the tax code, which will help us in the Columbia Gorge region become more competitive and invest more in innovative technologies that drive expansion of the use of unmanned systems. We thank Chairman Greg Walden for his leadership in this area.  Ryan Hartman, President and CEO of Insitu, a Boeing wholly-owned subsidiary.\nIntel - Intel. William Moss, a spokesman for the company. \n\"Although it's too early for us to detail specific business decisions, we believe this tax reform bill can help level the playing field for U.S. manufacturers and make us more competitive in today's global economy,\" Moss wrote in an email. \"The bill should also spur further investment in American manufacturing and (research and development).\" - http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/12/greg_walden_defends_republican.html\nOregon Cattlemens Association  The Oregon Cattlemens Association would like to recognize and thank Congressman Walden for his hard work and dedication towards the tax reform. Several elements, such as lowering individual tax rates and increasing levels of estate tax exemption will be particularly helpful to ranchers in Oregon.\nWashington Federal  announced with the signing of tax reform legislation, the Bank will accelerate strategic investments in its employees, client service capabilities and community development funding. Specifically, effective when the bill becomes law all Washington Federal employees in good standing and earning less than $100,000 per year will receive a 5% increase on top of their normal merit increase. In addition, a substantial investment will be made in the training and development of all employees, enabling them to upgrade their skills to more effectively compete in todays rapidly changing business environment. The training will focus on leadership, technology, and client service skills. -- https://www.streetinsider.com/Corporate+News/Washington+Federal+%28WAFD%29+Announces+5%25+Wage+Increase+Following+Tax+Reform/13621451.html\nBend Brewers\nYes, this tax cut that reduces the federal excise/alcohol tax of small producers by 50 percent is helpful and gratefully accepted, - Steve Anderson of Kobold Brewing, in Bend\nIts a huge relief for us. Every year there are a ton of projects for us to continue to grow and maintain a facility in Bend. That funding will be reinvested. - Deschutes Brewery CEO Michael LaLonde\nhttp://www.bendbulletin.com/business/5858353-151/bend-brewers-welcome-craft-beverage-tax-cut", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/democrats-block-dozens-of-trump-nominees", "Democrats block dozens of Trump nominees", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Democrats block dozens of Trump nominees \r\n\r\n     The refusal to play ball will prolong key vacancies throughout the administration, but Democrats complain many of the picks are unqualified. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFriday, December 22, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    ANDREW RESTUCCIA and SEUNG MIN KIM\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAbout 100 of President Donald Trumps nominees have been kicked back to the White House, prolonging an unusually high number of vacancies across his administration and escalating the Senates long-running nomination wars.\r\nWhile the Senate agreed to keep roughly 150 of Trumps picks for consideration next year, it refused to do so on roughly 100 others, according to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office. That means the White House will have to renominate them if Trump wants them installed.\r\nAmong the high-profile picks tossed back to the White House: Alex Azar, chosen as the new head of the Department of Health and Human Services; Thomas Farr, a district court nominee whose record on voting rights has infuriated Democrats; and K.T. McFarland, the former deputy national security adviser chosen as U.S. ambassador to Singapore who is now facing questions about her communications with ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn.\r\nThat will trigger a requirement that nominees paperwork be up to date  a gargantuan task for some nominees who've been languishing in the Senate for months, especially if their net worth changed dramatically because of the surging stock market.\r\nThat has some lawyers worried that nominees could throw in the towel, frustrated by thealready laboriousprocess of winning Senate approval.\r\nFor some nominees, their paperwork will be obsolete, said one lawyer who represents several nominees and was not authorized to speak on the record. The stock market has gone up, so the numbers are going to be materially different.\r\nMany nominees hire lawyers to walk them through the confirmation process, spending tens of thousands of dollars  or much more for wealthy people with complicated financial situations  for assistance in filling out ethics and financial disclosure forms. The process requires nominees to review and document nearly every major financial decision in their adult lives, and the finished paperwork has been known to run more than 60 or 70 pages, lawyers said.\r\nGenerally, nominees will have to update their paperwork onlyif theres been a material change, but each Senate committee has slightly different rules governing the issue.\r\nIn a less divisive political atmosphere, lawmakers would have approved a unanimous consent agreement allowing the nominees to carry over into next year. Such agreements have rarely been controversial.\r\nAny one senator can object to allowing a nominee to be carried over. Though it's likely Democrats are responsible for most of the rejections, Republicans also could have triggered some, too.\r\nDuring the first year of the Obama administration, only eight nominees were not carried over into the next session, according to Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), who has been researching the issue. President George W. Bush had just two picks returned to the White House.\r\nIt definitely violates precedent, Lankford said of sending back so many nominees. Thats just a sign of the times that people are looking for a rule to be able to slow the Senate down even more. ... Thats making a bad situation worse.\r\nBut Democrats said the caliber of Trumps nominees warranted a break from tradition.\r\nIn an interview earlier this week, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said he would look for obstacles to oppose nominees with egregious conflicts of interest, an appalling lack of knowledge about the job, or who are inclined to destroy the very agencies that theyre assigned to support the mission of.\r\nMerkley and Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) targeted Kathleen Hartnett-White, Trumps pick to run the White House Council on Environmental Quality.\r\n\"Unqualified or controversial nominees will not simply be rubber-stamped by the Senate,\" Carper said in a statement. \"Let's start the new year off with a clean slate and allow President Trump the opportunity to nominate a leader for the Council on Environmental Quality who takes environmental laws and public health protections seriously.\"\r\nWhite hascome under firefrom Democrats for rejecting the scientific consensus on the human causes of climate change.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/merkley-politics-should-stand-aside-when-childrens-health-at-risk", "Merkley: Politics should stand aside when children\u2019s health at risk", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley: Politics should stand aside when childrens health at risk \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFriday, December 22, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Senator Jeff Merkley\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis year has been one of stark partisanship, with rhetoric from both sides of the aisle seeking to stress differences between Democrats and Republicans.\r\nBut one thing I thought we all could agree on is that we need to do everything we can to look out for our children. I see our responsibility and mission as legislators  and the core purpose of our Constitution  as ensuring children have safe spaces, full bellies, and good health.\r\nThats why I am outraged that the majority in Congress has refused to act to renew the Childrens Health Insurance Program, commonly referred to as CHIP.\r\nFor 20 years the program, with strong bipartisan support, has ensured that no children fall through the cracks of our health care system. It provides states with funding to cover health care expenses for children whose families have incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford expensive private coverage.\r\nOregons CHIP program, called Oregon Healthy Kids, last year helped more than 140,000 Oregon children access health care. Thanks to CHIP, 779 children from Wasco County thats 13 percent of children in the county  this year have been able to access check-ups, immunizations, dental care, doctors visits, and other important health care services.\r\nFunding for CHIP expired on September 30, 2017, because Congress failed to extend funding for the program.\r\nEvery single state in America  50 out of 50 states  has a CHIP program. Oregon, along with five other states, will run out of CHIP money this month. Another 25 states will run out of CHIP money in the first three months of 2018.\r\nIt is completely unacceptable that the Congressional majority allowed CHIP to expire  and its even more outrageous that theyve waited 87 days and counting to reauthorize it.\r\nRight now there is a bipartisan bill ready and waiting to be brought to the Senate floor. It would extend the Childrens Health Insurance Program through 2022. It was passed by the Finance Committee with unanimous support. The Senate could take up that bill right now and pass it. So whats the holdup? Why is health care for our children being disrupted?\r\nThe answer makes my blood boil: It is a pawn in cynical political machinations. The majority leadership in Congress is using the health and well-being of hundreds of children in Wasco County and nine million children across the country as a bargaining chip. Instead of taking up this bipartisan bill, theyre holding it hostage to try to win concessions in budget negotiations. The most the majority is willing to give our children is a paltry three-month extension of the program that was included in a continuing appropriations bill. Three months is unacceptable; we need to create stability and reliability for our children by reauthorizing this program for years to come.\r\nThe holidays are upon us, and no parents should have to worry at this time of year that an illness or injury could endanger their child's life or family's finances. I am urging my Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle to urgently prioritize issues that are essential to working folks  like ensuring the children who rely on CHIP can keep getting the care they need.\r\nThere is no reason I can see that we shouldnt be able to agree that protecting health care for nine million children across the country is an absolute top priority. That is our responsibility. That should be our mission. We must get it done. Nine million American children are waiting.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/oregon-tribal-restoration-bill-unanimously-passes-through-senate", "Oregon tribal restoration bill unanimously passes through Senate", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon tribal restoration bill unanimously passes through Senate \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFriday, December 22, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Staff\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C.  A bill to place thousands of acres of federal lands into the hands of Oregon Native American tribes passed through the U.S. Senate and is headed for President Donald Trumps desk.\r\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act is bipartisan legislation created to address western Oregon tribal priorities. It passed the Senate unanimously Thursday night.\r\nThe act would place over 17,500 acres of federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management into trust for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians. Over 14,700 acres would be put into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians.\r\nIn addition to the land trusts, the legislation would amend the Coquille Restoration Act to require the Interior Department to manage Coquille Indian Tribes forest lands in the same manner as other tribal forests.\r\nThe bill was authored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.).\r\nWalden said.This bill ensures these tribes can sustainably manage these lands to benefit the environment and local economy, creating jobs in their communities. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to pass this long-overdue bill out of Congress, and look forward to the President signing it into law.\r\nWhile more can and must be done to rectify the injustices that tribes have long faced, passing this bill into law marks an important step forward in recognizing the sovereignty of western Oregon tribes,Wyden said in part.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-speaks-out-after-un-human-rights-investigator-is-denied-access-in-burma", "Merkley Speaks Out After UN Human Rights Investigator Is Denied Access in Burma", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Speaks Out After UN Human Rights Investigator Is Denied Access in Burma \n\t\n\t\t In November, the Senator led congressional fact-finding mission to Burma and Bangladesh in wake of horrific acts against the Rohingya minority \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregons Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Burmese government denied access to a key UN human rights investigator working to gather information about the persecution of the Burmese Rohingya minority in Rakhine state.\r\nMerkley led a November congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to the region, the first such delegation since the recent escalation of attacks and persecution against the Rohingya.\r\n \r\nIn September, responding to international outrage over Burmese military and vigilante attacks on the Rohingya minority, State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi invited the world to go with us to the troubled areas to see for yourself what is happening and think for yourself what can we do to remove these problems.\r\nIn November, I took Aung San Suu Kyi up on her invitation and led a congressional delegation so that we could see for ourselves what is happening in northern Rakhine. After weeks of preparation, the government denied access at the last minute. Now, access has once again been denied, this time to a critical UN fact-finding mission. These denials paint a troubling picture of a government attempting to cover up and make invisible a campaign of mass atrocities that many experts describe as genocide.\r\nDespite Burmese officials attempts to turn away the eyes of the world, there is horrific and mounting evidence about the unspeakable violence that has been perpetrated against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine. I spoke with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh who showed me the scars on their bodies from escaping as their houses burned down, and spoke of their loved ones killed in front of their eyes. I saw the drawings made by refugee children showing the Burmese military gunning down villagers as they tried to flee. There is extensive evidence that rape, murder, and the burning and destruction of villages have all been used systematically by the Burmese military. Most recently, there is additional evidence of mass graves.\r\nBurma must reverse its decision and allow access for UN investigators. Burmese officials must also release arrested journalists; implement the recommendations of the Kofi Annan report; and, ultimately, hold perpetrators accountable.\r\nThe sanctions against a top Burmese military official announced this week are a good first step, but the international community must continue to work together to apply intense pressure on the Burmese government. And the U.S. should be at the forefront of leading the global community to stop this genocide. President Trump has yet to say one public word about this crisis. That is unacceptable. It is important that the President express, on behalf of our nation, our moral outrage and commitment to see an end to such atrocities. It is also important for the Senate to act, and I will join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in pushing for additional sanctions in the new year.\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mt-hood-land-exchange-legislation-goes-to-presidents-desk-to-be-signed-into-law", "Mt. Hood Land Exchange Legislation Goes to President\u2019s Desk to be Signed into Law", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mt. Hood Land Exchange Legislation Goes to Presidents Desk to be Signed into Law \n\t\n\t\t Bipartisan Legislation Resolves a Nearly Nine-year land dispute on Mt. Hood \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C. Legislation written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to protect and enhance Oregons land conservation and recreation priorities on Mt. Hood passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\nWyden, Merkley, Walden and Blumenauer introduced the Mt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act in the Senate and House earlier this year to help resolve a nearly nine-year-long dispute over proposed land development on the northeast side of Mt. Hood.\r\nIm proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of Congress to put this long overdue land exchange in the history books,Wyden said.Our soon-to-be-law closes this frustrating chapter of Mt. Hoods past and makes it possible for the local community to finally go forward with wilderness protections and responsible development so wildlife and visitors can enjoy Mt. Hood far into the future.\r\n \r\nAt long last, the Mt. Hood community will have the development and preservation my colleagues and I have been pushing for,Merkley said.This bill will help to preserve unique and beautiful wilderness areas on Mt. Hood while also creating new economic opportunities in the surrounding community.\r\n \r\nCompleting the Cooper Spur land exchange is key to protecting Crystal Springs, the water source for the City of Hood River and the upper Hood River Valley, while also encouraging economic and job growth around Mt. Hood,Walden said.These communities have waited nearly nine years for the Forest Service to complete the exchange Congress gave them 16 months to finish. This is long past due and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law so the job can finally get done.\r\nThe land exchange is the culmination of years of work to protect important habitat and recreational opportunities on Mt. Hood,Blumenauer said.This legislation is important for the future of the mountain, and I welcome its passage.\r\nTheMt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Actallows development of approximately 100 acres near Government Camp while protecting more than 700 acres on the north side.\r\nCongress passed a broad public lands bill in 2009 that included the Mt. Hood land exchange as part of the Mt. Hood Wilderness designation.That law directed the U.S. Forest Service to complete the exchange within 16 months. However, multiple delays since then passed have stalled conservation and development, frustrated the local community and sparked a lawsuit against the Forest Service.\r\nThe Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed the bill in March. The House of Representatives passed the bill in February on a 415-1 vote.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/western-oregon-tribal-restoration-bill-passes-senate-goes-to-presidents-desk-to-become-law", "Western Oregon Tribal Restoration Bill Passes Senate, Goes to President\u2019s Desk to Become Law", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Western Oregon Tribal Restoration Bill Passes Senate, Goes to Presidents Desk to Become Law \n\t\n\t\t Bipartisan Bill Will Boost Economic Sovereignty For Oregon Tribes \n\t\n\t\n\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C. Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., to address western Oregon tribal priorities passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act would place 17,519 acres of federal land currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into trust for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and 14,742 acres of federal land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. It would also amend the Coquille Restoration Act to require the Interior Department to manage the Coquille Indian Tribes forest lands in the same way as other tribal forest lands.\r\nWhile more can and must be done to rectify the injustices that tribes have long faced, passing this bill into law marks an important step forward in recognizing the sovereignty of western Oregon tribes,Wyden said.By returning land to both the Coos and Cow Creek tribes, and by putting the management of Coquilles lands on equal footing with other tribal lands, this bill honors and respects each tribes right to be economically self-sufficient and provide jobs and resources for their communities.\r\n \r\nWith the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act, we will enable tribes to enhance their self-determination and ability to restore ancestral lands, while creating greater economic opportunity,Merkley said.Its long-overdue, and I am thrilled this bill is heading to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.\r\n \r\nThe passage of this bill is an important step for these three tribes. The Cow Creek and Coos tribes see a restoration of lands and the Coquille will finally be able to manage their forest lands the same way as other tribes,Walden said.This bill ensures these tribes can sustainably manage these lands to benefit the environment and local economy, creating jobs in their communities. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to pass this long-overdue bill out of Congress, and look forward to the President signing it into law.\r\nWhile there is still much work to be done to correct our nations injustices towards Native Americans, the passage of the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act is an encouraging move towards progress,DeFazio said.This legislation will finally grant the Coos, Cow Creek and Coquille Tribes the long-deserved opportunity to manage their own economic development and exercise their own authority over tribal lands.\r\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act passed the House of Representatives in July. The bill passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously in March.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/mt-hood-land-exchange-legislation-goes-to-presidents-desk-to-be-signed-into-law", "Mt. Hood Land Exchange Legislation Goes to President\u2019s Desk to be Signed into Law", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan Legislation Resolves a Nearly Nine-year land dispute on Mt. Hood\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Legislation written by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., to protect and enhance Oregons land conservation and recreation priorities on Mt. Hood passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\n\r\nWyden, Merkley, Walden and Blumenauer introduced the Mt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Act in the Senate and House earlier this year to help resolve a nearly nine-year-long dispute over proposed land development on the northeast side of Mt. Hood.\r\n\r\nIm proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of Congress to put this long overdue land exchange in the history books,Wyden said.Our soon-to-be-law closes this frustrating chapter of Mt. Hoods past and makes it possible for the local community to finally go forward with wilderness protections and responsible development so wildlife and visitors can enjoy Mt. Hood far into the future.\r\n\r\nAt long last, the Mt. Hood community will have the development and preservation my colleagues and I have been pushing for,Merkley said.This bill will help to preserve unique and beautiful wilderness areas on Mt. Hood while also creating new economic opportunities in the surrounding community.\r\n\r\nCompleting the Cooper Spur land exchange is key to protecting Crystal Springs, the water source for the City of Hood River and the upper Hood River Valley, while also encouraging economic and job growth around Mt. Hood,Walden said.These communities have waited nearly nine years for the Forest Service to complete the exchange Congress gave them 16 months to finish. This is long past due and I look forward to President Trump signing this bill into law so the job can finally get done.\r\n\r\nThe land exchange is the culmination of years of work to protect important habitat and recreational opportunities on Mt. Hood,Blumenauer said.This legislation is important for the future of the mountain, and I welcome its passage.\r\n\r\nTheMt. Hood Cooper Spur Land Exchange Clarification Actallows development of approximately 100 acres near Government Camp while protecting more than 700 acres on the north side.\r\n\r\nCongress passed a broad public lands bill in 2009 that included the Mt. Hood land exchange as part of the Mt. Hood Wilderness designation.That law directed the U.S. Forest Service to complete the exchange within 16 months. However, multiple delays since then passed have stalled conservation and development, frustrated the local community and sparked a lawsuit against the Forest Service.\r\n\r\nThe Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed the bill in March. The House of Representatives passed the bill in February on a 415-1 vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/western-oregon-tribal-restoration-bill-passes-senate-goes-to-presidents-desk-to-become-law", "Western Oregon Tribal Restoration Bill Passes Senate, Goes to President\u2019s Desk to Become Law", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan Bill Will Boost Economic Sovereignty For Oregon Tribes\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFriday, December 22, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Legislation authored by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Representatives Greg Walden, R-Ore., and Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., to address western Oregon tribal priorities passed the Senate unanimously last night. The bill now goes to the president to be signed into law.\r\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act would place 17,519 acres of federal land currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) into trust for the Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, and 14,742 acres of federal land into trust for the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians. It would also amend the Coquille Restoration Act to require the Interior Department to manage the Coquille Indian Tribes forest lands in the same way as other tribal forest lands.\r\n\r\nWhile more can and must be done to rectify the injustices that tribes have long faced, passing this bill into law marks an important step forward in recognizing the sovereignty of western Oregon tribes,Wyden said.By returning land to both the Coos and Cow Creek tribes, and by putting the management of Coquilles lands on equal footing with other tribal lands, this bill honors and respects each tribes right to be economically self-sufficient and provide jobs and resources for their communities.\r\n\r\nWith the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act, we will enable tribes to enhance their self-determination and ability to restore ancestral lands, while creating greater economic opportunity,Merkley said.Its long-overdue, and I am thrilled this bill is heading to the Presidents desk to be signed into law.\r\nThe passage of this bill is an important step for these three tribes. The Cow Creek and Coos tribes see a restoration of lands and the Coquille will finally be able to manage their forest lands the same way as other tribes,Walden said.This bill ensures these tribes can sustainably manage these lands to benefit the environment and local economy, creating jobs in their communities. I am proud to have worked alongside my colleagues to pass this long-overdue bill out of Congress, and look forward to the President signing it into law.\r\nWhile there is still much work to be done to correct our nations injustices towards Native Americans, the passage of the Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act is an encouraging move towards progress,DeFazio said.This legislation will finally grant the Coos, Cow Creek and Coquille Tribes the long-deserved opportunity to manage their own economic development and exercise their own authority over tribal lands.\r\n\r\nThe Western Oregon Tribal Fairness Act passed the House of Representatives in July. The bill passed the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee unanimously in March.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390983", "Bipartisan Group of Problem Solvers Caucus Members Introduce Comprehensive Health Care Bill to Stabilize the Individual Marketplace", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05), along Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23) and Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), led a bipartisan group of twenty-six Problem Solvers Caucus Members to introduce the Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act (HR 4695), a bill to stabilize the individual marketplace and bring down health care costs for millions.\r\nThe Bipartisan Market Stabilization and Innovation Act will:\r\n \r\n    fund Cost Sharing Reduction payments, which help low- and middle-income families afford copays and deductibles;\r\n    establish a ten-year $115 billion stability fund for states to stabilize the marketplace;\r\n    streamline the 1332 State Innovation Waiver process to allow states to innovate while protecting patients;\r\n    repeal the medical device tax so patients are no longer footing the bill;\r\n    and, alter the employer mandate to provide relief to small businesses.\r\n \r\nFamilies have been rocked by uncertainty when it comes to health care all year long, said Rep. Schrader. At the surface, it can seem as though this year was full of political and partisan nonsense. But Im proud to be part of a group of individuals from across the political spectrum who have been working together to tackle this extraordinarily vital issue. Legislating on health carean area thats incredibly personal and complextakes time and effort. As with any major piece of legislation, everyone agrees that there are needed fixes to the ACA. At this point, its clear that partisan politicking doesnt lead to solutions for anyone. Ive been working all year with my colleagues across the aisle, hearing from health care providers, insurers, patients and professionals, to develop this bill. The compromise we brokered will bring down costs and provide much needed stability. Now we must work to enact it as soon as possible.\r\nIt is a great day when a bipartisan group of legislators can come together on an issue as important as health care, said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Tom Reed. I am proud to stand with my Republican and Democrat colleagues to help improve health care coverage for my constituents in New York and for Americans across the country. These legislative fixes will provide immediate relief and help stabilize the individual market and prove that bipartisan problem solving is the best the way to move this country forward in 2018.\r\nFor too long, health care has been viewed as a fiercely partisan issue, but the Problem Solvers Caucus has shown working together to fight the gridlock is possible, said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Josh Gottheimer. Democrats and Republicans can agree that we need a bipartisan plan to stabilize the health insurance marketplace and lower premiums for everyone. This bill will help small businesses and families in New Jersey and across the country by making permanent cost sharing reductions to reduce out of pocket costs while protecting coverage for seniors and hard-working families. I thank my colleagues for their hard work and good faith efforts that got us to this point, and I look forward to working across the aisle to help Jersey families save on health care costs.\r\nAdditional Co-Sponsors include: Ami Bera (CA-07), Jim Costa (CA-16), Ryan Costello (PA-06), Carlos Curbelo (FL-26), Charles W. Dent (PA-15), Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), John Faso (NY-19), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), John Katko (NY-24), Leonard Lance (NJ-07), Daniel Lipinski (IL-03), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Tom OHalleran (AZ-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Scott Peters (CA-52), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09), Darren Soto (FL-09), Thomas Suozzi (NY-03), Glenn W. Thompson (PA-05), Dave Trott (MI-11), Peter Welch (VT-At Large).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390984", "Schrader on Spending Bill: No DACA, No CHIP? No Vote.", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) voted against the second short-term, band aid spending bill this month, which received zero bipartisan input. The bill once again ignored action on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program which the President has slated to end in March, and does not fully fund the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or Community Health Centers (CHCs).\r\nMany of my colleagues and I have been explicitly clear: we want a bipartisan process, said Rep. Schrader. If the majority was interested in working together as we are, and interested in our votes for this bill, they would have included a clean DREAM Act and fully funded CHIP.\r\nThere are thousands of young folks around the country who have already lost their DACA status and hundreds of thousands more who are set to lose status next year. Dreamers are losing their protected status every day Congress fails to act. Were talking about students, teachers, health care providers, and researchers  folks who are providing vital contributions to our communities, and who know no other home than the United States. We must to protect these young folks and put an end to the unnecessary limbo in which this administration so heartlessly thrown them.\r\nWe need full funding for CHIP and CHCs, not this stop-and-start patch work of fixes. Nine million children and their families across America are relying on us. Even with this sham of a bill, there are kids who will wake up on January 1st not knowing whether they will continue to have health insurance. States and providers cannot operate under this unnecessary uncertainty. I cannot support closing out this year without having acted on any of these programs that, for many, are life or death.\r\nIn Oregon, CHCs account for over one million patient visits each year, employing over 4,000 medical professionals, while more than 140,000 children receive health insurance through CHIP. This bill provides scant funding for CHIPfunding that could run out in just a few short weeks. Historically, CHIP has been funded in two to five year increments with overwhelming bipartisan input and support.\r\nCongressman Schrader voted against the two week spending bill earlier this month. He has been calling for a full funding of CHIP and CHCs since before the initial September 30th expiration date, and has taken to the House floor and social media every week this fall to share the story of a DACA recipient from his district.  \r\n\r\n[VIDEO] Marco's Story: a Portland Dreamer, Bachelors Degree holder in Accounting, and accountant for an Oregon non-profit that benefits youth. [VIDEO] Hugo's Story: a Salem Dreamer, company commander of high school JROTC, Salem Youth of the Year recipient, and University of Oregon Economics degree holder.\r\n [VIDEO] Priscila's Story: a Salem Dreamer, Oregon State University Human Development & Family Sciences major, and aspiring guidance counselor for South Salem High School.\r\n [VIDEO] Juan's Story: a Monmouth Dreamer, research patient with Cerebral Palsy at Shriners Hospital, Western Oregon University graduate, and current graduate student at Oregon State University.\r\n  \r\n\r\n[VIDEO] Diana's Story: a Portland Dreamer, National Honor Society member, and honors graduate of Benson Polytechnic High School.\r\n  \r\n\r\n[VIDEO] Aldo's Story: a Woodburn Dreamer, Portland State University student, and public health advocate.\r\n  \r\n\r\n[VIDEO] Leo's Story: a Salem Dreamer, full-time senior citizen and disabilities care worker, and co-founder of the Oregon DACA Coalition.\r\nWATCH: Rep. Schrader Calls for Vote on Clean DREAM Act by Christmas", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/statement-democratic-representatives-net-neutrality", "Statement by Democratic representatives on net neutrality", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Protecting net neutrality creates a level playing field for consumers, innovators, and small businesses, Representative (Suzanne) Bonamici (D-OR) observed. Rolling back Title II protections will be detrimental to the free flow of information that underpins our democracy. The FCC has failed the American people and Congress must step up to keep the internet fair and open.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-applauds-house-passage-of-bill-to-support-earthquake-early-0", "DeFazio Applauds House Passage of Bill to Support Earthquake Early Warning System, Help States Prevent Wildfires", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passage of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA), as part of H.R. 4667, legislation providing supplemental appropriations for disaster relief. The DRRA includes a provision introduced by DeFazio that would clarify that hazard mitigation funds may be used to purchase components of an earthquake early warning system off the Pacific Northwest coast. This critical early warning system could save lives, reduce injuries, and mitigate infrastructure damage from the devastating effects of a major quake off the Oregon Coast.\nWe have known about the threat posed by the Cascadia Subduction Zone for decades, and yet we have failed to prepare and protect our coastline from a catastrophic earthquake. My legislation is simpleit forces the federal government to get serious and install a critical system that could save thousands of lives, countless injuries, and billions of dollars of damage. I applaud my colleagues for taking this threat seriously and working with me to prepare and protect our coastal communities. I urge the Senate to pass this common sense bill, said DeFazio.\nDeFazios provision clarifies that States may use hazard mitigation funds to improve the earthquake early warning system.\nWILDFIRE\nThe DRRA also includes important wildfire provisions, including expanding eligibility forhazard mitigation assistance to wildfires on state and private lands as well as clarifying eligible hazard mitigation activities related to wildfires.\nStates should have the flexibility to use disaster mitigation funds from the Federal government to try and prevent the catastrophic wildfires as well as the flooding and mudslides that follow and devastate Western communities. This legislation will allow states to do just that, said DeFazio.\nPROTECTING COMMUNITIES IN FLOODPLAINS\nDRRA also includes a DeFazio provision that will prohibit FEMA from expanding its authority related to floodplain management unless explicitly authorized. This provision will help clarify that FEMA cannot regulate land use, or prescribe a communitys regulations of its own land use in flood-prone areas.\nWithout this language, Oregon would be subject to restrictive federal regulations that could severely impact or prohibit economic development across the state of Oregon due to purported impacts on threatened species. These new regulations will go far beyond preventing new construction in pristine and undeveloped areas to protect endangered species habitat. In fact, the regulations will supersede Oregons strong land-use protections by prohibiting development in already developed areas and they will encourage urban sprawl.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cantwell-murray-wyden-merkley-demand-dot-hold-railroads-accountable-for-ptc-implementation-after-fatal-derailments-safety-shortfalls", "Sens. Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, Merkley Demand DOT Hold Railroads Accountable for PTC Implementation after Fatal Derailments, Safety Shortfalls", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Sens. Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, Merkley Demand DOT Hold Railroads Accountable for PTC Implementation after Fatal Derailments, Safety Shortfalls \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined a group of fifteen total senators calling on Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao to hold railroads accountable for failing to implement sufficient safety measures.\r\nThe Senators demanded a status report on railroads implementation of positive train control (PTC), a lifesaving technology required by Congressional mandate to be fully implemented by 2018. The Senators letter comes four days after the tragic Amtrak train derailment near DuPont, Washington, which resulted in three fatalities and injured many dozens more. This accident is the latest in a troubling trend of fatal train derailments and collisions.\r\nSince NTSB first recommended PTC, more than 300 people have died, thousands have been injured, and millions of dollars in property damages have been incurred, wrote the Senators. The PTC deadline is now almost one year away  December 31, 2018. It is imperative that railroads complete implementation before the deadline. They must clearly understand that the consequences of failure will be stringent and prompt.\r\nSenators Cantwell, Murray, Wyden, and Merkley were joined by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the letter to Chao.\r\nThe full text of the Senators letter to Chao is available for download here, and copied below.\r\nDear Secretary Chao:\r\nOn Monday, an Amtrak train derailed onto a busy interstate highway in DuPont, Washington. This tragedy reminds us of the urgent need to improve rail safety, including the nationwide implementation of positive train control (PTC) technology, as mandated by Congress. We write requesting an update on the status of railroads compliance with the pending deadline for implementation and your efforts to carry out other rail safety measures.\r\nThe NTSB has been urging the adoption of PTC technology since 1970, soon after a collision in Darien, Connecticut killed four people. Following the 2008 Chatsworth, California crash that killed 25 people, Congress mandated that railroads implement the technology, which prevents trains from colliding and speeding. For years, however, the implementation of the technology has been delayed. Since NTSB first recommended PTC, more than 300 people have died, thousands have been injured, and millions of dollars in property damages have been incurred.\r\nThe PTC deadline is now almost one year away  December 31, 2018. It is imperative that railroads complete implementation before the deadline. They must clearly understand that the consequences of failure will be stringent and prompt. Please provide information on the following questions:\r\n1. Based on the reports and information provided to you by railroads, and your knowledge of efforts necessary to complete PTC implementation, what railroads do you anticipate will have fully implemented PTC by the end of 2018?\r\n2. What railroads do you anticipate will fail to implement PTC by 2018?\r\n3. What is your plan to impose fines and penalties for railroads that fail to comply with the law?\r\n4. Can you confirm that you will be vigorous in enforcing the deadline, imposing strong fines and penalties, where necessary, on railroads that fail to meet the deadline?\r\n5. How are you communicating your enforcement plans to the industry?\r\n6. What steps are you taking to implement other provisions of law and safety requirements, such as requirements from the 2015 surface transportation bill, known as the FAST Act, that passenger and commuter railroads complete a speed-limit action plan (section 11406) to prevent over-speed accidents into curves and commuter railroads improve inspection practices (section 11409)?\r\n7. What level of funding will be included in the Presidents yet-to-be-released infrastructure proposal to expedite PTC implementation and advance other rail safety efforts?\r\n8. What steps is DOT taking to approve and expedite the use of federal funds and grants by recipients for the implementation of PTC?\r\nWe appreciate your attention to this matter and urgent efforts to ensure railroads implement lifesaving PTC technology.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-11-senators-press-us-forest-service-on-greater-sage-grouse-review", "Wyden, Merkley, 11 Senators Press U.S. Forest Service on Greater Sage-Grouse Review", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Merkley, 11 Senators Press U.S. Forest Service on Greater Sage-Grouse Review \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 21, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and 11 of their Senate colleagueswrote toU.S. Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke yesterday to request information about the agencys role in the Trump Administrations review of 2015 plans to protect the imperiled greater sage-grouse.\r\nIn a Federal Register notice last month, the U.S. Forest Service signaled that the agency may be seeking potential changes to the 2015 plans. Because modifying the plans could have a significant economic impact on rural communities, the Senators asked for details on the agencys review and requested an extended comment period.\r\nThe Federal Register notice is the latest move in a larger review of the 2015 protections that is being conducted across the Trump administrations public land agencies. In June, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued a Secretarial Order mandating a review of the 2015 protections. Following the order, Wyden, Merkley and two other senatorsasked Zinke for detailson the review to ensure it would not undermine conservation outcomes.\r\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, senators signing the letter include: U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Tom Udall, D-N.M., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Patty Murray, D-Wash., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Jon Tester, D-Mont., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.\r\nA PDF of yesterdays letteris available here.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-will-vote-no-on-spending-bill-without-solutions-on-chip-and-daca-or-reforms-to-warrantless-surveillance", "Wyden Will Vote \u2018No\u2019 on Spending Bill Without Solutions on CHIP and DACA, or Reforms to Warrantless Surveillance", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 21, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will vote no on a spending bill that fails to address health insurance for millions of children, does not address DACA, or includes an extension of warrantless surveillance under FISA Section 702.\r\nThe Houses flawed, slapdash bill fails to give families and states long-term security and peace of mind when it comes to the Childrens Health Insurance Program, which provides essential health care to more than 80,000 children across Oregon. CHIP is a vital lifeline covering preventative services, dental checkups, treatment for serious illnesses and more.\r\nEvery day, more than 11,000 DACA recipients in Oregon and hundreds of thousands across the country face the very real danger of being ripped from their families and communities. I cannot support an end-of-year deal that fails to include protections for these young Americans to stay in the only country they know as their home: the United States.\r\n\"Finally, I cannot support legislation that extends warrantless surveillance without reforms to protect Americans rights. Although a short-term extension of FISA Section 702 is preferable to many of the alternatives proposed by supporters of unchecked surveillance, Congress must make meaningful reforms that protect Americans rights while allowing intelligence agencies target true threats overseas.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390980", "Schrader on Deficit Inflating Tax Bill: Its a Sorry Time in America.", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After taking to the House floor week after week this fall to call for a bipartisan process and a deficit neutral bill, Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) issued the following statement on final passage of the GOP tax bill that is slated to add $1.5 trillion to the national deficit.\r\nIts a sorry time in America, said Rep. Schrader. My Republican colleagues just increased our countrys debt burden by $1.5 trillion dollars  thats an additional $5,000 debt for every Oregonian. With interest, it will be more. Even the rosiest forecasts that show any economic growth under this bill put the burden at over a trillion dollars. What a Christmas present for our kids and grandkids, already burdened with soaring education and housing costs, to mortgage their future for political gain. We could have done bipartisan tax reform that does not increase our debt and deficit and instead benefits a majority of Americans. We could have worked out a tax plan that helps working families and small businesses rather than the wealthy and big corporations. We could have seized on this opportunity to increase our economic competitiveness overseas rather than burden future generations. I am disappointed at the complete lack of fiscal responsibility toward our country and our childrens future.\r\n[VIDEO]: Rep. Schrader Slams GOP Deficit Inflating Tax Bill\r\nRep. Schrader voted against every version of the tax bill this month and has repeatedly called for a bill that wont add to the national debt. Earlier this fall, the Congressmans Blue Dog Coalition rolled out a series of principles for tax reform, among them are prioritizing the middle class, developing a plan that is revenue neutral, and calling for a bipartisan process with regular order.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/oregon-house-members-divide-along-partisan-lines-tax-vote", "Oregon House Members Divide Along Partisan Lines On Tax Vote", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregons lawmakers are dividing along predictable partisan lines in the debate whether the tax bill racing through Congress would help or hurt the state.\nAll four of the Oregons Democrats voted Tuesday against a measure they complain is weighted too heavily in favor of large corporations and the wealthy.\nRepublican Rep. Greg Walden countered that a large majority of Oregonians would get a tax cut and that it would also spur business investment.\nI can tell you, having met a payroll and owned a business, this is how you grow the economy, Walden said in a telephone call with reporters.\nHe dismissed official projections from congressional forecasters that the tax bill would increase the deficit by more than $1 trillion over the next decade, saying he thought economic growth would make up for it.\nBut Portland Congressman Earl Blumenauer said in an interview with OPB that the tax bill could discourage higher paid workers from taking jobs at the regions top employers. The Democrat said the new $10,000 limit on state income and local property taxes that can be deducted will particularly hit more well-to-do Oregon residents.\nThis is going to hammer people at Intel, Nike, Columbia (Sportswear)  the areas where weve got lots of well-paid people whove helped support the state, said Blumenauer, a member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.\nHe said he was concerned the new tax bill could encourage workers with strong job prospects to go to states where income taxes or lower or nonexistent.\nOregon relies more heavily on income taxes than many states. And higher-wage workers tend to pay a particularly high percentage of those taxes. The latest statistics show that those earning more than $100,000 a year account for about 17 percent of the taxpayers but pay nearly two-thirds of income taxes.\nWalden said he thought the other states in competition for highly educated workers also have high state and local taxes, such as California and Massachusetts. He said he is getting indications from Intel that the company will use new tax provisions to bring back some revenue from overseas to invest in more U.S. production capacity.\nIn Southwest Washington, Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler also voted for the bill. She emphasized projections from the House GOPs tax staff showing that an average family in her area earning the median income of about $84,000 would get a tax cut of more than $2,000.\nOregon Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Peter DeFazio joined all other House Democrats in opposing the legislation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-secretary-devos-decision-give-defrauded-students-only-partial-relief", "Bonamici on Secretary DeVos Decision to Give Defrauded Students Only Partial Relief: Extremely Disappointing", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR),Vice Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement in response to Secretary DeVos announcement that the Department of Education willprovide partial relief to many students who have been defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges.\nTodays announcement by Secretary DeVos to provide only partial relief to thousands of students defrauded by predatory for-profit colleges is extremely disappointing, said Congresswoman Bonamici. This action cheats students out of their chance to repair their lives after being robbed of their American dream and saddled with worthless degrees or debt by for-profit colleges like Corinthian Colleges and ITT Tech. I urge Secretary DeVos to revisit this policy and stand up for students who have been defrauded by providing them with full loan forgiveness.\nCongresswoman Bonamici is anoutspoken advocate for student loan borrowersand has led effortsto protect students and taxpayers from predatory for-profit colleges. She has supported the gainful employment andborrower defenserules, which are aimed at reining in predatory for-profit colleges.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-announcement-portland-harbor-superfund-clean", "Greg Walden applauds announcement on Portland Harbor Superfund clean up", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden applauds announcement on Portland Harbor Superfund clean up \nWASHINGTON, D.C. --Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today applauded Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitts announcement that the Portland Harbor Superfund cleanup is moving forward:\nI want to thank Administrator Pruitt and his team for making the cleanup of the Portland Harbor a national priority. After 16 years of study this announcement signifies real progress is being made under Administrator Pruitts leadership to finally move this cleanup forward. It is refreshing and welcome news. Cleaning up the Portland Harbor will have positive environmental and economic benefits for all Oregonians. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Administrator Pruitt to achieve the end result were all working towards -- a cleaned up Portland Harbor.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-senate-has-passed-the-biggest-bank-heist-in-history", "Merkley: Senate Has Passed \u201cThe Biggest Bank Heist in History\u201d", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley: Senate Has Passed The Biggest Bank Heist in History \n\t\n\t\n\tWednesday, December 20, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregons Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans narrowly passed a bill along party lines that will give trillions of dollars to the wealthiest Americans and demolish health care for millions of Americans:\r\n \r\nThe Senate Republicans just pulled off the biggest bank heist in history. And theyre delivering the loot  more than a trillion dollars out of our national treasury  to the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations.\r\nThis is government by and for the powerful instead of government by and for the people. It is the culmination of elections corrupted by dark money from the Koch Cartel.\r\nWhile the rich gloat over their gold, middle-class Americans get coal in their stockings. This tax scam so favors the wealthy that 83% of the benefits go to the richest 1%. It sends jobs overseas. It increases our national debt. It destroys health care for 13 million Americans while raising the cost of health insurance for millions more.\r\nAnd the GOP has made it clear that in order to pay for this massive heist, they are coming next to raid Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.\r\nJust imagine the good we could have done for middle-class America if we had invested the same resources in jobs, health care and education!\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-slams-cobbled-together-house-surveillance-bill-", "Wyden Slams Cobbled-Together House Surveillance Bill", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rushed House FISA 702 Bill Sacrifices Americans Rights, Extends Warrantless  Surveillance Without Meaningful Reforms\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWednesday, December 20, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., slammed the latest House bill to extend warrantless surveillance under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, in a statement issued today.\r\nThis bill is an eleventh-hour attempt to sneak an unchecked warrantless surveillance program through Congress. This kind of rushed, secretive process is exactly the wrong way to write laws governing important national security programs, Wyden said.\r\nThe legislation posted late yesterday is a clear step backward for Americans rights. It does nothing to check the warrantless backdoor searches of Americans communications. The bill also fails to codify the current prohibition on abouts collection, in which communications entirely among innocent Americans can be swept up if they reference a targets email address. Finally, the bill fails to include the key reforms in the bipartisan, bicameral USA RIGHTS Act, such as a meaningful prohibition on reverse targeting of Americans and a prohibition on collection of communications known to be entirely domestic.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\n\t\t\t\t\tContact: Keith Chu, 202.224.3789", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-house-passage-gop-tax-bill-0", "Blumenauer Statement on House Passage of GOP Tax Bill", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee, released the following statement opposing the Republican tax bill:\nThis bill represents the largest transfer of wealth in our nations historyfinanced by mortgaging our childrens future with a mountain of increased debt. It is not tax reform. Its not even a policy. Rather, it is a collection of special interest provisions, disguised behind a set of false promises.\nThis legislation fails utterly to invest in the American peopleits no wonder the public is opposed. They are right, and the Republicans are wrong.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-gop-tax-plan-reprehensible", "Bonamici: GOP Tax Plan is Reprehensible", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/19/17]  Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued the following statement after voting against H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\nThis partisan tax plan will increase taxes on millions of families and workers while delivering enormous, unnecessary benefits and loopholes to wealthy corporations and billionaires, said Congresswoman Bonamici. It is reprehensible to increase the debt by at least one trillion dollars to give tax cuts to successful corporations and the wealthiest in our country while asking hard-working Americans to do more with less as costs rise and wages remain stagnant. This bill will exacerbate income inequality in our country at a time when it is rising and threatening our nations prosperity. And making things even worse, this debt-ballooning plan paves the way for future cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security  life-saving programs that provide seniors with financial security and low-income and disabled people with access to health care.\nCapping the federal deduction for state and local taxes will make it harder for states and cities to fund education, transportation, infrastructure, public safety, affordable housing, and other services vital to our communities. Public education is already underfunded, and limiting this commonsense deduction would further shrink available resources and hurt families struggling to get ahead. I am deeply concerned about the long-term cost of this reckless tax plan to Americas children and grandchildren.\nBonamici continued, In addition to being bad policy, this was also a bad process. The Republicans created this partisan plan and pushed it through rapidly with no hearings and with little opportunity for debate, analysis, or public input. This is a tremendous lost opportunity; working together we could have accomplished tax reform that would lift people out of poverty, level the playing field, and stimulate job growth. Additionally, this Conference Report we voted on today includes many dangerous provisions with little if any relation to the tax code. The bill will undermine the Affordable Care Act by essentially ending the individual mandate, which will mean about 13 million fewer people with insurance and likely rate increases for everyone. It also allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a priceless landscape that should remain protected. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to see this bill for what it is: an attack on working families and a catalyst for exacerbating income inequality.\nBonamici voted against the Conference Report today, and previously voted against a similar bill in the House.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-from-rep-peter-defazio-on-hr-1-republican-tax-plan", "Statement from Rep. Peter DeFazio on H.R. 1, Republican Tax Plan", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Peter DeFazio released the following statement about H.R. 1, the Republican tax plan:\nRepublicans promised their overhaul of the tax code would help working Americans and grow our economy. That is not the reality of their tax bill, which was written behind closed doors on a totally partisan basis. The tax breaks in this plan will skyrocket our national debt and only give a pittance to the middle class. 83 percent of the benefits go to Americans making over $400,000, while over half of Americas middle class will see a tax increase.\nThe plan contains unprecedented tax cuts for the wealthy, including reducing the rate on income over half a million dollars and doubling the estate tax exemption. It also cuts taxes for large corporations and wealthy passive real estate and other investors, once again highlighting a dubious claim that cutting corporate taxes benefits workers in the form of more jobs and increased wages. In reality, previous corporate cuts have only led to stock buyback, dividends, and executive bonuses.\nAnd how are these handouts to the wealthy paid for? Outrageous hits to the middle class. This plan targets states that voted blue by capping state and local income tax deductibility, hiking taxes on Oregonians by forcing them to pay taxes twice on their income. While the few provisions that benefit the middle class expire, the corporate cuts and estate tax elimination are permanent.\nEven with hits to middle income families, the price tag on the Republican plan is at least $1.5 trillion. Our national debt has ballooned to nearly twenty trillion dollars, and raising our national debt further will create an increase in interest rates and further hurt working Americans that have to borrow for mortgages, cars, and education. Even worse, the majority has already begun discussing going after Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to pay for the additional debt. PAYGO requires legislative changes that increase the deficit to be offset by spending cuts. These would include hundreds of billions in cuts to Medicare, doubling the fees charged for student loans, and cuts to social services, transportation programs, and assistance for workers displaced by NAFTA and other failed trade agreements. Cutting taxes for the wealthy at the expense of these programs is incomprehensible.\nI am appalled Republican leadership would push such a cruel piece of legislation, continuing to focus on winning cheap political points and keeping wealthy donors at the expense of the middle class. While the GOP pops champagne to celebrate the passage of their flawed tax plan, I will be doing everything in my power to protect Americans from tax hikes and cuts to critical programs.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-applauds-tax-relief-middle-class-oregonians", "Greg Walden applauds tax relief for middle-class Oregonians", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden applauds tax relief for middle-class Oregonians \n Votes to pass landmark tax reform through House of Representatives \nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks\nWASHINGTON, D.C. Continuing his efforts to provide tax relief for middle-class families and boost job growth in Oregon, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today voted to pass landmark tax reform through the House of Representatives. Walden applauded the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), as a win for hard-working Oregon taxpayers and job creators.\nI want to thank the nearly 2,000 Oregonians who called and wrote to me over the last month with suggestions on how we could improve the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to better fit our needs in Oregon, said Walden.The measure Congress will send to the President this week means that a hardworking family of four in eastern Oregon that earns about $50,000 a year -- which is the median household income in my district -- will receive a tax break of about $1,300 compared to the existing law. Instead of a bloated federal government taking and spending your money, I want families to keep more of what they earn. Thats $10,400 in lower federal income taxes over the next eight years for that one family.\nBased on feedback from Oregonians, Walden worked alongside leaders in both the House and Senate to incorporate changes into the final agreement. Importantly, the bill passed today includes specific provisions particularly important for Oregonians including:\nState and Local Tax Deductions:Oregonians who itemize their taxes will be able to deduct a combined $10,000 in state property and income taxes  \n\t  Private Activity Bonds:Preserves the tax-exempt private activity bonds used to support economic development and affordable housing projects in Oregon.  \n\t  Student Loan Interest:Preserves the tax deduction for interest paid on federal student loans  \n\t  Medical Expense Deduction:Preserves the ability for Oregonians who itemize to deduct qualified medical expenses  \n\t  Craft Beverage Modernization:Reduces excise taxes on small craft brewers and winemakers in Oregon  \n\t  Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT):Repeals the corporate alternative minimum tax, which is important for large employers in Oregon like Nike\nThe long and public process allowed people from across the country, and especially here at home in Oregon, to help shape and improve this historic legislation, concluded Walden. Today, the Washington special interest lobbyists lost, and the hard-working American taxpayers and job creators won.\nAccording to data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and reports from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will positively impact Oregon by:\nBenefits for Oregon's Second District\nDoubled Standard Deduction:224,588 (68%) taxpayers in the 2nd District take the standard deduction under current law. By doubling the standard deduction, these taxpayers will see an immediate tax break under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\nIncreased Child Tax Credit:50,193 taxpayers in the 2nd District claim the child tax credit. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubles the child tax credit from $1,000 per child to $2,000. Tax Relief for Small Businesses:50,650 taxpayers in the 2nd District have small business income (a business that the taxpayer operated). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduces taxes for small business owners by providing a 20 percent tax deduction on the first $315,000 of income.\nSimpler Taxes:104,189 taxpayers in the 2nd District itemize their taxes. As a result of the near doubling ofthe standard deduction and other simplifications, many taxpayers will have much simpler returns. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Americans will be able to file their taxes on a postcard.\nFor more information on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, pleaseclick here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/oregon-senators-identity-stolen-to-make-comment-in-favor-of-repealing-net-neutrality", "Oregon senator's identity stolen to make comment in favor of repealing Net Neutrality", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon senator's identity stolen to make comment in favor of repealing Net Neutrality \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 19, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\r\n    Ellen Meny\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEUGENE, Ore. - As the Federal Communications Commission weighed whether to repeal Obama-era Net Neutrality rules, an Oregonian filed a comment online in support of scrapping the rules.\r\n\"The FCC's Net Neutrality rules were written in the Obama White House by political staff and Tech Industry special interests who overruled the FCC's own experts,\" Jeff Merkley of Portland wrote. \"The FCC's own chief economist Tim Brennan called the rules 'an economics-free zone.' They should be repealed.\"\r\nThis came as a surprise to Merkley, Oregon's junior U.S. Senator and a staunch opponent of repeal.\r\nMerkley identity had been stolen back in May to make the comment.\r\nThe senator found out Monday.\r\n\"When my team presented me with the tweet, I was like, 'What, there's one in my name?' It's like, oh, you're kidding me!\" Merkley told KVAL News on Tuesday.\r\n\"It's an affront to our democracy. It's despicable!\" Merkley said. \"The FCC should have, at a minimum, postponed the vote until all of this was cleared up.\"\r\nMerkley wasn't alone.\r\n\"Before leaving office, the Obama Administration rammed through a massive scheme that gave the federal government broad regulatory control over the internet,\" wrote a \"Barack Obama\" of Gregory, Mich. \"That misguided policy decision is threatening innovation and hurting broadband investment in one of the largest and most important sectors of the U.S. economy. I support the Federal Communications Commission's decision to roll back Title II and allow for free market principles to guide our digital economy.\"\r\nObama - or, more likely, someone posing as the former president - commented repeatedly from his other home bases, like Random Lake, Wisconsin. \"The current FCC regulatory scheme known as 'Title II' represents an unprecedented increase in government control over the internet,\" that \"Obama\" wrote. \"Such over-regulation is hurting our economy and suffocating innovation. I support Chairman Pai's plan to return to a commonsense regulatory framework that allows for the internet to grow without useless government interference. The internet has flourished for decades without the heavy hand of government over-regulation. It?s time we return to what works.\"\r\nNew York's attorney general, Democrat Eric Schneiderman, has been investigating fake public comments submitted to the FCC during the net neutrality comment process.\r\nSchneiderman says his analysis shows 2 million comments stole the identities of real Americans, including dead people and children.\r\nFCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, said at a July FCC meeting that the raw number of comments wasn't as important as the substance of issues raised.\r\nThe FCC voted 3-2 along party lines to repeal the rules.\r\nSchneiderman and other attorneys general, including Oregon and Washington, have indicated legal action is likely to try and block the repeal.\r\n\"I think we have to pursue all avenues here,\" Merkley said. \"We can't let this become practice, that people file comments in the public process and stealing identities to do so.\r\n\"It just makes a mockery of our whole public comment effort.\"\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-schakowsky-join-calls-for-new-election-in-honduras", "Merkley, Schakowsky Join Calls for New Election in Honduras", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Schakowsky Join Calls for New Election in Honduras \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 19, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C.  Oregons Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) released the following joint statement regarding the situation in Honduras:\r\n \r\nWe are deeply concerned by the widespread irregularities documented by outside election observers in Honduras November 26 presidential election. It is striking that the Organization of American States (OAS) has stated it cannot certify the election results, and that it has called for a new election.\r\nWe join OAS officials in calling for a new election, one that must be free, fair and transparent. We continue to support the peaceful protests of the Honduran people and urge Honduran security forces to refrain from violence and respect the peoples right to make their voices heard.\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-from-rep-peter-defazio-on-amtrak-derailment", "Statement from Rep. Peter DeFazio on Amtrak Derailment", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Peter DeFazio, Ranking Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the following statement about the Amtrak derailment that occurred earlier today:\nMy thoughts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those injured in the terrible Amtrak train crash in Washington this morning. We dont yet know the cause of the horrific derailment which took the lives of at least six people, and we need to let the NTSB conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident. As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure I will continue to monitor the situation, and work together with my colleagues to enact any changes necessary to prevent this type of accident in the future once we have more information about the cause.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-becomes-first-senate-cosponsor-of-landmark-bill-to-end-federal-prohibition-of-marijuana", "Wyden Becomes First Senate Cosponsor of Landmark Bill to End Federal Prohibition of Marijuana", "2017-12-18", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Booker, Wyden pushing for fairness in federal marijuana policy\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tMonday, December 18, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today became the first U.S senator to cosponsor Senator Cory Bookers (D-NJ) landmark bill to end the federal prohibition on marijuana. He announced his support in a Facebook live tonight with Booker. The Marijuana Justice Act would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances, making it legal at the federal level.\r\nJeff Sessions and the Trump administration are still trying to fight a 1980s drug war that is socially unjust, economically backward and against the will of the American people, Wyden said. Im proud to join forces with Senator Booker to fight this administrations attempts to shift our country into reverse when it comes to federal marijuana policy. Its more important now than ever to update outdated policies, right the wrongs against communities of color, and continue our work to lift up the voices of the many Americans who are speaking out in favor of legalization.\r\nIm thrilled that my colleague, Senator Wyden, has joined me on this groundbreaking bill,Senator Booker said. Its long past due that we reform our nations deeply broken drug laws, which disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color. This is more than a marijuana reform bill  it's about ensuring equal justice for all, and we wont stop fighting until we fix our broken criminal justice system.\r\nIn addition to making marijuana legal at the federal level, the legislation would also incentivize states through federal funds to change their marijuana laws if those laws are shown to have a disproportionate effect on low-income individuals and/or people of color. The bill is retroactive and would apply to those already serving time behind bars for marijuana-related offenses, providing for a judges review of marijuana sentences.\r\nSpecifically, the Marijuana Justice Act will:\r\n \r\nRemove marijuana from the list of controlled substances, making it legal at the federal level;\r\nIncentivize states through federal funds to change their marijuana laws if marijuana in the state is illegal and the state disproportionately arrests or incarcerates low-income individuals or people of color for marijuana-related offenses;\r\nAutomatically expunge federal marijuana use and possession crimes;\r\nAllow an individual currently serving time in federal prison for marijuana use or possession crimes to petition a court for a resentencing;\r\nCreate a community reinvestment fund to reinvest in communities most impacted by the failed War on Drugs and allow those funds to be invested in the following programs:\r\n\r\nJob training;\r\nReentry services;\r\nExpenses related to the expungement of convictions;\r\nPublic libraries;\r\nCommunity centers;\r\nPrograms and opportunities dedicated to youth; and\r\nHealth education\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\nBooker has seen the effects of our broken marijuana laws first-hand, dating back to his time as a tenant lawyer, City Council member, and Mayor of Newark, where he created the citys first office of prisoner re-entry to help formerly incarcerated individuals re-integrate into their communities.\r\nIn the Senate, Booker has been an outspokencritic of Attorney General Jeff Sessions effort to revive the failed War on Drugs. Earlier this year, here-introduced the bipartisan CARERS Act, which would allow patients to access medical marijuana in states where its legal without fear of federal prosecution. He is also co-author of bills to restrict the use of juvenile solitary confinement and reform the way women are treated behind bars.\r\nAs the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, Wyden is working to ensure consumers are protected and state-legal marijuana businesses are treated fairly. In March, Wyden introduced the Path to Marijuana Reform, a package of three bills, including the bipartisan Small Business Tax Equity Act that prevents legal marijuana businesses from getting hit with an unfair tax bill. The package also includes measures to shrink the gap between federal and state marijuana policies and responsibly deschedule, tax, and regulate marijuana.\r\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-oregon-leaders-question-proposals-will-harm-higher-education", "Bonamici, Oregon Leaders Question Proposals That Will Harm Higher Education", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) convened a roundtable discussion about legislation in Congress that will affect college affordability and access to higher education. Oregon higher education leaders shared their concerns about the negative consequences for Oregon students, colleges and universities, and student loan borrowers from the Republican tax bill and a new partisan bill to rewrite the Higher Education Act.\nOregonians value higher education, and I am committed to making college affordable and accessible, said Bonamici. The partisan Republican proposals on taxes and federalhigher education would move us in the wrong direction. Ive heard concerns from students and higher education leaders about these bills, which will make college more expensive for low-income students and working families, undermine consumer protections for student loan borrowers, and take away accountability over for-profit institutions.\nThe Higher Education Reauthorization and the tax reform bills in Congress will put a college education further out of reach for middle and low income families, said John Wykoff, Deputy Director of the Oregon Community College Association. The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act puts student financial aid at risk and places additional burdens on institutions that would likely result in higher tuition. It also will increase the cost of college loans for our lowest income students. The tax bill will simply make it harder for students and families to afford an education and harder for state and local governments to support students and institutions. It would represent a big step backward for students and families trying to afford a college education.                                             \nThe current tax bill and HEA reauthorization proposals are nothing more than a slap in the face to students who have the most barriers to higher education, said Lamar Wise, Executive Director of the Oregon Student Association. Students need relief now, yet the latest edit of the HEA would make college more expensive and less accessible. The PROSPER Act restricts funding for rural community colleges where some of our most vulnerable populations lie, falls far short of making the improvements we need to expand Federal Pell Grants, and prioritizes corporate profits over students. The HEA reauthorization proposal also does not provide adequate support for survivors of campus sexual assault. Students should have access to an affordable, safe education. OSA will continue working with Congresswoman Bonamici and other education champions to stand up for these values. \nAccess for all students to vibrant, innovative and respectful university education is the heart of Portland State's mission, said Portland State University President Rahmat Shoureshi.We are grateful for Congresswoman Bonamici's long-standing commitment to upholding these fundamental values and we appreciate the opportunity to have an ongoing conversation about how best to achieve that outcome in the Higher Education Act.\nRepublican leadership released the final tax bill just hours ago. The version passed by the House contained harmful provisions that put higher education out of reach for many working families. These provisions included eliminating the student loan interest deduction, treating graduate school tuition waivers as taxable income, and imposing an excise tax on some university endowments, which are often used to fund scholarships for low-income students.\nOn Tuesday of this week, the Education and the Workforce Committee marked up the PROSPER Act, a partisan proposal to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. The legislation would make college more expensive for low-income students and working families, undermine consumer protections for student loan borrowers, weaken protections for victims of sexual assault on college campuses, and allow for-profit institutions unprecedented access to federal funds with little accountability.During the 13-hour markup of the bill, Bonamici offered many amendments to make higher education more accessible and affordable, and to preserve and enhance consumer protections for student loan borrowers.\nBonamici is anoutspoken advocate for student loan borrowersand hascalled on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to stop putting the interest of for-profit colleges over interests of students. Bonamici has introduced standalone bills to help struggling student loan borrowers avoid default, assist college-bound students with disabilities, and boost apprenticeships.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-defazio-announces-federal-transit-administration-transit-grant", "Rep. DeFazio Announces Federal Transit Administration Transit Grant Awarded to Coquille Indian Tribe", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) announced that the Coquille Indian Tribe of Southwest Oregon will receive a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant of $200,000 through the Tribal Transit Program to expand their transportation services.\nThis is welcomed news for Coos County. This funding will be critical in expanding the Coquille Tribe's current transportation system, and providing increased opportunities for tribal members to access jobs, school, and health appointments. Currently, the Coquille Tribe provides demand services for health related appointments, but lacks a consistent and reliable transportation option. Public transportation in Coos County is provided through Coos County Area Transit, which provides two loop services through Coos Bay and North Bend, Monday-Friday. This grant will add an additional route to CCAT, benefitting not only members of the Coquille Tribe but the community at large. Public transit serves a vital function in rural communities by connecting individuals with more opportunities. I will continue to work to improve public transportation throughout southwest Oregon, said Congressman Peter DeFazio.\nAs Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Rep. DeFazio was instrumental in providing funding for the Tribal Transit Program in the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act (FAST) of 2015.\nThe Coquille tribes project is one of 36 transit projects in 19 states to receive funding through FTAs Tribal Transit Program this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-tax-relief-middle-class-oregonians", "Greg Walden statement on tax relief for middle-class Oregonians", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden statement on tax relief for middle-class Oregonians \nWASHINGTON, D.C. --Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today released the following statement on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which will help bring tax relief to middle-class families in Oregon and grow Americas economy:\n\"This plan will bring much-needed tax relief for hardworking, middle-class families in Oregon and allow them to keep more of what they have earned. That has been my goal and focus from the beginning, said Walden. I have been working closely with my colleagues to improve the bill based on feedback I have heard from Oregonians, and I am encouraged to see the changes incorporated into this final plan.\nBy expanding the ability for Oregon taxpayers to deduct up to $10,000 in combined state income and property taxes, the final plan helps bring further relief to people who currently itemize their taxes. I also worked hard with my colleagues to preserve tax-exempt private activity bonds, which are incredibly important for economic development, affordable housing, and veterans housing projects across Oregon. We have made progress for our students, Oregonians with high medical expenses, Oregon craft brewers and winemakers, and large employers in our state as well.\nThese improvements build on the strong foundation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in the House. By nearly doubling the standard deduction, expanding the child tax credit, lowering tax rates across the board, and finally giving American companies a competitive corporate rate, this pro-growth plan makes our tax code work better for middle-class Oregonians and people across the country. I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to get our plan across the finish line and to the Presidents desk.\nWalden has been working alongside House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady and leaders in both the House and Senate to incorporate changes into the final agreement. Importantly, the bill released today includes specific provisions particularly important for Oregonians including:\nState and Local Tax Deductions: Oregonians who itemize their taxes will be able to deduct a combined $10,000 in state property and income taxes  \n\t  Private Activity Bonds:Preserves the tax-exempt private activity bonds used to support economic development and affordable housing projects in Oregon.  \n\t  Student Loan Interest: Preserves the tax deduction for interest paid on federal student loans  \n\t  Medical Expense Deduction: Preserves the ability for Oregonians who itemize to deduct qualified medical expenses  \n\t  Craft Beverage Modernization: Reduces excise taxes on small craft brewers and winemakers in Oregon  \n\t  Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): Repeals the corporate alternative minimum tax, which is important for large employers in Oregon like Nike\nAccording to data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and reports from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will positively impact Oregon by:\nBenefits for Oregon's Second District\nDoubled Standard Deduction: 224,588 (68%) taxpayers in the 2nd District take the standard deduction under current law. By doubling the standard deduction, these taxpayers will see an immediate tax break under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\nIncreased Child Tax Credit:50,193 taxpayers in the 2nd District claim the child tax credit. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubles the child tax credit from $1,000 per child to $2,000. Tax Relief for Small Businesses:50,650 taxpayers in the 2nd District have small business income (a business that the taxpayer operated). The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act reduces taxes for small business owners by providing a 20 percent tax deduction on the first $315,000 of income.\nSimpler Taxes:104,189 taxpayers in the 2nd District itemize their taxes. As a result of the near doubling ofthe standard deduction and other simplifications, many taxpayers will have much simpler returns. It is estimated that 9 out of 10 Americans will be able to file their taxes on a postcard.\nFor more information on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, please click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/members-congress-condemn-fcc-vote-kill-net-neutrality", "Members of Congress Condemn FCC Vote to Kill Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 December 14, 2017 \u2013\u00a0U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, joined a number of other Members of Congress in condemning the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s vote today to kill the Open Internet Order, which guarantees Net Neutrality.\nRepresentatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Richard M. Nolan (D-MN-08), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-9), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), and Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) joined Congressman Doyle in condemning the FCC\u2019s action and announcing their intention to introduce legislation to overturn the \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom\u201d order the Commission adopted with that vote. Companion legislation will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).\n\u201cThe Open Internet Order has been effective at preserving a level playing field where consumers have access to the content and services they want \u2013 and online businesses are able to compete on the basis of cost and quality of their product rather than how much they can pay Internet Service Providers to block or throttle their competition,\u201d Congressman Doyle said in response to the FCC vote. \u201cI\u2019ve tried repeatedly to convince Chairman Pai to abandon his plans to dismantle the Open Internet Order \u2013 most recently by organizing a letter from 118 Members of Congress urging him not to take this vote today \u2013 and now that the FCC has voted to kill Net Neutrality and give ISPs a green light to control access to the Internet, I will introduce legislation under the Congressional Review Act to overturn today\u2019s order and restore Net Neutrality.\u201d\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear that the Chairman\u2019s idea to destroy the free and open Internet has been rejected in the court of public opinion, with tens of millions of Americans weighing in,\u201d Representative Eshoo said. \u201cAs representatives of those millions, it is our responsibility to fight this march to folly. I\u2019m proud to join my fellow Members of Congress on this CRA as we continue this new battle in the ongoing fight for net neutrality.\u201d\n \n\t\u201cProtecting net neutrality creates a level playing field for consumers, innovators, and small businesses,\u201d Representative Bonamici observed. \u201cRolling back Title II protections will be detrimental to the free flow of information that underpins our democracy. The FCC has failed the American people and Congress must step up to keep the internet fair and open.\u201d\n \n\u201cWith this vote today, the FCC has taken away our free and open internet,\u201d Representative Khanna said. \u201cI refuse to let the founding principles of the internet die, not on our watch. I am supporting a Congressional Review Act Resolution from Rep. Doyle to overturn this vote and put net neutrality back in place. I\u00a0encourage everyone to call their representatives and ask them to support as well. The free and open internet has been an engine of innovation and creativity for decades. We need to make sure that it stays that way for the future.\u201d\u00a0 \n\u201cToday, the FCC chose to repeal net neutrality \u2013 handing huge corporations the power to block consumers from certain websites and slow down their internet speeds,\u201d Representative Nolan said. \u201cIt\u2019s grossly unfair to consumers and small businesses, and we\u2019re going to fight to reinstate net neutrality protections every step of the way.\u201d\n\u201cThe entire Net Neutrality repeal process has been a disaster and it must be reversed,\u201d Representative Tonko said. \u201cInstead of working to strengthen consumer protections and serve the American people, FCC\u2019s current leadership voted to downsize their rights, jeopardize the future of the open Internet, and hand a huge win to giant corporations. Even the public comment process for this decision was corrupted with thousands of fraudulent comments submitted using stolen identities and information. Several of my own constituents\u2019 deceased family members\u2019 identities were used in advancing this charade. The FCC\u2019s decision to repeal Net Neutrality under these conditions was illegitimate and Congress has a responsibility to protect the American people, reverse the Net Neutrality repeal and demand the truth from the FCC about troubling abuses that were committed during their rule-making process.\u201d\n\u201cEnding net neutrality undermines the free and open Internet. Today\u2019s FCC decision is yet another example of how Republicans are padding the pockets of big corporations at the expense of consumers and small businesses,\u201d Representative McCollum said. \u201cCongress should now overturn this new rule, preserve net neutrality, and save the internet. I am proud to co-sponsor Representative Doyle\u2019s legislation to do just that.\u201d\n\u201cRepealing Net Neutrality is the opposite of President Trump\u2019s promise to drain the swamp,\u201d said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cInstead, the Trump Administration is taking America backward on key consumer protections and safeguards against corporate overreach. I have heard from citizens across Northern Ohio who have made their voices clear. They support Net Neutrality, and they support an internet that is open and free from overt meddling by big corporations to juice their profits. Congress must protect Net Neutrality.\u201d\n\u201cA free and open internet safeguards free speech, puts consumers first, and protects small businesses and innovators,\u201d Representative Maloney said. \u201cBut today, the FCC voted to repeal the net neutrality rules that protect the free and open internet we know today. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to roll back the FCC's harmful decision and am pleased to support Rep. Doyle\u2019s bill to keep our Net Neutrality protections in place.\u201d\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Commission sets us on a dangerous path backwards,\u201d said Congressman McNerney. \u201cNet neutrality protections are essential for ensuring that the internet serves as a forum for the free flow of information and a gateway for economic opportunity. I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Doyle to push to reverse this drastic action.\u201d\n\u201cToday\u2019s decision to gut net neutrality is a disaster for consumers and an early Christmas present to big broadband companies who can now pick and choose who gets access to the internet and at what speed,\u201d Representative Welch said. \u201cI am proud to cosponsor this legislation which will reverse this horrible decision so that the internet remains open and accessible to all Americans.\u201d \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-it-s-important-we-work-together-protect-our-public-lands", "Greg Walden: Its important we work together to protect our public lands", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden: \u201cIt\u2019s important we work together to protect our public lands\u201d \n Walden stressed that he will not support action to remove millions of acres of America\u2019s public lands \nClick here or on the image above to view Walden\u2019s statement\nWASHINGTON, D.C. --\u00a0Continuing his support for protecting public lands in Oregon and across the country, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today released a video message on the importance of working together to steward these lands, protect private property rights, and improve federal land management to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire. Walden also stressed that he will not support action to remove millions of acres of America\u2019s public lands. A full transcript of Walden\u2019s remarks is included below:\u00a0\n\u201cI am a strong supporter of America\u2019s public lands, and will not support any effort that wipes 2 million acres of protected public lands off the map in any case,\u201d said Walden. \u201cI want the Trump administration to follow the law when it comes to management of our public lands, especially in southern Oregon. I am a strong supporter of private property rights, and for multiple use on our public lands.\u00a0\n\"These are the lands we enjoy to go hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, and I want to make sure that they are available to the public. I\u2019ve also supported legislation like the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Act that President Clinton signed into law. I\u2019ve supported management changes on Mount Hood and Soda Mountain as well.\n\u201cIt is important that we work together to protect our public lands, to better manage our public lands, reduce fire on our public lands, and to replant them and restore them when they are damaged.\u201d\nThis comes as the House recently passed legislation Walden helped craft -- the Resilient Federal Forests Act -- which would improve federal land management and forest health. Walden has led the call to action on forest management reform following a historic wildfire season in Oregon and across much of the West. The Resilient Federal Forests Act will bring better management to federal lands in Oregon by reducing unnatural fuel loads to improve the resiliency of forests and watersheds to fire, and improve wildlife habitat.\u00a0\u00a0\nTo read more about Walden\u2019s efforts to protect public lands in Oregon from catastrophic wildfire, please click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-blackburn-fcc-restoring-internet-freedom-vote", "Walden, Blackburn on the FCC Restoring  Internet Freedom Vote", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Walden, Blackburn on the FCC Restoring Internet Freedom Vote \nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the Restoring Internet Freedom order.\n\u201cThe FCC\u2019s vote today will preserve the open and dynamic Internet the American people have known since the early 1990s. The light-touch Title I rules, under which the Internet flourished for decades, will help more Americans than ever before access the web, video streaming, telemedicine, and the innovations of the future made possible by increased investment in broadband. Now, the table is set for Congress to provide clear, permanent rules through a bipartisan legislative solution. We hope that all stakeholders, and our Democratic colleagues, will finally engage in serious negotiations soon,\u201d said Walden and Blackburn.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-decries-fcc-vote-destroying-net-neutrality", "Merkley Decries FCC Vote Destroying Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Decries FCC Vote Destroying Net Neutrality \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the leadership of Chairman Ajit Pai, passed sweeping new rules that would allow internet providers to establish fast and slow lanes; block content; and charge consumers and businesses more for reliable access to sites:\r\n \r\n\u201cThis is an outrageous attack on our free and open internet, one that puts \u2018We the Powerful\u2019 over \u2018We the People.\u2019 Over the last several weeks, thousands of Oregonians have called my office in opposition to this destructive plan. With today\u2019s vote, the FCC has ignored their voices, and the voices of millions of other Americans who rose up to protect net neutrality, in favor of a small group of special interests.\r\n\u201cIf you\u2019ve ever wished that your internet provider could make your connection much slower or much more expensive, then this plan is for you. But if you\u2019d rather not be gouged by big corporations, and if you believe the internet should continue to be a powerful tool for democracy and entrepreneurship in America, then you should be outraged. This plan is totally unacceptable, and I\u2019m going to do everything I can in Congress to overturn it.\u201d\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-senators-proposed-cuts-to-epa-threaten-public-health", "Merkley, Senators: Proposed Cuts to EPA Threaten Public Health", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Senators: Proposed Cuts to EPA Threaten Public Health \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley today led three dozen Senators in pushing back on proposed cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) budget that would threaten public health and the environment.\r\n \r\n\u201cThe Trump Administration has made dismantling the EPA a core mission. We urge you to oppose any legislation that advances that goal by further cutting the EPA's already decimated funding levels,\u201d the Senators wrote in a letter to Senate leaders. \u00a0 \u201cBecause of these endless attacks on both the career employees and regional programs, the EPA is badly underfunded, understaffed and struggling to perform its basic and legally required functions,\u201d they continued. \u201cWe cannot tolerate efforts to cripple an agency that, with increased use of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments, is operating with staffing levels not seen since the 1980s.\u201d\r\n \r\nAs the Senators pointed out in the letter, these cuts threaten the EPA\u2019s core missions of protecting the environment and public health. If the EPA\u2019s funding levels continue to be slashed, fewer polluters will be held accountable, and clean air and water projects across the United States will be threatened.\r\nIn addition to Merkley, the letter was signed by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jon Tester (D-MT).\r\nThe full text of the letter is below and here.\r\n###\r\nDear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Cochran, and Vice Chairman Leahy:   \u00a0   We are deeply concerned that Senate Interior Appropriations bill includes yet another cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While the 2% total reduction in the Senate bill may seem small, it masks deep cuts into programs ensuring public health and enforcement, showing that this bill is another example of Republicans repeatedly pushing funding cuts that erode the EPA's core budget and capabilities. As a result of these sustained, partisan attacks, the EPA's overall budget is down 22% since 2010. Adjusted for inflation, the Senate's mark would be the smallest EPA operating budget since 1986.\u00a0 This trend cannot continue.   \u00a0   Moreover, this bill includes deep and harmful cuts in programs critical to protecting public health and the environment.\u00a0 For example, the Senate Interior Appropriations bill would make significant cuts to vital programs that protect clean air and water, and that hold polluters accountable, including reducing Enforcement by 10%, Compliance by 15%, human health protection in the water office by 9%, and clean air programs by 10%.\u00a0   \u00a0   The Trump Administration has made dismantling the EPA a core mission. We urge you to oppose any legislation that advances that goal by further cutting the EPA's already decimated funding levels.\u00a0   \u00a0   Because of these endless attacks on both the career employees and regional programs, the EPA is badly underfunded, understaffed and struggling to perform its basic and legally required functions. We cannot tolerate efforts to cripple an agency that, with increased use of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments, is operating with staffing levels not seen since the 1980s.   \u00a0   The EPA provides critical technical assistance, grant funding, and support to state environmental agencies. With health crises across the country in the form of Superfund sites, lead contaminated water, and air pollution hotspots, we cannot afford to further erode the EPA's budget and dedicated workforce.   \u00a0   We must ensure that the EPA has the funding needed to carry out vital public health and environment protections. We urge you to oppose these insidious budget cuts, and oppose any reduction in funding for the EPA in the final Fiscal Year 2018 Appropriations package.\r\nThank you for your attention to this issue.   \u00a0   Sincerely,\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/senator-merkley-fights-to-save-net-neutrality", "Senator Merkley Fights to Save Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley spoke on the Senate floor to fight for a free and open internet and oppose the FCC\u2019s plan to dismantle net neutrality.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-blasts-fccs-repeal-of-net-neutrality", "Wyden Blasts FCC\u2019s Repeal of Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator fights to restore key Internet protections \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThursday, December 14, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today sharply criticized the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s vote to repeal net neutrality and said he will work to restore key rules that successfully prohibited internet service providers from devising fast and slow lanes they could use to block or stunt internet traffic.\r\n\u201cToday\u2019s historically awful FCC action undoing net neutrality unwraps an early Christmas present for Big Cable and unravels essential protections for consumers in Oregon and nationwide,\u201d said Wyden, who introduced the first strong net neutrality bill in 2006. \r\nWyden spoke on the Senate floor this week in favor of preserving successful net neutrality rules, pointed out the importance of broadband access to rural Oregon and defended net neutrality in state and national forums.\r\n\u201cThe fight for a free and open Internet will not end with today\u2019s shortsighted and misguided net neutrality decision by Trump appointees,\u201d he said. \u201cI will fight this decision in the courts and in the Congress.\u201d\r\nAs part of that fight in Congress, Wyden today joined with 15 other senators to announce their plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution.\r\nThe resolution would undo today\u2019s FCC net neutrality decision and restore the 2015 net neutrality rules that prohibited internet service providers from setting up internet fast and slow lanes and ensured they could not block or slow down internet traffic.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/ethics-committee-announces-lawmakers-panel-probing-farenthold", "Ethics Committee announces lawmakers on panel probing Farenthold", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House Ethics Committee on Wednesday announced the lawmakers that will serve on the subcommittee charged with investigating sexual harassment allegations against Rep.\u00a0Blake Farenthold\u00a0(R-Texas).\nRep.\u00a0Leonard Lance\u00a0(R-N.J.) will serve as the panel's chairman and Rep.\u00a0Anthony Brown\u00a0(D-Md.) has been tapped to serve as its ranking member, according to a statement released by the Ethics Committee's top lawmakers.\nTwo other lawmakers, Reps.\u00a0Ann Wagner\u00a0(R-Mo.) and\u00a0Suzanne Bonamici(D-Ore.), will also sit on the investigative panel.\nThe Ethics Committee announced last week that it would open an investigation into Farenthold, particularly whether he sexually harassed a former staffer and retaliated against her when she complained about his conduct.\u00a0\nThe staffer, Lauren Greene, was fired from Farenthold's office in 2014 and filed a lawsuit against the congressman later that year. Politico reported earlier this month that Farenthold settled that suit in 2015 for $84,000 in taxpayer money.\nFarenthold has said that he will repay the settlement.\u00a0\nThe revelation of the payout and allegations against Farenthold came as a number of powerful men in politics, media, business and beyond have faced allegations of sexual misconduct and mounting pressure to resign from their jobs.\nSeveral lawmakers have called for a crackdown on sexual harassment in Congress, while three members of Congress have recently resigned after various claims of sexual misconduct.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/oregon-congressional-delegation-calls-trump-resign", "Oregon congressional delegation calls on Trump to resign", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington County's entire representation in Congress has called on President Donald Trump to resign, amid allegations of sexual misconduct prior to last November's election.\nU.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici \u2014 who represents Washington County in Oregon's 1st Congressional District \u2014 have called for the president to step down after more than a dozen women claimed the president made inappropriate advances before he became president.\nThe accusations from 15 women range from lewd behavior to sexual harassment and sexual assault. Two said they witnessed the behavior and said it made them uncomfortable.\nIn a press conference on Monday, several of the women called on Congress to investigate the president's history of sexual misconduct.\nThe three Oregon lawmakers join a growing list of Democratic members who Congress who have called for Trump to step down. Last week, Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.\nOver the weekend, New York Democrat Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand called on the president to step down, prompting a response from Trump on Twitter calling her a \"total flunky\" who would \"do anything\" for campaign contributions.\nThe tweet has been criticized for being sexually suggestive, which the White House has denied.\nMerkley called on Trump to step down during an interview on MSNBC's Meet The Press on Dec. 7. An outspoken critic of the president, Merkley said in a fundraising email this week that the president's actions go beyond partisan politics.\n\"This is not about politics. This is not about policy. I disagree with him on many things, but this is not about that,\" Merkley wrote in the email.\nMerkley said Tuesday that Congress should hold hearings into the allegations if Trump does not step down.\nIt's fundamental accountability, that's what it boils down to,\" Merkley said on CNN Nov. 12. \"There were over 40 senators who said it was the right thing for Senator Franken to step down. But if you believe that that's the case, wouldn't you also believe that it's the right thing for the president to step down, who has far more serious set of stories?\"\nWyden agreed with Merkley that Congress should investigate if Trump refuses to resign.\n\"No one is above the law,\" he wrote on Twitter on Monday.\nBonamici, a Beaverton Democrat who has served in the House since 2012, said the president wasn't fit to hold the office.\n\"The President is a danger and embarrassment to our country, and he should resign,\" she wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.\nSeveral women came forward with the claims prior to last year's election, alleging that Trump made several unwanted advances on women, from fondling women's breasts without their consent, to walking in on beauty pageant contestants as they changed, and other accusations.\nThe controversy was fueled after a tape of Trump bragging about seducing married women was leaked to the press during the campaign. On the recording \u2014 made in 2005 during a taping of \"Access Hollywood,\" while Trump was host of the TV reality show, \"The Apprentice\" \u2014 Trump said that his celebrity status allowed him to grab women's genitals and kiss them.\nDuring a presidential debate, Trump downplayed the remarks as \"locker room talk\" and denied that he ever groped or kissed women without their consent.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/prosper-act-could-make-campuses-less-safe-sexual-assault", "PROSPER Act Could Make Campuses Less Safe From Sexual Assault", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Chairwoman,\u00a0Rep. Virginia Foxx\u00a0(R-NC 5th), of the U.S. House of Representatives\u00a0Committee on Education and the Workforce\u00a0pledged on Tuesday to work with members of the Committee to address concerns about a major higher education bill that could harm how colleges and universities respond to campus sexual assault. \u201cLet me make a commitment to you\u2026we will work on this with you before this bill goes to the floor to make absolutely certain there is no misunderstanding on what we\u2019re trying to accomplish here,\u201d said Foxx. \u201cWe\u2019re all trying to do everything we can to protect the victim.\u201d\nProvisions in\u00a0H.R. 4508, the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act, introduced by Foxx, could lead to fewer sexual assaults being reported in campus crime statistics, interfere with a college\u2019s ability to investigate sexual assault reports and protect survivors if there were also a law enforcement investigation, and see institutions not publicly disclosing the results of campus climate surveys.\nRep. Susan Davis\u00a0(D-CA 53rd) raised these concerns, and along with\u00a0Rep. Suzanne Bonamici\u00a0(D-OR 1st) offered an amendment to the PROSPER Act to remove the provisions they were concerned about. \u201cThis legislation would attempt to strip important processes in place to protect all students on campus,\u201d said Davis. \u201cThe PROSPER Act directly contradicts the intent and purpose of the\u00a0Clery Act,\u201d added Bonamici referring to the law that requires colleges to report campus crime and have procedures to address sexual violence.\nDavis raised concerns that the sexual assault survivors\u2019 counselors created by the bill would be exempt from Clery and Title IX, which requires schools to respond to sexual assault as an extreme form of hostile environment harassment, reporting leading to them being omitted from statistics. This question is central to an\u00a0ongoing debate\u00a0about affording survivors a confidential option for obtaining information about their options without forcing them into a complicated investigation without their consent as Clery and Title IX obligations extend beyond just statistical reporting. Unlike other officials under Clery and Title IX these counselors would not be expected to take action to deal with a report of sexual assault, just provide information.\nThe PROSPER Act also contains a provision (known as a \u201cclause of construction\u201d) limited to the Clery Act that would allow institutions to\u00a0delay or suspend\u00a0their investigation or disciplinary proceedings in sexual assault cases \u201cin response to a request from a law enforcement agency or a prosecutor\u201d with no limits on how long the delay could be. This provision is especially troubling and challenging for survivors and institutions alike.\nMost notably under Title IX\u00a0case law, including decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court, institutions can be subject to civil liability for responding to sexual assault reports with \u201cdeliberate indifference\u201d so taking no action whatsoever is directly at odds with this requirement. For survivors, this could force them into making a horrible choice of being safe on campus or seeking justice through the criminal system which can often take years to play out.\nThe \u201ctwo processes can be parallel\u201d said Rep. Davis. While there is occasionally friction between these parallel tracks, the solution is not to have colleges and universities do nothing. Finding a way to balance the needs of the two is imperative, and something worthy of a thoughtful policymaking process involving stakeholders from across the spectrum. Certainly, at a minimum institutions must continue afford students who report sexual assault with protective measures, including no-contact orders, and changing academic and living situations during an investigation. The provision would also permit institutions to withhold timely warnings to the entire campus community in deference to a criminal investigation.\n\u00a0\nThe Act would also require colleges and universities to conduct\u00a0campus climate surveysno less than every three years and use the information gathered to combat sexual violence, but would not be required to share that information or involve the campus community as partners. \u201cThis bill does not require institutions to share the findings with students,\u201d said\u00a0Rep. Mark Takano\u00a0(D-CA 41st). Campus climate surveys are widely viewed as a critical tool in assessing the scope of sexual violence in campus communities, and developing solutions, but in order to do so must involve the full campus community.\n\u00a0\nThe Davis-Bonamici amendment was ultimately defeated by a 17 to 23 committee vote, but not before Chairwoman Foxx made her commitment to address the concerns. The bill was\u00a0sent\u00a0to the full House by a 23 to 17 vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-stands-students-and-affordable-accessible-higher-education-during", "Bonamici Stands for Students and Affordable, Accessible Higher Education During Update of Federal Policies", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/13/17] \u2014 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a leader on the Education and the Workforce Committee, stood up against efforts in that committee to roll back federal higher education policies\u00a0that support low-income students. She also strongly opposed efforts to reduce accountability of unscrupulous for-profit institutions and to remove consumer protections for defrauded students who attended them.\u00a0\nDuring the 13-hour markup of partisan legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act, Bonamici offered many amendments to make higher education more accessible and affordable, and to preserve and enhance consumer protections for individuals with student loans.\n \n\t\u201cEducation is one of the best investments our country can make,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cThis hastily written, partisan bill will make college more expensive for low-income students and working families, undermine consumer protections for student loan borrowers, and put the interests of unscrupulous for-profit institutions ahead of students and working families.\u00a0I worked my way through community college, which opened doors and created opportunities for me. I want students in Oregon and around the country to have the same chance to succeed and to reach for a better future.\u201d\n \nBonamici offered the following amendments during the markup of the Promoting Real Opportunity, Success, and Prosperity through Education Reform (PROSPER) Act:\n Streamline loan repayment and make all loans eligible for income-driven repayment plans, maintain strong consumer protections to protect vulnerable student loan borrowers from default, and reestablish the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and the Direct Loan program.\n\tReinstate the Perkins Loan Program and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, and update the Federal Work Study program to better meet the needs of students.\n\tRestore protections for victims of sexual violence on campus and give students and families accurate information about sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking on college campuses.\n\tDirect the Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs to make sure the bill will not increase fraud and abuse directed at student veterans.\n Additionally, Bonamici spoke in support of amendments by her colleagues to improve provisions in the bill relating to supporting students with disabilities, protecting civil rights, increasing Pell Grant awards, improving apprenticeship programs, addressing the opioid crisis on college campuses, making community college free for qualifying students, supporting foster and homeless youth in college, and protecting Dreamers.\nBonamici is an\u00a0outspoken advocate for student loan borrowers\u00a0and has\u00a0called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to \u201cstop putting the interest of for-profit colleges over interests of students.\u201d Bonamici has introduced stand-alone bills to help struggling student loan borrowers avoid default, assist college-bound students with disabilities, and boost apprenticeships.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-urge-nationwide-review-of-va-providers-in-light-of-usa-today-report", "Merkley, Wyden Urge Nationwide Review of VA Providers in Light of USA Today Report", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden Urge Nationwide Review of VA Providers in Light of USA Today Report \n\t\n\t\n\tWednesday, December 13, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Oregon\u2019s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden have joined a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to conduct a nationwide review of its providers after a USA Today investigation found multiple providers hired by the Department had at least one state medical license revoked due to malpractice.\r\nIn a letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin, the Senators presented a series of questions.\r\n \r\n\u201cFor years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages,\u201d the Senators wrote to Shulkin. \u201cAs such, we request information about the VA\u2019s oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls.\u201d\r\n \r\nIn addition to Merkley and Wyden, the letter was signed by Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\r\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below:\r\nDear Secretary Shulkin:\r\nWe write to express our serious concerns regarding recent media reports suggesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs offers employment to medical practitioners with a known history of licensure revocation by a state medical licensing board. The national reporting also highlighted cases of the VA hiring providers with known conduct and performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions and criminal charges of the individuals.\r\nFor years, states have experienced provider shortages across many different medical specialties, and like the private sector healthcare industry, the VA has faced similar provider shortages. For states, such as Arkansas, in which many veterans eligible for VA care are rural, the provider shortage is even more pronounced. As such, we request information about the VA\u2019s oversight of provider hiring guidelines to ensure that the pressure to fill shortages has not led to insufficient health care quality controls.\r\nWe request that the Department of Veterans Affairs conduct a nationwide review to identify all providers by state and specialty, who were known to have had adverse actions taken against their clinical privileges, to include the revocation of state medical licensure, and were subsequently hired by the Department. Of the individuals identified by the aforementioned report, what is the employment status of each individual identified? What additional oversight measures are required for providers identified through this review who remain employed by and practicing within the VA?\r\nIn addition to a review to determine the current status of providers within the VA, we would also like information relevant to oversight of VA policies regarding hiring of individuals who have disciplinary or performance deficiencies that resulted in sanctions, claims, or charges. At what level is a final personnel decision approved? Does the VA have regular reporting and review of any providers hired under these circumstances? How is the performance and conduct of such individuals tracked, including the healthcare outcomes they deliver for veterans? When the VA intends to hire a provider with known medical malpractice claims, what additional scrutiny or consideration are such applicants subjected to?\r\nDoes the VA have authority to hire a provider whose license has been revoked? When the VA considers hiring these providers, at what level does the VA approve a final offer of employment? Are such hiring decisions subject to reporting requirements to the Department? If so, to what level? Following the employment of such a provider, does the VA require any probationary periods of review or mandatory consultation prior to authorizing the direct provision of care to patients? Do these positions include any responsibility for the direct provision of medical care?\r\nPlease confirm the status of this request and provide a timeline for completion of the requested review. We ask that you please keep our offices updated on this issue. Thank you for your consideration of this request.\r\nSincerely,\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/beaverton-school-briefs-bonamici-speaks-out-tax-plan-and-future-connect-success", "Beaverton School Briefs: Bonamici speaks out on tax plan, and Future Connect is a success for PCC students.", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bonamici speaks out on Republican tax plan\nU.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Beaverton, along with nearly 50 other Democratic lawmakers, signed a joint letter urging that the Republican tax plan change to support public schools and investments in higher education.\n\"This partisan tax proposal will have irreversible and lasting consequences for the future of K-12 and higher education,\"\u00a0the letter reads. \"We urge you to abandon partisan ideology on tax reform to support improved educational opportunity. \u2026 Republicans and Democrats agree that access to quality education is essential in empowering all working families to achieve the American dream. We urge you to ensure that federal tax code reflects this shared belief.\"\nIn the letter released Friday, Dec. 8, the lawmakers point to improvements that could be made in the area of K-12 public education, including equitable access to quality education, supporting educators, and making higher education affordable and accessible.\nTo read the entire letter, go to\u00a0https://bonamici.house.gov/sites/bonamici.house.gov/files/documents/171208Ltr_EdPrioritiesTaxConferees.pdf.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-from-rep-peter-defazio-on-net-neutrality", "Statement from Rep. Peter DeFazio on Net Neutrality", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio today released the following statement on the upcoming net neutrality rollback vote coming before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):\nI have called on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to protect net neutrality. We must ensure that the internet remains a free and open space for everyonenot just big corporations.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-signs-greg-walden-bill-ensure-military-access-lifesaving", "President signs Greg Walden bill to ensure military access to lifesaving medical treatments", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President signs Greg Walden bill to ensure military access to lifesaving medical treatments \n Legislation will streamline approval process for lifesaving treatments for troops\u00a0on front lines \nClick here or on the image above to view Walden's remarks\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0Today, President Trump signed into law legislation introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) to ensure the military has access to lifesaving medical treatments. \u00a0Walden\u2019s legislation (H.R. 4374) passed the House and Senate unanimously, and will amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize additional emergency uses for medical products to reduce deaths and severity of injuries caused by agents of war.\n\u201cThis is an important day for our brave men and women in uniform, ensuring they get the timely care they need while protecting our country,\u201d said Walden. \u201cToday we are well on our way to delivering the newest treatments and devices to our war fighters without forgoing important safety mechanisms.\u201d\nSpecifically, Walden\u2019s legislation corrects language within the National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 which was also signed into law today \u2013 that could have usurped FDA\u2019s critical authority of ensuring the safety and efficacy of cutting edge medicines for our soldiers on the front lines.\u00a0\nWalden\u2019s bill will streamline the processes at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure America\u2019s warfighters have access to new, lifesaving medications in a timely manner.\u00a0\n''Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for this country, and they deserve to have the earliest possible access to medical products that could save their lives on the battlefield,\u201d said Walden in a speech on the House floor when the legislation passed the House in November. \u201cIn short, H.R. 4374 addresses the critical issue of military access to the newest available products by expanding the circumstances under which emergency use authorizations can be issued, and by establishing an expedited pathway to full approval of products that the Secretary of Defense requests.\u201d\nFor Representative Walden\u2019s legislation, please click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-dem-call-for-trump-resignation-boils-down-to-fundamental-accountability", "Senate Dem: Call for Trump resignation boils down to \u2018fundamental accountability\u2019", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate Dem: Call for Trump resignation boils down to \u2018fundamental accountability\u2019 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 12, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    JOHN BOWDEN\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nOregon Sen.\u00a0Jeff Merkley\u00a0(D) on Tuesday reiterated his call for\u00a0President Trump's resignation, explaining on CNN that the women who are accusing Trump should be treated the same as other victims of sexual misconduct.\r\nMerkley told CNN's \"New Day\" that Trump's accusers should be heard and have their chance to tell their stories.\r\n\"I think we should give full opportunity for these women who the president completely discounted and said are inauthentic, unbelievable, never happened. It's only fair that we give them the full chance to tell their story before the American people,\" Merkley said.\r\nWhen pressed by\u00a0host\u00a0Alisyn Camerota on why he would call for the president's resignation before hearing the women speak, Merkley responded that it came down to \"accountability.\"\r\n\"Well, it's fundamental accountability,\" Merkley responded. \"Alisyn, there were over 40 senators that said it was the right thing for Sen. [Al] Franken [D-Minn.] to step down. But if you believe that that's the case, wouldn't you also believe that it's the right thing for the president to step down? Who has a far more serious set of stories.\"\r\n\"He's grabbed women's butts, he's grabbed their breasts, he's grabbed their genitals. He's bragged about it in a variety of forms,\" Merkley continued. \"It's just a horrendous list of treatment of women, and this is why if you called for Franken to step down, don't you\u00a0have to also say\u00a0it's the right thing for the president to step down?\"\r\nMerkley\u00a0joined several other Democratic senators\u00a0this week in calling for Trump's resignation, including Sens.\u00a0Kirsten Gillibrand\u00a0(D-N.Y.), and fellow Oregon Sen.\u00a0Ron Wyden\u00a0(D).\r\nWyden on Monday called for a congressional investigation into the multiple accusations by women of sexual assault and misconduct against the president.\r\n\u201cThese women are right,\u201d Wyden wrote Monday. \u201cIf\u00a0@realDonaldTrump\u00a0won't resign, Congress must investigate allegations by many, many women that he sexually assaulted and harassed them. No one is above the law.\u201d\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-statement-vera-katz", "Bonamici Statement on Vera Katz", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/11/17] \u2014 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued the following statement about the passing of Vera Katz, former Portland Mayor and Speaker of the Oregon House:\n\u201cAlong with all Oregonians, I mourn the passing of Vera Katz. Vera was a true leader, and a pioneer for women in politics. Portland and Oregon are better because of Vera\u2019s leadership and legacy. She will be missed.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/northwest-democrats-furious-at-trump-administration-over-oil-train-brake-rule-rollback", "Northwest Democrats furious at Trump administration over oil-train brake rule rollback", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Northwest Democrats furious at Trump administration over oil-train brake rule rollback \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nMonday, December 11, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    Pete Danko\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDemocrats in the region are piling on their criticism of a Trump administration decision to withdraw a railroad braking-system rule aimed at trains carrying highly flammable commodities.\r\nThe Department of Transportation said it jettisoned the requirement for electronically controlled pneumatic brakes because \u201cthe expected benefits do not exceed the expected cost.\u201d\r\nThe decision added to long list of rollbacks of Obama-era regulations by the Trump administration, but this one has particular resonance in the Northwest, where a\u00a0June 2016 derailment\u00a0near Mosier, raised concerns about the oil trains that run through the region.\r\nSen.\u00a0Jeff Merkley\u00a0was first to criticize\u00a0the Dec. 4 ruling, calling it \u201ca huge step backward and one that puts our land, homes, and lives at risk.\u201d Other pols joined in as the week wore on.\r\nGovernor Kate Brown:\r\nSafety shouldn\u2019t be up for political debate. The Trump Admin's decision to roll back rules that improve oil train safety is deeply troubling. We expect the federal govt. to put in place standards that protect our communities & prevent dangerous accidents.\u00a0http://bit.ly/2yPQdW8\u00a0\r\nRon Wyden:\r\nThis is outrageous. The Trump Admin is once again willing to sacrifice the safety of Americans in the name of undoing regulations. This is a senseless decision that endangers our communities by making oil by rail transportation less safe.\r\nGovernor Jay Inslee:\r\nHere is my statement with\u00a0@OregonGovBrown\u00a0on the Trump Administration's rollback of new oil train safety rules. This is a reckless and dangerous step that caves to corporate special interests. It undoes rules that are crucial to protecting our communities:\u00a0https://www.governor.wa.gov/news-media/inslee-and-brown-blast-trump-administration-efforts-roll-back-oil-train-safety\u00a0\u2026\r\nThe mandate for \"ECP\" brakes was part of a May 2015 rulemaking by the Obama administration. It required use of the braking systems by 2021 and 2023, depending on the particular cargo. ECP brakes use electronic signals to control brakes simultaneously throughout a train, reducing braking distances compared to traditional air brake systems.\r\nBut the railroad industry fought back, saying it hadn't been demonstrated that ECP brakes would lead to fewer derailments, at least not to a degree justifying their cost. The Association of American Railroads sued, but put that suit on hold after Congress passed a law that required further review of the rule, to be concluded by this Dec. 4.\r\nThat review ultimately included a study by the National Academy of Sciences\u2019 Transportation Research Board. A finding that it was \u201cunable to make a conclusive statement concerning the emergency performance of ECP brakes relative to other braking systems\u201d was cited prominently in the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that it was rescinding the rule.\r\nThe industry and supporters in Congress hailed the ruling, but critics said it ignored agreement\u00a0dating back for years\u00a0that ECP brakes would enhance safety. They noted, too, that the NAS committee pointedly said its report was \u201cnot intended to be a comprehensive consideration of the performance of\u00a0ECP\u00a0brakes relative to that of other braking systems, nor is it intended to analyze the maximum capabilities of a brake system in ... reducing the incidence and severity of spills from\u00a0derailments.\u201d\r\nFriends of the Columbia Gorge said the Trump administration's decision pointed to the need for Oregon to pass \"strong oil train\" legislation next year. In the 2017 session, the Legislature came close on\u00a0a bill that would have would have required\u00a0railroads to carry \u201cworst case\u201d insurance and create state-approved spill prevention and quick-response plans, but the\u00a0legislation died\u00a0amid criticism from advocates that it lacked transparency.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-vera-katz", "Wyden Statement on Vera Katz", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Monday, December 11, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington \u2013 U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today issued the following statement about the passing of former Portland Mayor Vera Katz:\r\n\u201cI am deeply saddened by the loss of my friend Vera Katz. My memories of this indomitable woman stretch back more than 40 years to our work together during the 1975 state Legislature to reduce prescription drug costs,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cVera recognized early on the importance of standing up for senior citizens and I fondly remember how older people gravitated to her house because she always picked up their spirits and made politics fun. \u00a0\r\n\u201cAlways a trailblazer, Vera will be remembered by Portlanders for the enduring legacy she leaves our city from her groundbreaking tenure as mayor, and by all Oregonians in every part of the state through her service as our state\u2019s first woman Speaker of the House and her lifetime of passionate advocacy for children, senior citizens and the LGBTQ community.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390979", "Schrader Votes Against Short Term Spending Bill, Calls for DACA and CHIP Votes", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Kurt Schrader voted today against just another patch to government funding that will fund the federal government for only two weeks. Funding was previously slated to run out at 11:59pm tonight December 8, 2017. This two-week bill will keep the government open through December 22nd.\r\n\u201cPassing a skeleton two-week funding bill is absolutely no way to govern,\u201d said Rep. Schrader. \u201cIt\u2019s our duty in Congress to make sure taxpayer money is being used wisely, but this piecemeal, short-term way of budgeting doesn\u2019t do that. The bill doesn't even address problems that our country is currently facing like fixing funding for wildfires or flood insurance. We still haven\u2019t fully funded the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program for the longer term, which has historically been a bipartisan, noncontroversial task. And the Republican majority still refuses to address DACA, keeping the young folks throughout our communities, as well as their employers \u2013 which span the gamut of American industries including medical practices and schools \u2013 in this nightmarish limbo of uncertainty and fear. This is so recklessly irresponsible to shove off our most significant responsibility to the last minute.\u201d\r\nBelieving that the number one job of Congress is to pass a budget, Rep. Schrader is an original cosponsor of H.R.1779, the No Budget, No Pay Act, which would suspend the salary of Members of Congress if they do not pass a budget on time. This is the third consecutive Congress that the bill has been introduced, and Rep. Schrader has been an original cosponsor of the bill every time.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-scott-45-democrats-fight-protect-k-12-higher-education-tax-reform", "Bonamici, Scott, 45 Democrats Fight to Protect K-12, Higher Education in Tax Reform", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/08/17] \u2014 Today Education and the Workforce Vice Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA), and 45 Democrats stood up for public education and urged tax bill conferees to mitigate the harmful aspects of the current tax proposal and instead advance a tax plan that supports public schools and investments in higher education.\n \n\t\u201cThis partisan tax proposal will have irreversible and lasting consequences for the future of K-12 and higher education,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cWe urge you to abandon partisan ideology on tax reform to support improved educational opportunity \u2026 Republicans and Democrats agree that access to quality education is essential in empowering all working families to achieve the American dream. We urge you to ensure that federal tax code reflects this shared belief.\u201d\n \nIn the letter, the lawmakers point to improvements that could be made in the area of K-12 public education, including equitable access to quality education, supporting educators, and making higher education affordable and accessible.\nThe letter was signed by Scott, Bonamici, Susan A. Davis (D-CA), Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH), Jared Polis (D-CO), Gregorio Sablan (D-MP), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Mark Takano (D-CA), Alma Adams (D-NC), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN), Tim Ryan (D-OH), Michael E. Capuano (D-MA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Albio Sires (D-NJ), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), William R. Keating (D-MA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), David Price (D-NC), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Bill Foster (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Richard M. Nolan (D-MN), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and John Yarmuth (D-KY).\nYou can read the letter below or here.\nDear Chairman Hatch, Ranking Member Wyden, Chairman Brady, Ranking Member Neal, and Conferees:\nAs you work to reconcile the recently passed House and Senate tax reform bills, we urge you to advance a bipartisan tax proposal that supports public schools and investments in higher education, including the following principles:\nI. Protect investments in our K-12 public education system. The House and Senate tax bills propose eliminating federal tax deductions for state and local taxes (SALT) but would allow for a property tax deduction capped at $10,000. Eliminating or modifying SALT would undermine public schools and the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act by effectively reducing state and local government revenue to fund public education. Recent analysis by the National Education Association shows that eliminating the SALT deduction would put nearly 370,000 education jobs at risk and could result in $370 billion in cuts to public education over the next ten years. The federal government provides, on average, 10 percent of public schools\u2019 overall revenue, with the remaining 90 percent of funding coming from state and local property, income, and sales tax revenues. The conference agreement should support public schools and working families by restoring the deductibility of SALT.\nII. Promote equitable access to quality education, especially for the most disadvantaged students. The House and Senate tax bills transform 529 college savings plans into a private school voucher scheme that will benefit wealthy families, including through financially benefiting such families who already enroll their children in private school. If this proposal were to become law, it would do nothing to improve the quality of public education or help working families, the majority of whom send their children to public schools. The House- passed proposal would also create a definition of personhood that does nothing to help families save for college and only sets the stage to overturn Roe v. Wade.\u00a0 Public schools are the bedrock of our nation. Rather than provide giveaways to wealthy families, the conference agreement should make sure that all children have access to a free, quality public education to achieve their full potential.\nIII. Support our educators. The House tax bill would eliminate the educator expense deduction that allows K-12 teachers to deduct up to $250 of the cost of classroom supplies they purchase with their own money. The Senate bill, alternatively, allows teachers to deduct up to $500. Research shows that teachers spend on average $500 a year out of their pocket to stock their classrooms with supplies like pencils, notebooks, and materials to enhance student learning. The conference agreement should support our hard-working, underpaid teachers by adopting the Senate-passed language.\nIV. Higher education should be affordable and accessible. The House tax bill would put higher education out of reach for many working families by treating tuition waivers and employer-provided education assistance as taxable income, eliminating the student loan interest deduction, and imposing a 1.4 percent excise tax on many university endowments. The Senate bill does not tax tuition waivers or employer-provided education, and maintains the student loan interest deduction. The conference agreement should support access to higher education by adopting the Senate language on those provisions. We also encourage the conference to eliminate the tax on university endowments, which are frequently used to provide financial assistance to low-income students. As students and families continue to face rising college costs, it is imperative that the conference agreement build on the progress that we\u2019ve made to increase college access and affordability for all Americans and provide support to borrowers struggling to repay student loan debt.\nThis partisan tax proposal will have irreversible and lasting consequences for the future of K-12 and higher education. We urge you to abandon partisan ideology on tax reform to support improved educational opportunity through consideration of the recommendations and principles enumerated above. Republicans and Democrats agree that access to quality education is essential in empowering all working families to achieve the American dream. We urge you to ensure that federal tax code reflects this shared belief.\nSincerely,\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-votes-extend-critical-medical-marijuana-protections-through", "House Votes to Extend Critical Medical Marijuana Protections Through December 22", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives today voted to extend protections for state medical marijuana programs through December 22. The provision, known as the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, was continued in legislation to fund the government for two weeks. This short-term funding legislation now advances to the Senate.\nRepresentative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and champion of the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, released the following statement:\n\u201cWhile we are pleased that these critical protections will continue, two weeks is not enough certainty for the millions of Americans who rely on medical marijuana for treatment and the businesses who serve them. As Congress works out a long-term funding bill, it must also include these protections. And ultimately, Congress must act to put an end to the cycle of uncertainty and\u00a0permanently\u00a0protect state medical marijuana programs\u2014and adult use\u2014from federal interference. The American people have spoken. It\u2019s past time that Congress catch up.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-defazio-and-herrera-beutler-applaud-unanimous-itc-vote-to-protect", "Reps. DeFazio and Herrera Beutler Applaud Unanimous ITC Vote to Protect U.S. Softwood Lumber Market", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) today applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission\u2019s (ITC) final 4-0 vote confirming that the U.S. softwood lumber industry is materially injured by unfairly subsidized Canadian imports.\u00a0\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement by the ITC is a clear sign that the U.S. is committed to protecting our timber jobs on the international stage,\u201d said Reps. DeFazio and Herrera Beutler.\u00a0 \u201cThe U.S. has repeatedly tried to settle this issue with Canada at the negotiating table, but once Canada refused to meet our reasonable demands, this was the only path available to protect U.S. interests.\u00a0 We\u2019re grateful to the Department of Commerce for their thorough investigation into this matter \u00a0and the ITC\u2019s subsequent affirmative ruling, and will continue to work together to protect manufacturing jobs in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the United States.\u201d\nBecause of the difference in timber pricing and market structures between the two nations\u2014most of the United States\u2019 timberlands are privately owned, while the majority of Canadian timberlands are owned by the provincial government \u2014the two nations have a long-standing series of trade agreements, or Softwood Lumber Agreements (SLA) between them. The United States and Canada have been trying to negotiate a new Softwood Lumber Agreement, but those talks fell through last month.\nToday\u2019s ruling will activate final antidumping and countervailing duties on Canadian softwood lumber imports as determined by the Department of Commerce earlier this year. The application of these duties will provide much-needed relief to Oregon and Washington mills.\u00a0\nIn November, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determination that the Canadian government subsidizes lumber production and that exporters from Canada have sold softwood lumber to the U.S. at less than fair value, distorting the U.S. softwood lumber market and harming U.S. manufacturing jobs.\nIn September, Rep. DeFazio submitted testimony to a hearing held by the ITC calling for a ruling against unfair softwood lumber trade practices employed by the Canadian lumber industry. To view a PDF version of the testimony, click here.\nOregon is the largest producer of softwood lumber in the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-holds-congressional-oversight-hearing-epa-administrator", "Greg Walden holds Congressional oversight hearing with EPA Administrator", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden holds Congressional oversight hearing with EPA Administrator \nDiscusses Portland Superfund cleanup, air quality standards following wildfires in Oregon\nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens remarks at todays hearing\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today held a Congressional oversight hearing at the Energy and Commerce Committee with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt. The hearing, entitled The Mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, was Pruitts first appearance before Waldens Energy and Commerce Committee since being sworn in as EPA Administrator. \nDuring the hearing, Walden stressed the need for the EPA to return to its mission of protecting the environment without sidestepping Congress.\n\"I expect that Back to Basics is not an abdication of environmental protection, but rather a rededication to mastering the most fundamental aspects of EPAs mission  whether its cleaning up Superfund sites, ensuring that safe drinking water is being piped into peoples homes, or keeping air clean and safe to breathe, said Walden. The public deserves to be protected and common-sense regulations are important and necessary. However, government solutions should be proportional to the problems they are tasked by Congress to solve. I believe the EPA should focus on innovative problem solving and partnerships with the states and the private sector that leverage their resources and expertise.\nWalden also discussed several matters under EPAs jurisdiction that directly impact Oregon, including the Port of Portland Superfund cleanup and air quality standards after this years devastating wildfire season.\nI want to thank you and your team for your attention to the Superfund cleanup in the Portland Harbor. While this area is not in my district, it is in my state and what happens at the Port of Portland has an impact on all Oregonians, said Walden. You have brought a fresh and welcome approach to this complicated and costly cleanup. Unlike the prior administration, youve proven that this administration wants to actually clean up environmental messes, and do the work in a commonsense manner in close working partnership with local stakeholders. To paraphrase an old song, if you can do it there, you can do it anywhere.\nClick here or on the image above to view Waldens questioning of Administrator Pruitt\nWalden also asked Administrator Pruitt how the EPA can better streamline the determination process for the agency's exceptional events rule, which specifically relates to air quality standards after extreme weather events such as wildfires. Walden said that after this years devastating wildfire season in Oregon and across much of the West, it is important to increase the efficiency of the process for states like Oregon seeking the exception.\nOne of the other issues that has come up is the Clean Air Acts exceptional events process. Weve had all these wildfires -- theyve had horrible wildfires again in California -- in the Northwest, said Walden. It has been subject of some of our hearing here about how that process works today, and the amount of time and money it takes to go through it to get an exception. What can you do to ensure a more-timely and cost-effective EPA process on exceptional event determinations?\nAccording to the EPA, exceptional events are unusual or naturally occurring events that can affect air quality but are not reasonably controllable using techniques that state or local air agencies may implement in order to adhere to national air quality standards.Exceptional events include wildfires, stratospheric ozone intrusions and volcanic and seismic activities.\nPruitt said to Walden that the EPA must do a better job of providing clarity for how the rule is applied and how the determination process is carried out. We need to provide clarity in that area so that we know how these rules will be enforced and applied going forward. That clarity is not there presently, and that is a focus of the agency presently as we go into 2018.\nWalden said the Energy and Commerce Committee would work closely with Administrator Pruitt and his team at the EPA to ensure that clarity is provided. This will allow the EPA to better determine if air quality monitoring data for a specific area has been influenced by exceptional events such as wildfires.\nWed like to work with you on that, said Walden. It is important to a number of members on our committee.\nFor more information on todays hearing, including witness testimony, background memo, and archived webcast, please click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-cr", "Merkley Statement on CR", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Statement on CR \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement regarding the two-week continuing resolution (CR):\r\n \r\n\u201cWe face a huge number of serious issues that we are already far behind on tackling. The authorization for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program expired 68 days ago, and health care for nine million children hangs in the balance. We just faced one of the worst wildfire seasons on record, and disaster relief for communities across the country is still unresolved. Over 100 DREAMers lose their legal status every day that we do not act.\r\n\u201cWe need to get serious about resolving these many urgent issues our nation faces. Today\u2019s CR did not pass that test, and that\u2019s why I voted \u2018no.\u2019\u201d\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-33-bipartisan-senators-urge-extension-of-secure-rural-school-program", "Wyden, Merkley, 33 Bipartisan Senators Urge Extension of Secure Rural School Program", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wyden, Merkley, 33 Bipartisan Senators Urge Extension of Secure Rural School Program \n\t\n\t\n\tThursday, December 7, 2017\n\t\n\tWashington, D.C. \u2014 Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of 33 senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., this week urging them to include a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Program in any end-of-year legislation.\r\nSRS supports public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services, and many other essential county services for more than 775 counties across the country.\r\nThe SRS program expired on September 30, 2015, and it has not been reauthorized for FY16 or beyond. Forest counties and schools received their last authorized SRS payment in 2016. Without SRS, existing revenue-sharing payments are not sufficient to support critical services these counties must provide.\r\nThe senators wrote:\r\n \r\n\u201cThe SRS program continues to be a critical safety-net for forest counties as we work to diversify rural economies, improve forest management and forest health, strengthen historic forest revenue sharing with local governments, and ensure that our forests provide a range of values such as clean water, jobs, and wood fiber for local economies.\r\n\u201cIn the interest of working together in a bipartisan way to support local rural communities, we ask that you include a reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools in any end-of-the-year legislation. We appreciate your assistance with this matter.\u201d\r\n \r\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, senators who signed the letter include: Senators Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., John Boozman, R-Ark., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Robert P. Casey, Jr., D-Pa, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Steve Daines, R-Mt., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Kamala D. Harris, D-Calif., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Joe Manchin III, D-W.V., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Gary Peters, D-Mich., James E. Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Jon Tester, D-Mt., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and John Thune, R-S.D.\r\nThe full letter, as delivered, is below and can be found here:\r\nDecember\u00a06, 2017\r\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nMajority Leader, U.S. Senate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nU.S. Capitol, S-230\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\nThe Honorable Chuck Schumer\r\nMinority Leader, U.S. Senate\r\nU.S. Capitol, S-221\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\nDear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:\r\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We write to strongly urge the inclusion of at least a two-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which enjoys tremendous bipartisan support, in any end-of-the-year legislation.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On U.S. Forest Service land, the federal government has historically shared 25 percent of timber harvest revenues with counties to compensate for federal ownership. On certain land managed by the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Land Management shares 50 percent of the revenue from federal timber sales with counties. Due to declining timber harvests, a critical source of funding for rural counties, sometimes referred to as \u201cforest counties,\u201d has seen significant decreases, often decimating impacted county budgets.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In 2000, Congress passed SRS with broad bipartisan support as a fiscal solution to help fund essential services resulting from the reduced revenue-sharing receipts. Since then, SRS has been a critical lifeline for over 775 counties in over 40 states across the country by helping fund more than 4,400 schools, road maintenance, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations.\u00a0 However, SRS authorization lapsed last year and rural counties are now back to simply receiving the timber revenue-sharing receipts. These receipts are up to 80 percent less than what forest counties received under SRS.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are now witnessing firsthand the hardships rural counties face as a result of SRS authorization lapsing. Without the certainty of SRS payments, schools, libraries, and jails are closing. Schools that remain open will see a reduction of teachers. Roads go unpaved and become unsafe. Mental and physical health services are scaled back or even ended. Fewer and fewer law enforcement officers are forced to patrol larger and larger areas.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The SRS program continues to be a critical safety-net for forest counties as we work to diversify rural economies, improve forest management and forest health, strengthen historic forest revenue sharing with local governments, and ensure that our forests provide a range of values such as clean water, jobs, and wood fiber for local economies.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the interest of working together in a bipartisan way to support local rural communities, we ask that you include a reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools in any end-of-the-year\u00a0legislation. We appreciate your assistance with this matter.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sincerely,\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-bipartisan-western-senators-introduce-bill-to-protect-public-lands-promote-economic-growth", "Wyden, Bipartisan Western Senators Introduce Bill to Protect Public Lands, Promote Economic Growth", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 7, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has joined a group of bipartisan western Senators in introducing a bill to reauthorize an expired law that allowed the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the western United States to use the proceeds from sales of certain federally designated areas to protect lands of exceptional conservation value.\r\n\u201cThe success of these programs has shown that economic growth and environmental conservation do not have to be mutually exclusive concepts,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cThis bipartisan bill proves that Congress can develop common-sense strategies to public lands management that will protect some of our most precious and vulnerable lands, while encouraging economic growth without damaging our special places.\u201d\r\nFor more than a decade until it expired in 2011, the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA) allowed the preservation of important sites across the western United States without the use of taxpayer money. The program also assisted in better land management practices by disposing of isolated or difficult to manage parcels identified by the public land management agencies themselves.\r\nAdditional cosponsors of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act are U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Dean Heller, (R-Nev.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), James Risch, (R-Idaho), Michael Bennet, (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo, (R-Idaho), Cory Gardner, (R-Colo.), and Steve Daines (R-Mont.).\r\nThe legislation is supported by more than 165 groups, including many sportsmen, recreation, conservation, and historic preservation groups, such as The Conservation Fund, The Trust for Public Land, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and Nevada Land Trust. A list of groups is available here.\r\nA copy of the bill is available here.\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-33-bipartisan-senators-urge-extension-of-secure-rural-schools-program", "Wyden, Merkley, 33 Bipartisan Senators Urge Extension of Secure Rural Schools Program", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 7, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. \u2014 Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of 33 senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., this week urging them to include a reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Program in any end-of-year legislation.\r\nSRS supports public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services, and many other essential county services for more than 775 counties across the country.\r\nThe SRS program expired on September 30, 2015, and it has not been reauthorized for FY16 or beyond. Forest counties and schools received their last authorized SRS payment in 2016. Without SRS, existing revenue-sharing payments are not sufficient to support critical services these counties must provide.\r\nThe senators wrote:\r\n\u201cThe SRS program continues to be a critical safety-net for forest counties as we work to diversify rural economies, improve forest management and forest health, strengthen historic forest revenue sharing with local governments, and ensure that our forests provide a range of values such as clean water, jobs, and wood fiber for local economies.\r\n\u201cIn the interest of working together in a bipartisan way to support local rural communities, we ask that you include a reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools in any end-of-the-year legislation. We appreciate your assistance with this matter.\u201d\r\nIn addition to Wyden and Merkley, senators who signed the letter include: Senators Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., Cory Booker, D-N.J., John Boozman, R-Ark., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Robert P. Casey, Jr., D-Pa, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Steve Daines, R-Mt., Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Al Franken, D-Minn., Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Kamala D. Harris, D-Calif., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Joe Manchin III, D-W.V., Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Gary Peters, D-Mich., James E. Risch, R-Idaho, Mike Rounds, R-S.D., Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Jon Tester, D-Mt., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and John Thune, R-S.D.\r\nThe full letter, as delivered, is below and can be found here:\r\n\u00a0December\u00a06, 2017\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Mitch McConnell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nMajority Leader, U.S. Senate\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nU.S. Capitol, S-230\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe Honorable Chuck Schumer\r\nMinority Leader, U.S. Senate\r\nU.S. Capitol, S-221\r\nWashington, DC 20510\r\n\u00a0\r\nDear Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer:\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We write to strongly urge the inclusion of at least a two-year reauthorization of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program, which enjoys tremendous bipartisan support, in any end-of-the-year legislation.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0On U.S. Forest Service land, the federal government has historically shared 25 percent of timber harvest revenues with counties to compensate for federal ownership. On certain land managed by the Department of Interior, the Bureau of Land Management shares 50 percent of the revenue from federal timber sales with counties. Due to declining timber harvests, a critical source of funding for rural counties, sometimes referred to as \u201cforest counties,\u201d has seen significant decreases, often decimating impacted county budgets.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In 2000, Congress passed SRS with broad bipartisan support as a fiscal solution to help fund essential services resulting from the reduced revenue-sharing receipts. Since then, SRS has been a critical lifeline for over 775 counties in over 40 states across the country by helping fund more than 4,400 schools, road maintenance, law enforcement, and search and rescue operations.\u00a0 However, SRS authorization lapsed last year and rural counties are now back to simply receiving the timber revenue-sharing receipts. These receipts are up to 80 percent less than what forest counties received under SRS.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We are now witnessing firsthand the hardships rural counties face as a result of SRS authorization lapsing. Without the certainty of SRS payments, schools, libraries, and jails are closing. Schools that remain open will see a reduction of teachers. Roads go unpaved and become unsafe. Mental and physical health services are scaled back or even ended. Fewer and fewer law enforcement officers are forced to patrol larger and larger areas.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The SRS program continues to be a critical safety-net for forest counties as we work to diversify rural economies, improve forest management and forest health, strengthen historic forest revenue sharing with local governments, and ensure that our forests provide a range of values such as clean water, jobs, and wood fiber for local economies.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the interest of working together in a bipartisan way to support local rural communities, we ask that you include a reauthorization of Secure Rural Schools in any end-of-the-year\u00a0legislation. We appreciate your assistance with this matter.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sincerely,\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/solarworld-trade-case-brings-unpredictable-politics-including-wyden-merkley-split", "SolarWorld trade case brings unpredictable politics, including a Wyden-Merkley split", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As SolarWorld Americas Inc. and its Hillsboro workforce await\u00a0a Trump administration decision\u00a0that could spell their fate, politicians are staking out unpredictable positions on the company\u2019s high-profile trade case.\nSolarWorld, with fellow petitioner\u00a0Suniva\u00a0Inc.,\u00a0is seeking tariffs and quotas\u00a0after a finding by U.S. trade regulators that the domestic solar manufacturing industry has been substantially harmed by a flood of cheap imports. The wider U.S. industry is overwhelmingly opposed to that position, fearing it will lead to higher prices, declining installations and job losses.\nOregon\u2019s senior senator,\u00a0Democrat Ron Wyden, backs strong action \u2014 so fervently, that he testified at a U.S. International Trade Commission hearing in October. It\u2019s about jobs, he says, and about sustaining the R&D and innovation that come with a thriving manufacturing sector.\nDemocratic Rep.\u00a0Suzanne Bonamici, whose district includes SolarWorld\u2019s plant, joined Wyden in testifying in support of SolarWorld.\nBut their fellow Oregon Democrat, Sen.\u00a0Jeff Merkley, believes subsidies, not tariffs, are the way to go.\n\"I would like to see us to take an approach that would assist the American companies so they could lower their prices and compete with industry at lower prices,\"\u00a0Merkley recently told the news site Axios.\nThat puts Merkley in a camp that includes a growing number of Republicans who are asking the president to steer clear of tarrifs.\nOn Tuesday, the House Clean Energy & Innovation Working Group, a Republicans-only group, warned that tarrifs could cause \u201csolar prices to spike significantly,\" with devastating impacts.\nThen on Wednesday, a group of six Republican senators, in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative\u00a0Robert Lighthizer, said tariffs \u201cwould cause irreparable damage to our domestic solar industry.\u201d\nLighthizer could be a key player in the administration's ultimate determination of a remedy.\nWhile the U.S. International Trade Commission has issued its own recommendations, Lighthizer is working on putting together a brief of his own for the president \u2014 a \"supplemental report to assist the President in determining the appropriate and feasible action to take that will facilitate efforts by the domestic industry to make a positive adjustment to import competition and provide greater economic and social benefits than costs,\" as he put it.\nThat effort has pushed back the due date two weeks for a decision by Trump, who has wide latitude to reject, accept or remake the recommendations he's given, to Jan. 26.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-condemns-house-bill-will-undermine-community-safety", "Bonamici Condemns House Bill That Will Undermine Community Safety", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/06/17] \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici stood up for public safety by voting against legislation that would undermine states\u2019 gun safety laws.\nH.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, would require states to recognize the concealed carry laws of other states. Many states, including Oregon, have comprehensive requirements that individuals must meet to legally carry a concealed loaded firearm in public. In Oregon, individuals must complete a firearms safety-training course and cannot have a criminal conviction in the last four years. Additionally, Oregon law enforcement officials may deny a license to anyone they believe to be a danger to themselves or others. In contrast, other states are \u201cpermitless,\u201d and do not have any additional requirements to carry a concealed weapon. If this bill becomes law, people from other states would be allowed to carry their loaded weapons in Oregon, without meeting our requirements for a concealed carry permit.\n\u201cI am deeply disappointed that the House passed this harmful legislation to undermine states\u2019 rights and make communities less safe,\u201d said Bonamici. \u201cIn cities and towns across the country, people are killed every day by gun violence, and in the wake of the massacres in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, the American people have demanded that Congress take action. But instead of answering the pleas of the American people and passing meaningful legislation to reduce gun violence, we are voting on a bill that will undermine public safety.\n\u201cThe bill passed by the House today puts our communities in danger. Leading law enforcement officials oppose the bill because it would \u2018leave law enforcement helpless to keep guns out of the wrong hands.\u2019 We must heed the warning of our law enforcement officers who work to keep us safe. This bill undermines their duty to protect us all.\u201d\nThe legislation also includes the text of H.R. 4477, the Fix NICS Act, which would bolster that National Instant Criminal Background Check System by making sure that federal agencies and states are uploading records of prohibited firearms purchasers. Bonamici supports this part of the legislation and\u00a0would have voted in favor of it had it come up for a vote without the other harmful provisions.\nCongresswoman Bonamici has long been an advocate for commonsense gun violence prevention laws. She is a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and is a sponsor of bipartisan legislation to close the \u201cgun show\u201d loophole and require federal background checks for all gun sales. She supports legislation to ban \u201cbump stocks,\u201d like those used in the Las Vegas massacre.\u00a0She is also a cosponsor of legislation to prevent domestic abusers from possessing firearms.\u00a0\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-highlights-benefits-family-friendly-workplace-policies", "Bonamici Highlights Benefits of Family-Friendly Workplace Policies", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC [12/06/17] \u2014 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a leader on the House Education and Workforce Committee, highlighted Oregon\u2019s\u00a0leadership\u00a0on family-friendly workplace policies that provide workers with paid sick days and predictable schedules. During a hearing on workplace leave policies, Bonamici highlighted Oregon laws and how Oregon businesses are adapting and thriving. Bonamici fought back against calls for a federal policy that would impede Oregon\u2019s ability to implement its family-friendly workplace laws, and\u2014in the case of sick days\u2014could strip workplace benefits that Oregonians currently have.\nYou can watch Congresswoman Bonamici\u2019s questions here.\n\u201cOregon has been a national leader in passing legislation to provide workers with paid sick days and predictable schedules,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cOregonians can now earn and use job-protected sick time to care for themselves or a family member, making Oregon a better place for families to live and work. Importantly, family-friendly policies help businesses recruit and retain good, loyal employees, which decreases turnover and the costs associated with hiring and retraining a workforce. Simply put, a healthy, happy workforce is good for business.\u201d\nBonamici continued, \u201cWe have heard members on the other side of the aisle discuss a bill\u00a0that purports to provide workplace flexibility, but could instead\u00a0eliminate and undermine sick leave and other policies for workers in Oregon and around the country. The proposed bill will stifle innovation in state legislatures and local governments, and will restrict their ability to do the right thing for their constituents.\u201d\nIn Congress, Bonamici is an advocate for family-friendly workplace policies that keep pace with the changing workforce. She called President Trump\u2019s paid leave plan \u201cwoefully inadequate,\u201d and called on him to replace it with a policy that will help families who are struggling to make ends meet. Bonamici is also focused on supporting working families through raising stagnant wages, making sure workers have predictable schedules, increasing access to affordable, high-quality child care, and helping workers save for a secure retirement.\nBonamici supports the Healthy Families Act to set a national paid sick days standard. The bill would allow workers at businesses with more than fifteen employees to earn up to seven job-protected paid sick days a year, and workers at smaller companies to earn seven unpaid, job-protected sick days. Paid sick days give working families the job stability and economic security they need to care for their family\u2019s health.\nBonamici also supports the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, which would give eligible employees partial wage replacement for up to 12 weeks per year. Under the FAMILY Act, workers could take paid leave for the same reasons that they can take unpaid leave now under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). FMLA covers workers when they have a serious health issue (including pregnancy or childbirth); when they care for a parent, spouse, domestic partner, or child; and when they care for a new child.\n\u00a0\u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-peter-defazio-presses-us-forest-service-on-aerial-firefighting", "Rep. Peter DeFazio Presses US Forest Service on Aerial Firefighting Resources", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Peter DeFazio last week sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tony Tooke pressing the agency on specifics regarding their aerial firefighting resources and procedures.\n\u201cOregon and other Western states endured some of the worst wildfires in decades this year, yet because of the department\u2019s own missteps, they did not have all tools available at their disposal to fight the blazes\u2014that\u2019s ludicrous,\u201d said Rep. Peter DeFazio. \u201cTo be anything less than prepared for next year\u2019s fire season is unacceptable, and I will continue to fight so that the forest service has the funding they need to acquire the tools they need to effectively fight wildfires next season.\u201d\nThe 2017 fire season was one of the worst in decades, destroying hundreds of thousands of acres in Oregon alone. Prior to the 2017 fire season, the USFS solicited requests for proposals (RFPs) for air tankers to combat forest fires.\u00a0 However, their proposal excluded tankers that exceeded five thousand gallons of flame retardant. Because of the limitation, Global SuperTanker, which owns a 747 with retardant capacity of over 19,000 gallons, was unable to compete.\u00a0\nGlobal SuperTanker protested the RFP to the Government Accountability Office, stating the retardant capacity restriction was unduly restrictive. The GAO upheld Global SuperTanker\u2019s protest, agreeing that there was no reasonable basis for the USFS to limit retardant capacity.\u00a0\nRep. DeFazio has repeatedly pressed the USFS to determine why they did not solicit a high-capacity aerial firefighting plane to combat this summer\u2019s blazes. His letter to Chief Tooke also pushes the agency to describe their plans to ensure they will have adequate fire suppression tools in the future.\nTo read a PDF version of Rep. DeFazio\u2019s letter to the USFS, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-helps-advance-bills-boost-hydropower-production-promote", "Greg Walden helps advance bills to boost hydropower production, promote small businesses and manufacturers in Oregon", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden helps advance bills to boost hydropower production, promote small businesses and manufacturers in Oregon \nClick here or on the image above to view Walden\u2019s remarks\nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), today advanced seven bills to the full House of Representatives for consideration. These bills will help empower consumers, promote clean, renewable hydropower, and promote small businesses and manufacturers in Oregon and across the country.\n\u201cThese bills expand the nation\u2019s access to domestic energy resources, improve recycling and reuse of materials, and provide small businesses with the regulatory flexibility they need to meet environmental standards while still growing the economy and creating jobs,\u201d said Walden.\nParticularly important for Oregon, Walden\u2019s committee advanced legislation to boost hydropower production throughout the United States. Over 43% of Oregon\u2019s electricity is generated from hydropower, and legislation moved forward in the Energy and Commerce Committee today will help promote the use of this renewable resource.\n\u201cMany of us on this committee, if not all of us, want to see America do a better job of harnessing its great hydropower potential so we can produce more clean and reliable domestic energy,\u201d said Walden. \u201cTwo of today\u2019s bills do exactly this. H.R. 2872 promotes hydropower development at existing non-powered dams and H.R. 2880 opens the door wider for the construction of more pumped storage hydropower projects, which is of particular interest to my constituents in the Pacific Northwest where we have tremendous opportunities to build new pumped-hydro storage facilities.\u201d\nH.R. 2872, Promoting Hydropower Development at Existing Nonpowered Dams Act, authored by committee member Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN), passed the committee unanimously today.\n H.R. 2872 would promote hydropower development at existing non-powered dams by providing the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with the discretion to grant exemptions from license requirements for qualifying facilities.\u00a0\n H.R. 2880, Promoting Closed-Loop Pumped Storage Hydropower Act, authored by committee member Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), also passed the committee unanimously today.\n H.R. 2880 would promote closed-loop pumped storage hydropower development by limiting FERC\u2019s authority to only impose licensing conditions that are necessary to protect public safety; or are reasonable, economically feasible, and essential to protect fish and wildlife resources.\u00a0\n The Energy and Commerce Committee also advanced H.R. 453, Relief from New Source Performance Standards Act of 2017, authored by Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN). This legislation would extend the deadlines for the second phase of new source performance standards for new residential wood heaters. Walden has applauded this bill, which is aimed at providing relief from expensive and burdensome regulations on wood heaters that are popular in rural communities in Oregon.\n\u201cIn many parts of Oregon, we\u2019re surrounded by forests and wood stoves are the most economical way to heat a home or a ranch shop. But Oregonians in these areas know all too well how expensive burdensome regulations can be,\u201d said Walden at an Energy and Commerce hearing in November. \u201cAreas like Lakeview and Klamath Falls have found themselves facing no good option between risking air quality restrictions that could prohibit economic growth, or forcing residents to purchase expensive new wood stoves that meet new regulations. These communities ended up spending $1.5 million to help consumers afford new stoves.\u201d\nAll seven pieces of legislation will now head to the full House of Representatives for consideration. For more information on today\u2019s markup, including a background memo, archived webcast, amendments, vote tallies, and text of legislation, click here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-blasts-trump-administration-move-to-undo-key-oil-train-safety-protections", "Merkley Blasts Trump Administration Move to Undo Key Oil Train Safety Protections", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Blasts Trump Administration Move to Undo Key Oil Train Safety Protections \n\t\n\t\n\tWednesday, December 6, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Trump administration Department of Transportation announced that it will roll back 2015 rules requiring enhanced safety for oil trains:\r\n \r\n\u201cOil trains are rolling explosion hazards, and as we\u2019ve seen all too many times\u2014and all too recently in Mosier\u2014it\u2019s not a question of \u2018if\u2019 but \u2018when\u2019 oil train derailments will occur. Degrading oil train safety requirements is a huge step backward and one that puts our land, homes, and lives at risk.\u201d\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-murkowski-bill-to-grow-small-businesses-and-local-economies-moves-forward", "Wyden, Murkowski Bill to Grow Small Businesses and Local Economies Moves Forward", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Ron Wyden", "W000779", "www.wyden.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 6, 2017\n            \n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, announced that their bipartisan legislation to boost local economies, jobs and small businesses passed the Senate Banking Committee.\r\nThe Credit Union Residential Loan Parity Act (S.836) would spur business and job growth in local communities by giving local credit unions more flexibility to offer loans to small businesses. The legislation would allow\u00a0credit unions to treat loans for small residential buildings as residential loans with lower interest rates\u2014similar to how banks already make those loans to small businesses.\r\n\u201cOur bipartisan bill puts credit unions on equal footing with banks when it comes to lending and investing in their local communities,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cIt gives local credit unions flexibility to provide small businesses with the loans they need to grow their businesses and encourages community investment in affordable housing. It\u2019s a no-brainer that when small businesses succeed, they create jobs and economic opportunities that benefit communities across Oregon and nationwide.\u201d\r\n\u201cThis legislation simply makes sense. By correcting this disparity, we are not only providing individuals with better access to loans, but also working to stimulate economic growth,\u201d Murkowski said. \u201cThe countless Alaskans that use credit unions will have more access to financial services to meet their small business needs. A simple fix, resulting in a major win for those seeking financial assistance.\u201d \r\nCurrently, credit unions are limited by a member business lending cap that banks are not subject to. Removing small residential loans from the business lending cap for credit unions would provide small business owners with better access to financial capital through credit unions.\r\nThe Credit Union Residential Loan Parity Act was included in a larger bill that passed the Banking Committee yesterday by a vote of 16 to 7.\r\nWyden and Murkowski introduced the bill with Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., in April.\r\nIn addition to the Northwest Credit Union Association, the bill has been endorsed by the Credit Union National Association and the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions.\r\nSimilar legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Ed Royce, R-Calif. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., Don Young, R-Alaska, and Jared Huffman, D-Calif.\r\nFind the bill text here.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/gov-brown-visits-cornelius-calls-congress-act-chip", "Gov. Brown visits Cornelius, calls for congress to act on CHIP", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In a visit to the Virginia Garcia Wellness Center on Tuesday in Cornelius, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown openly called for congress to re-authorize the Child Health care Insurance Program \u2014 funding Virginia Garcia officials say is crucial to the services they provide.\nFollowing a tour of the clinic, Brown spoke to a collection of clinic staff members with two beneficiaries of CHIP funding \u2014 Diego and his mother, Martha \u2014 at her side.\n\"Congress has the opportunity to come together, put aside politics and fund the CHIP program to make sure that our most vulnerable children have the health care they need,\" she said. \"Unfortunately, right now congress is focused on some other things including tax breaks for the wealthy and the well-connected, but I'd like to say that, here in Oregon, we're focused on the people not the powerful.\"\nCHIP dollars help bridge a gap in funding, assisting Virginia Garcia to treat underinsured or uninsured children. The program is used across Virginia Garcia's network of clinics in Yamhill and Washington counties, including six school-based health clinics.\nU.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici visited a clinic based at Hillsboro's Century High School in October. Bonamici and U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden have both voiced support of the CHIP program.\nThe U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation reauthorizing the bill in November. A spokesperson for Wyden said CHIP funding could be included in an end-of-year funding package.\nBonamici slammed fellow lawmakers after the vote.\n\"Rather than work toward a compromise that has a chance of becoming law, the Majority in the House has instead pushed this through by cutting one important public health program to fund another,\" she said in a Nov. 3 statement.\nOregon will use funds from Medicaid to supplement the CHIP program through April, Brown said, with the goal of providing access to health care for all kids in Oregon.\nBrown said she wants to see action toward passing a bill in the senate.\n\"I understand that there's bipartisan support and I will tell you the governors I've spoken to, both republican and democrat, believe strongly that the chip program needs to get funded,\" she said. \"Let's make it happen and let's do it before the holidays.\"\nBrown's visit included comments from Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center CEO Gil Mu\u00f1oz and Dr. Lyn Jacobs, a family medicine doctor at the Cornelius clinic.\n\"The kids that I see, without insurance, can't get the medications they need to control their asthma; to get their evaluation that they need to figure out why they're having seizures,\" she said. \"Kids that are sick can't stay in school. If they can't stay in school, they can't graduate and they're our future.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-statement-recommendations-cascade-siskiyou-national-monument", "Greg Walden statement on recommendations for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden statement on recommendations for\u00a0Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument \nWASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Greg\u00a0Walden (R-Hood River) today released the following statement on U.S. Secretary\u00a0of the Interior Ryan Zinke's\u00a0final report outlining recommendations\u00a0to the President on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument:\n\u201cI appreciate Secretary Zinke's willingness to come to southern Oregon this summer to meet with passionate people on all sides of the issue before making his decision,\" said Walden.\u00a0\"This recommendation responds to the concerns I heard raised by foresters, private land owners, county commissioners, ranchers, and others.\n\u201cPast presidents have ignored federal law that governs much of this forest land and have exceeded the intent of the Antiquities Act by roping in enormous swaths of private land into the monument. The result was a loss of private property rights and reduced revenues for our schools and roads. Meanwhile, the forests become more overstocked, increasing the risk of catastrophic fire.\u00a0After the devastating fires this summer, it\u2019s time to get back to responsible management of our public lands.\u00a0 \u201cAny monument designation must adhere to the law, reflect the clear mandates of the O&C Act, and stay within the bounds of the Antiquities Act. Secretary Zinke's recommendation follows these principles by advocating a return to sustainable timber harvests -- as required\u00a0by the O&C Act --\u00a0on the O&C lands, and removing private lands from within the monument boundary.\"\nIn July, Walden welcomed Secretary Zinke to southern Oregon to tour the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument as part of his review of national monument designations made under the Antiquities Act.\u00a0\n\"I appreciate all the time Rep. Walden and local stakeholders spent with me in Oregon as part of the monument review for Cascade-Siskyou,\" said Secretary Zinke.\u00a0\"I heard from locals that we need to conserve the land, care for the forest, respect private property rights, and allow for sustainable timber harvests in O&C lands. I'm confident that the modifications recommended today will help achieve that balance and restore the local voice to the land management process.\"\u00a0\nFor a full copy of Secretary Zinke's final report and recommendations, please click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/http//katucom/news/local/cascade-siskiyou-national-monument-litigation-could-resume", "http://katu.com/news/local/cascade-siskiyou-national-monument-litigation-could-resume", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/the-trump-administration-wants-to-shrink-even-more-national-monuments", "The Trump Administration Wants To Shrink Even More National Monuments", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "One day after President Trump ordered an unprecedented reduction of a pair of national monuments in Utah, his administration announced plans to modify a slew of other protected wildlands scattered across the country.\r\nThe Interior Department recommended on Tuesday shrinking Gold Butte National Monument, a nearly 300,000-acre site in Nevada, and Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, which spans just over 100,000 acres on the California\u2013Oregon border. The department did not describe the new boundaries in its report, but repeatedly mentioned confining monuments to the \"smallest area compatible\" \u2014 a phrase that comes from the law allowing presidents to set aside land without congressional approval.\r\nThe announcement comes just a day after Trump\u00a0ordered\u00a0a dramatic reduction of two national monuments, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears, in southern Utah. The order was met with\u00a0protests\u00a0and lawsuits from conservation groups.\r\nWestern conservatives, meanwhile, praised the reductions, saying they would be a boon to the local economy.\r\nTuesday's report also recommends changes to:\r\n\r\n \r\nKatahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine\r\nNortheast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of New England\r\nOrgan Mountains-Desert Peaks and Rio Grande Del Norte national monuments in New Mexico\r\nPacific Remote Islands and Rose Atoll marine national monuments in the Pacific Ocean\r\n \r\nOf those monuments, only the recommendations for Rose Atoll and Pacific Remote Islands mention the possibility of boundary revisions. The exact changes in store for the others go largely unspecified, but they may include \"prioritizing public access,\" infrastructure upgrades, timber management, and fishery management.\r\nThe Interior Department also is proposing three new monuments, including a 130,000-acre section of the Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana \u2014 the home state of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.\r\nThe potential for reductions to Gold Butte is especially significant because it includes an area of southern Nevada that the\u00a0Bundy family\u00a0previously used to graze cattle. In 2014, family patriarch Cliven Bundy led an armed standoff against federal agents, turning the region into a flashpoint in a\u00a0long-running controversy\u00a0over how to use vast swaths of public land.\u00a0\r\nMany Western conservatives, including the Bundys,\u00a0have argued for decades\u00a0that national monuments bring economy-busting regulations and the federal government is ill-suited to manage the land. But conservationists have argued that fragile ecosystems and historic sites need the protection afforded by national monument designations, which they also say allow recreation-based industries to thrive.\r\n\r\nThe proposed modifications mostly target monuments designated during the presidencies of Trump's Democratic predecessors.\r\nPresident Obama created Bears Ears, Gold Butte, Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, Katahdin Woods and Waters, Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, and Rio Grande Del Norte. President Clinton created Grand Staircase-Escalante and Cascade-Siskiyou, which was also expanded by Obama.\r\nPresident George W. Bush created the Pacific Remote Islands and Rose Atoll national marine monuments.\r\nThough the exact changes to the monuments remain unknown, lawmakers in the West condemned possible alterations Tuesday. Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, a Democrat, told BuzzFeed News in an email that \"this move is a monumental mistake.\"\r\n\r\n\"The Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a unique and special place, unlike anywhere else in the United States,\" he said. \"The Trump administration is ignoring the voices of thousands of Oregonians who have spoken out in favor of the monument, and is recklessly risking the future of irreplaceable biodiversity and natural wonder.\"\r\nSen. Ron Wyden, also an Oregon Democrat, similarly condemned changes to his state's monument, telling BuzzFeed News in an email that \"this is not what the majority of Oregonians signed up for when they spoke out in favor of expanding protections for this Oregon treasure.\"\r\n\"These public lands belong to all Oregonians and all Americans, not to corporations or Trump\u2019s department heads,\" Wyden continued. \"The fight will continue to end this spiteful campaign to stop American families from having access to the lands they know and love.\"\r\nSen. Catherine Cortez Masto, a Nevada Democrat, said in a statement that the recommended changes threaten \"over a century of environmental protections guaranteed by the Antiquities Act.\"\r\n\"An attack on one of our monuments is an attack on all of them,\" she continued. \"I will stand with Nevadans to protect our public lands so that our children and future generations can continue to hike, hunt, and explore our beautiful public lands.\"\r\nThe condemnations from Oregon and Nevada senators stand in stark contrast to Utah, where the entire congressional delegation long opposed recent monument designations and actively lobbied for their abolition. Trump won plaudits from Utah lawmakers when he shrank Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante Monday.\r\nOn Tuesday, Trump did win praise from Sen. Dean Heller, a Nevada Republican who called the recommended changes \"welcome news,\" adding that \"public lands are for public use.\"\r\n\"I believe that modest changes to Gold Butte will restore the public voice and will allow for critical public access for water rights and infrastructure,\" Heller added in a statement.\r\nOn the other hand, conservationists slammed the Trump administration Tuesday. Jamie Rappaport Clark, president of Defenders of Wildlife, said the Trump administration\u00a0\"continues to prioritize private interests and industry profits over our public lands and natural heritage.\"\r\n\"We will fight any attempt to strip away protections for these vital places,\" Clark added.\r\nThe National Parks Conservation Association said in a statement that the revisions to the monuments would allow activities like timber harvesting and commercial fishing, and argued that the changes are illegal.\r\nRandi Spivak, public lands director for the Center for Biological Diversity, called shrinking national monuments \"disgraceful.\"\r\n\"Zinke is deluding himself if he thinks the public wants him to plunder national monuments,\" Spivak said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/trump-urged-to-shrink-cascade-siskiyou-after-utah-monument-reductions", "Trump urged to shrink Cascade-Siskiyou after Utah monument reductions", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Trump urged to shrink Cascade-Siskiyou after Utah monument reductions \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 5, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    Sara Roth\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nPORTLAND, Ore. \u2013 Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has recommended that President Donald Trump reduce the size of Oregon's Cascade-Siskiyou\u00a0National Monument and three other monuments.\u00a0\r\nThe recommendation came the day after President Donald Trump proclaimed\u00a0two Utah national monuments will shrink significantly. Zinke had previously recommended the changes but issued\u00a0a final\u00a0report\u00a0on Tuesday.\u00a0\r\nIn Utah on Monday, Trump said Bears Ears National Monument will shrink by 85 percent to 220,000 acres from 1.5 million, and the Grand Staircase-Esalante National Monument will be halved, to about 1 million acres.\r\nZinke\u00a0recommended that Trump shrink the Cascade-Siskiyou, which covers 112,000 acres in southern Oregon, Gold Butte in Nevada, and change the boundaries of two marine national monuments: The Pacific Remote Islands and the Rose Atoll.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nZinke also recommended adding three new monuments: The Badger II Medicine Area in Montana, Camp Nelson in Kentucky, and the Medgar Evers Home in Mississippi.\u00a0\r\n\"As I visited the Monuments across this country, I met with Americans on all sides of the issue -- from ranchers to conservationists to tribal leaders -- and found that we agree on wanting to protect our heritage while still allowing public access to public land,\" Zinke said on Tuesday. \"My recommendations to the President reflect that, in some circumstances, proclamations should be amended, boundaries revised, and management plans updated.\"\r\nThe federal government has not specifically said how much of Cascade-Siskiyou or the other three monuments that Zinke believes should be removed from the national monument designation. Cascade-Siskiyou\u00a0was originally designated a national monument by Bill Clinton in 2000. In 2017, President Obama added about 48,000 acres to the original 52,000-acre monument, to protect biodiversity in the region.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\"The boundary should be revised through the use of appropriate authority, including lawful exercise of your discretion granted by the Act, in order to address impacts on private lands and to address issues concerning the designation and reservation of O&C Lands as part of the monument and the impacts on commercial timber production,\" Zinke said of Cascade-Siskiyou\u00a0in his report.\r\nThe Bureau of Land Management for Oregon and Washington issued a statement and said the land would remain in federal ownership, managed by whichever agency managed the land before it was designated a national monument. For the Cascade-Siskiyou, that agency is the BLM.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nTrump has yet to announce whether he will heed Zinke\u2019s recommendation to shrink the Cascade-Siskiyou.\r\nOregon leaders speak out\r\nDemocratic Oregon lawmakers issued statements in support of preserving Oregon's national monument.\r\n\u201cSecretary Zinke falsely claims the Interior Department is listening to the voices of Oregonians when it comes to the agency\u2019s damaging, vague recommendation to close off public access to the Cascade-Siskiyou monument,\u201d said Sen. Ron Wyden\u00a0(D-Ore.). \u201cThis is not what the majority of Oregonians signed up for when they spoke out in favor of expanding protections for this Oregon treasure.\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nU.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) said his office will keep fighting to protect public lands.\r\n\u201cThese places, like so many other public lands (including Oregon\u2019s own Cascade-Siskiyou), hold cultural, environmental, economic, and recreational value that belong to all Americans, not just a select few. Honoring Native American cultural artifacts and celebrating the incredible biodiversity of these places should be of paramount importance for our nation\u2019s leaders. Instead, the administration is opening the door for private industry to strip them bare,\u201d Blumenauer said.\r\nSen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) called Trump\u2019s move a \u201cmonumental mistake.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a unique and special place, unlike anywhere else in the United States. The Trump administration is ignoring the voices of thousands of Oregonians who have spoken out in favor of the monument, and is recklessly risking the future of irreplaceable biodiversity and natural wonder,\" Merkley said.\r\nOregon Gov.\u00a0Kate Brown said she will \"continue fighting to keep our public lands in public hands.\"\r\n\u201cI\u2019m deeply troubled by this move and will fight vigorously to prevent any scale-back of Oregon\u2019s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument,\" Brown said.\u00a0\r\nThe governor's office previously said she may sue if Trump decides to shrink the Cascade-Siskiyou.\r\nOregon\u2019s only Republican U.S. Congressman, Rep. Greg Walden, said he supports Zinke's recommendation.\u00a0\r\n\"This recommendation responds to the concerns I heard raised by foresters, private land owners, county commissioners, ranchers, and others,\" Walden said in a statement.\u00a0\"I'm confident that the modifications recommended today will help achieve that balance and restore the local voice to the land management process.\"\u00a0\u00a0\r\nTrump\u2019s decision to reduce the two Utah monuments was unprecedented, but the president said he made the proclamation because previous administrations abused the purpose of the Antiquities Act and overstepped their authority by expanding the monuments.\r\nTrump said the declaration returns the land to local people, a move that some ranchers and local governments supported. Critics say the move opens land to environmental destruction, desecration of historic sites and corporate interests, including energy exploration.\r\nSeveral environmental advocates and tribal groups said will fight Trump\u2019s declaration.\r\nZinke\u00a0originally reviewed 27 national monuments, the Department of the Interior said in September.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/utah-congressman-seeks-to-re-open-area-in-sw-oregon-to-mining", "Utah Congressman Seeks To Re-Open Area In SW Oregon to Mining", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Utah Congressman Seeks To Re-Open Area In SW Oregon to Mining \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nTuesday, December 5, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    Liam Moriarty\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAttempts in recent years to open nickel mines near the headwaters of pristine creeks and rivers in southwest Oregon have faced solid opposition. In response, the Obama Administration last January withdrew 100,000 acres of federal land in the area from consideration for mining for at least 20\u00a0years.\u00a0\r\nA Republican congressman from Utah says that was illegal. He\u2019s asked the Trump administration to review that and all other Obama mineral withdrawals. And the foreign-owned mining company that most stands to gain is weighing in, as\u00a0well.\r\nWhen Ann Vileisis found out what Representative Rob Bishop had done, she was\u00a0appalled.\r\n\u201cOh, my gosh, I was so upset to hear the news,\u201d she said. \u201cSo many people locally have put in so much time and effort to get the mineral withdrawal into\u00a0place.\u201d\r\nVileisis heads the Kalmiopsis Audubon Society in Curry County. She helped lead opposition to plans by the Red Flat Nickel Corporation to establish a nickel strip mine near the Kalmiopsis Wilderness. Opponents fear the mine would pollute the nearby salmon\u00a0streams.\r\nRob Bishop chairs the House Natural Resources Committee. He recently sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, urging them to review the validity of all Obama-era mineral withdrawals, and the Southwestern Oregon Mineral Withdrawal, in\u00a0particular.\r\nUnder Obama, Bishop\u2019s letter says, \u201cmillions of acres of Federal land were inappropriately withdrawn from mineral access due to false premises of environmental protectionism and the intentional misuse of statutory\u00a0authority.\u201d\r\nThat annoys Democratic Rep. Peter DeFazio from Oregon\u2019s\u00a0 4th Congressional\u00a0District.\r\n\u201cHis letter is full of falsehoods,\u201d DeFazio\u00a0says.\r\nFor one thing, he\u00a0says:\r\n\u201cIf legislation has been introduced, and for whatever reason it\u2019s being delayed, then the administration is authorized to do what\u2019s called an \u2018administrative withdrawal in aid of legislation,\u2019 with the prospect that at some future date, legislation will be\u00a0passed.\u201d\r\nDeFazio himself has had such a bill pending for the past two sessions, a bill which Rob Bishop has kept bottled up in the Natural Resources\u00a0Committee.\r\nOregon Sen. Jeff Merkley is pretty unhappy with Bishop\u2019s letter,\u00a0too.\r\n\u201cEverything he was asserting is just wrong,\u201d he\u00a0says.\r\nContrary to Bishop\u2019s claims, the Oregon Democrat says, there was a robust process before the withdrawal decision was made, including a series of public\u00a0meetings.\r\n\u201cThere were 45,000 comments submitted, of which an astounding 99 percent were in support of the mineral withdrawal. There was community support that included the Gold Beach City Council, and the Curry County Board of Commissioners and the Cave Junction City\u00a0Council.\u201d\r\nMerkley, DeFazio and Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden wrote a three-page letter to Zinke and Perdue, urging them to disregard what they called Bishop\u2019s \u201cflawed\u201d request for a\u00a0review.\r\nRep. Bishop declined to be interviewed, but an aide said via email that if Merkley, DeFazio and Wyden are confident the withdrawal was proper, they shouldn\u2019t fear a\u00a0review.\r\nSo, why is a congressman from Utah so concerned about a mining withdrawal in Oregon? DeFazio notes\u00a0 Bishop has long supported mining and other industrial uses of public land. And according to the Center for Responsive Politics, mining interests have been among Bishop\u2019s top ten contributors of campaign\u00a0cash.\r\nBut DeFazio sees something else at work, as well, something he says is a common strategy of mining firms\u00a0.\r\n\u201cCompanies file very, very destructive claims, and then blackmail the government into buying them out. And I think that\u2019s what\u2019s going on here,\u201d DeFazio\u00a0says.\r\nJefferson Public Radio tried to contact the Red Flat Nickel Corporation, but they\u2019ve proven elusive. Several entities which have represented the company in the recent past said they currently have no connection to the firm. On State of Oregon registration documents, Red Flat Nickel lists the address of the Portland law firm Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, but an attorney there declined to confirm they represent the mining company. Registration documents filed with the State of Nevada show only one corporate officer, and list a post office box on Guernsey Island, an offshore British tax haven located in the English\u00a0Channel.\r\nRed Flat Nickel is owned by St. Peter Port Capital, an investment company based on Guernsey. Financial records show St. Peter Port has had a negative cash flow since 2013 and its most recent corporate report describes its major assets as \u201cilliquid.\u201d The report says shareholders voted in June to continue the company for at least one more year to try to realize some value from its\u00a0holdings.\r\nThat corporate report also notes that Red Flat Nickel renewed its mining claims in southwest Oregon this summer, despite the mineral withdrawal. And, it says of Rob Bishop\u2019s efforts, \u201cWe are encouraged that there is pressure from Congress on the federal government to review all mineral withdrawals executed during the Obama administration. It is our understanding that the present administration is increasingly keen to produce its own nickel and other strategic metals domestically\u00a0\u2026\u201d\r\nAccording to public records, Red Flat Nickel has spent $145,000 since 2015 lobbying the Senate, the U.S. Forest Service and the departments of Interior and\u00a0Agriculture.\r\nAnn Vileisis, with Kalmiopsis Audubon, says with all the important values at stake, she hopes the company\u2019s influence campaign doesn\u2019t\u00a0work.\r\n\u201cThe rivers and the fish, they\u2019re tied to our identity,\u201d she says. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2019 what\u2019s special about our place. So to have this foreign mining company come in \u2026 It\u2019s just not right. It doesn\u2019t make\u00a0sense.\u201d\r\nJefferson Public Radio asked the offices of the secretaries of Interior and Agriculture if they intend to follow through on Bishop\u2019s call for a review; we got no\u00a0response.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-honduras", "Merkley Statement on Honduras", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Statement on Honduras \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the situation in Honduras:\r\n \r\n\u201cThe reports of irregularities and lack of transparency regarding the vote counting process following the November 26 elections in Honduras are deeply concerning. The Honduran government must respect the rights of Hondurans to peacefully protest, and it must complete the vote counting in a fully transparent manner that will allow Hondurans to have confidence and trust in the results of the election. It\u2019s critical that the democratic process is respected and that the final result reflects the will of the Honduran people.\u201d\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-governor-decry-trump-administration-report-that-recommends-stripping-protections-for-cascade-siskiyou-national-monument", "Merkley, Wyden, Governor Decry Trump Administration Report That Recommends Stripping Protections for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley, Wyden, Governor Decry Trump Administration Report That Recommends Stripping Protections for Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument \n\t\n\t\n\tTuesday, December 5, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, today decried the release of the Trump administration Interior Department\u2019s report that recommended stripping protections from and shrinking the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Southern Oregon.\r\nDespite months of requests from Oregon\u2019s Senators, Governor and local community, the report still gives no information about the specifics of the administration\u2019s plan to alter the boundaries or amend the management proclamation of \u00a0the monument.\r\n \r\n\u201cThis move is a monumental mistake,\u201d said Merkley. \u201cThe Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a unique and special place, unlike anywhere else in the United States. The Trump administration is ignoring the voices of thousands of Oregonians who have spoken out in favor of the monument, and is recklessly risking the future of irreplaceable biodiversity and natural wonder. This national treasure belongs to the American people and it should be preserved so that all Americans can enjoy it now and for generations to come.\u201d\r\n \r\n\u201cSecretary Zinke falsely claims the Interior Department is listening to the voices of Oregonians when it comes to the agency\u2019s damaging, vague recommendation to close off public access to the Cascade-Siskiyou monument,\u201d\u00a0Wyden said. \u201cThis is not what the majority of Oregonians signed up for when they spoke out in favor of expanding protections for this Oregon treasure. These public lands belong to all Oregonians and all Americans, not to corporations or Trump\u2019s department heads. The fight will continue to end this spiteful campaign to stop American families from having access to the lands they know and love.\u201d\r\n\u201cAny\u00a0decision by the White House to dramatically reduce publicly protected lands to appease corporate interests will have lasting, generational implications,\u201d Governor Kate Brown said. \u201cI\u2019m deeply troubled by this move and will fight vigorously to prevent any scale-back of Oregon\u2019s Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument. Oregonians value our public lands and the habitats, species, and rural economies they support, and we urge the federal administration to uphold the expanded protections that guide the successful management of Oregon\u2019s Cascade-Siskiyou lands.\u201d\r\nLocated at the intersection of three iconic mountain ranges \u2013 the Cascades, the Siskiyou Mountains, and the Klamath Mountains \u2013 the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument sits upon a unique land bridge that has fostered one of the most biodiverse spots in America. The initial Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument was designated by President Bill Clinton in 2000. Over the years, a growing number of scientists became concerned that the original monument boundaries left a patchwork of vital habitats and watersheds unprotected. In order to fully protect the biodiversity that makes the monument so special, they advocated for expanding the monument to protect it for future generations. Following an extensive public process, President Barack Obama expanded the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in January.\r\nThe Trump administration\u2019s process for its unprecedented monument \u201creview\u201d has been secretive and,\u00a0as the Senators pointed out in a November letter, riddled with factual errors. A leaked version of the draft report claimed that the monument designation had cut off motorized transportation and threatened hunting and fishing rights, despite the fact that hundreds of miles of roads within the monument remain open for motorized use and hunting and fishing continue to be regulated by state wildlife agencies, just as they were before the monument designation. Neither of the Oregon Senators has been briefed by the administration on the proposed changes, and Oregonians have had to learn what is happening during this secretive process through leaked reports to the news media.\r\nIn a letter urging Interior Secretary Zinke\u00a0to cease the unprecedented \u201creview\u201d of Oregon\u2019s monument, the Senators emphasized the robust public process that led to the expansion. The process included four public meetings in Southern Oregon, attended by hundreds of Oregonians. This local feedback helped shape the final boundaries of the monument expansion, with changes made from the initial discussion draft to minimize potential impacts on existing grazing and timber operations. Additionally, a months-long written comment process \u2013 in which 4,313 Oregonians weighed in supporting a monument expansion and 1,175 in opposition \u2013 allowed detailed feedback to be passed along to the Interior Department and White House.\r\nDuring the 2017 written comment period leading up to the Trump Administration\u2019s decision, over 242,000 commenters supported the monument expansion. In addition to both Oregon Senators, the monument expansion was supported by the Governor, local tribes, nearby businesses and landowners, and the city councils of the two nearest cities, Talent and Ashland.\r\nFor more than a century, monuments have been a core strategy to protect some of America\u2019s most special places. Many of America\u2019s most beloved national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and Olympic National Parks, began as national monuments established under the Antiquities Act. In the bipartisan, 111-year history of the Antiquities Act, the creation or expansion of a national monument has never been undone through executive action.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n      \n    \n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t  \n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-blumenauer-we-will-continue-our-fight-keep-public-lands", "Congressman Blumenauer: We will continue our fight to keep public lands in public hands", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Earl Blumenauer", "B000574", "blumenauer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013\u00a0Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) today released the following statement on Trump\u2019s executive order to dramatically shrink the size of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah:\n\u201cThis is an unprecedented and arguably illegal move that threatens our heritage. These places, like so many other public lands (including Oregon\u2019s own Cascade-Siskiyou), hold cultural, environmental, economic, and recreational value that belong to all Americans, not just a select few. Honoring Native American cultural artifacts and celebrating the incredible biodiversity of this place should be of paramount importance for our nation\u2019s leaders. Instead, the administration is opening the door for private industry to strip them bare.\n\u201cAmericans overwhelmingly support protections for these remarkable treasures\u2014and we will continue our fight to keep public lands in public hands.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-announces-2017-congressional-app-challenge-winner-tyson", "Greg Walden announces 2017 Congressional App Challenge Winner: Tyson Seable, Grants Pass High School", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden announces 2017 Congressional App Challenge Winner: Tyson Seable, Grants Pass High School \nClick here or on the image to watch a demonstration of Tyson Seable\u2019s app, Flare:\nWASHINGTON, D.C. --\u00a0U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) today announced that Tyson Seable, a freshman at Grants Pass High School, is the 2017 winner of the Congressional App Challenge.\nTyson\u2019s app -- called \u201cFlare\u201d -- allows users to distribute quizzes to friends and students, and provides live results for each quiz that are available for download and sharing. Seable said that while the app is designed for classrooms, Flare can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys a challenge. Christopher Rossetta, a computer science teacher at Grants Pass High School, said Tyson recently tested Flare in a classroom setting with great success. \u201cWe hope this home-grown product will be a hit in local schools,\u201d he said. Flare is scheduled to be available on the Google Playstore in December.\nCongressman Walden called Tyson at school Monday to surprise him with the news and congratulate him on winning this year\u2019s challenge. \u201cI applaud Tyson for participating in this nationwide challenge, and commend him on his coding skills and ability to promote Flare in a way that makes\u00a0people\u00a0want to try it out,\u201d Walden said. \u201cThe Congressional App Challenge allows ambitious students like Tyson to showcase their unique skill set to the country, and is a tremendous resume-builder in the pursuit of a career in computer, math or science fields. I have full confidence that Tyson\u2019s future will be a bright one.\u201d\nTyson Seable, freshman at Grants Pass High School and winner of 2017 Congressional App Challenge, speaks with Congressman Greg Walden Monday afternoon.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is designed to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education fields. This nationwide event allows high school students from across the country to compete against their peers by creating and exhibiting their software application, or \"app,\" for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.\u00a0\nCongressman Walden encourages interested students from across Oregon\u2019s Second District to participate in next year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge. For more information on the Congressional App Challenge and how to participate, please visit https://walden.house.gov/appchallenge.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-statement-on-house-vote-to-proceed-with-gop-tax-scheme", "Merkley Statement on House Vote to Proceed With GOP Tax Scheme", "2017-12-04", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley Statement on House Vote to Proceed With GOP Tax Scheme \n\t\n\t\n\tMonday, December 4, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after House Republicans voted to move forward with negotiations to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the GOP tax plan:\r\n \r\n\u201cRepublicans just voted to move forward on raising taxes on millions of working Americans. They voted to move forward toward ripping health care away from 13 million of their constituents. They voted to move forward with making student loans more expensive and ensuring graduate school is unaffordable for all but the wealthiest students. And they did this all to shower massive giveaways on the richest Americans and powerful corporations.\r\n\u201cIf any version of this horrific bill is allowed to become law, it will haunt America for decades to come. It's up to every American who believes in the \u2018We the People\u2019 vision of our democracy to act now and stop this bill before it gets to the President's desk.\u201d\r\n \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/jeff-merkley-is-only-democrat-to-get-amendment-in-gop-tax-reform-bill", "Jeff Merkley is only Democrat to get amendment in GOP tax reform bill", "2017-12-02", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Jeff Merkley is only Democrat to get amendment in GOP tax reform bill \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSaturday, December 2, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    Gordon R. Friedman\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAs Senate Republicans geared up to pass sweeping changing to the tax code early Saturday, senators offered a number of amendments aimed at making the bill better.\r\nOregon's Jeff Merkley is the only Democrat to get one included in the final bill.\r\nHis\u00a0amendment\u00a0cut out a provision of the hastily-written bill that appeared to give a special tax exemption only to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan. The private school is funded in part by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, Merkley's office said.\r\nSenators voted 52-48 to strip out the tax break.\u00a0\r\n\"Senate just passed my amendment to strike the terrible DeVos Tax Earmark \u2013 a handout for a wealthy, DeVos-funded private school that refuses to comply with federal non-discrimination laws,\" Merkley\u00a0tweeted\u00a0after the vote. \"Like all these special interest giveaways, it never should have been in this #TaxScamBill.\"\r\n\"When we shined a spotlight on the terrible DeVos Tax Earmark, a few in the GOP were embarrassed enough to take it out, which is exactly why GOP is rushing a handwritten bill through in the middle of the night. There's plenty in there just as bad or worse that might now become law,\" he said.\r\nThough the full bill eventually passed, it has a few more hurdles to cross before it is law. It must be reconciled with a House bill. Senators are working on a tight deadline, aiming to land a bill on the desk of President Trump before Christmas.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/senate-nixes-provision-boosting-conservative-college-after-uproar", "Senate nixes provision boosting conservative college after uproar", "2017-12-02", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senate nixes provision boosting conservative college after uproar \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSaturday, December 2, 2017\r\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n  \r\n    By:\u00a0\r\n    JORDAIN CARNEY\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSenators agreed to nix a provision in the Senate tax bill early Saturday morning that would exempt Hillsdale College, a leading conservative college in Michigan, from an excise tax on schools with more than 500 students or large endowments.\r\nSenators voted 52-48 to strike the provision with GOP Sens.\u00a0Susan Collins(Maine),\u00a0Lisa Murkowski\u00a0(Alaska),\u00a0Deb Fischer\u00a0(Neb.) and\u00a0John Kennedy(La.) siding with Democrats to pass the amendment from Democratic Sen.\u00a0Jeff Merkley\u00a0(Ore.).\r\nThe surprise move came amid an uproar over the inclusion of the exemption from excise taxes for any university that does not accept federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act.\r\nThough several colleges do not accept federal funding, Democrats quickly seized on the section of the tax bill, arguing that Hillsdale College would be the only school that would qualify according to the guidelines set out under the legislation.\r\n\"Hillsdale College has powerful friends, including our secretary of education, but isn't that the type of insider deal we should oppose? A vote against this amendment is a vote for an earmark, for a school for powerful friends and subsidizing education,\" Merkley said ahead of the vote.\u00a0\r\nThe tax earmark was expected to be a big win for a school with several connections to the Trump administration.\r\nFor example, Erik Prince, the brother of Education Secretary\u00a0Betsy DeVos, graduated from Hillsdale in 1992.\r\nHillsdale graduates who joined the Trump administration include Josh Venable, chief of staff at the Department of Education; David Morrell, associate counsel to the president; Trump speechwriter Brittany Baldwin, and Stephen Ford, a speechwriter for Vice President Pence.\r\nThe language in the bill was sponsored by GOP Sens.\u00a0Pat Toomey\u00a0(Pa.) and\u00a0Ted Cruz\u00a0(Texas).\u00a0\r\nToomey unsuccessfully urged his colleagues to keep the measure in the tax bill.\r\nHe argued that its inclusion in the tax plan was \"not about Hillsdale College exclusively. This is a broader idea.\"\u00a0\r\n\"I think it's a perfectly reasonable proposition that if a college chooses to forgo the very substantial funds available to it from federal taxpayers, it's okay to say you'll be exempt from this endowment so I would urge my colleagues to vote 'no' on this amendment,\" he said.\r\n\r\n \r\n           \r\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/press-releases/merkley-on-senate-tax-passage-if-this-horrific-bill-is-allowed-to-become-law-it-will-haunt-america-for-decades-to-come", "Merkley on Senate Tax Passage: “If this horrific bill is allowed to become law, it will haunt America for decades to come.”", "2017-12-02", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Merkley on Senate Tax Passage: \u201cIf this horrific bill is allowed to become law, it will haunt America for decades to come.\u201d \n\t\n\t\n\tSaturday, December 2, 2017\n\t\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after Senate Republicans pushed through their tax plan on a party line vote:\r\n \r\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear: What just happened is a brazen move to rig our political system and our economy to work not for \u2018We the People,\u2019 but for \u2018We the Powerful.\u2019\u00a0\r\n\u201cRepublicans just voted to raise taxes on millions of working Americans. They voted to rip health care away from 13 million of their constituents. And they did this all to shower massive giveaways on the richest Americans and powerful corporations.\r\n\u201cIf this horrific bill is allowed to become law, it will haunt America for decades to come. The House will still need to act on the Senate bill. It's up to every American who believes in the \u2018We the People\u2019 vision of our democracy to stop this bill before it gets to the President's desk.\u201d\r\n \r\nMerkley offered the only Democratic amendment to pass during the floor debate. Merkley\u2019s amendment stripped out a special interest provision that would have provided an exclusive tax exemption to Hillsdale College, a private college heavily funded by the DeVos family.\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t  \n    \n\t\n\t\n\t  \n          \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/video/senators-merkley-and-klobuchar-highlight-worst-provisions-of-gop-tax-scam", "Senators Merkley and Klobuchar Highlight Worst Provisions of GOP Tax Scam", "2017-12-02", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Jeff Merkley", "M001176", "www.merkley.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oregon\u2019s Senator Jeff Merkley and Minnesota\u2019s Senator Amy Klobuchar spoke on the Senate floor to highlight the worst provisions of the GOP\u2019s tax plan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390978", "Schrader Statement on FCC Chairmans Announcement on Net Neutrality", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Kurt Schrader", "S001180", "schrader.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schrader Statement on FCC Chairman\u2019s Announcement on Net Neutrality \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington, D.C.,\r\n        December 1, 2017\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) released the following statement on net neutrality ahead of the FCC\u2019s vote slated for December 14th:\r\n\u201cAs a long-time supporter of net neutrality, I am incredibly disappointed with Chairman Pai\u2019s decision to roll back net neutrality rules with no plan to ensure equal and open access to the internet for all Oregonians. Throughout this process it\u2019s become abundantly clear that the public is overwhelmingly in support of enforceable protections to ensure an open internet. Unfortunately, as long as Congress continues to pass the buck to the FCC, net neutrality protections will continue to hang in the balance at the discretion of whichever party is in the White House and thus controlling the FCC. This is untenable. When I talk to my constituents about this issue they have certain expectations: fairness and competition in the marketplace; the ability to access the legal content of their choosing without being blocked, or experiencing interference or throttling from anyone; and they expect the internet to remain an open and accessible platform for all Americans. This is the basic foundation of net neutrality, and I believe these are all reasonable and fair expectations from consumers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Quite simply this is how the internet has always worked and it is why our internet economy has flourished and remains the envy of the world.\u201d\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-congratulates-beaverton-student-who-won-district-s-congressional-app", "Bonamici Congratulates Beaverton Student Who Won Districts Congressional App Challenge", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "BEAVERTON, OR [12/01/17] \u2014 Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a member of the House Education and Science Committees, announced that Divya Amirtharaj, a student at Beaverton\u2019s Westview High School, has won the Congressional App Challenge for Oregon\u2019s First Congressional District.\nAmirtharaj\u2019s mobile phone application allows visually impaired users to scan printed text in multiple major languages. Users can scan printed text with their mobile phone camera and then the app will read the text aloud. You can watch a video of Amirtharaj describing her app here.\n\u201cMy goal is to improve information accessibility for visually impaired individuals across the world. Current tools for people with visual impairments, such as Braille, have failed to become widespread and have isolated users from their surroundings,\u201d said Divya Amirtharaj winner of the Congressional App Challenge. \u201cA real-time, multilingual, free app, like myVision would help connect individuals of all demographics.\u201d\n \n\t\u201cCreativity and innovation are key to our economy and essential to future economic growth,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThis year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge brought in thoughtful submissions from an impressive group of students. I congratulate Divya for her \u2018myVision\u2019 app, which addresses the needs of people with visual impairments. Divya has identified a significant need in our communities and developed a useful tool that will benefit visually impaired people in their daily lives.\u201d\n \nA panel of expert judges from Northwest Oregon selected the winning app. The judges evaluated the submissions for creativity, originality, user experience, and design. They provided the following feedback on Amirtharaj\u2019s app:\n\u201cDivya did an excellent job providing the appropriate amount of context, explaining the tools she used, and articulating the problem she was solving,\u201d said Megan Bigelow, President and Co-Founder at PDX Women in Tech. \u201cI also appreciate that she explained how myVision compared to other related apps.\u201d\n\u201cDivya created a great product by improving an existing idea,\u201d said Yeruwelle de Rouen, Director of Programs at Girls Inc. of the Pacific Northwest. \u201cIt has an altruistic focus so the effect is wide reaching.\u201d\nBonamici recognized Amirtharaj in an informal ceremony at her office, and the winning app will be featured on a display in the U.S. Capitol Building and on the House of Representatives website. You can download a photo of Amirtharaj and Bonamici here and here.\nBonamici is a founder and co-chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts and design into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education to encourage creative thinking and engage more students. By supporting and recognizing young programmers, Congress is acknowledging the growing importance of technology development. Students across the country competed in the Congressional App Challenge by creating and demonstrating a software application, or \u201capp,\u201d for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. The U.S. House of Representatives organizes the nationwide Congressional App Challenge each year.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/oregon-members-fight-for-investments-critical-maintenance-of-oregon-s-0", "Oregon Members Fight for Investments, Critical Maintenance of Oregons Ports", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, members of the Oregon Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Ryan Fisher urging the Trump Administration to fund critical maintenance and dredging of Oregon\u2019s small ports and jetties. Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici, along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, urged the Administration to make these investments to keep our ports open and safe, and to ensure Oregon\u2019s coastal communities are able to thrive.\n\u201cWe encourage you to fund the critical navigation needs of Oregon\u2019s small coastal ports.\u00a0 Our harbors along the Oregon coast serve as some of the most vital harbors of refuge in the nation.\u00a0 With our breaking bars, the increasing intensity of storms and unpredictable weather, it is extremely important that our channels be dredged and our jetties maintained to adequately serve the safety of our commercial and recreational fishing fleets, as well as allow for the Search and Rescue activities of our U.S. Coast Guard men and women,\u201d the members wrote.\nA 2014 State of Oregon study shows that our coastal ports support 15,759 direct/indirect jobs and $904 million to the state GDP.\u00a0 In addition, NOAA\u2019s 2015 Fisheries of the U.S. report ranked the State of Oregon seventh in the nation for 2015 domestic fish landings, with 195 million pounds valued at $115.7 million.\u00a0\nA copy of the letter is included below.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDecember 1, 2017\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nMr. Ryan Fisher\nActing Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works\n108 Army Pentagon\nWashington, D.C.\u00a0 20310\n\u00a0\nDear Mr. Fisher:\n\u00a0\nAs you look ahead to the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY2018) work plan for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 Civil Works program, we encourage you to fund the critical navigation needs of Oregon\u2019s small coastal ports.\u00a0 Our harbors along the Oregon coast serve as some of the most vital harbors of refuge in the nation.\u00a0 With our breaking bars, the increasing intensity of storms and unpredictable weather, it is extremely important that our channels be dredged and our jetties maintained to adequately serve the safety of our commercial and recreational fishing fleets, as well as allow for the Search and Rescue activities of our U.S. Coast Guard men and women.\n\u00a0\nOregon\u2019s coastal navigation infrastructure also supports rural communities in our state.\u00a0 A 2014 State of Oregon study shows that our coastal ports support 15,759 direct/indirect jobs and $904 million to the state GDP[i].\u00a0 In addition, NOAA\u2019s 2015 Fisheries of the U.S. report ranked the State of Oregon seventh in the nation for 2015 domestic fish landings, with 195 million pounds valued at $115.7 million[ii].\u00a0 Funding for the maintenance of federal navigation infrastructure along the Oregon coast is essential to the success of our fishing fleets and to maintaining a vibrant coastal and national economy.\n\u00a0\nWhile the current appropriations process for FY2018 remains incomplete, we believe that based on the process in previous years, there will continue to be significant programmatic funding included for both \u201csmall, remote and subsistence harbors\u201d and \u201cdeep draft harbors.\u201d\u00a0 Oregon\u2019s emerging harbors can all compete for funding from one or both of these programmatic accounts and we request that you strongly consider the following for inclusion in your FY2018 work plan:\n\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tProject Name\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAdditional FY2018\n\t\t\t\t\tCapability\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTotal FY2018 Request\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSkipanon Channel (Port of Astoria)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$123,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$123,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSiuslaw River (Port of Siuslaw)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$837,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$837,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tUmpqua River (Port of Umpqua)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$405,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$1,326,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCoquille River (Port of Bandon)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$453,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$453,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRogue River (Port of Gold Beach)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$809,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$809,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tChetco River (Port of Brookings Harbor)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$1,029,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$1,838,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTillamook Bay & Harbor (Port of Garibaldi)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$575,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$575,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPort of Port Orford\n\t\t\t\t\t(includes $4,950,000 for breakwater repair)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$6,593,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$6,593,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tYaquina Bay & Harbor (Port of Newport)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$3,096,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tYaquina River (Port of Toledo)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDepoe Bay\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$877,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t$877,000\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe international trade, recreational boating and commercial fishing taking place out of Oregon ports continues to be a vital asset for our coastal communities, our region and the entire nation.\u00a0 We thank you for your continued consideration of these projects for the FY2018 work plan.\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n_____________________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 _____________________________\u00a0\nPETER DeFAZIO\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 RON WYDEN\nMember of Congress\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 United States Senator\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n_____________________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 _____________________________\nJEFF MERKLEY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 EARL BLUMENAUER\nUnited States Senator\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n_____________________________\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 _____________________________\u00a0\nKURT SCHRADER\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 SUZANNE BONAMICI\nMember of Congress\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-defazio-and-walden-applaud-tariffs-to-protect-us-hardwood-plywood", "Reps. DeFazio and Walden Applaud Tariffs to Protect U.S. Hardwood Plywood Market", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Greg Walden (OR-02) today applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission\u2019s (ITC) final 4-0 vote confirming that the U.S. hardwood plywood industry has been, or is threatened to be, materially injured by unfairly subsidized Chinese imports.\u00a0\nToday\u2019s ruling will activate final antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese hardwood plywood imports as determined by the Department of Commerce earlier this year. The application of these duties will provide much-needed relief to Oregon mills.\u00a0\n\u201cFor too long, hardwood plywood mills in Oregon have suffered from the unfair trade practices China has used to corner this vital market and threaten family-wage jobs in our state,\u201d said Reps. DeFazio and Walden. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement by the ITC is welcome news that will protect U.S. timber jobs and sends the clear signal that using illegal trade practices to hurt American companies, cost American jobs, and harm our timber-dependent communities is unacceptable. We applaud the thorough investigation conducted by the Department of Commerce into this matter and the ITC\u2019s subsequent affirmative ruling, and will continue to work together to protect manufacturing jobs in Oregon and throughout the United States.\u201d\n\u201cOur company, as members of the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, is pleased with the results of this ruling,\u201d said Joe Gonyea, III, Co-Chair of the Board for Timber Products. \u201cThis strong ruling publicly reinforces what we have known for years about unfair Chinese subsidies and dumping of inferior products into the U.S. Market. We are greatly appreciative of the bipartisan support from our Oregon congressional delegation, led in the House of Representatives by Greg Walden and Peter DeFazio, throughout this effort.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nLast year the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, representing the U.S. hardwood plywood industry, filed a petition with the U.S. government seeking full enforcement of U.S. trade laws against China\u2019s abusive trade practices. Last month, the Department of Commerce issued final determinations on antidumping duties of 183.6 percent and countervailing duties of up to 194.9 percent after completing an extensive investigation into China's unfairly traded hardwood plywood imports. Today\u2019s ruling by the ITC will allow these duties to be fully enforced.\nIn October, Reps. DeFazio and Walden led a bipartisan letter to the ITC in support of an investigation into China\u2019s illegal trade activity. Additionally, on October 26 Reps. DeFazio and Walden both testified before the ITC at their hearing on illegal Chinese hardwood plywood imports. Rep DeFazio\u2019s testimony can viewed here. Rep. Walden\u2019s testimony can be viewed here.\nChinese hardwood plywood imports increased 22 percent from 2014 to 2016 and another 26 percent during only the first half of 2017.\u00a0\nOregon is the largest producer of hardwood plywood products in the United States.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-walden-and-defazio-applaud-tariffs-protect-us-hardwood-plywood", "Reps. Walden and DeFazio applaud tariffs to protect U.S. hardwood plywood market", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Walden and DeFazio applaud tariffs to protect U.S. hardwood plywood market\u00a0 \nDuties to be levied on Chinese hardwood lumber market to counteract unfair trade practices\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0 Reps. Greg Walden (OR-02) and Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission\u2019s (ITC) final 4-0 vote confirming that the U.S. hardwood plywood industry has been, or is threatened to be, materially injured by unfairly subsidized Chinese imports.\u00a0\nToday\u2019s ruling will activate final antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese hardwood plywood imports as determined by the Department of Commerce earlier this year. The application of these duties will provide much-needed relief to Oregon mills.\u00a0\n\u201cFor too long, hardwood plywood mills in Oregon have suffered from the unfair trade practices China has used to corner this vital market and threaten family-wage jobs in our state,\u201d said Reps. Walden and DeFazio. \u201cToday\u2019s announcement by the ITC is welcome news that will protect U.S. timber jobs and sends the clear signal that using illegal trade practices to hurt American companies, cost American jobs, and harm our timber-dependent communities is unacceptable. We applaud the thorough investigation conducted by the Department of Commerce into this matter and the ITC\u2019s subsequent affirmative ruling, and will continue to work together to protect manufacturing jobs in Oregon and throughout the United States.\u201d\n\u201cOur company, as members of the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, is pleased with the results of this ruling,\u201d said Joe Gonyea, III, Co-Chair of the Board for Timber Products. \u201cThis strong ruling publicly reinforces what we have known for years about unfair Chinese subsidies and dumping of inferior products into the U.S. Market. We are greatly appreciative of the bipartisan support from our Oregon congressional delegation, led in the House of Representatives by Greg Walden and Peter DeFazio, throughout this effort.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nLast year the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, representing the U.S. hardwood plywood industry, filed a petition with the U.S. government seeking full enforcement of U.S. trade laws against China\u2019s abusive trade practices. Last month, the Department of Commerce issued final determinations on antidumping duties of 183.6 percent and countervailing duties of up to 194.9 percent after completing an extensive investigation into China's unfairly traded hardwood plywood imports. Today\u2019s ruling by the ITC will allow these duties to be fully enforced.\nIn October, Reps. DeFazio and Walden led a bipartisan letter to the ITC in support of an investigation into China\u2019s illegal trade activity. Additionally, on October 26 Reps. DeFazio and Walden both testified before the ITC at their hearing on illegal Chinese hardwood plywood imports. Rep DeFazio\u2019s testimony can viewed here. Rep. Walden\u2019s testimony can be viewed here.\nChinese hardwood plywood imports increased 22 percent from 2014 to 2016 and another 26 percent during only the first half of 2017.\u00a0\nOregon is the largest producer of hardwood plywood products in the United States.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/bonamici-we-must-do-more-prevent-harassment", "Bonamici: "We must do more to prevent harassment"", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to require all Members of Congress and Congressional staff participate in annual training to prevent all forms of workplace harassment and discrimination.\n\u00a0\u201cCongress should be a leading example of a safe and welcoming workplace. Today\u2019s bill to require training for members and staff is the first step, but much more must be done to earn back the trust of our constituents. The House should immediately end the practice of taxpayer-funded secret settlements for sexual harassment claims, make training extensive and in-person, reform the process for reporting claims, increase transparency and support for victims, and commit to challenging the culture that has allowed this predatory behavior to go unchecked for far too long.\u201d\nBonamici and Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT)\u00a0introduced bipartisan legislation\u00a0to prohibit the requirement of nondisclosure agreements in sexual harassment claims brought by\u00a0the Congressional Office of Compliance.\n\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that will lift the secrecy surrounding taxpayer-funded sexual harassment settlements. This bill will give victims the right and the freedom to talk about their experiences publicly if they so choose. The current requirement that victims enter into nondisclosure agreements creates a dangerous culture of secrecy and silence. Victims should not be required to sign away their rights in exchange for justice. The American people deserve a transparent government and they should know about the actions of their elected representatives.\"\n\u00a0\u201cIn recent months, I\u2019ve been humbled by the bravery of women in Oregon and across the country who have come forward and shared their stories of harassment. Victims who share their stories often do so at great personal risk, and they frequently take on very powerful people. Women need and deserve to be believed. As a woman in elected office, I have endured inappropriate comments about my appearance; others have endured much more. Everyone should be able to work in an environment where they feel safe and are safe.\"\n\u00a0\u201cWe must do more to prevent harassment, more to make sure victims of harassment can seek justice and more to hold harassers accountable for their actions. We are at a critical and important point in time now that this issue is finally being recognized, discussed, and addressed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/senate-unanimously-approves-plan-improve-conditions-columbia-river-tribal-fishing", "Senate unanimously approves plan to improve conditions at Columbia River tribal fishing sites", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A unanimous U.S. Senate vote this week has given new hope to backers of promised housing for Native Americans along the Columbia River east of Portland.\nIn the wake of a White House decision to halt development of promised houses for Columbia River tribal members, a smaller initiative to maintain and upgrade 31 existing fishing sites where sometimes dozens of Native fishing crews live at least six months of the year is again gaining traction.\nOregon and Washington legislators again have asked for money to improve deplorable safety and sanitation conditions at small riverside camp sites, where tribal member launch boats, clean salmon and camp in tents and makeshift shacks.\nThe bill, which was introduced in March and approved by the Senate on Wednesday, calls on the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to visit the sites and study what is needed to improve them, then bring the infrastructure in line with the amount of use they get. That would include improved sewer connections, electrical grids and adequate water, among other needs. Officials have not attached a dollar figure to the bill, nor has any money been allocated.\nAn amendment from Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, also passed unanimously. He asked that the federal comptroller assess whether the proposed work at the fishing sites was effective.\nLast year, The Oregonian/OregonLive visited 31 sites\u00a0that the federal government built to enable members of four tribes to maintain their U.S. treaty rights to catch salmon. Many were overcrowded, with 40 families crammed into a space meant for 20 people at one location. Almost all had bathrooms that backed up and not enough toilets and shower stalls. Trash overflowed at most sites, and people who stay jacked into the few solar panels at each spot for electricity. Other people used generators and propane heaters that occasionally caused fires. Only one had fire safety equipment.\nThe Oregon and Washington congressional delegations introduced a bill last year that called for cleanup money, but it died. They reintroduced the bill in both houses of Congress, where it needed to go through the committees in both before it could be voted on by the full chambers.\nIt stalled for much of 2017, but it passed the full Senate Wednesday. Oregon Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici, both Democrats, filed the same bill in the House. It has not moved since being introduced in March.\n\"Today, the Senate made a strong statement that the current conditions at Columbia River fishing sites are unacceptable, unjust, and must be fixed,\" said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat. \"I've personally seen the shocking conditions at Lone Pine. We owe better to the Northwest's tribal communities, and the very least we can do is ensure basic sanitation and safety. I'm going to keep pushing until this bill is at the President's desk and signed into law.\"\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nBipartisan momentum was quashed, however, on the drive to create a new village for those who historically fished the Columbia River. That would do even more than the site upgrades to help members of the Warm Springs, Yakama, Umatilla and Nez Perce tribes.\n\"This is a positive step on our long road to properly honor our obligations\u00a0to the Columbia River Treaty Tribes,\" said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat who co-sponsored the bill. \"It's so important that we continue to make progress to provide safe, sanitary housing and infrastructure at these fishing access sites, so tribal members can exercise their protected rights.\"\nThe Office of Management and Budget has\u00a0decided not to grant\u00a0a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers request for almost $1.6 million to finish planning a village for tribal members near The Dalles. Those people or their ancestors were displaced when the federal government erected a series of Columbia River Dams that flooded their riverside villages.\nMembers of the four tribes lived along the river for centuries and lost their homes as well as their center of social and economic life when the Army Corps built three dams: Bonneville, then the Dalles and finally John Day.\nIn the 80 years since, tribal members instead moved onto the fishing sites, which were built to accommodate no more than 20 people apiece to camp temporarily during fishing season.\nThe subsequent decision to withhold the money \"is an outrageous, unjust decision by the Trump White House,\" Merkley said in an October report by The Oregonian/OregonLive.\nFormer Assistant Secretary of the Army Jo-Ellen Darcy\u00a0allocated about $3 million in fiscal year 2017\u00a0to start planning a village at The Dalles Dam.\u00a0But only half the money was immediately available under a continuing resolution that set budget priorities.\nWith that money, the Army Corps started conversations with tribal members and the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission about what they would want from a village, conducted cultural surveys and reports, took soil samples and did other testing.\nThe bulk of the work remains, though. In a letter from Kevin Brice, the deputy district engineer for project management, he says that Army Corps staff won't be able to draw designs for the village, evaluate various sites for their feasibility and socioeconomic impacts or identify the best one without the rest of the funds.\nThe money allocated to maintaining the sites is also running out quickly, due to the high level of use. The Bureau of Indian Affairs contracts with the Inter-Tribal Fish Commission to care for the sites. Once the money runs out, it is unclear how the sites would be cleaned or repaired.\n\"The bipartisan support for the\u00a0Columbia River In-Lieu and Treaty Fishing Access Sites Improvement Act\u00a0highlights the commitment of the Pacific Northwest, and its leadership from both sides of the aisle, to address the conditions at tribal fishing sites along the Columbia River,\" said Jaime A. Pinkham,\u00a0executive director\u00a0of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. \"We are grateful for their work and join the other voices from around Indian Country that are calling upon the House to act.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/defazio-applauds-house-passage-of-legislation-to-spur-economic", "DeFazio Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Spur Economic Development and Job Creation in Oregon Communities", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Peter DeFazio", "D000191", "defazio.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the United States House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to renew a critical program that spurs economic growth and job creation in Oregon communities. Ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), an original cosponsor of companion legislation, applauded House passage of H.R. 3017, the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act of 2017, which will boost funding for the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) brownfields program. The brownfields program provides funding to States and communities for the cleanup and redevelopment of abandoned or underutilized properties and leverages Federal seed money with State, local, and private dollars to create jobs.\n\u201cCongress has heard from mayors, state agencies, and other stakeholders on the critical importance of the brownfields program. The brownfields program has a proven record of success and you can see this success right here at home. In 2013, the City of Eugene received $680,000 in grants to clean up abandoned properties and today, the Ninkasi Brewing Company sits on the site of what was a former Eugene brownfield. This year, Eugene was selected for an additional $500,000 brownfields site assessment grant and I am hopeful that this funding can replicate the success of Ninkasi and prompt the redevelopment and cleanup of other brownfield sites,\u201d said Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), the Ranking Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and an original cosponsor of companion legislation.\u00a0\u201cI was proud to work on this bipartisan legislation and I will continue to work with my colleagues to see this critical bill signed into law.\u201d See video of DeFazio speaking about the Eugene brownfields here.\nH.R. 3017 makes several improvements to the brownfields program including increasing the funding limit for individual cleanup grants from $200,000 to $500,000 per grant, authorizing EPA to award multipurpose brownfield grants for projects consisting of multiple elements, and making non-profit entities eligible for remediation and assessment grants under the program. It will also allow local governments to apply for site assessment grants for properties acquired prior to the creation of the brownfields program.\nBACKGROUND\nBrownfields are defined as \u201creal property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.\u201d\u00a0 Brownfields are, by definition, not contaminated to a level that would define them as potential Superfund sites. However, because of the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances on these sites, potentially responsible parties associated with brownfields sites may be liable for cleanup of the properties.\u00a0\nIn an effort to promote the cleanup of brownfields, Congress created EPA\u2019s brownfields program through the 2002 enactment of the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act.\u00a0 The Brownfields Act contained two distinct pieces: (1) the creation of Federally-funded grant programs, managed by EPA, for the assessment and cleanup of brownfields properties, as well as for establishing and maintaining State-run brownfields programs; and (2) several amendments to the Superfund law that allowed certain (statutorily-defined) parties to redevelop brownfields sites without the fear of potential cleanup liability.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-brownfields-reauthorization-winning-scenario-everybody", "Greg Walden on Brownfields reauthorization: This is a winning scenario for everybody involved", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Greg Walden on Brownfields reauthorization: \u201cThis is a winning scenario for everybody involved\u201d \n Brownfields Program successfully used in Oregon to clean up old industrial sites for economic use \nClick here or on the image above to view Walden\u2019s speech on the House floor\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013\u00a0Today, Rep. Greg Walden, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, helped shepherd the Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment and Reauthorization Act through the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote. During a speech on the House floor, Walden highlighted how the Brownfields Program has spurred economic growth by cleaning up old industrial sites in Oregon and throughout the country, and putting them back into productive service.\u00a0\n\u201cSince the Brownfields Program\u2019s inception, more than 27,000 contaminated sites have been remediated, allowing communities across the country to return them to productive use,\u201d said Walden. \u201cCleaning up brownfield sites increases local tax bases; facilitates job growth and wage increases; promotes the development of new infrastructure; and improves and protects the environment. Over 129,000 jobs have been leveraged because of the Brownfields Program and almost 70,000 acres have been made ready for reuse.\n\u201cThe Brownfields Program has leveraged over $24 billion, a significant return on the federal investment in the program. A 2017 study concluded that cleaning up brownfield properties led to residential property value increases of up to fifteen percent within a mile of brownfield sites.\u00a0Another study found an estimated twenty-nine to ninety-seven million dollars in additional tax revenue for local governments in a single year after cleanup -- which is two to seven times more than the $12.4\u00a0million that EPA contributed to the cleanup of those Brownfields.\u201d\nWalden noted that Oregon has been particularly successful using the Brownfields Program to put old industrial sites back in to productive service. Standing beside a before-and-after picture of the Old Mill District in Bend -- one of Oregon\u2019s most successful Brownfields projects -- Walden stressed the importance of strengthening the program to ensure this success continues.\n\u201cBend isn\u2019t alone. Last year in The Dalles, Google broke ground on an expansion to their data center on 26 acres of former mill land that was cleaned up under this program -- a $600 million investment expected to create 50 new jobs,\u201d said Walden. \u201cAlso, in my hometown of Hood River, the Port of Hood River just finished a brownfields cleanup of another former mill site, opening over 12 acres of land for future business opportunities in the area.\u00a0\nAnd in southern Oregon, the city of Grants Pass is in the early stages of working towards the same goal. They've successfully secured assistance through the Brownfields Program to begin planning the cleanup and redevelopment of the old Spalding Mill industrial site.\u201d\nBefore-and-after photo of the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon, one of Oregon\u2019s most successful Brownfields Program projects. Picture courtesy of Old Mill District\nBrownfields sites are often abandoned, closed or under-utilized industrial or commercial facilities. Examples of these include abandoned factories, closed lumber mills, a closed commercial building or warehouse, or a former dry-cleaning establishment or gas station. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are more than 450,000 brownfields across the United States and each of these sites has the potential to encourage economic development in the local community.\nThe Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act seeks to reauthorize and make improvements to EPA\u2019s Brownfields Program while encouraging EPA, states, and local governments to work together to redevelop properties, create jobs, and provide for economic development.\n\u201cAt the end of the day, this bipartisan legislation creates jobs, promotes infrastructure and economic development, and cleans up our communities. This is a winning scenario for everybody involved,\u201d said Walden.\nThe Brownfields Enhancement, Economic Redevelopment, and Reauthorization Act passed the House on a 409-8 vote today, and now awaits action in the Senate. For complete background on this legislation, please click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/secretary-zinke-sends-nearly-20-million-timber-dollars-rural-oregon", "Secretary Zinke Sends Nearly $20 Million in Timber Dollars to Rural Oregon, Doubles Down on Commitment to Future Harvests", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Greg Walden", "W000791", "walden.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Secretary Zinke Sends Nearly $20 Million in Timber Dollars to Rural Oregon, Doubles Down on Commitment to Future Harvests\u00a0\u00a0 \nWASHINGTON,\u00a0D.C.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced today that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue payments totaling $19.5 million to 18 counties in western Oregon, which includes $1.4 million previously sequestered funds. Under the previous administration, the sequestered funds were not scheduled to be disbursed to the counties however after working with the counties and the Office of Management and Budget, the Secretary was able to deliver the full funding.\u00a0\n\"O&C lands were specifically set aside for sustainable timber harvests and they are an important part of the economic foundation of western Oregon,\" said Secretary Zinke. \"Working with the county officials we were able to get these much-needed funds to the local communities, but my next priority is ensuring that these lands continue to provide sustainable timber harvests that support the community and strengthen the health of the forest.\"\n\"We are happy to report the 18 O&C Counties will receive these disbursements, including those withheld payments, very soon,\" said Commissioner Tim Freeman of Douglas County, the Association of O&C Counties' President. \"We give full credit to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke for his willingness to work with us to persuade OMB to release these sequestered funds. We are also grateful to Congressman Walden for his assistance in facilitating communications between the Association and the Department of the Interior. Every County will use these much-needed funds for vital services according to their local priorities, from public safety and juvenile programs to elections departments and infrastructure maintenance, and everything in between.\"\n\u201cThe announcement that our communities will receive the full timber receipts payments they are owed under the law is great news,\" said Chairman Greg Walden. \"These resources will be critical to funding essential county services from law enforcement and emergency operations to schools and infrastructure projects. I want to especially thank Secretary Zinke and his team for working so closely with the O&C counties to ensure these funds are disbursed, and for their continued commitment to improving forest management and supporting our local communities in southern Oregon.\u201d\nLocated in 18 counties of western Oregon, the Oregon and California Railroad Lands comprise nearly 2.6 million acres of forests that is managed by the BLM. The 18 O&C counties receive yearly payments under the O&C Act equal to 50 percent of receipts from timber harvested on public lands in these counties. These payments follow a formula established in the 1937 Oregon and California Lands Act, which authorizes timber receipt-based payments to western Oregon counties, and which remains in effect following the expiration of the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 1422, "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 \"state\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "OR", "p1": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 1311, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 111, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 1422, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "OR", "label": "OR", "count": 1422, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 1422, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-11-30,https~3A~2F~2Fwalden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fsecretary-zinke-sends-nearly-20-million-timber-dollars-rural-oregon", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OR&year=2017&_next=2017-11-30%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwalden~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fsecretary-zinke-sends-nearly-20-million-timber-dollars-rural-oregon&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 242.85467714071274, "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"}