Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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521 rows where chamber = "House", state = "OR" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending
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| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-supports-plan-protect-volunteer-firefighters-and-emergency | Greg Walden supports plan to protect volunteer firefighters and emergency responders from health law mandate | 2013-12-26 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden supports plan to protect volunteer firefighters and emergency responders from health law mandate December 26, 2013 HOOD RIVER U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced today that he has signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill to exempt volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians from the employer mandate in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Protecting Volunteer Firefighters and Emergency Responders Act (H.R. 3685) was introduced in the U.S. House on December 10 with bipartisan support. Volunteer fire firefighters and emergency responders serve their communities every day to protect lives and property and keep their neighbors safe. Their units shouldn't be forced to choose between buying life-saving equipment and complying with IRS mandates under the new health care law. I'm co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to protect these volunteer units from Obamacare's mandate so they can focus on their mission: keeping Oregonians safe, Walden said. Hood River Fire Chief Devon Wellsapplauded Walden for his support. I believe it is critically important that emergency service agencies not be required to offer health insurance to their volunteer personnel. Most of those agencies do not have the financial resources to provide that type of benefit to their volunteers. Also, most volunteers have no expectation of receiving health insurance from their fire agency, Wells said. The financial impact this could have on volunteer agencies would be devastating, potentially reducing the number of volunteers and the level of service provided to the citizens they are sworn to protect. The bill that has been introduced to exempt volunteer emergency service workers from the ACA provides an opportunity for volunteer fire agencies to continue providing exceptional service without worrying about the loss of volunteers or financial difficulties. The IRSwhich is charged with enforcing many of the mandates contained in the new health care lawconsiders volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians working 30 hours… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-fdas-decision-revise-food-safety-rules-victory-common-sense | Greg Walden: FDA's decision to revise food safety rules is "a victory for common sense" | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden: FDA's decision to revise food safety rules is a victory for common sense December 19, 2013 KLAMATH FALLS U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) reacted today to the FDA's announcement that they would revise draft rules on water quality that would affect Oregon fruit and vegetable growers. This decision by the FDA is a victory for common sense. I repeatedly encouraged the agency to listen to concerns from growers that the draft rules were unworkable and could drive many small farms out of business. I'm glad the agency has listened and agreed to revise these unworkable rules. We can make sure food is safe without putting Oregon farmers out of business. As this process moves forward, I'll continue to encourage the FDA to work with growers to get this right, Walden said. Many farmers have pointed out that the original rules lacked common sense and a crop-specific approach, resulting in many of the proposed provisions being unworkable for growers. In particular, Walden heard concerns from onion growers in Malheur County and pear and cherry growers in the Columbia Gorge. Many growers were worried that grouping over 200 crops together in one category fails to account for differing risk profiles and production practices, which has led to the proposed requirements that may be unworkable or unnecessary for particular crops. Walden and other members of Congress, including Reps. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), twice met with FDA Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylor to discuss growers' concerns with the draft rules. After the first meeting, FDA officials travelled to the Pacific Northwest to hear from farmers first-hand. In November, Walden met with researchers and onion growers at OSU's Malheur County Experiment Station to learn about their research into the scientific basis of the food safety rules the FDA is developing. For example, according to the research conducted at the station, dry bulb onions grown in eastern Oregon pose no risk of E. coli contamination. Walden presented that research to the FDA … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2dd1dbdf-2f55-47c3-9a07-ec0e3b9c58d1 | Merkley: Yellen Right Person to Helm the Fed | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley: Yellen Right Person to Helm the Fed Friday, December 20, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate invoked cloture on Janet Yellen’s nomination as Chair of the Federal Reserve, clearing the way for confirmation in January. “With this vote, Janet Yellen is now poised to become the first woman ever to chair the Federal Reserve. She is brilliant, qualified, and has the right values for what is arguably the most important economic position in the country. I was proud to support her nomination, and I am thrilled she will serve our country in this important role. We in DC need to focus on creating jobs and putting our economy back on track for working families. Yellen understands how important a thriving middle class and healthy employment is to our economy, as well as the importance of a safe and sound financial system that has clear rules of the road and won’t blow up due to risky bets. She is the right person to helm the Fed at this critical moment.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=ce265c27-e691-4148-af94-7b673243168d | Merkley Introduces Legislation To Clarify Retroactivity Rules For Healthcare | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Introduces Legislation To Clarify Retroactivity Rules For Healthcare Friday, December 20, 2013 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation to ensure that Oregonians who try to sign up for health insurance through Cover Oregon can get coverage for the full month of January and any subsidy they are eligible for even if their information is not processed until later in the month. “No Oregonian should go without health coverage through no fault of their own,” said Merkley. “Health care reform is delivering a number of benefits to our families, from financial assistance for middle class families, to eliminating copays on preventive care, to the end of discrimination based on preexisting conditions and gender. However, consumers need to be able to access coverage to get these benefits. Oregonians who have had difficulty accessing insurance through Cover Oregon should still be able to get January coverage so they can avoid a gap in coverage.” The bill would allow states to modify the deadline by which consumers need to sign up to qualify for January 1 coverage to any date through January 31, with retroactive coverage and subsidies for those who enroll in the new year. It would also ensure coverage for any individual who tried to enroll in a state or federal health exchange before December 23 but did not complete the sign-up process or pay their January premium until after that date, so long as they are fully enrolled and paid up by January 31. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus King (I-ME), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=d5dfa079-9838-4e82-89dd-56c2285781d7 | Merkley Introduces Legislation to Pilot Innovative Strategy to Help Middle Class Families Pay For College | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Introduces Legislation to Pilot Innovative Strategy to Help Middle Class Families Pay For College Bill is modeled after Oregon’s “Pay It Forward, Pay It Back” Proposal Friday, December 20, 2013 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation that would create a new model for college financing to help middle class families pay for college. Merkley’s plan is based on and complements Oregon’s legislation that was passed during the 2013 legislative session and arose from a Portland State University student-led project. The bill would fund state pilot programs that replace federal loans with a reduction or elimination of college costs in exchange for the student's commitment to pay a small percentage of their future income. “Our economy depends on a strong and growing middle class, and more than ever the road to middle class success runs through college,” said Merkley. “With students starting their working lives burdened by tens of thousands of dollars in debt, it's clear the old models aren't working anymore. We need bold new initiatives that put opportunity for middle class Oregonians at the heart of our economy.” The “Pay It Forward” Guaranteed College Affordability Act of 2013 would allow some or all of students’ upfront costs for a two- or four-year college to be covered by program funds. Then upon graduation, students contribute a percentage of adjusted gross income (AGI) for a fixed number of years back into the fund. Put simply, students would draw from program funds while they are in school, and pay into—or pay it forward—when they graduate. The bill would establish an alternative to undergraduate federal Direct Loans, providing Federal funding to states that agree to pilot a Pay It Forward model up to the current Stafford loan limits for each student that participates. States would select schools to participate in the pilot. Students who attend those schools could choose to enroll in the program. Rather than … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-senator-baucus-nomination-to-be-ambassador-to-china | Wyden Statement on Senator Baucus’ Nomination to be Ambassador to China | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Friday, December 20, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding Senator Baucus’ nomination to be Ambassador to China: “I want to congratulate my friend and colleague Max Baucus on the next step in his career in public service. Like his personal mentor Mike Mansfield, he has served Montana and the nation with great distinction for decades and has left his mark on the Senate and the Finance Committee. Our diplomatic relationships in East Asia are some of the most important of the 21st century. He will be an excellent representative of America’s interests. The Senate Finance Committee has many important responsibilities which include promoting job creation, ensuring competitiveness and stabilizing the nation’s fiscal health. I also look forward to continuing my work on preserving the Medicare guarantee and protecting retirement security, updating the nation’s tax system with a focus on growth, fairness and efficiency and ensuring that fiscal policy supports keeping jobs here in America. At the same time, Energy and Natural Resources issues – from restoring forests and creating jobs in the woods, to streamlining and increasing incentives for lower-carbon energy – are crucial and I look forward to pressing forward on these issues.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-oregon-county-county-breakdown-shows-harm-not-extending-unemployment | New Oregon County-By-County Breakdown Shows the Harm of Not Extending Unemployment Insurance | 2013-12-19 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Thousands in Oregon set to lose coverage statewide WASHINGTON Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released a new county-by-county breakdown of the number of people in Oregon who would immediately lose all of their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28 if Congress fails to extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Republicans last week blocked an effort by House Democrats to extend the program into 2014. Overall, about 20,000 people in Oregon are set to lose their federal extended unemployment insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28. While around 2,200 of these individuals are likely to be eligible for state benefits based on their work history, up to an additional 29,000 people in Oregon could lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if Republicans continue to block an extension of the program. This is a gut punch to out-of-work Oregonians right in the middle of the holiday season, said Blumenauer. Families in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties in my district will be the first and third hardest hit, respectively, by this failure to extend unemployment insurance. It's shameful that House Republicans always seem to be able to find time to cut food aid for hungry families or extend giveaways to large agribusiness, but can't find time to help out families when they need it most. "As the numbers show, this economic downturn has been especially cruel to many of our neighbors, said DeFazio. The bottom line: jobs are still scarce across the state. While we work on long-term plans to create good-paying jobs in the U.S., it is unacceptable for Republicans to turn their backs on our most vulnerable citizens, all while making sure corporate tax loopholes are left intact." It is unconscionable that House leadership did not let us vote on legislation to extend unemployment benefits before adjourning for the year, said Bonamici. Even though the Speaker did not keep the House in session to pass an extension, as many of my colle… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-supports-proposal-replace-changes-military-retiree-pensions | Greg Walden supports proposal to replace changes to military retiree pensions | 2013-12-19 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden supports proposal to replace changes to military retiree pensions December 19, 2013 KLAMATH FALLS U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) announced today that he has added his name as an original co-sponsor of a bill to protect military retirees from changes to their pension benefits that were included in the Ryan-Murray budget agreement passed by Congress within the past week. The bill would replace the pension cuts with a reform to ensure that billions of dollars in tax credits aren't improperly paid to illegal immigrants each year. I supported the budget agreement because it reduces the deficit and keeps the government open without raising taxes. But the agreement contained pension changes for certain military retirees that I would not have supported as a stand-alone plan. Although the pension changes don't take effect for two years, the time to fix this is now. Our common-sense bill replaces those pension changes with a plan to stop illegal immigrants from improperly receiving federal tax credits. This proposal protects military retirees, reduces the deficit, and further targets waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, Walden said. The bill would replace the changes to cost of living adjustments for military retirees with a reform that would stop illegal immigrants from receiving the refundable portion of the child tax credit by requiring tax filers to include their Social Security Number on tax return forms. The Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated that this reform saves $7 billion over 10 years. A 2011 report from the Department of Treasury indicates that $4.2 billion in these tax credits were paid out fraudulently in 2010 alone. For the full text of the plan, please click here. Walden is in Klamath Falls today for a roundtable with small businesses, a meeting with the president of Klamath Community College, and a meeting with Jeld-Wen. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221061236/http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/new-oregon-county-county-breakdown-shows-harm-not-extending-unemployment-insurance | New Oregon County-By-County Breakdown Shows the Harm of Not Extending Unemployment Insurance | 2013-12-19 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released a new county-by-county breakdown of the number of people in Oregon who would immediately lose all of their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28 if Congress fails to extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Republicans last week blocked an effort by House Democrats to extend the program into 2014. Overall, about 20,000 people in Oregon are set to lose their federal extended unemployment insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28. While around 2,200 of these individuals are likely to be eligible for state benefits based on their work history, up to an additional 29,000 people in Oregon could lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if Republicans continue to block an extension of the program. “This is a gut punch to out-of-work Oregonians right in the middle of the holiday season,” said Blumenauer. “Families in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties in my district will be the first and third hardest hit, respectively, by this failure to extend unemployment insurance. It’s shameful that House Republicans always seem to be able to find time to cut food aid for hungry families or extend giveaways to large agribusiness, but can’t find time to help out families when they need it most.” "As the numbers show, this economic downturn has been especially cruel to many of our neighbors,” said DeFazio. “The bottom line: jobs are still scarce across the state. While we work on long-term plans to create good-paying jobs in the U.S., it is unacceptable for Republicans to turn their backs on our most vulnerable citizens, all while making sure corporate tax loopholes are left intact." “It is unconscionable that House leadership did not let us vote on legislation to extend unemployment benefits before adjourning for the year,” said Bonamici. “Even though the Speaker did not keep the House in session to pass an extension, as many of my colleagues and I requested, I will continue to urge him… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140418214740/http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/2275-new-oregon-county-by-county-breakdown-shows-the-harm-of-not-extending-unemployment-insurance | New Oregon County-By-County Breakdown Shows the Harm of Not Extending Unemployment Insurance | 2013-12-19 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | web.archive.org | legacy | New Oregon County-By-County Breakdown Shows the Harm of Not Extending Unemployment Insurance Thousands in Oregon set to lose coverage statewide WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) released a new county-by-county breakdown of the number of people in Oregon who would immediately lose all of their unemployment insurance on Dec. 28 if Congress fails to extend the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. Republicans last week blocked an effort by House Democrats to extend the program into 2014. Overall, about 20,000 people in Oregon are set to lose their federal extended unemployment insurance coverage immediately on Dec. 28. While around 2,200 of these individuals are likely to be eligible for state benefits based on their work history, up to an additional 29,000 people in Oregon could lose their coverage in the first six months of 2014 if Republicans continue to block an extension of the program. “This is a gut punch to out-of-work Oregonians right in the middle of the holiday season,” said Blumenauer. “Families in Multnomah and Clackamas Counties in my district will be the first and third hardest hit, respectively, by this failure to extend unemployment insurance. It’s shameful that House Republicans always seem to be able to find time to cut food aid for hungry families or extend giveaways to large agribusiness, but can’t find time to help out families when they need it most.” "As the numbers show, this economic downturn has been especially cruel to many of our neighbors,” said DeFazio. “The bottom line: jobs are still scarce across the state. While we work on long-term plans to create good-paying jobs in the U.S., it is unacceptable for Republicans to turn their backs on our most vulnerable citizens, all while making sure corporate tax loopholes are left intact." “It is unconscionable that House leadership did not let us vote on legislation to extend unemployment benefits before adjourning for the year,” said … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/energy-committee-passes-wyden-eastside-forest-bill | Energy Committee Passes Wyden Eastside Forest Bill | 2013-12-19 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Bill Creates Jobs, Protects Trees More than 150 Years Old, Promotes Sustainable Restoration Harvests Thursday, December 19, 2013 Washington, D.C. – The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that would boost timber harvests while protecting and restoring old growth forests in Oregon. “The eastern part of my state is down to only a small handful of surviving timber mills,” Wyden said. “Yet without them, there’s going to be no restoration of Oregon’s eastside forests, and none of the jobs – none of the jobs – that they provide in rural communities. That’s why focusing on projects that stakeholders can agree need to be done and provide greater certainty of timber supply is so important.” Wyden’s Oregon Eastside Forests Restoration, Old Growth Protection, and Jobs Act (S. 1301), creates a pilot program for the forests on the east side of Oregon to increase timber harvests and improve the health of old growth forests and watersheds. It is the first legislative protection for trees older than 150 years. It also requires a large-scale environmental impact assessment for projects with similar characteristics and sets targets for the number of acres to be restored. “Senator Wyden’s Eastside forest bill represents a lifeline for the struggling forest economy of eastern Oregon and the families and businesses that rely on it,” John Shelk, president of Ochoco Lumber Co. in Prineville, said. “Through his efforts to find common ground on how to improve our forests and keep our mills operating, the Malheur National Forest has quickly become a model for what can be achieved under his bill.” Wyden introduced the bill in July and the committee held a hearing on the bill later that month. The bill now goes to the full Senate. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=f76def69-2d2d-40f5-a898-3f8948194ac0 | Merkley Cosponsors Plan to Replace Military Retiree Pension Changes in Budget Agreement | 2013-12-18 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Cosponsors Plan to Replace Military Retiree Pension Changes in Budget Agreement Military Retirement Restoration Act preserves benefits, closes corporate tax loophole Wednesday, December 18, 2013 Washington, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley cosponsored the Military Retirement Restoration Act to safeguard military retirees from changes to cost of living adjustments (COLA) that were included in the bipartisan budget agreement the Senate is expected to pass today. The bill would replace the estimated $6 billion in expected savings from military retiree cost of living adjustments with an estimated $6.6 billion raised by eliminating a tax loophole for offshore corporations. “I was disturbed that the budget deal changed the COLA for retiring military personnel. This bill will fix that, restoring the full COLA for service members, while cutting a government subsidy for corporations who ship jobs overseas. We should be supporting our men and women who serve overseas, not companies that ship jobs overseas.” Currently, companies that are incorporated offshore but managed and controlled from the United States can claim foreign status that helps them avoid paying U.S. taxes. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-report-from-the-presidents-review-group-on-intelligence-and-communications-technologies | Wyden Statement on Report from the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies | 2013-12-18 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, December 18, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding today’s report from the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies. “I was particularly pleased with the Review Group’s finding that the information collected by the NSA bulk phone records collection program ‘was not essential to preventing attacks and could readily have been obtained in a timely manner using conventional section 215 orders.’* I have been arguing for two years that the program’s effectiveness has been overstated. This panel of surveillance experts came to the same conclusion. There is a lot in this report for a reformer to like. The panel recommends ending the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records by the government and strengthening legal protections for Americans’ personal information. It recommends closing the “backdoor searches” loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It also proposes significant reforms to the FISA Court, including the creation of a civil liberties advocate to argue major cases before the court. When combined with the U.S. district court ruling on the likely unconstitutionality of bulk phone collection earlier this week, this report will help to galvanize support for surveillance reforms both with the public and within Congress. It is my hope that the President takes the advice of this panel and supports meaningful surveillance reforms that will protect both privacy and national security.” * Report and Recommendations of the President’s Review Group on Intelligence and Communications Technologies: page 104 Close backdoor search loophole & end bulk collection - I hope the President implements the panel's recommendations. http://t.co/yxVqrNmAiS — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) December 19, 2013 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=61a84058-0450-4779-94c9-5228ade64387 | Merkley Statement on Murray-Ryan Budget Compromise | 2013-12-16 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Murray-Ryan Budget Compromise Monday, December 16, 2013 Washington, DC – Today Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced he will vote for the Murray-Ryan budget compromise, which will offer some relief from sequestration for the next two fiscal years. “For the last three years, Congress has been governing from crisis to crisis, hurting the economy and the American families who depend on Congress to take on the big challenges we face as a nation. This plan, though not one I would’ve written, will help prevent a government shutdown and provide some relief from the draconian sequestration cuts that have been keeping kids out of Head Start, halting deliveries of meals-on-wheels, and stopping cutting-edge research and development. “I am deeply disturbed that the deal changes the cost of living adjustments for retiring military personnel, yet fails to eliminate a single tax loophole for powerful special interests. It is also shameful that this deal does not extend unemployment benefits for our millions of jobless Americans looking for work. I hope that we address this issue as soon as possible, preferably before we leave for the year. We cannot leave millions of families out in the cold. “Compromise means we don't get everything we want; instead we work with our colleagues across the aisle to get the best deal we can. We must stop governing from crisis to crisis, and we must mitigate the sequester's damaging impacts on programs that are critical for working families. This budget will put us on the path towards doing that. That is why I will vote yes.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-us-district-court-ruling-on-bulk-collection-of-phone-records | Wyden Statement on U.S. District Court Ruling on Bulk Collection of Phone Records | 2013-12-16 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Monday, December 16, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. District Court’s ruling on bulk collection of phone records. “Judge Leon’s ruling hits the nail on the head. It makes clear that bulk phone records collection is intrusive digital surveillance and not simply inoffensive data collection as some have said. The court noted that this metadata can be used for ‘repetitive, surreptitious surveillance of a citizen’s private goings on,’ that creates a mosaic of personal information and is likely unconstitutional. This ruling dismisses the use of an outdated Supreme Court decision affecting rotary phones as a defense for the technologically advanced collection of millions of Americans’ records. It clearly underscores the need to adopt meaningful surveillance reforms that prohibit the bulk collection of Americans’ records.” Significantly, the judge also noted that he had ‘serious doubts about the efficacy of the program.’ The reason that he and many others have these doubts is that the executive branch’s claims about this program’s effectiveness are now crumbling under public scrutiny. Protecting the country from terrorism is obviously vitally important but the government can do this without collecting the phone records of massive numbers of law-abiding men, women and children.” Pretty astounding when a fed. judge says "James Madison...would be aghast" while describing a surveillance practice http://t.co/TdRLcIILXJ — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) December 16, 2013 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-bill-promotes-environmental-accountability-through-trade | Blumenauer Bill Promotes Environmental Accountability through Trade | 2013-12-13 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) introduced HR 3733, the Trade and Environment Enforcement Act, also known as the Green 301 Act. Green 301 expands the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 to encompass environmental effects. It provides tools to help prevent practices by other countries that cause negative environmental impacts to human, animal, or plant life or health, or to prevent the conservation of exhaustible natural resources domestically or internationally. The United States has helped create the largest trade network the world has ever seen, said Blumenauer. As we leverage our commercial influence in the global economy, we can also ensure the countries we are doing business with adhere to basic environmental standards. Green 301 would allow the US government to impose penalties, including the increase of tariffs, on countries that: Fail to effectively enforce the environmental laws of a foreign country; Waived or otherwise derogated from the environmental laws of a foreign country or weakened the protections afforded by such laws; Fail to provide for judicial or administrative proceedings giving access to remedies for violations of the environmental laws of a foreign country; Fail to provide appropriate and effective sanctions or remedies for violations of the environmental laws of a foreign country; or Fail to effectively enforce environmental commitments in agreements to which a foreign country and the United States are a Party The promise of an open, mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US is both a carrot and a stick, continued Blumenauer. Green 301, which issupported by the top environmental and conservation groups, lets our trade partners know that, not only does the United States expect our partners to adhere to environmental agreements, but now there could be serious economic penalties for countries that don't hold up their end of the bargain. Oregon and other states heavily dependent on international commerce are greatly… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140418194610/http://blumenauer.house.gov/index.php/newsroom/press-releases/2274-blumenauer-bill-promotes-environmental-accountability-through-trade | Blumenauer Bill Promotes Environmental Accountability through Trade | 2013-12-13 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | web.archive.org | legacy | Blumenauer Bill Promotes Environmental Accountability through Trade Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) introduced HR 3733, the Trade and Environment Enforcement Act, also known as the Green 301 Act. Green 301 expands the Section 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 to encompass environmental effects. It provides tools to help prevent practices by other countries that cause negative environmental impacts to human, animal, or plant life or health, or to prevent the conservation of exhaustible natural resources domestically or internationally. “The United States has helped create the largest trade network the world has ever seen,” said Blumenauer. “As we leverage our commercial influence in the global economy, we can also ensure the countries we are doing business with adhere to basic environmental standards.” Green 301 would allow the US government to impose penalties, including the increase of tariffs, on countries that: Fail to effectively enforce the environmental laws of a foreign country; Waived or otherwise derogated from the environmental laws of a foreign country or weakened the protections afforded by such laws; Fail to provide for judicial or administrative proceedings giving access to remedies for violations of the environmental laws of a foreign country; Fail to provide appropriate and effective sanctions or remedies for violations of the environmental laws of a foreign country; or Fail to effectively enforce environmental commitments in agreements to which a foreign country and the United States are a Party “The promise of an open, mutually beneficial trade relationship with the US is both a carrot and a stick,” continued Blumenauer. “Green 301, which is supported by the top environmental and conservation groups, lets our trade partners know that, not only does the United States expect our partners to adhere to environmental agreements, but now there could be serious economic penalties for countries that don’t hold up their end of the barga… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364316 | Schrader Votes Against Short Term Budget Patch | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) today released the following statement after House passage of the short term budget patch for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015: “To call this a budget deal is making it out to be more than it is,” said Schrader. “It does reduce the effect of sequestration in the short term, but it pays for it through a budget gimmick by adding an extra two years of sequestration in the long term. We need a budget that injects certainty into our economy so that businesses have a good reason to invest and create jobs. We also need a budget that will fix our failing senior safety net programs. There was a great opportunity for Congress to finally repeal and replace a flawed Medicare physician payment system. Instead, the SGR will only be patched. My hat goes off to Congressman Ryan and Senator Murray for forging a bipartisan compromise, but we’re kidding the American people that this a real budget deal.” The resolution sets spending levels for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 above the amounts agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA). These spending increases over the next two years are offset by extending sequestration an extra two years through 2023. In FY2014 both defense and non-defense spending are increased by roughly $22 billion more than the spending caps established by the BCA. Each of these caps is then increased by roughly $9 billion in FY2015. For FY2016 through FY2023 the sequester remains in place. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-budget-compromise-d-congress-must-face-realities | Blumenauer: Budget Compromise a D+, Congress Must Face Realities | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | I very reluctantly voted for H.J.Res 59, having been quoted accurately that it is a D+ piece of legislation. It sadly represents what Congress has become. It is now a victory to avoid another government shutdown. It is a victory to temporarily prevent application of the Sustainable Growth Rate that would penalize medical providers and our senior citizens. It is the least we could do to find a tiny bit of budget breathing room so that it may be possible for the appropriations process to resume again. It is frustrating that, at a time when there are still many unmet needs of our citizens and while our economy is sputtering, people are celebrating legislation that doesn't damage the economy more. It is sad that it has come to this. I am hopeful, however, that this might serve as a point of departure over the next three months to be able to face the realities of what America needs. I, for one, will continue working for the big picture, on the three bills that I have introduced to help rebuild and renew America and on arguing for a grander bargain, rather than the least that we can do. I will fight to build on the platform of healthcare reform so that we get medical providers off the SGR merry-go-round, instead moving towards the promise of healthcare reform. It is shameful that Congress is willing to cut food stamps yet give money to wealthy farmers, while ignoring the plight of the long term unemployed, illustrating the gap between what the American public expects and what we should do. Iam hopeful that the new year will be more constructive. In the mean time, we will celebrate avoiding another damaging government shutdown and we will celebrate not having a destructive resolution on the floor muddying diplomacy with Iran. I suppose in the holiday spirit we should be thankful for what we can get and then usher this least productive session in Congressional history out of town. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-victory-iraqi-special-immigrant-visa-program-base | Blumenauer on Victory for Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa Program, Base Improvements, Missed Opportunity for Greater Defense Reforms | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Today, in the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress extended the Iraqi Special Immigration Visa (SIV) program for 9 months and secured critical reforms for both the Iraq and Afghanistan SIV programs. In addition, the State Department can continue to process SIV applications for as long as it takes, until they hit the new cap of 2,500 SIVs. Some of the essential reforms include greater transparency, authorization for applicants to hire legal counsel to be present during their interview, appointment of senior embassy staff to oversee the reform process, and a requirement for all applications to be completed within 9 months, with an exception for national security concerns. These Iraqi translators and guides risked their lives to assist American soldiers. In 2007, I worked to create the SIV program to, in some small way, pay back our dedicated allies and show them what kind of country the US is. At that time, we made a promise to take in those who had served us when the American presence was scaled down and they no longer had our protection. Now, at least for the next year, we can keep that promise. Starting tomorrow, the real work begins. I will continue my efforts to extend the Iraqi SIV program further, making sure that every translator and guide that put their life on the line for our troops has a chance to come to the country he or she helped protect. I will also fight until the SIV program for Afghan translators, who risked their lives just as bravely as their Iraqi counterparts, is extended as well so that they and their families are out of harm's way. I'm also pleased that the NDAA includes my amendment that will require all Department of Defense new construction and redevelopment to increase the quality of life for our service members and their families by requiring our military installations to be more livable. Our military families deserve the very best, and ensuring our bases are planned and built in a way that promotes close-knit communities, where you can walk instead of drive your car, an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221061256/http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-supports-bipartisan-budget-compromise | Bonamici Supports Bipartisan Budget Compromise | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today released the following statement on the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act for fiscal year 2014. “Today I voted for a bipartisan budget package that takes a long overdue first step toward rolling back the devastating sequestration cuts that continue to hurt our constituents. Like so many compromises, this package includes policies I don’t support, and leaves out some I do. We must find a way to continue providing jobless benefits to the long-term unemployed, especially as the unfortunate partisan gridlock in Washington, D.C. has inhibited the strong economic recovery that will put Oregonians and Americans back to work. Also I regret that this bill continues the harmful trend of looking to federal employee compensation as a place to save money; it is especially disappointing that this includes some of our retired service members. Federal employees are not the cause of our long-term deficit, and they must stop being used as political pawns. “Despite the shortcomings of this deal, it does several important things: it partially repeals sequestration, allows for continued payments to doctors treating Medicare patients, reduces the deficit, and brings two years of certainty to the federal budget process. I hope this is a first step toward a more collaborative budget process and an open dialogue on our shared priorities for federal spending. It is not perfect, and it is not a final solution, but it is a negotiated bipartisan effort that, in the balance, is worthy of support.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/chaffetz-wyden-ask-holder-to-release-unredacted-geolocation-memos | Chaffetz, Wyden Ask Holder to Release Unredacted Geolocation Memos | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Lawmakers seek legal clarity for access and use of geolocation information Thursday, December 12, 2013 WASHINGTON– Today, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting the release of the two Department of Justice (DOJ) legal memoranda written in the wake of the 2012 Supreme Court case, United States v. Jones. In Jones, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that physically attaching a GPS device to a vehicle constituted a search under the 4th Amendment. However, the Court did not specify whether the government was required to get a warrant for geolocation information, including that obtained from devices or methods such as smartphones or OnStar systems. The DOJ memos allegedly give guidance on when GPS devices can be used in the course of investigations, as well as the application of the Jones case to other location-based technologies. DOJ publicly released these memos on February 27, 2012 and July 5, 2012, respectively. However, they were heavily redacted and did not provide sufficient information regarding DOJ’s position on tracking techniques. “As Congress moves forward on geolocation legislation, it is critical that members of Congress understand DOJ's precise views on the current state of the law and existing legal requirements and protections,” the lawmakers write. “The most significant question, in our view, is whether the Justice Department believes that Jones requires the government to get a warrant when obtaining an individual’s location information from a cell-phone provider or other private company,” the letter continues. Additionally, Wyden and Chaffetz have worked together to write the Geolocation Privacy and Surveillance (GPS) Act. This bicameral, bipartisan legislation creates a legal framework designed to give government agencies, commercial entities, and private citizens clear guidelines for when and how geolocation information can be accessed and used. A copy of the letter can be v… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/grassley-wyden-applaud-sgrs-medicare-payment-transparency-provisions | Grassley, Wyden Applaud SGR’s Medicare Payment Transparency Provisions | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Medicare DATA Act Language Included Thursday, December 12, 2013 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded inclusion of language that would make Medicare claims data available to the public as part of legislation aimed addressing the Medicare’s physician payment formula. Both the House and Senate versions of legislation addressing the Medicare physician payment formula include the key provisions from Grassley and Wyden’s Medicare Data Access for Transparency and Accountability Act (Medicare DATA Act). This would establish a free, searchable Medicare payment database that would be readily available to the public online at no cost. The database would include all payments made to physicians by Medicare. Patients’ privacy would be fully protected, and providers would have an opportunity to correct payment information before being posted online. “Transparency draws in the public and invites analysis of policy and spending,” Grassley said. “More transparency has made a difference in accountability in the tax-exempt sector, and it does the same wherever it’s applied in health care.” “Healthcare, particularly Medicare, is notorious for its lack of transparency,” Wyden said. “Allowing the public to finally see where Medicare dollars are being spent creates a powerful check against waste and a valuable research tool for improving care for seniors.” Under current law, access to the Medicare payment database is limited to a small number of bureaucrats and academics despite a federal judge’s ruling in favor of greater public access. The text of the Medicare DATA Act is available here. Grassley’s statement on the bill introduction is available here. Wyden’s statement on the bill introduction is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-portman-anti-trafficking-measures-move-forward | Wyden, Portman Anti-Trafficking Measures Move Forward | 2013-12-12 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act Provisions included in Child Welfare Bill Thursday, December 12, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio today applauded the inclusion of provisions aimed at fighting domestic child sex trafficking within a larger child welfare bill. The Senate Finance Committee today marked up the Supporting At-Risk Children Act, which includes key provisions from the Wyden-Portman Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act of 2013. The Wyden-Portman provisions require state child welfare workers to identify and document victims of sex trafficking within the child welfare system, which would help provide accurate statistics on these crimes for the first time. Further, child welfare workers would also be required to immediately report information on missing and abducted children to law enforcement authorities for entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). The NCIC is a computerized index of information on crimes and criminals that is maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). NCMEC is a non-profit organization that receives federal funding from the Missing and Exploited Children’s program and other sources to support law enforcement agencies and families in missing children and child sexual exploitation cases. Additionally, states would be required to detail the specific measure being taken to protect and assist victims of child sex trafficking. “Some people have called the child welfare system a training ground for sex trafficking, and that is intolerable,” Wyden said. “These provisions will ensure steps are taken to protect children from becoming victims, identify children who become victims and provide the information needed to develop comprehensive solutions to end sex trafficking in this country.” “This bill will help our nation’s most vulnerable children, who far too often fall prey to sex trafficking… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-supports-spending-reduction-plan | Walden supports spending reduction plan | 2013-12-11 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Walden supports spending reduction plan Click here or on the image below to watch Walden's video message U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) today announced his support for the bipartisan budget agreement offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.): This agreement is not broad in scope, but it's an important step in the right direction towards reducing wasteful spending and getting the federal government's fiscal house in order. It reduces waste, fraud, and abuse, tackles corporate welfare, and reforms programs that have been spending tax dollars on auto-pilot without regular scrutiny. In total, the agreement reduces the deficit by $23 billion without a single penny in tax increases. The plan stops government checks from going to ineligible criminals and the deceased. It stops paying bills that dead-beat parents and insurance companies should be on the hook for. A government research program for private energy companies is eliminated. These are just some of the many real spending reductions in this agreement. This plan ensures the government will not shut down in January, allowing Congress to remain focused on efforts to grow our economy and reduce the size, scope, and cost of the federal government. While this agreement is an important step, Congress has much more work to do to balance the nation's budget, just like Oregon families do every month. The House is expected to vote on this bipartisan agreement this week, followed by the Senate. For more information on the agreement from the House Budget Committee, please click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-supports-spending-reduction-plan-0 | Walden supports spending reduction plan | 2013-12-11 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) today announced his support for the bipartisan budget agreement offered by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.): This agreement is not broad in scope, but it's an important step in the right direction towards reducing wasteful spending and getting the federal government's fiscal house in order. It reduces waste, fraud, and abuse, tackles corporate welfare, and reforms programs that have been spending tax dollars on auto-pilot without regular scrutiny. In total, the agreement reduces the deficit by $23 billion without a single penny in tax increases. The plan stops government checks from going to ineligible criminals and the deceased. It stops paying bills that dead-beat parents and insurance companies should be on the hook for. A government research program for private energy companies is eliminated. These are just some of the many real spending reductions in this agreement. This plan ensures the government will not shut down in January, allowing Congress to remain focused on efforts to grow our economy and reduce the size, scope, and cost of the federal government. While this agreement is an important step, Congress has much more work to do to balance the nation's budget, just like Oregon families do every month. The House is expected to vote on this bipartisan agreement this week, followed by the Senate. For more information on the agreement from the House Budget Committee, please click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=ce966d5e-a174-4d22-8dfe-e933103dd9ea | Merkley, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Level the Playing Field for American Manufacturing | 2013-12-11 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Level the Playing Field for American Manufacturing Legislation Would Help American Manufacturers Compete on Global Playing Field Against Countries With Low Environmental and Wage Standards Wednesday, December 11, 2013 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced new legislation that would crack down on unfair trade practices, level the playing field for American manufacturing companies, and help create middle class jobs. The Level the Playing Field in Global Trade Act would ensure that sub-standard wages, workplace safety practices, and environmental protections are properly accounted for as unfair subsidies by foreign countries when calculating American duties intended to offset cheating. It also rewards companies that meet high standards on a global basis in wages, workplace safety and environmental compliance with streamlined trade and protection from enforcement actions. “For far too long, Oregon’s manufacturers and workers have paid the price while companies overseas cut costs by cutting corners. These foreign companies should not be allow to gain an advantage over American businesses by treating their workers poorly and polluting their environment,” said Merkley. “If we don’t make things in America, we won’t have a middle class in America. Oregon’s manufacturers can compete with anyone in a fair fight, and it’s time that they had a level playing field to help them grow and create good jobs in Oregon.” “Even as the national economy is rebounding, businesses and middle-class families in my state remain stuck in neutral. The manufacturing sector that sustained our prosperity for generations has taken a lot of hits so I’ve made it my mission to create a “Made in Wisconsin” economy that revitalizes our manufacturing sector and rebuilds our prosperity,” Baldwin said. “In Wisconsin, we believe in hard work and have a commitment to make sure that it is respected and rewarded. For decades, we’ve … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-kind-blumenauer-tell-boehner-cantor-keep-farm-bill-loopholes | DeLauro, Kind, Blumenauer Tell Boehner, Cantor: Keep Farm Bill Loopholes Closed | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, DC--Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ron Kind (D-WI) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) today implored Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor to keep loopholes for multimillionaires closed in any final Farm Bill. Both the House and Senate-passed versions of the Farm Bill reformed payment limits for commodity programs by capping the total number of active personal management who can receive commodity payments. It is unconscionable that these conferees would try to reverse the reforms backed by a majority of their colleagues so as to continue the flow of millions of dollars, beyond what they are entitled to, to a relatively few mega farms, the representatives wrote. CBO [Congressional Budget Office] has estimated $170 million in savings if Congress reforms payment limits for commodity programs by placing a hard cap of $250,000 (for married couples) on the total amount of commodity payments that producers can receive. Members of Congress are currently negotiating a new five-year Farm Bill that could cut billions from nutrition and anti-hunger programs, even as multimillionaires continue to get exorbitant farm subsidy payments. The farm subsidy programs are rife with fraud,as the Government Accountability Office recently detailed. By contrast, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps), has one of the lowest error rates of any federal program. Over 90 percent of all food stamp spending goes to families living at or below the poverty line. The letter can be read in its entiretyhere. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/slaughter-blumenauer-push-obama-administration-curb-antibiotic-use-farm | Slaughter, Blumenauer Push Obama Administration to Curb Antibiotic Use on the Farm | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Letter Urges OMB to Finalize and Strengthen Regulations WASHINGTON This week, Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and twelve members of Congress sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to finalize a regulation to curb the overuse of antibiotics on the farm, a practice that has contributed to a rise in antibiotic-resistant infections. The proposed regulation, called Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance #213, recommends that the drug industry and agriculture companies refrain from using antibiotics for growth promotion and requires veterinary oversight of antibiotic sales. Even once Guidance #213 is finalized, its provisions would be voluntary, andalthough the FDA says it will evaluatewhether the Guidance is effective after a three-year period, the FDA has provided no metrics by which they would measure the effectiveness. A draft of Guidance #213 was released in April 2012, but the administration has not yet finalized the guidance. Reps. Slaughter and Blumenauer have criticized the voluntary nature of the FDA'sproposal as being toothless, but in lieu of other action from the administration on stopping the overuse of antibiotics in food animals, Slaughter and Blumenauer urged swift action on Guidance #213. Currently 80 percent of the antibiotics sold in America are used on food animals, usually to promote growth and compensate for unsanitary conditions on the farm. Bacteria that are subjected to low doses of antibiotics often become resistant, and then when these bacteria infect humans, those antibiotics are ineffective in treating the infection. Furthermore, antibiotics are used to prevent infection during many routine operations, a practice that could be affected by the uptick in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Rep. Slaughter, the lead sponsor of legislation that would prohibit the routine use of eight critical classes of antibiotics on the farm, said: The longer the FDA drags its feet on stopping antibiotic overuse on the farm, the worse the problem wil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/walden-urges-fcc-suspend-work-fairness-doctrine-20 | Walden urges FCC to suspend work on "Fairness Doctrine 2.0" | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Walden urges FCC to suspend work on Fairness Doctrine 2.0 We were shocked to see that the FCC is putting itself back in the business of attempting to control the political speech of journalists, Walden and other members write U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and other members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today wrote to Federal Communications Chairman Tom Wheeler urging him to suspend the agency's efforts to conduct a field study that could lead to a revival of the Fairness Doctrine, an intrusion by the FCC into the freedoms of speech and the press. To read the letter, please click here. Given the widespread calls for the commission to respect the First Amendment and stay out of the editorial decisions of reporters and broadcasters, we were shocked to see that the FCC is putting itself back in the business of attempting to control the political speech of journalists. It is wrong, it is unconstitutional, and we urge you to put a stop to this most recent attempt to engage the FCC as the news police,' wrote Walden and the other members. The FCC is conducting a field study of critical information needs in local media markets, and will seek information on how local news media outlets select and prioritize news coverage. The commission has no business probing the news media's editorial judgment and expertise, nor does it have any business in prescribing a set diet of critical information.' These goals are plainly inappropriate and are at bottom an incursion by the government into the constitutionally protected operations of the professional news media, Walden and the other members wrote. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the beacon of freedom that makes the United States unique among the world's nations. We urge you to take immediate steps to suspend this effort and find ways that are consistent with the Communications Act and the Constitution to serve the commission's statutory responsibilities, the letter concludes. Walden wrote the letter in his capacity as Chairman of the House Subcommitt… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=0e68eeae-e287-4cba-9e64-f8a863779471 | Merkley: Advice and Consent Role Restored in Senate, Praises Millett Confirmation | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley: Advice and Consent Role Restored in Senate, Praises Millett Confirmation Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate approved the nomination of Patricia Millett for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by a simple up or down vote. “Today’s vote shows that the constitutional concept of ‘advice and consent’ has been restored in the United States Senate. There is no doubt that Patricia Millett is extremely qualified and will be a valuable addition to the D.C. Circuit Court, which will rule on issues that directly and deeply impact middle class families, like health care, workplace safety, and clean air and water rules. I am pleased that the Senate has confirmed this qualified nominee. We must now confirm the remaining nominees to the D.C. Circuit Court and the Executive Branch without delay.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=12586baa-4425-4851-928d-f5bd0789de6b | Merkley and Levin Statement on Final Volcker Rule | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley and Levin Statement on Final Volcker Rule Tuesday, December 10, 2013 Washington, DC – Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Carl Levin (D-MI) released the following joint statement after approval by the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) of the final Volcker Rule, a firewall between traditional banking and hedge fund style gambling. Merkley and Levin led the fight to pass the provision during the debate over the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act in 2010. “We fought for the Merkley-Levin provision of the Dodd-Frank Act in order to put a strong firewall between banks and hedge fund-style high-risk trading. Today is a big step toward that goal. We are still reviewing the details of the final rule, but early indications suggest that persistence and common sense can prevail in the face of even the fiercest special interest lobbying campaigns: hedging looks tougher, market-making looks simpler, trader compensation remains appropriately structured, and CEOs are required to set the tone at the top. No regulation is ever perfect, and we will carefully monitor implementation and hold regulators and firms accountable. If problems emerge – for whatever reason – we will quickly press regulators to address them. Overall, though, the final rule looks improved over the proposal from two years earlier. “The Merkley-Levin Amendment was intended to change the culture and practices at our nation’s largest financial firms, to prevent Wall Street and the big banks from making swing-for-the-fences bets that put depositors and taxpayers at risk. The regulators have taken a serious step forward in mandating critical changes.” Hedge-fund style proprietary trading at our nation’s largest financial firms was a high-risk, conflict-ridden activity that played a central role in the 2008 financial crisis. Banks should be in the business of serving customers – including taking deposits from and making loans to ordinary families and businesses. Speculative investing should be left to h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=fc73ca17-4724-484a-8c03-c1a8e2e214db | Merkley Statement on Watt Cloture Vote | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Watt Cloture Vote “I am pleased that the Senate has ended the nomination paralysis that has blocked highly qualified individuals, like Congressman Watt, who are essential to rebuilding the middle class.” Tuesday, December 10, 2013 WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Senate invoked cloture on the nomination of Mel Watt, ensuring a final vote on his nomination to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): “Subprime loans and the resulting foreclosure crisis caused a financial meltdown five years ago. Nothing could be a starker reminder of housing’s central importance to our economy and our middle class. Our recovery will not be complete until we can put in place policies that both help current struggling homeowners and ensure that future middle class homeowners have access to affordable, stable home loans. Confirming Mel Watt is key to that effort. I am pleased that the Senate has ended the nomination paralysis that has blocked highly qualified individuals, like Congressman Watt, who are essential to rebuilding the middle class.” The FHFA plays a critical role in ensuring access to affordable home loans for middle class families, but has been stymied by not having a confirmed director who was willing to put in place aggressive policies to help middle class homeowners. Senator Merkley led the fight to fix the broken Senate and ensure nominees like Watt received final up-or-down votes so they could get to work rebuilding the middle class. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-thune-introduce-bill-to-promote-strong-rules-to-protect-the-digital-economy-and-global-open-internet | Wyden, Thune Introduce Bill to Promote Strong Rules to Protect the Digital Economy and Global, Open Internet | 2013-12-10 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Tuesday, December 10, 2013 WASHINGTON—Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness, today introduced legislation to protect the Internet from restrictive measures that obstruct the free flow of data in the global economy. The Digital Trade Act of 2013 would establish negotiating principles to address several key digital trade matters in future bilateral and multilateral agreements and in multistakeholder settings. Those principles include: preventing or eliminating restrictions on cross-border data flows; prohibiting localization requirements for data and computing infrastructure; ensuring that provisions affecting platform Internet sites are consistent with U.S. law; and recommitting the United States to the multistakeholder model of Internet governance. The bill requires the president to prioritize digital trade and ensure it benefits from robust and enforceable rules. “Digital trade is a driver of the U.S. economy and critical to global innovation and economic growth,” said Thune. “That growth is threatened by rising digital protectionism by several of our trading partners. It is imperative that the U.S. fight for strong rules to ensure that American businesses have the freedom to compete and innovate all around the world. Our common-sense legislation would establish important negotiating principles for international agreements affecting Internet-enabled commerce. I hope our colleagues will join us in supporting this bill to ensure the digital economy continues to flourish.” "America’s trade negotiating objectives must reflect the fact that the Internet represents the shipping lane for 21st Century goods and services,” Wyden said. “Trade in digital goods and services is growing and driving economic growth and job creation all around the country. U.… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/gas-tax-faq-update-act | The Gas Tax: An FAQ on the UPDATE Act | 2013-12-06 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Why are you proposing raising the gas tax now? Our roads and bridges are falling apart, and so is the mechanism we use to build them. If we don't take action now, on October 1st, 2014 the Highway Trust Fund, which funds all of our transportation projects, will go broke.There won't be enough money in the fund to pay for the projects that have been approved. To avoid this, we have three alternatives. Congress can transfer General Fund revenue, which we've done in the past, to the Highway Trust Fund. This keeps the Trust Fund going but increases the deficit, and lets Congress avoid the real problem (sound familiar?). The other option is to use the user fee that is supposed to fund the Highway Trust Fundthe gas tax. Because Congress didn't index the gas tax to inflation, it has not kept up with spendingsince it was last raise in 1992. By increasing the gas tax by fifteen cents, which is what has been recommended by multiple bipartisan budget commissions, my legislation basically makes the same change that would have occurred had we tied the gas tax to inflation back in the early 1990s. The third option is that Congress can drastically reduce the number of transportation projects that are funded. This would impact our interstate highway system, bridge reconstruction and maintenance and reduce the ability of local communities to make transportation improvements or fund transit systems. Why are you focused on this issue? I've cared about transportation and infrastructure issues my entire career. When I was in the Oregon legislature, I worked to create the transportation commission and multimodal statewide transportation plans to make sure that the state was spending money wisely. As the Portland City Commissioner in charge of transportation, I learned firsthand about the challenges of maintaining streets, reducing the paving backlog and the importance of sidewalks so that people would have a safe way to walk in their neighborhood. As a member of Congress, I've literally talked to thousands of people in O… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-joined-leaders-transportation-commerce-labor-construction | Blumenauer Joined by Leaders in Transportation, Commerce, Labor, Construction to Introduce UPDATE Act to Fund Infrastructure | 2013-12-04 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) along with leaders in the fields of transportation, labor, commerce, and construction introducedH.R. 3636The Update, Promote, and Develop America's Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act. This bill would phase in a 15 cent/gallon tax increase over the next three years on gasoline and diesel. The gas tax hasn't been increased since the beginning of the Clinton administration, said Blumenauer. Today, with inflation and increased fuel efficiency for vehicles, the average motorist is paying about half as much per mile as they did in 1993. It's time for Congress to act. There's a broad and persuasive coalition that stands ready to support Congress, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National AFL-CIO, the construction and trucking industry, cyclists, professional groups, numerous associations of small and medium businesses, local governments, and transit agencies. We just need to give them something to support. In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that over $70.9 billion worth of repairs were needed just to maintain safe infrastructure; that number has since increased The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that surface transportation in the US needs over $2 trillion of investment in order to remain economically competitive. In recent years, Congress has added to the General Fund deficit by transferring over $50 billion of General Fund revenue to the Highway Trust Fund in order to keep it afloat. In order to maintain current funding in the following years, the Highway Trust Fund will need almost $15 billion a year in addition to current gas tax receipts. Continuing down the current path will mean a 30% drop in federal transportation spending by 2024. The UPDATE Act would raise around $170 billion over ten years. Instituting a reasonable gas tax increase now provides the revenues Democrats say they want with a form of a user fee which historically has been acceptable to Republicans including Ronald Reagan, who increased … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221061315/http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-tsunami-debris-bills-passed-house-natural-resources-committee | Bonamici Tsunami Debris Bills Passed by House Natural Resources Committee | 2013-12-04 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – The House Natural Resources Committee today unanimously approved two bills Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced earlier this year to address tsunami debris landing on the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Tsunami Debris Cleanup Reimbursement Act, H.R. 1491, would allow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to refund Oregon, other states, and local and tribal governments for tsunami debris cleanup expenses using $5 million in funding donated by the government of Japan. The Marine Debris Emergency Act, H.R. 1425, as amended by the committee, would allow NOAA to give preference to communities facing severe marine debris events when allocating funding through NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. Both bills have strong bipartisan support. “The debris from the tsunami that tragically affected Japan continues to wash up along our coastline,” said Bonamici. “These bills would help states like Oregon pay for cleanup efforts by allowing expenses already incurred to be reimbursed and by allowing NOAA to prioritize how they allocate funding when severe marine debris events occur. Now that the committee has acted on this legislation it can be considered on the House Floor. I’m working with my friends across the aisle to have a vote scheduled.” Bonamici testified in May to the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs about the importance of passing the two bills. The committee made slight adjustments to both bills, but the only substantive change was to the Marine Debris Emergency Act. The original version of the bill required NOAA to give preference to communities facing severe marine debris events and expedite applications for funding in NOAA’s Marine Debris Program. The amended version simply allows NOAA to give preference to communities facing severe marine debris events, something it is currently prohibited from doing. Communities in the Pacific Ocean and on the West Coast of the United States began to experience a significant increase in mar… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=46249f07-aa18-4ab0-afd5-76d3d39bce21 | Merkley Proposal Leads to New Energy Loan Program for Rural Communities | 2013-12-04 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Proposal Leads to New Energy Loan Program for Rural Communities Program Will Create Jobs and Lower Energy Bills in Rural Oregon Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Washington -- Today, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the creation of a new $250 million loan fund based on the Rural Energy Savings Program proposed by Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley. The new program will allow rural electric co-ops to offer their customers low-interest loans from USDA to provide affordable financing for energy efficiency improvements. The customers then pay back the loans through the savings on their electric bills. The program passed the Senate twice in the farm bill, but the U.S. House of Representatives has failed to pass a comprehensive farm bill for the past two years. “Our number one goal should be creating good, middle class jobs,” said Merkley. “Investing in energy efficiency renovations, which create good jobs in construction and American manufacturing, is one of the best ways we can do that. Additionally, homeowners and businesses will be able to cut down on wasted energy and save money on their bills. The people and communities who can benefit from this program shouldn’t have to wait any longer for Congress to get their act together. I applaud the USDA for moving forward to put this idea into action.” Senator Merkley first put forward the idea in 2010 in a bipartisan partnership with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). Under the new USDA program, low-cost loans from the USDA’s rural development program will be provided to rural electric cooperatives and utilities, who will then re-lend the money to help homeowners or businesses make energy efficiency improvements. The loans may be used for upgrades to heating, lighting, other appliances, and insulation, and conversions to more efficient or renewable energy sources. Oregon has 18 electric co-ops serving communities across the state. ### … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/infrastructure-investment-update-act | Infrastructure Investment: The UPDATE Act | 2013-12-03 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Our transportation infrastructure is increasingly outdated and inadequate. In 2009, the Federal Highway Administration estimated that over $70.9 billion worth of repairs were needed just to maintain safe infrastructure; that number has since increased. In order to fund all economically justified projects, the Department of Transportation estimates that Congress would need to provide $83 billion a year in addition to current funding. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that our surface transportation needs over $2 trillion of investment in order to remain economically competitive. Instead of addressing the Highway Trust Fund's insolvency, Congress has added to the General Fund deficit by transferring over $50 billion of General Fund revenue to the Highway Trust Fund in order to keep it afloat. The problem worsens: when the current surface transportation authorization ends at the end of Fiscal Year 2014, Trust Fund balances will nearly be exhausted. In order to maintain current funding in the following years, the Highway Trust Fund will need almost $15 billion a year (in addition to current gas tax receipts). If we do not find a way to make the Highway Trust Fund solvent, the continued disinvestment will mean an over 30% drop in federal transportation spending by 2024. SOLUTION Congress should follow the recommendations of the Commissions it has authorized. We should end the transfer of General Fund dollars to the Highway Trust Fund, phase in a short term gas tax increase, and set the stage for a transition for a long-term, stable funding source that will replace the gas tax. American cannot afford to continue to disinvest in our infrastructure. The UPDATE Act of 2013 turns the recommendations of the Simpson-Bowles report, the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission, and the National Surface Transportation Financing Commission into proposed law. It phases in a fifteen cent gas tax increase starting in 2014, indexes the gas tax to inflation, and then confirms Congress's … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-releases-oandc-legislation-that-increases-timber-harvest-creates-private-sector-jobs-protects-old-growth-and-sensitive-areas | Wyden Releases O&C Legislation that Increases Timber Harvest, Creates Private-Sector Jobs, Protects Old Growth and Sensitive Areas | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | The Oregon and California Land Grant Act of 2013 Would Also Streamline Environmental Review of Timber Sales; Protect Wilderness Areas, Drinking Water, Streams and Fish; Allow for Consolidation of Lands Tuesday, November 26, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seeking to improve the management of O&C lands and boost timber harvests while upholding bedrock environmental laws, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today announced legislation that takes a science-first approach to managing 2.1 million acres of federal land, streamline environmental review of timber sales and protect old growth trees, clean water, fish and endangered species. “This new foundation will more than double our timber harvest across 18 timber counties and ensure that harvest continues for years to come. It uses the best available science to mimic natural processes and create healthier, more diverse forests,” Wyden said. “My philosophy is that forest policy should be dictated by science, not lawyers.” “This approach will create a sturdier economic foundation for the O&C counties, centered on new middle class jobs for choker setters and crew bosses working in the woods, jobs for millwrights, sawyers and sawfilers, turning logs into lumber for new homes, and it means jobs throughout rural communities for outfitters and guides, for new lodges and diners, and the plumbers and hardware stores, teachers and deputies who support a strong local economy,” Wyden said. "Thanks to Chairman Wyden for his strong leadership on one of the most intractable natural resources issues facing our state," said Governor Kitzhaber. "I am pleased that the Senator’s bill incorporates and improves on the many concepts that Oregonians believe are required for long-term solutions to the O&C issue. I look forward to assisting the Chairman, Ranking Member DeFazio, and Congressmen Walden and Schrader in their efforts to pass legislation in 2014." Wyden’s legislation, called The Oregon and California Land Grant Act of 2013, amends the original Or… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-udall-heinrich-use-of-lethal-force-against-anwar-al-aulaqi-was-legal-public-and-congress-deserve-more-info-on-targeted-killing-rules | Wyden, Udall, Heinrich: Use of Lethal Force Against Anwar al-Aulaqi Was Legal; Public and Congress Deserve More Info on Targeted Killing Rules | 2013-11-26 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Tuesday, November 26, 2013 Washington, D.C. – After considerable review of both the decision to use lethal force against Anwar al-Aulaqi and the rules governing such “targeted killings,” U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) have concluded that the use of lethal force against al-Aulaqi – an American -- met legal standards. In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, the senators – all members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – said the lethal action against al-Aulaqi was a “legitimate use of the authority granted to the President” but also expressed concern that the limits and boundaries of these authorities are not yet, and should be, public knowledge. The Senators pressed for more openness regarding these limits and boundaries, particularly the rules for taking lethal action against Americans, and the rules for preventing harm to civilians. In their letter, the Senators referenced al-Aulaqi’s decision to join an organized fighting force engaged in attacks against the U.S., his leadership role in this organization and his involvement in the planning of ongoing operations and intent to carry them out. “Mr. al-Aulaqi clearly made a conscious decision to join an organized fighting force that was (and is) engaged in planning and carrying out attacks against the United States …,” the Senators wrote. “By taking on a leadership role in this organization, involving himself in ongoing operational planning against the United States, and demonstrating the capacity and intent to carry out these operations, he made himself a legitimate target for military action.” The Senators urged the President to make the rules governing “targeted killings” available to the American people. They asked the Executive Branch to explain exactly how much evidence is necessary to determine whether an American should be a target for military action. They also seek a public explanation of the requirements governing how an individual is de… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=0f143561-0251-4ea7-9414-e01d465406f3 | Merkley Announces Trade Bill to Level the Playing Field for Oregon Manufacturing Companies and Create Middle Class Jobs | 2013-11-25 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Announces Trade Bill to Level the Playing Field for Oregon Manufacturing Companies and Create Middle Class Jobs Monday, November 25, 2013 Oregon City, OR – Standing in front of the shuttered Blue Heron paper mill, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today announced new legislation that would crack down on unfair trade practices, level the playing field for Oregon manufacturing companies, and help create middle class jobs in Oregon. The Level the Playing Field in Global Trade Act would ensure that sub-standard wages, workplace safety practices, and environmental protections are properly accounted for as unfair subsidies by foreign countries when calculating American duties intended to offset cheating. It also rewards companies that meet high standards on a global basis in wages, workplace safety and environmental compliance with streamlined trade and protection from enforcement actions. “If we don’t make things in America, we won’t have a middle class in America,” said Merkley. “For far too long, Oregon’s factories and mills like Blue Heron and their workers have been hurt by foreign competition that lower their prices by cutting corners. We can and must bring back jobs to our shores by cracking down on unfair trade practices while rewarding companies that play by the rules and treat their workers well.” In the past decade, countries like China have reaped the benefits of trade deals without upholding their end of the bargain. This lack of accountability has contributed to the shuttering of tens of thousands of American factories and the loss of millions of American manufacturing jobs. Oregon is the state with the greatest share of its economy tied to manufacturing, with 29% of its gross state product (GSP) coming from the manufacturing sector in 2011. As such, Oregon stands to gain or lose disproportionately from policies that help or hurt domestic manufacturing. Currently, U.S. companies and workers are at a trade disadvantage against companies and countries that do not pay adequate wag… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wake-west-burnside-water-break-blumenauer-introduces-water | In Wake of West Burnside Water Break, Blumenauer Introduces Water Infrastructure Legislation | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC Today, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) introduced the bipartisan Water Protection and Reinvestment Trust Fund Act of 2013, along with Representatives Tim Bishop (NY-01), John Duncan (TN-02), Donna F. Edwards (MD-04) Richard Hanna (NY-22), Jim Moran (VA-08), Tom Petri (WI-06), and Ed Whitfield (KY-01). This bill would provide a small, deficit-neutral, protected source of revenue to help states and local government replace, repair, and rehabilitate critical wastewater treatment facilities by creating a voluntary labeling and contributory system to which businesses that rely on a clean water source could opt-in. This bill introduction comes in the wake of the break in the West Burnside water main in Portland last month. The street closures and repair work caused significant traffic disruption and economic damage to the surrounding businesses. Southwest Portlanders also received notice this week to boil their tap water due to possible contamination. A loss of pressure in the water system during pipe work may have allowed contaminants that cause illnesses to enter the system without being treated. While it would take over $9.3 billion a year to maintain a clean-water infrastructure, funding has averaged just over $1.25 billion a year since 2000. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has given US wastewater infrastructure a grade of D in their most recent report card. Last year alone, American communities suffered more than 310,000 water main breaks and saw overflowing combined sewer systems, causing contamination, property damage, disruptions in the water supply, and massive traffic jams. Day by day, and year by year, our water infrastructure falls apart, said Blumenauer. This bill allows responsible businesses who are dependent on clean water and effective sewage, to voluntarily contribute to rebuild and renew the system.Over the long term, the bill will save consumers and local governments millions of dollars, while helping maintain and rebuild our clean water system. "A… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=0b4c3fff-d066-45ad-916c-7c0447ae9ada | Merkley: Rules Change a Victory for the American People | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley: Rules Change a Victory for the American People Ending Abusive Filibuster on Nominations Big Step to Restoring Functionality of the Senate Thursday, November 21, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Senate changed its rules to allow nominations to be confirmed with a simple majority vote as provided for in the Constitution. Merkley, along with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), has led the effort in the Senate to reform its rules in order for it to become a more functional institution. “Today’s rule change is a victory for the American people. The endless abuse of the filibuster on nominations has done great damage to the independence of our courts. The minority party has filibustered too many qualified nominees to our Executive and Judicial branches, not because of any character or qualification issues, but because they were nominated by our current President. That is just wrong. Nominees deserve up or down votes. These filibusters have been contrary to the spirit of our Constitution, which envisions coequal branches of government. “The nominees that the Senate minority has blocked over the past year were nominated to positions that affect the American people and the economy in vital ways, including the nominees to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The judges on the DC Circuit Court rule on issues that directly and deeply impact middle class families, like health care, workplace safety, and clean air and water rules. Moreover, the endless filibusters have taken up endless weeks of the Senate’s time, better spent on boosting manufacturing, investing in our infrastructure, and improving education. “Ending the abusive filibuster on nominations is a big step toward restoring the functionality of the Senate, and that matters for all of us. I hope we continue to look at ways to make this legislative body work better. We face big challenges as a nation, and we need a Congress that can take o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=32c555cc-d063-4284-a82c-4e4fb153ddd7 | Senators Merkley and Wyden Introduce Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013 | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senators Merkley and Wyden Introduce Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013 Thursday, November 21, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC— Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined with Crooked River stakeholders today to introduce the Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013, which would provide a framework for improving the management of water in the Crooked River, while creating opportunities for economic growth and new jobs in central Oregon. This legislation is based on an agreement that the Senators facilitated among a broad coalition of stakeholders in the region. “The full potential of the Crooked River and Prineville Reservoir beckoned to central Oregon for decades, but a common agreement has been long out of reach,” said Merkley. “Today I am pleased to join with Senator Wyden and many Crooked River stakeholders to realize that full potential. This legislation will provide water certainty for the stakeholders and help provide more economic security for central Oregon.” “This bill addresses all the issues that are important to Central Oregon. It means more jobs, a more secure supply of drinking water for the City of Prineville and ensures clean water for endangered fish,” Wyden said. “It also has the added advantage of fixing a historic mistake regarding the boundary of the wild and scenic section of the Crooked River and allowing for the development of a clean source of energy at Bowman Dam.” “I am grateful for the hard work and leadership of Oregon’s Senators and many committed stakeholders who have demonstrated Oregon’s ability to come together and find a solution to one of Oregon’s truly special places,” said Governor Kitzhaber. “This legislation not only represents a victory for the Central Oregon economy, but provides certainty for communities, fish, wildlife and native people.” The Crooked River Collaborative Water Security Act of 2013 would provide numerous benefits to water users and the Central Oregon region, by: Meeting the municipal water needs fo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-wyden-heinrich-urge-solicitor-general-to-set-record-straight-on-misrepresentations-to-us-supreme-court-in-clapper-v-amnesty | Udall, Wyden, Heinrich Urge Solicitor General to Set Record Straight on Misrepresentations to U.S. Supreme Court in Clapper v. Amnesty | 2013-11-21 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | 'We Believe a Formal Notification to the Supreme Court of the Government's Misrepresentations ? Would be an Important Step in Correcting the Public Record' Thursday, November 21, 2013 WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli today to answer a series of questions regarding statements and oral arguments the government made to the U.S. Supreme Court. Statements made in the recent case Clapper v. Amnesty International inaccurately described how the government collects Americans' private communications, specifically omitting recently declassified collection criteria. Udall, Wyden and Heinrich — all members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — said it is essential for the federal government to correct the record about facts it failed to clearly state to the court when it considered the case. "We are pleased that the Justice Department has now publicly clarified that going forward, its policy will be to inform defendants when evidence against them has been acquired or derived from surveillance conducted under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. … This is an important step, since it will finally provide the courts with the opportunity to adjudicate the constitutionality of the FISA Amendments Act, which the ruling in Clapper had appeared to foreclose," the senators wrote in their letter. "Still, we are concerned that the Justice Department has not gone far enough to correct incomplete or misleading representations that we believe were made by the government to the Supreme Court in Clapper v. Amnesty." Udall, Wyden and Heinrich point out their concern about statements in the majority opinion indicating "the court's view that the only way the plaintiffs' communications could be intercepted under the FISA Amendments Act is if those communications are to or from a foreign intelligence target." However, the senators explain that the FISA Amendments Act has been secret… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=5e92bcf2-3613-40be-bdbf-c136efaece7e | Senators: Congress Should Vote on Keeping Troops in Afghanistan Past 2014 | 2013-11-20 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Senators: Congress Should Vote on Keeping Troops in Afghanistan Past 2014 Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Washington, DC – Today, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rand Paul (R-KY), Jon Tester (D-MT), and Mark Begich (D-AK) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) urging Congressional approval as a condition for any American troop presence in Afghanistan past 2014. The Administration is reportedly negotiating an agreement that could keep as many as 10,000 American troops in Afghanistan for another ten years. “It is long past time to end the longest war in American history and bring our sons and daughters home,” Senator Merkley said. “The American people deserve to weigh in and Congress should vote before we decide to commit massive resources and thousands of troops to another decade in Afghanistan. These are resources that could be used here at home creating jobs, improving education, and cutting the deficit.” "With our military involvement in Afghanistan winding down, it is vital for the elected representatives of the American people to approve or disapprove of further involvement past the 2014 timeline,” Senator Lee said. “This amendment protects the democratic rights of the American people to shape our foreign and military policy." “When Congress authorized the war in Afghanistan it was not intended to last forever,” Senator Wyden said. “It has now become the longest war in American history. If the president believes there are compelling national security reasons to require a U.S. military presence in Afghanistan after 2014 he should come to Congress and make that case.” “After spending over a decade at war in Afghanistan, it is time to transition our troops home,” Senator Paul said. “This bipartisan amendment reinforces the fact that the president needs to consult the American people and their representatives in Congress before increasing our troop involvement in Afghanistan.” “After over a decade of wa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-urges-diplomacy-iran-not-more-sanctions | Blumenauer Urges Diplomacy with Iran, Not More Sanctions | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Transcript Mr. Speaker, in an era of violence in the Middle East, tragedy in Syria, and turmoil in Egypt, there's some encouraging news surrounding Iran. The most important signal may have been the election of Hassan Rouhani, who is by no means a moderate by any one stretch of the imagination, except in the context of Iran. He was the choice of the Iranian people for change, a different path to reduce the collision course with the United States and the crippling sanctions we've imposed. His Foreign Minister, Mohammad Zarif, is an able and experienced diplomat with strong relationships with the people who've dealt with him for years, both in the United States and Iran. I'm encouraged by the reports in the news and the opinion pages which point out something I've long argued on the floor of this House: the convergence of interests between the United States and Iran. People forget the key role the United States played in the emergence of the modern state of Iran: the constitutional revolution beginning in 1905, where American influence was profoundly felt. Unfortunately, for the last sixty years, we have serially mismanaged our relationship with Iran. How would we have felt if a foreign power worked to overthrow our democratically-elected government and install a dictator? That's exactly what the United States and Great Britain did in 1953, and how the Shah returned to power. It's amazing that the majority of Iranians still have positive feelings towards the United States, which they do. People forget the alignment of interest between the United States and Iran after 9/11 that lead them to help us deal with post-Taliban Afghanistan. And when in the capitals of some of our supposed allies in the Middle East, people were cheering at that tragedy; on 9/11, people in Tehran were standing in solidarity with Americans. This of course, before George Bush recklessly included them in his infamous Axis of Evil' pronouncement. The Iranian people are distinct from Arabs, proud of their Persian heritage stretching back … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131123192807/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/bonamici-appointed-education-and-workforce-help-subcommittee-departs-workforce | Bonamici Appointed to Education and the Workforce HELP Subcommittee, Departs Workforce Protections Subcommittee | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C.—Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today announced that she has been selected to serve on the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, & Pensions (HELP). She will depart the subcommittee on Workforce Protections, but remain on the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. “I look forward to working with members of the HELP subcommittee to protect and strengthen the employment and labor laws that are essential to well-being of Oregon’s working families,” said Bonamici. A description of the HELP subcommittee jurisdiction follows: The Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions has jurisdiction over all matters dealing with relationships between employers and employees including, but not limited to, the National Labor Relations Act, the Labor-Management Relations Act, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act; the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and employment-related health and retirement security including pension, health, and other employee benefits and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131124123231/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/bonamici-and-schock-lead-28-house-members-support-stem-steam-founders-congressional | Bonamici and Schock Lead 28 House Members in Support of STEM to STEAM - Founders of Congressional STEAM Caucus Seek Improvements to America COMPETES | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) are leading an effort to add language to a reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act to recognize and support the value of integrating arts and design into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The duo, along with 26 other House members from both sides of the aisle, today sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology urging inclusion of provisions supportive of STEAM. The America COMPETES Act aims to strengthen American competitiveness through sustained investments in science, innovation, and education. “STEAM should be recognized as providing value to STEM research and programs across federal agencies through ‘Sense of Congress’ provisions and language clarifying that current research, data collection, and STEM programs may include arts integration strategies and programs,” wrote the members. “Additionally, we ask that, where appropriate, data collection, surveys, and reporting on STEM activities and grant making in the federal government specifically look at arts integration activities. Finally, current interdisciplinary and inter-agency programs should be strengthened and language added to clarify that arts integration is an avenue for doing so.” Cosigners of the letter include Reps. Daniel B. Maffei, Mark Takano, Derek Kilmer, Scott Peters, Blake Farenthold, Rodney Davis, David N. Cicilline, James R. Langevin, Jared Polis, Susan A. Davis, Suzan DelBene, Alcee L. Hastings, James P. McGovern, Ann McLane Kuster, Mark Pocan, Jared Huffman, William Keating, Dave Loebsack, Carol Shea-Porter, Louise M. Slaughter, Earl Blumenauer, Gerald E. Connolly, Dina Titus, Lois Frankel, Susan Brooks, and Zoe Lofgren. Bonamici and Schock announced the formation of the Congressional STEAM Caucus in February. The group hosts briefings and advocates for policy changes that will encourage educators to integrate arts, broadly defined, with traditional Science, Technology,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-wyden-heinrich-challenge-effectiveness-of-dragnet-surveillance-program-in-nsa-court-case | Udall, Wyden, Heinrich Challenge Effectiveness of Dragnet Surveillance Program in NSA Court Case | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Senators: NSA Program Doesn't Adequately Protect Privacy, Warn Against Excessive, Overbroad Government Powers Tuesday, November 19, 2013 WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today challenged the effectiveness of the National Security Agency's bulk phone records collection program. The senators' amicus curiae brief, filed in theFirst Unitarian Church vs. National Security Agency U.S. District Court case, questioned a central premise of the government's argument. The brief argues that after extensive review, the senators have seen no evidence the dragnet collection of Americans' private phone records has provided any intelligence of value that could not have been gathered through less intrusive means. The senators also pushed back on the government's overbroad interpretation of certain surveillance laws, warning the court that such an expansive reading of the law could potentially support even more intrusive surveillance practices, such as collection of financial or medical records, or even records revealing the location of ordinary Americans. "Our number one priority must be to keep Americans safe while keeping faith with the values that make this country great. Yet in recent years the balance between protecting our liberties and ensuring our security has become fundamentally broken," Udall said. "The dragnet collection of millions of innocent Americans' private phone records is a clear threat to our constitutional rights, yet we have seen no evidence that this exceedingly intrusive monitoring has provided any uniquely valuable intelligence. The courts should exercise their power and call out the government's position." "As members of the Senate Intelligence Committee we have a responsibility to conduct vigorous oversight and ensure that there is adequate openness and accountability regarding intelligence policies. After spending many years reviewing the… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-continues-to-lead-fight-against-child-trafficking | Wyden Continues to Lead Fight Against Child Trafficking | 2013-11-19 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Tuesday, November 19, 2013 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, and U.S. Representatives Ted Poe, R-Texas, and Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at combatting child trafficking. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would support and protect victims of child trafficking with increased resources for law enforcement and victim services that would be funded through fines on offenders. The bill would establish a “Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund” to support programs for victims of human trafficking and child pornography with up to $30 million a year funded through fines on offenders. It would also make funding available to support state and local efforts to fight trafficking, and provides new protections for victims. This bill is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn. A one-page summary of the bill can be found here. “One of the biggest challenges in confronting child sex trafficking is finding the resources for that fight in a tough financial environment,” Wyden said. “This bill provides resources by making the criminals pay for putting their victims’ lives back together. It’s an important step toward finally ending this scourge.” Wyden’s remarks from the today’s press conference announcing the bill can be found here. Wyden has long been a leader in the fight against child trafficking. Earlier this year, key provisions of Wyden’s Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act were signed into law as part of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. These provisions authorize new resources to combat child trafficking, and authorize a pilot program that creates comprehensive residential care facilities throughout the country to provide safe havens for minors who are victims of domestic sex trafficking. Wyden has also introduced the bipartisan Child Sex Trafficking Data and Response Act of 2013 with U… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/delauro-kind-blumenauer-request-gao-report-crop-insurance | DeLauro, Kind, Blumenauer Request GAO Report on Crop Insurance | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | The Honorable Gene Dodaro Comptroller General of the United States U.S. Government Accountability Office 441 G Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20548 Dear Mr. Dodaro: We write to request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct a review of farm subsidy payments, in particular crop insurance payments, under the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a report on November 7, 2012 showing that at least 50 billionaires, or farm businesses in which they had a financial interest, benefited from $11.3 million in traditional farm subsidies between 1995 and 2012. It is of great concern to us that farm subsidies have been paid to such wealthy individuals. Many of the same billionaires may have also received premium subsidies through the federal crop insurance program. However, taxpayers have no way of knowing who has received this support because current federal law prohibits the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from disclosing the identities of crop insurance recipients. Congress is currently negotiating a new Farm Bill that would reauthorize and possibly reform a wide range of agriculture and nutrition programs, including the crop insurance program. At the same time, Congress is also determining funding and policy for the food stamp program, which provides support to millions of low-income households, including over 21 million children. The Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 2642) passed in July by the House expanded crop insurance subsidies. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, these crop insurance subsidies will cost taxpayers $90 billion over the next decade. USDA reports it spent $14 billion on crop insurance last year alone. These subsidies overwhelmingly flow to the largest and most successful farm businesses. Unlike other farm subsidies, crop insurance subsidies are not subject to means testing or payment limi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=56a51ced-44d2-497c-9c1f-f7d80f382a62 | Merkley: When Will We Say Enough is Enough? | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley: When Will We Say Enough is Enough? Monday, November 18, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered another qualified nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, Robert Wilkins. In recent weeks, the Republican minority has also filibustered the nominations of Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency as well as both Patricia Millett and Cornelia Pillard to sit on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. “When will we say enough is enough? Repeatedly over the past month, a minority of Senators has blocked qualified nominees by abusing the Senate rules. The rules on nominees are not working, and we need to change them. “This court will rule on the critical protections that we put in place to protect hard working families from the predatory practices of Wall Street. We cannot let a minority of Senators block qualified nominees and endanger the important reforms that have been put in place to protect Oregon families.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-to-hold-curry-coos-town-halls | Wyden to Hold Curry, Coos Town Halls | 2013-11-18 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Public is invited to events in Brookings on Saturday, November 23, and Coos Bay on Sunday, November 24 Monday, November 18, 2013 Portland, OR – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden will hold his annual Curry and Coos County town halls in Brookings on Saturday, November 23, 2013, and Coos Bay on Sunday, November 24, 2013. Senator Wyden has held town hall meetings in every Oregon county every year since he was elected to the Senate in 1996. Curry County Town Hall Meeting Coos County Town Hall Meeting | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361621 | Schrader Calls On Oracle, Cover Oregon to Fix Website Immediately | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) today called on computer technology corporation Oracle and Cover Oregon to fix Oregon’s health insurance marketplace website, CoverOregon.com, immediately and bolster enrollment in new health care plans. “The implementation of Oregon’s health insurance marketplace has been abysmal,” Rep. Schrader said. “The current situation is completely unacceptable, and I expect much more from a state with a reputation for being an innovator in the field of health care. “Catastrophic technical failures, insufficient forethought and the complete absence of effective leadership and accountability at Oracle and Cover Oregon have resulted in our state being ranked dead last in enrolling folks in new health insurance plans, which is the heart and lifeblood of the health care law and the only way Oregonians are going to receive better, more affordable care. “I am committed to holding Oracle and Cover Oregon to their word that the Cover Oregon website will be up and operational by the middle of December. Until then, I demand that Congress see Oregon’s enrollment benchmarks for January and March, as well as weekly progress reports of applications submitted, eligibility for subsidies determined and people enrolled. “After hundreds of millions of dollars put into this marketplace, Oracle and Cover Oregon must accept responsibility for their failures and owe the people and State of Oregon an explanation and apology. Oracle and every board member at Cover Oregon should be also prepared to work around the clock to get this right, or step aside and allow professionals who can get the job done to do so. Oregonians deserve better.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361671 | Schrader Votes to Allow Existing Health Insurance Plans to Continue Through 2014, Introduces Bill to Delay Penalties | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Kurt Schrader today voted in favor of the bipartisan Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 to allow health insurance companies the option to continue offering all individual-market plans that were in effect as of January 1, 2013 through 2014. Consumers who purchase these plans would be considered as having met the minimum coverage requirement set by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Additionally, Congressman Schrader introduced legislation today to delay penalties for noncompliance until healthcare.gov and other applicable state health insurance marketplace websites are certified as being fully operational by the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. “The rollout of health care reform across the country has been nothing short of disastrous,” Schrader said. “These bills should provide folks who have lost their existing insurance plans with some certainty for the time being. However, the administration, Congress and our states must focus on getting our health insurance marketplaces up and operational to allow people to enroll in new health insurance plans. Enrollment is the most important component to the ultimate success of the ACA and the only way that we can ensure better health, provide more affordable health care and bend the health care cost curve.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-if-you-your-plan-you-should-be-able-keep-it | Greg Walden: If you like your plan, you should be able to keep it | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden: If you like your plan, you should be able to keep it U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) addressed the House today about concerns he has heard from Oregonians about the new health care law. Last week, Walden was at home for an eight day swing through 12 counties in Oregon's Second District, covering 2,476 miles with 36 meetings. Walden heard numerous stories about cancelled insurance plans, diminished access to health care, and jobs lost or hours cut due to Obamacare. Today, with Walden's support, the House passed the Keep Your Health Plan Act (HR 3350) on a bipartisan basis. This common-sense legislation would allow plans available on the individual market today to be offered next year, providing millions of Americans the opportunity to keep their policies in 2014 and not face a penalty under the health care law. Below is a transcript of Walden's remarks to the House: I rise today as the voice of at least 150,000 Oregonians who have already received their cancellation notices. They've been told that their policy that they liked, that they wanted to keep, they can't have it any longer. I was out in my district for eight straight days last week. 36 meetings. 12 counties. 2,476 miles on the road, from early in the morning to late at night. I'm going to tell you, there are people like Chuck and Jan from Medford who went into retirement, had health insurance, until they got a notice their plan is being cancelled. From Mitchell to Bend, from Enterprise to Medford, all over. Not only are their plans being cancelled, the replacements are coming back with deductibles that are $12,000 to $15,000 when they were paying a couple of thousand. And the premiums are going up, in some cases double or more. Some of them may get a subsidy. A lot of them won't. And now they don't have the plan they were promises they could keep. Another thing that's insidious that's going on below the surfaceI'm hearing it in meeting after meetinghours are being cut back, people are losing their jobs, they are getting less take-home pay b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131118204321/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/bonamici-votes-no-misleading-%E2%80%9Ckeep-your-health-plan-act%E2%80%9D-calls-bipartisan | Bonamici Votes No on Misleading “Keep Your Health Plan Act” - Calls for Bipartisan Collaboration to Help Consumers | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Beaverton, Ore.— Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today released the following statement about her vote against the so-called Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013. “There is no question that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) needs improvement, but the so-called “Keep Your Plan Act of 2013” will not pass the Senate, would be vetoed by the President, and has the potential to result in more Oregonians with policies that do not contain important consumer protections. Instead of working on a serious, bipartisan proposal that will improve the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, which is what we should be doing, we have spent time on a bill that is going nowhere. “The President has already granted latitude to states so they can allow policyholders to remain on their current plans through 2014. Under this authority, insurers must inform consumers that they may be giving up protections required by the ACA, that alternative plans may be available, and that they may be eligible for tax credits through the health care exchanges. “The Keep Your Health Plan Act takes the counterproductive step of allowing existing plans that violate the ACA’s consumer protection provisions to be sold to anyone, regardless of whether they ever held the plan in the first place. This would expand the ability of insurance companies to discriminate based on preexisting conditions, establish lifetime limits on coverage, deny payments for essential health services, and drop coverage when someone gets sick and needs it most. “Although we are all extremely frustrated about the failures of CoverOregon.com and HealthCare.gov, we must keep the focus on our ultimate goal: affordable, high-quality insurance that is available to every Oregonian and every American. The Keep Your Plan Act would move us away from, not closer to that goal.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=73ec5121-73f1-422a-8d0f-a62ca48a089b | Merkley Launches “Manufacturing Jobs for America” Package in Oregon | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Launches “Manufacturing Jobs for America” Package in Oregon Legislation would create middle class jobs across Oregon Friday, November 15, 2013 Portland, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today visited Portland manufacturing company Indow Windows to launch the Manufacturing Jobs for America package and call on Congress to refocus on creating middle class jobs in America. The Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative aims to build bipartisan support for legislation that will modernize America’s manufacturing sector, help American manufacturers grow and create jobs, and assist American workers in getting the skills to succeed in the next generation of manufacturing jobs. The package includes 40 bills — many with bipartisan support — that are divided into four organizing principles: Strengthening America’s 21st century workforce Opening markets abroad Creating the conditions necessary for growth Expanding access to capital “Congress should be focused on creating jobs for our middle class families not fighting about shutting down the government,” said Merkley. “That’s why I’m calling on Congress to pass the Manufacturing Jobs for America package and help Oregon’s working families. Washington can and should do a lot to expand manufacturing, because if we don’t build things in America, we won’t have a middle class in America.” Workers in manufacturing jobs earn 22 percent more in annual pay and benefits than the average worker in other industries, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Every new manufacturing job created adds another 1.6 jobs to the local service economy, and for every dollar in manufacturing sales, another $1.34 is added to the economy. Investments in manufacturing have a stronger impact than investments in any other economic sector. In fact, Oregon is in a unique position because of our dependence on manufacturing. Oregon is the state with the greatest share of its economy tied to manufacturing. In 2011, 29% of Oregon’s gross state produ… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-defazio-coble-mccaul-introduce-bipartisan-bicycle-and | Blumenauer, DeFazio, Coble, McCaul Introduce Bipartisan Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Howard Coble (NC-06), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Mike McCaul (TX-10)introduced the bipartisan Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Act, which would require the US Department of Transportation to set separate measures for motorized and non-motorized safety. States would be able to set their own safety targets and have the flexibility to choose the best methods to meet them. The legislation encourages states to make their roadways safer without diverting funding from other safety needs. In 2012, more than 34,000 people died due to traffic accidents and almost 16 percent of these deaths were pedestrians and bicyclists. Yet, less than 1 percent of safety funding goes to infrastructure to protect those on foot or on bicycle. Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their trip, said Blumenauer, and the number of individuals commuting by bike has increased by more than 60% over the last decade. As transportation systems adjust to handle different type of road users, the federal government must encourage appropriate standards to ensure road user safety. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration recently reported a 2 percent drop in roadway fatalities, and a 4.6 percent drop for occupants of cars and light trucks between 2010 and 2011. These safety improvements, however, have not helped all road users. Even as driver and passenger deaths have decreased, the percentage of bicyclist and pedestrian roadway deaths has increased in recent years. As walking and bicycling continues to grow in popularity, it's more important than ever to have accurate safety statistics, said DeFazio. "I've long been a supporter of alternative modes of transportation and making the roads safer for everyone. This legislation is a step in the right direction. While overall traffic deaths are down, the number of bicyclists dying on our roadways has increased by nine percent and pedestrian deaths have gone up by three percent recently, said Coble. This bipartisan legi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20140221142119/http://bonamici.house.gov/press-release/bonamici-oregon-should-implement-administrative-fix-halt-health-plan-cancellations | Bonamici: Oregon Should Implement Administrative Fix to Halt Health Plan Cancellations - CoverOregon.com Failures Require Immediate Changes | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Beaverton, Ore.— Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today released the following statement calling on Oregon Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali to implement an administrative fix to halt health insurance policy cancellations related to the implementation of Affordable Care Act (ACA) standards. President Obama today announced that he is granting states the authority to allow existing plans to temporarily continue. “Oregon’s Insurance Commissioner Laura Cali should take immediate action to allow insurance companies to extend existing health insurance plans into 2014. Cover Oregon is presently unable to enroll individuals through its website. Although Cover Oregon is accepting paper applications, many Oregonians are having difficulty understanding their options and enrolling. Oregonians should not be denied access to plans they already hold when there are impediments to obtaining new plans. The President agrees and has granted states additional latitude. “If Oregon implements this administrative change insurance companies will need to inform consumers that they may be giving up protections required by the Affordable Care Act. Insurers would also be required to inform policyholders that alternative plans are available and tax credits may be available through the health care exchange. “Although CoverOregon.com is not presently working for enrollment, those who wish to enroll now can submit paper applications and get help by calling Cover Oregon’s hotline at 1-855-268-3767. Constituents of the 1st Congressional District can also call my office at 503-469-6010 for assistance. “I strongly encourage Oregon to implement this change, but I also recognize that we must continue to work to ensure that all Oregonians are covered by plans that include the basic consumer protections set out in the ACA as soon as possible. The ACA prevents insurers from discriminating based on gender or preexisting condition, prohibits lifetime limits on coverage, forbids denying payment for essential coverage, and bans companies from dropping c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=01165071-2a90-45b0-9570-08341f067130 | Merkley Applauds President for Health Care Decision | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Applauds President for Health Care Decision Thursday, November 14, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the President said he would allow insurance companies to continue providing to their customers the same health plans next year. “I applaud President Obama for responding to the call I and others have put forward to honor the promise of giving citizens with individual insurance plans the option of keeping their plan. To fulfill this promise, insurance companies must do their part by extending these plans for their customers. I call upon all insurance companies to fulfill their end of this critical partnership. We cannot go back to the old way of doing things on health care and need to see these important reforms through so that every Oregonian has the security of health care they can count on. I am determined to work with legislators from both parties to make the health care law successful.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=037c6a3e-df58-4824-b37b-c4cc37851ce8 | Merkley Statement on Yellen Confirmation Hearing | 2013-11-14 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Yellen Confirmation Hearing Thursday, November 14, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after Janet Yellen’s confirmation hearing for Chair of the Federal Reserve. “Janet Yellen did a tremendous job today showcasing not only her expertise and qualifications, but also her calm, measured approach to the job. The next Federal Reserve Chair will face many challenges: restoring the integrity of our regulatory system; implementing a strong loophole-free Volcker Rule firewall; reining in the massive bets on commodities by major financial institutions; as well as fulfilling the dual mandate of keeping unemployment and inflation low. I have no doubt that Janet Yellen is the best person for the job.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-blumenauer-call-obama-administration-work-congress-fair-tpa | Thompson, Blumenauer Call on Obama Administration to Work with Congress on Fair TPA Legislation that Creates Jobs and Grows U.S. Economy | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Dear President Obama: We support your stated goal of promoting American exports and eliminating barriers to trade. We are optimistic that such efforts, done correctly, will grow our economy and lead to more well-paying U.S. jobs by expanding access to U.S. goods and services abroad and leveling the playing field for American companies and workers. To pursue this goal, we understand that your Administration plans to work with Congress to craft new legislation reauthorizing Trade Promotion Authority (TPA). To gain the broadest possible support for TPA in Congress, this proposal cannot just be an extension of earlier trade promotion authorities. Any new proposed TPA must reflect the changing nature of international trade and ensure that Congress plays a more meaningful role in the negotiating process than in the 2002 TPA, which did not receive large bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Moreover, we believe that any proposed negotiating authority should help our country and its workers better compete in the modern global economy. A new TPA should include incentives to help keep well-paying jobs at home, and to help spur new American innovation and job creation across all sectors of our economy. A new TPA should also include a reauthorization of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs to help retrain workers impacted by changing global trade and by the implementation of trade agreements. Finally, any new TPA should strengthen our trade laws and adequately fund our trade enforcement agencies so that we can hold other countries accountable and ensure they adhere to their commitments and provide fair market access. We note that a well crafted TPA can help build on the progress Congress has made to transform American trade policy into more than just a means to eliminating trade barriers, but as a tool for improving the working conditions and environmental protections among our trading partners through enforceable, meaningful standards . For example, the May 10thAgr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-doc-hastings-lead-meeting-fda-push-common-sense-water | Greg Walden, Doc Hastings lead meeting with FDA to push for common sense in water quality rules | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden, Doc Hastings lead meeting with FDA to push for common sense in water quality rules Oregon Rep. Greg Walden (second from left, at table) and Washington Rep. Doc Hastings (right) meet with FDA Deputy Commissioner (second from right, at table) Mike Taylor to share fruit and vegetable growers' concerns about new water quality rules. U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) today led a meeting with top officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)including Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylorto voice continued concerns about draft water quality rules that could put many farmers out of business in the Northwest and nationwide. The FDA agreed to work to address concerns of growers, and to provide an additional opportunity for farmers to give input prior to the rules being finalized. Common-sense rules will make sure our food is safe without driving Oregon farmers out of business. I am pleased that the FDA has agreed to allow another opportunity for grower input before finalizing the rules and will work to address their concerns about why they are unworkable as currently drafted, Walden said. They have also agreed to take a look at new scientific research I received at OSU's experiment station in Malheur County last week. This evidence-based research is very helpful in showing that the rules as currently drafted just don't make any sense. The current proposed one-size-fits-all food safety regulations are simply unworkable in areas like Central Washington that rely on open ditch irrigation. It only makes sense that the FDA take into account the different ways produce including apples, pears, and cherries is grown and harvested, Hastings said. I look forward to working with the FDA to address the significant flaws that our growers have raised during the public comment period, and I am pleased that Deputy Commissioner Taylor pledged to provide growers another opportunity to provide input before any final rule is implemented. Members of Congress originally met with the FDA in July to voice… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-doc-hastings-lead-meeting-fda-push-common-sense-water-0 | Greg Walden, Doc Hastings lead meeting with FDA to push for common sense in water quality rules | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden, Doc Hastings lead meeting with FDA to push for common sense in water quality rules Oregon Rep. Greg Walden (second from left, at table) and Washington Rep. Doc Hastings (right) meet with FDA Deputy Commissioner (second from right, at table) Mike Taylor to share fruit and vegetable growers' concerns about new water quality rules. U.S. Reps. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) and Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) today led a meeting with top officials at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)including Deputy Commissioner Mike Taylorto voice continued concerns about draft water quality rules that could put many farmers out of business in the Northwest and nationwide. The FDA agreed to work to address concerns of growers, and to provide an additional opportunity for farmers to give input prior to the rules being finalized. Common-sense rules will make sure our food is safe without driving Oregon farmers out of business. I am pleased that the FDA has agreed to allow another opportunity for grower input before finalizing the rules and will work to address their concerns about why they are unworkable as currently drafted, Walden said. They have also agreed to take a look at new scientific research I received at OSU's experiment station in Malheur County last week. This evidence-based research is very helpful in showing that the rules as currently drafted just don't make any sense. The current proposed one-size-fits-all food safety regulations are simply unworkable in areas like Central Washington that rely on open ditch irrigation. It only makes sense that the FDA take into account the different ways produce including apples, pears, and cherries is grown and harvested, Hastings said. I look forward to working with the FDA to address the significant flaws that our growers have raised during the public comment period, and I am pleased that Deputy Commissioner Taylor pledged to provide growers another opportunity to provide input before any final rule is implemented. Members of Congress originally met with the FDA in July to voice… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=4458278d-7ab2-4796-adaf-ecf702544427 | Merkley Cosponsors Bill To Ensure Consumers Can Keep Health Plans | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Cosponsors Bill To Ensure Consumers Can Keep Health Plans Wednesday, November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced that he is cosponsoring the Keeping the Affordable Care Act Promise Act, a bill that gives consumers the choice to keep their current health plans if they want to continue them. During the debate over the Affordable Care Act, a promise was made to consumers that if they liked their health care plan, they could keep it. Merkley wants to ensure that this promise is kept for Oregonians. “Our health care law laid out a vision that those who like their current individual healthcare plan can keep it, and that vision must be honored,” said Merkley. “The original bill had a grandfather provision, but that provision did not work as intended. When insurance companies changed significant provisions on policies, those policies lost their grandfather status. I am sponsoring Senator Landrieu’s bill to fix that. “The health care law has many valuable reforms that increase support for prevention, increase competition between insurance providers, and create an insurance consumers’ bill of rights that ends many predatory insurance practices. These are important changes that we must protect and implement as intended. As I’ve said from the beginning, I will work on a bipartisan basis with colleagues to keep what works and fix what doesn’t.” This legislation will allow people to keep their current individual health plan as long as policyholders stay up-to-date with their payments and don’t make changes to the policy. Insurance companies will be required to notify policyholders about which parts of the policy do not meet minimum coverage standards made available in new plans, such as hospitalization, laboratory services, and prescription drugs, helping consumers to make informed decisions about their health plans. ### … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=5bd897d7-8130-4986-8570-5fa693d3b290 | Merkley: “This Obstruction Is Outrageous” | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley: “This Obstruction Is Outrageous” Wednesday, November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after a minority of Senators filibustered the nomination of Cornelia Pillard to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. In recent weeks, the Republican minority has also filibustered the nominations of Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency and Patricia Millett to sit on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. “Three times in as many weeks, a minority of Senators has blocked a well-qualified nominee by abusing the Senate rules. This obstruction is outrageous. In baseball, it’s three strikes and you’re out. Republicans have struck out when it comes to keeping their promises on nominees. In January the Minority Leader promised to return to the ‘norms and traditions’ of the U.S. Senate on nominations, which is to hold an up and down vote with rare exceptions. Given that shattered promise, a majority of Senators must change the rules to restore the Senate to its historic role.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-democrats-introduce-legislation-to-expand-access-to-high-quality-early-learning-programs | Senate Democrats Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to High-Quality Early Learning Programs | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, November 13, 2013 WASHINGTON, D.C.— Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee—along with Senators Ron Wyden, (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)—today introduced theStrong Start for America’s Children Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. Similar legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives today by George Miller, senior Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY). Building on the framework put forward by President Obama in his 2013 State of the Union address, the bill focuses on four key goals: boosting funding for high-quality preschool programs serving low- and moderate-income families; increasing the quality of infant and toddler care offered by providers; supporting broad-scale quality improvements to child care programs; and encouraging continued support for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program. The early childhood education proposal is a 10-year initiative to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children across the birth to age 5 continuum. The bill would fund preschool for 4-year old children from families earning below 200% of the federal poverty level, and encourage states to spend their own funds to support preschool for young children with family incomes above that income level. The legislation would establish a new federal-state partnership with formula funding for 4-year old preschool, with a state match, to all eligible states, based on each state’s proportion of 4-year olds under 200% of the federal poverty level. States would provide sub-grants to high-quality, local providers, including school districts and community… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-wyden-questions-elmendorf-about-eliminating-flagrant-tax-loopholes-at-budget-conference-meeting | Video: Wyden Questions Elmendorf about Eliminating “Flagrant Tax Loopholes” at Budget Conference Meeting | 2013-11-13 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Washington, D.C. – Below is a transcript as well as links to audio and video of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden’s round of questioning at today’s meeting of the House-Senate conference committee on the federal budget. Wyden: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Director Elmendorf, I think we know traditionally, when you are trying to find a consensus for a conference like this, you look to both sides in areas where they are on record as supporting changes. For example, Chairman Camp in the House and the President’s Treasury Department have identified among the trillion dollars in tax expenditures, that the tax treatment of derivatives is particularly inefficient and abusive. Now, you can’t be in the business of advocating specific policies this morning, and we all get that, so let me just put this as a theory. Is it correct to say that, theoretically—theoretically—you could eliminate several of the most flagrant tax loopholes without compromising the broader tax reform agenda? Just in theory. Elmendorf: Yes, Senator, that sounds right to me. Wyden: Thank you for that, and the only other thing I wanted to do, Chairman Ryan, is to ask that we put into the record at this point a chart that Director Elmendorf sent you a few weeks ago. I thought it was particularly important because the chart demonstrates that for 2014, Congress adhered to the caps in non-defense discretionary spending and chose to disregard the caps for defense. I would just ask unanimous consent that we put that chart into the record at this point. I thank you, and I thank the director. Click here to download audio. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-introduces-bill-improve-rural-hospital-care-reducing | Greg Walden introduces bill to improve rural hospital care by reducing government red tape | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden introduces bill to improve rural hospital care by reducing government red tape In Pendleton, Walden visits St. Anthony Hospital about need for legislation to allow small hospitals to provide better care for patients PENDLETON U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) visited St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton today to announce introduction of bipartisan legislation to provide better health care at small, rural hospitals. The Critical Access Hospital Flexibility Act (H.R. 3444) would change federal regulations for rural hospitals to give them greater flexibility in meeting the needs of patients. No patient should ever be turned away from a hospital because of bureaucratic red tape from Washington, D.C. I served on a community hospital board for five years, and know they have enough challenges in caring for patients without burdensome regulations getting in their way. I have introduced this bipartisan plan to provide flexibility for small, rural hospitals so that patients can get the care they need in the community where they live, Walden said. Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) provide essential health care services to rural communities, including 12 in Oregon's Second District. Federal regulations limit the number of patients per day in CAHs to 25. It's rare, but when a CAH reaches this cap, it must turn away patients, transfer them to another location, remove patients from beds, or do other things that divert attention from patient care. This common-sense legislationintroduced with Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.)would allow CAHs to choose to either meet the current 25 patient per day limit or a limit of 20 patients per day averaged throughout the year. This modest degree of flexibility would permit CAHs to better address situations like unforeseen accidents, public health emergencies, seasonal fluctuations, flu season, or anything else that might arise and hinder a hospital's ability to provide patient care. Click here for the full text of the bill. In February, Walden visited Providence Hood River Memorial, to meet with … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131113100646/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/23-northwest-lawmakers-bonneville-power-administration-must-remain-independent | 23 Northwest Lawmakers: The Bonneville Power Administration Must Remain Independent | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Warns the Energy Department that Decisions Affecting Northwest Energy Supplies Must be Made in the Northwest Washington, D.C. –Every lawmaker representing Oregon, Washington and Idaho urged the U.S. Energy Department to maintain an independent Bonneville Power Administration that puts Northwest power users first, in a bipartisan letter to Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz sent today. Led by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash., the 23 members emphasized the importance of correcting discrimination against hiring veterans that occurred at BPA. But that discrimination cannot become an excuse for DOE to take control over Northwest energy policy, they said. “BPA decisions must be made in the Northwest for the benefit of the Northwest. While DOE deserves credit for uncovering BPA’s violation of veterans’ preference and other federal hiring rules, on many BPA matters DOE simply has neither the expertise nor the resources to effectively manage the day-to-day operations,” the members wrote. The delegation asked Moniz to publically state that the recent decision by DOE to impose new oversight of Bonneville’s legal and hiring decisions will not become a Trojan horse to dictate policy decisions from Washington, D.C. “We respectfully request that you and Deputy Secretary Poneman clarify that it is not your intent to extend DOE headquarters day- to-day oversight of BPA beyond that necessary to remedy the acknowledged failures of the BPA personnel system,” they wrote. The members formally asked the Energy Department to provide monthly reports to the Northwest Congressional delegation about its oversight of BPA, as long as the increased DOE oversight is in place. They also asked DOE to provide an end date for the oversight process. The members asked Moniz to explain how it will address veteran hiring discrimination cases, as well as how long it will take to resolve the illegal hiring practices. The … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=2fdd2e91-2b00-4294-8a3b-ffe491cc9a66 | Merkley Celebrates Bipartisan Vote on Historic Civil Rights Legislation | 2013-11-08 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Celebrates Bipartisan Vote on Historic Civil Rights Legislation Calls on House to Pass ENDA and Invites Speaker Boehner to Oregon to see how well Anti-Discrimination Works Friday, November 8, 2013 Eugene, OR – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley visited the University of Oregon today to celebrate the Senate’s historic passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and to call on the House of Representatives to vote on this legislation. Senator Merkley also took the opportunity to invite Speaker Boehner out to Oregon to see how well Oregon’s anti-discrimination law is working and how eliminating discrimination is good for business. “This week the Senate made a huge stride forward in equality and freedom and it’s time for the House of Representative to step up to the plate,” said Merkley. “In fact, since Speaker Boehner seems to be confused about how equality impacts workplaces, I invite him to Oregon to see firsthand how well our anti-discrimination law works. The bottom line is that no one should be fired or denied work because of who they are.” Currently, there are no laws in 29 states that protect LGBT Americans from being fired simply for who they are. ENDA would change that by creating a federal anti-discrimination law similar to those that already exist on the basis of sex, religion and national origin. Senator Merkley led the fight to pass a state-level version of ENDA when he was the Speaker of the House in Oregon. The Senate voted 64-32 on Thursday to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. This is the first time the Senate has passed this legislation since it was first introduced in 1994. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/outrageous-farm-payments-billionaires-highlights-urgent-need-reform-ag | Outrageous Farm Payments to Billionaires Highlights Urgent Need to Reform Ag Policy | 2013-11-07 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Sen. Flake, Reps. Kind, Blumenauer, Petri and DeLauroContinue Push for Ag Subsidy Reforms WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), U.S. Rep.Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI) and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)continued to call for major reforms to current farm subsidy policy in the wake of a report released today that details a long list of billionaires who are profiting from taxpayer-funded farm subsidies. The report, released by the research and advocacy organization Environmental Working Group (EWG), found that the federal government paid $11.3 million in taxpayer-funded subsidies to 50 billionaires (or businesses in which they have an ownership stake) between 1995 and 2012. EWG compiled the list by matching their Farm Subsidy Database with the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans. According to the list, the billionaires who received these farm subsidies have a collective net worth estimated to be $316 billion. This perfectly illustrates just how out of control our current agricultural subsidy policies are. The EWG report is further proof that our agriculture programs just aren't working and need immediate reform. If the late Sen. Bill Proxmire were still handing out his Golden Fleece Awards, this would be a first-place winner for sure, said Rep. Kind. This is why I've worked so hard to reform these subsidy programs. They are not responsible to the American taxpayer nor are they helpful to family farmers across the country. This is unfortunately only the latest report showing that multi-billion dollar agriculture subsidy programs are funneling taxpayer dollars into the pockets of millionaires and billionaires, said Senator Flake. As the House and Senate continue farm bill negotiations, this information should serve as the nail in the coffin of wasteful direct payments, outrageous crop insurance subsidies, and other wasteful agricultural programs that we simply cannot afford to sustain in this time of soaring debt and deficits. This report by EWG revea… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=93a1e850-ebae-4957-8ed2-3f1120e3e581 | MERKLEY: ENDA HISTORIC VOTE FOR EQUALITY | 2013-11-07 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | MERKLEY: ENDA HISTORIC VOTE FOR EQUALITY Thursday, November 7, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement on the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a bill he authored. “Today’s vote was a historic vote for equality and freedom. Deeply embedded in the constitution are notions of freedom and liberty, and discrimination is the antithesis of those founding values. Everyone should have the right to work hard and earn a living. No one should be fired for who they are or who they love. The Senate said today in a strong bipartisan voice that discrimination is just plain wrong. We are one step closer to equality for our LGBT friends and family.” Currently, there are no laws in 29 states that protect LGBT Americans for being fired simply for who they are. ENDA would change that by creating a federal anti-discrimination law similar to those that already exist on the basis of sex, religion and national origin. Senator Merkley led the fight to pass a state-level version of ENDA when he was the Speaker of the House in Oregon. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-applauds-senate-passage-of-enda | Wyden Applauds Senate Passage of ENDA | 2013-11-07 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, November 7, 2013 WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden applauded Senate passage of new workplace protections, and congratulated U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley for successfully shepherding the non-discrimination legislation through the Senate. Today, the Senate voted 64 to 32 to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) with Wyden voting in favor. ENDA would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire, or discriminating against those employed or seeking employment, on the basis of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity. Such protections are already in place to prohibit workplace discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age and disability. “It’s time for the federal standard to match what Oregonians have come to expect – that everyone deserves equal protection at work,” Wyden said. “It’s wrong that employers in most states can fire or refuse to hire someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, and this bill will help bring that discrimination to an end. It is a needed step toward recognizing that employment decisions should be made on the basis of an individual’s ability to perform a job, not on their gender identity or who they choose to love.” Wyden has long been a supporter of equal rights for LGBT individuals and their families. He was one of only 14 senators to vote against DOMA in 1996. Wyden also said he was proud that a fellow Oregonian, Merkley, was the lead sponsor of ENDA. Merkley championed a similar non-discrimination bill in Oregon as a lawmaker in the state House, as well as legislation enacting domestic partnerships in Oregon. It's simple- everyone deserves equal protection at work. Senate passage of #ENDA is a step forward for equality. http://t.co/oY72GGqHeN — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) November 7, 2013 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-hosts-forum-international-water-and-sanitation | Blumenauer Hosts Forum on International Water and Sanitation | 2013-11-06 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Last week,Congressman Blumenauer convened a forum of community leaders, advocates, and the broader public to discuss our global water crisis and highlight the many organizations in the region who are working to solve this issue. The evening began with an informational fair, as about 200 people crowded into the Mercy Corps Action Center to learn from a host of organizations about how they can be more involved. Representatives from MercyCorps, Riverdale High School, Oregon State University, Living Water International, Engineers Without Borders, Green Empowerment, Portland State University's SWEET Lab, CARE/Every Mother Counts, ONE.org, and Medical Teams International participated in the fair. Following the information fair, the program kicked off with introductions from Jeremy Barnicle from Mercy Corps and Pastor Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Church, who has worked on global water issues with the Portland Christian community. Blumenauer then praised the bipartisan support in Congress for his Water for the World Act, which would which would build on earlier legislation he passed, the Water for the Poor Act, by refining its provisions, focusing clean drinking water and sanitation U.S. foreign aid spending, and ensuring aid dollars are only allocated to those projects capable of providing lasting benefits to the poorest of the poor. He noted that there is no investment by the federal government that has more impact for the lives and livelihood of people around the globe. There is still work to be done, he said, but it is the people in this room who will do it. After Blumenauerspoke, a panel of experts talked about their efforts to solve the water crisis. Questions from the crowd ranged from the scientific, about engineering solutions to sinking water tables, to the political, about the dangers of well intentioned development work that all too often fails to be sustainable over the long-term. The evening also honored a local water leader, Riverdale High's Laurie LePore. Ms. LePore has been teaching her H2O for Life class … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131111051339/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/quigley-bonamici-lead-fight-federal-defender-services-funding | Quigley, Bonamici Lead Fight for Federal Defender Services Funding | 2013-11-06 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging them to prioritize funding for federal defender services in current budget negotiations. Substantial cuts as a result of sequestration have already resulted in furloughs and layoffs in federal defender offices around the country. Further cuts will significantly delay criminal justice proceedings, increase costs to American taxpayers, and severely jeopardize the constitutional right to effective counsel. “Congress has a responsibility to the American people and to the Constitution to uphold every American’s constitutional right to counsel by adequately funding of our federal defender program,” said Rep. Quigley. “Devastating cuts to this vital program abdicate our constitutional duty, degrade the integrity of our criminal justice system and erode one of the fundamental principles of American democracy.” Before serving in elected office, Rep. Quigley worked as a criminal defense attorney in Cook County for 10 years. “Every member of Congress takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution, and that includes the Sixth Amendment right to counsel in criminal cases,” said Rep. Bonamici. “Unless funding is restored for the federal public defender program, Congress is shirking its responsibility. The cuts will delay or deny justice for the victims and the accused, and, ironically, cost us more in the long run. Congress must address this problem in the current round of budget negotiations.” Sequestration has forced federal defenders to cut their budgets by 10 percent. The resulting furloughs and layoffs are delaying criminal court proceedings, including for some of America’s most high profile cases, such as the trial of Osama Bin Laden’s son-in-law, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, and prosecution Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the suspect of the Boston Marathon bombings. Sequestration cuts also increase costs to taxpayers. Because the Constitution requires the court to appo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=c1e3c1ab-0cc6-4a37-86e7-2ada190ea77b | Merkley Statement on Yellen Meeting | 2013-11-06 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on Yellen Meeting “Her qualifications and priorities for the Federal Reserve are right for the job” Wednesday, November 6, 2013 WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Federal Reserve Chair Nominee Janet Yellen on Wednesday: “Janet Yellen and I had a productive discussion about the Federal Reserve’s role in supporting economic growth and in regulating the financial industry. Her qualifications and priorities for the Federal Reserve are right for the job. During a time when so many families are still struggling to make ends meet, we need a leader at the Fed who combines a mastery of the details with a hard-headed focus on helping middle class families and bringing down unemployment. That is exactly what Janet Yellen brings to the job, and I am pleased to support her candidacy.” PHOTO: http://www.merkley.senate.gov/imo/media/image/110613-18277-0011-jk.jpg ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=db669b38-92f2-4f0d-af67-16b06bd7e05c | Merkley Statement on White House Meeting | 2013-11-06 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Statement on White House Meeting Wednesday, November 6, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House about the rollout of the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. “I am very frustrated with the rollout of the exchanges. The dysfunction and delays are unacceptable. After meeting with the President today, I remain deeply convinced that this is a ‘show-me’ moment. This will not be resolved until Americans can, day after day, sign on to the health marketplace, review their options, and complete their applications. “People should have the full measure of time envisioned in the law to sort through their healthcare choices and sign up. For each day of delay, the window for applications should be extended by a day. Moreover, citizens who cannot sign up until after January 1st due to the dysfunction of state or national online health markets should have the ability to establish coverage retroactively to January 1st. No one should experience a gap in coverage through no fault of their own.” ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-hr-992 | Blumenauer Statement on HR 992 | 2013-11-05 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Thank you to those who have been asking why I voted for the Swap Regulatory Improvement Act (HR 992). I admit to being confused when I read your e-mails, tweets and Facebook posts, because I believed that I had voted no on that bill. I asked the Clerk's office to research the vote and I was informed that I had in fact voted yes. This was contrary to how I had intended to vote. I talkedto people on both sides of this issue whose opinions I respect and ultimately decided that making this change before the regulatory process was completed is premature. My vote should have been recorded as a no and I will be placing the following statement into the Congressional Record as soon as the House of Representative reconvenes. Thank you again to those who pointed this out to me, so that I could correct this mistake. Statement for the Record: I wish to correct a vote I made on Wednesday, October 30, on H.R. 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act. I mistakenly voted for this legislation, when I intended to vote against it. I have a longstanding record of supporting robust banking regulations that protect taxpayers from risky trading activity. Significantly altering provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act before those reforms have been fully implemented is premature. I wish to clearly state for the record that I did not intend to vote for this legislation, and I look forward to continuing working for strong banking protections for the American people. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-statement-hr-992-0 | Blumenauer Statement on HR 992 | 2013-11-05 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Thank you to those who have been asking why I voted for the Swap Regulatory Improvement Act (HR 992). I admit to being confused when I read your e-mails, tweets and Facebook posts, because I believed that I had voted no on that bill. I asked the Clerk's office to research the vote and I was informed that I had in fact voted yes. This was contrary to how I had intended to vote. I talkedto people on both sides of this issue whose opinions I respect and ultimately decided that making this change before the regulatory process was completed is premature. My vote should have been recorded as a no and I will be placing the following statement into the Congressional Record as soon as the House of Representative reconvenes. Thank you again to those who pointed this out to me, so that I could correct this mistake. Statement for the Record: I wish to correct a vote I made on Wednesday, October 30, on H.R. 992, the Swaps Regulatory Improvement Act. I mistakenly voted for this legislation, when I intended to vote against it. I have a longstanding record of supporting robust banking regulations that protect taxpayers from risky trading activity. Significantly altering provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act before those reforms have been fully implemented is premature. I wish to clearly state for the record that I did not intend to vote for this legislation, and I look forward to continuing working for strong banking protections for the American people. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-of-support-for-the-usa-freedom-act | Wyden Statement of Support for the USA FREEDOM Act | 2013-11-05 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Tuesday, November 5, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) – a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a leader of the surveillance reform movement -- issued the following statement in support of the USA FREEDOM Act introduced by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). “Today, I am proud to add Chairman Leahy as a co-sponsor of our Intelligence Oversight and Surveillance Reform Act. Our bipartisan legislation sets the bar for real, meaningful reforms to surveillance law. This includes ending the dragnet domestic surveillance that has infringed on the Constitutional rights of millions of Americans without making our country any safer. I am equally proud today to add my name to Chairman Leahy’s reform bill, the USA FREEDOM Act. As written this bill will also make these vital reforms, and now that the Senate Intelligence Committee has decided to preserve surveillance business-as-usual, Chairman Leahy’s legislation is now our best hope for reform in this Congress. I urge everyone who has supported Senators Udall, Paul, Blumenthal and myself in our efforts to lend their support to Chairman Leahy as he works to advance the USA FREEDOM Act. I want to thank the Chairman for his important leadership on this issue. I will also continue to work with Senator Paul to ensure that law-abiding Americans who have been harmed by intrusive government surveillance programs have an opportunity to challenge the constitutionality of these programs in court.” I urge everyone to lend their support to @SenatorLeahy as he works to advance #USAFreedomAct. RT to support REAL #NSA reform. — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) November 5, 2013 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=b275db17-2b4f-4c5c-bb12-febf717248d1 | Bipartisan Group of Senators: It’s Time to Pass ENDA | 2013-11-04 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Bipartisan Group of Senators: It’s Time to Pass ENDA Landmark Gay Rights Bill Will End LGBT Employment Discrimination Monday, November 4, 2013 Washington, DC – Today, after the successful cloture vote to start debate on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Senate to pass the bill and end LGBT employment discrimination. They said it was time for this bipartisan civil rights bill to move forward. “Everyone, gay or straight, should have the right to work hard and earn a living,” Merkley said. “Unfortunately, in 29 states you can still be fired for who you are and who you love. That is just plain wrong. This week, the Senate has an opportunity to right this wrong and stand for fairness and equality for all Americans. I urge my colleagues to put in place these commonsense protections for our LGBT friends and families.” "The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is about civil rights. In Illinois, we aspire to continue Abraham Lincoln’s legacy of fighting for liberty and human dignity," Senator Kirk said. "I measure myself against Senator Everett Dirksen, the Illinois fiscal conservative and social moderate whose passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 stood out as one of his best moments as a Republican leader. The fact that a majority of Fortune 500 companies already have taken steps to stop discrimination in the workplace highlights that our action is overdue. I will maintain the tradition of Lincoln and Dirksen by supporting ENDA to block discrimination in the workplace and maintain our competitive edge in the global economy." “Despite the passage of laws at the state and local levels, discrimination in the workplace continues to be all too real,” said Harkin. “Forty-two percent of lesbian gay and bisexual workers report having experienced some form of discrimination at work. Even with the progress that has been made at the state and local levels, too many hardwo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/bicameral-task-force-climate-change-applauds-president-obamas-commitment | Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change Applauds President Obama's Commitment to Climate Change Resilience Preparation | 2013-11-01 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change strongly supports theexecutive order issued by President Obama todayto enhance climate preparedness and resilience for the United States. This order firmly grounds Administration policy in the realities of climate science and acknowledges the variety of challenges that our country will face in coming years due to increasing erratic and dangerous weather patterns and events. It will encourage increased information sharing on all levels of government in order promote smarter, more climate-resilient investments and will help provide state and local governments the tools to identify and make those investments. The order also requires the Departments of Defense, the Interior, and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies to compile an assessment of the effects of climate change on communities, economies, and ecosystems across the nation. I commend President Obama's continued action on climate change, saidSenator Ben Cardin (D-MD). We are already feeling the effects of climate change through rising sea-levels, devastating wildfires, and deadly superstorms. These harms pose serious risks to the public health, our national security, and our economy. The Task Force the President established today will bring the wisdom and experience of state and local leaders to the challenge of protecting our communities from the worsening impacts of climate change. Climate change poses a serious threat to national security, undermines the health and safety of our communities, and represents a substantial risk to taxpayers, saidSenator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).I applaud the Administration for issuing an executive order and forming a task force to help communities across the country prepare for the effects of climate change. Climate change is already here, lapping at our doorstep in the form of more extreme weather and rising sea-levels, saidSenator Edward J. Markey (D-MA). That'… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-cuts-to-the-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap | Wyden Statement on Cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | 2013-11-01 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Friday, November 1, 2013 Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) issued the following statement on cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): “Sadly, automatic cuts in food stamp benefits begin today at a time when millions of American families continue to struggle to recover from this long recession. SNAP is the first line of defense against hunger and provides a true safety net. Families in every state will be hit by these $5 billion in cuts, and there’s an ongoing struggle against further reductions that would cut even deeper. Job opportunities are still hard to come by for many Americans, and these further cuts would leave many people without food or work. Cuts to this program should not be made without considering the impacts on our struggling families, children and senior citizens.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/greg-walden-questions-hhs-sec-kathleen-sebelius-about-testing-problems | Greg Walden questions HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius about testing problems, rate hikes associated with health law | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | Greg Walden questions HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius about testing problems, rate hikes associated with health law Walden: This is why some of us thought we should delay it so it could be done right to avoid this very collapse that is now upon us Click here or on the image below to watch Walden's questioning Today, Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) questioned Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about failures in the implementation and launch of the new health care law at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Click here to watch Walden ask Secretary Sebelius about testing failures with the website and premium increases faced by Oregonians. Following up on his line of questioning to healthcare.gov contractors last week, Walden asked Sebelius about assurances that HHS was extremely confident that the healthcare.gov marketplace would open on schedule on October 1, despite a lack of end to end testing. Sec. Sebelius admitted such testing was not adequately performed before launch. Walden also asked Sec. Sebelius about how HHS had written rules about existing insurance plans in such a way that forced countless Americans off their plans. He told her of constituents from around Oregon's Second District who have received letters from insurance companies saying that their plan has been cancelled due to the Affordable Care Act. For more information on today's hearing from the Energy and Commerce Committee, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://web.archive.org/web/20131104014519/http://bonamici.house.gov:80/press-release/bonamici-visits-tigard%E2%80%99s-durham-elementary-school-calls-budget-negotiators-reverse | Bonamici Visits Tigard’s Durham Elementary School; Calls on Budget Negotiators to Reverse Education Cuts | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | web.archive.org | legacy | Beaverton, Ore.— Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today called on members of the House and Senate Budget Conference Committee to reverse cuts to federal education funding caused by the “sequestration” provisions of the Budget Control Act. Bonamici emphasized her disapproval with the cuts during a visit to Tigard’s Durham Elementary School, which receives federal Title I funding to lower class sizes and provide reading interventions for students in need of extra support. Title I funding goes to schools with a high percentage of low-income students. “It is wrong to cut funding for reading programs when schools are already struggling with limited resources,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “Last year Durham was one of the highest achieving Title I schools in Oregon. Their programs are working. We should be encouraging and supporting the efforts of teachers and administrators at this school and in schools across Oregon. One of my top priorities in the current budget negotiations is to repeal the education cuts triggered by sequestration.” Later this week, Bonamici and many of her House colleagues will send a letter urging budget conferees to reverse the across-the-board cuts known as “sequestration.” According to the National Education Association, Oregon’s federal education funding was cut by $85 billion for Fiscal Year 2013 as a result of these indiscriminate cuts. “A five percent cut may not seem like much, but in light of a 20 percent cut in federal funding that has occurred since 2002, it’s significant,” said Bonamici. “Funding isn’t the only issue we need to address in our schools, but the more we cut, the harder it is for teachers to do their job. Durham is a highly successful school; they’ve been doing more with less for too long. We can’t continue to expect great results if we keep cutting budgets.” According the Congressional Research Service, funding for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which includes Title I, has been cut by more than 20 percent since No Child Left Behind took effect in 20… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=5a6b60d0-626d-4161-a721-768c8e0ccd37 | ENDA Vote Next Week | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | ENDA Vote Next Week Landmark Gay Rights Bill Authored by Merkley will End LGBT Employment Discrimination Thursday, October 31, 2013 Washington, DC – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after it was announced the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which Merkley authored, will be heading for a floor vote next week. “We have a chance next week to pass a landmark civil rights bill that will enshrine in law an issue of fundamental fairness: no one should be fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Discrimination is just plain wrong. Everyone should have the freedom to work hard and earn a living. I am pleased that the U.S. Senate will consider this fundamental issue of equality under the law.” The Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013 would prohibit employers from firing, refusing to hire, or discriminating against those employed or seeking employment, on the basis of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity. Such protections are already in place prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin, age, and disability. More than 85 percent of Fortune 500 companies already extend workplace protections based on sexual orientation and more than one-third on the basis of gender identity. In July, ENDA was reported out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in a bipartisan vote. ### Print Email Tweet | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=fb142064-19da-45f8-88d5-21340907eb0a | Merkley Introduces Legislation to Provide Benefits to Families of Fallen Firefighters | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Introduces Legislation to Provide Benefits to Families of Fallen Firefighters Legislation crafted after Oregon families were denied benefits Thursday, October 31, 2013 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Fallen Wildland Firefighters Fair Compensation Act that would allow aerial and ground contracted firefighters to be covered for death and disability benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Act (PSOB). Currently, these benefits are granted to state and local police, firefighters, EMTs and also federally employed wildland firefighters, but not contracted wildland firefighters, even though 40% of firefighters who battle blazes on federal land are contracted. Senator Merkley crafted this legislation after hearing from families of contracted Oregon firefighters who had been killed in 2008 and were denied death benefits. “Every summer across Oregon, thousands of contract firefighters risk their lives fighting to protect our federal forests, grasslands, and lands,” said Merkley. “It is past time that we make sure that if the worst happens while on the job, the families of fallen firefighters are granted proper benefits.” Typically, contracted firefighters account for 10,000-15,000 people each year. While these men and women work and train right alongside of and even receive direction from the U.S. Forest Service, in the unfortunate event of death or traumatic injury, contract firefighters cannot receive comparable benefits to federal employees. This bill would give the surviving spouses and children of fallen firefighters the same survivor benefits that those of other firefighters and law enforcement receive. ### Print Email … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-vote-in-opposition-to-intelligence-committees-fisa-legislation | Wyden Statement on Vote in Opposition to Intelligence Committee’s FISA Legislation | 2013-10-31 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Thursday, October 31, 2013 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on legislation reported today by the Intelligence Committee. “More and more Americans are saying that they refuse to give up their constitutionally guaranteed liberties for the appearance of security: the Intelligence committee has passed a bill that ignores this message. It maintains business as usual instead of ending the bulk collection of Americans’ personal records, closing the back-door searches loophole that allows intelligence agencies to search for Americans’ communications without a warrant, ending the government’s reliance on secret surveillance law, and ensuring that courts can adequately review these authorities and the actions taken under them. I advocated for these principles in the Intelligence Committee, but unfortunately the bill reported today remains far from anything that could be considered meaningful reform. Instead, the Senate Intelligence Committee approved a bill that would codify overbroad surveillance practices that infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans without making America any safer. I voted against this legislation in committee, and I will strenuously oppose any similar attempts to codify overreaching government surveillance." The bill reported today from Intelligence Cmte remains far from anything that could be considered meaningful reform http://t.co/6GEX67nqB2 — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) October 31, 2013 | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blumenauer-welcomes-siv-hero-us | Blumenauer Welcomes SIV Hero to the US | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC Last night, Janis Shinwari, a translator who worked with American troops in Afghanistan, finally landed safely in the United States after an extended ordeal as he applied for a Special Immigrant Visa from the US government. Shinwari's story gained national attention following the long campaign by Army Capt. Matt Zeller to bring him to the US, which faced numerous pitfalls and spanned several years. This is an amazing day, said Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), one of the originators of the Special Immigrant Visa program and author of the recent extension to the program. Mr. Shinwari and his family stepping foot on American soil, free from the deadly pursuit of those who would do them harm for helping US soldiers, embodies a promise kept. But while he is an example of the SIV program eventually working, Blumenauer continued, there are still thousands of brave translators and their families stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not every applicant is lucky enough to have an effective and perseverant advocate like Matt Zeller. I will continue my efforts in Congress to ensure that the SIV programs are both extended and reformed, and also continue to put pressure on the administration, State Department, and other responsible agencies to make improvements to increase the efficiency and transparency of the programs. Blumenauer was able to amend the House National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2014 to include reforms for both SIV programs and is in close contact with members of the House and Senate to ensure that these provisions remain in the final bill and properly address the previous shortcomings of the SIV programs. He also introduced and passed a bill to extend the Iraq program through the end of the year, which prevented it from expiring as the House waits for the Senate to pass an NDAA that he anticipates will include a longer-term extension. He recently sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Hagel, Secretary of State Kerry, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Beers, Director of the Fe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/jaime-herrera-beutler-earl-blumenauer-introduce-bill-improve-northwest | Jaime Herrera Beutler, Earl Blumenauer Introduce Bill to Improve Northwest Salmon Habitat Restoration | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Bipartisan bill would empower local nonprofit restoration groups to complete habitat improvement projects, protecting northwest salmon WASHINGTON, DC Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) joined with Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to introduce the Fundamentally Improving Salmon Habitat (FISH) Act today, a bill that would improve efforts to restore salmon habitat in the Northwest. They were joined by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-OR) as original cosponsors of the legislation. In 2000, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked by Congress to carry out salmon restoration projects in the Northwest. However, small but critical projects are often not undertaken through this programbecause the process is too cumbersome for the large federal agency to carry them out in a cost-efficient manner. Meanwhile, well-established local organizationshave developed significant expertise and experiencein completing small salmon habitat restoration projects throughout Southwest Washington and Oregon. The FISH Act would designate any salmon restoration projects that cost less than $2 million as small' and authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to administer grants to local lead entities' to develop and construct these projects. Congress authorized $30,000,000 in 2000 for ecosystem restoration in the Lower Columbia River and Tillamook Bay estuaries in Washington and Oregon through Section 536 of the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with developing plans for projects in conjunction with states and lead entities. The goal of providing block grants to groups that are better equipped to handle these projects is to ensure than more salmon restoration can be completed. Significant expertise and experience from local lead entities' Over the last 13 years, more than 450 ecosystem restoration projects have been completed in the Lower Columbia region by these local nonprofit fish enhancement groups. Currently, 13 species of salmon… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/video-wyden-opening-statement-at-todays-conference-committee-on-the-budget | Video: Wyden Opening Statement at Today’s Conference Committee on the Budget | 2013-10-30 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | When elected to the U.S. Senate, Senator Ron Wyden pledged to hold at least one public town meeting in each of Oregon's 36 counties each year. Keeping that promise since 1996, Senator Wyden has held more than 800 town hall meetings across the state. Here you will also find information about some of Oregon's most popular sites and attractions, Oregon's Congressional Delegation, and more. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356966 | House Passes Schrader Bill to Combat Veterans ‘Pension Poaching’ | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | The House of Representatives has passed the Veterans Pension Protection Act to combat financial scams against retired military veterans and strengthen the Veterans Affairs (VA) pension program. The bipartisan bill, introduced by U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) and originally cosponsored by Congressmen Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Ron Barber (D-AZ), passed as part of a legislative package to reduce the backlog of VA disability claims and improve services for veterans. “This bipartisan legislation will prevent unethical financial advisors from preying on the pensions of our nation’s warriors, who sacrifice life and limb to guarantee the freedoms we all enjoy,” Rep. Schrader said. “Our veterans deserve our respect when they come home, and it is our duty to protect the benefits they and their families have earned and depend on.” The Veterans Pension Protect Act will address a common scam referred to as “pension poaching,” in which: · Unprincipled financial firms convince veterans to divert their assets into trusts or annuities by promising to help veterans qualify for VA pension benefits. · Firms profit from those trusts or annuities, though they are often poor investments that leave veterans without access to adequate financial resources. · Firms further profit by charging veterans exorbitant fees and selling them additional unnecessary and costly services. Since Veterans Affairs only considers net worth at the time a veteran applies for benefits, the Department cannot determine if an applicant has diverted assets in order to qualify. This legislation would close this loophole by creating a three-year “look-back” period to determine eligibility, similar to those already used to determine Social Security and Medicaid benefits. -###- | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://schrader.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=357113 | Schrader Donates Shutdown Pay to Oregon Food Bank | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Kurt Schrader | S001180 | schrader.house.gov | legacy | Schrader Donates Shutdown Pay to Oregon Food Bank f t # e Washington, October 29, 2013 'Thank you to everyone for your helpful input and suggestions. After much consideration, I chose to donate my shutdown salary to the Oregon Food Bank. I met with Oregon Food Bank’s Jeff Kleen this afternoon to present him with my donation.' -KURT f t # e | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://walden.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-unanimously-passes-greg-waldens-central-oregon-jobs-and-water | U.S. House unanimously passes Greg Walden's Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Republican | House | OR | Greg Walden | W000791 | walden.house.gov | legacy | U.S. House unanimously passes Greg Walden's Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act October 29, 2013 The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Greg Walden's (R-Ore.) Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act (H.R. 2640), which delivers needed water to Prineville for job creation, paves the way for clean energy at Bowman Dam, and gives life to important water conservation projects in the region. Passing this no-cost job creation plan is just common sense, which is why the House acted quickly to get this done for Central Oregon. The plan will create jobs in Crook County, cut through government red tape, help with clean energy generation, and improve water quality for fish and wildlife without costing taxpayers a penny. The clock is ticking, though. I urge the Senate to quickly consider and pass this legislation to finally get this done for Central Oregon, Walden said. The bill would fix a boundary line error at Bowman Dam, paving the way for construction of a small scale hydropower facility at the base of the dam. It would also provide job-creating water for the city of Prineville to attract additional projects like Facebook and Apple. Walden introduced this common-sense legislation in July 2013. The bill is identical to last year's version which passed the U.S. House unanimously in June 2012. It was not brought before the U.S. Senate for a vote last year. Background on the Central Oregon Jobs and Water Security Act Water for job creation in Crook County The bill allows Prineville to utilize up to 5,100 acre feet of water from Prineville Reservoir, or about 6 percent of the total unallocated water behind the dam (80,000 acre feet). The water certainty would allow Prineville to entice new technology opportunities like Facebook and Apple, and service all of the homes within city limits. Crook County's unemployment rate of 12.6 percent is the highest in the state. Clean energy and new jobs at Bowman Dam The bill would also clear the way for small-scale hydropower production at the base of Bowman … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/media_center/media/view/?id=66b35c2b-9a8a-c25f-4a31-2848fb498732 | Merkley: Washington Must Focus on Manufacturing | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley says its time for Washington to focus on manufacturing and help to create living wage jobs. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.merkley.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=0032f850-c3bd-4341-a811-d745724d5884 | Merkley Joins Effort to Focus Washington on Manufacturing Jobs | 2013-10-29 | 2013 | 2013-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Merkley Joins Effort to Focus Washington on Manufacturing Jobs Manufacturing Jobs for America plan features 40 bills from 22 senators Tuesday, October 29, 2013 WASHINGTON – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley joined 21 of his colleagues to launch a campaign to get Washington to refocus on manufacturing jobs. The Manufacturing Jobs for America initiative aims to build bipartisan support for legislation that will modernize America’s manufacturing sector, help American manufacturers grow and create jobs, and assist American workers in getting the skills to succeed in the next generation of manufacturing jobs. Together, the lawmakers have contributed 40 bills — many with bipartisan support — to the effort around four organizing principles: Strengthening America’s 21st century workforce Opening markets abroad Creating the conditions necessary for growth Expanding access to capital “A living wage job is the best possible foundation for a family,” Merkley said. “The tax and trade policies of the last few decades have shipped millions of jobs overseas and have been terrible for Oregon’s working families. Washington can and should do a lot to expand manufacturing, because if we don’t build things in America, we won’t have a middle class in America.” The initiative’s focus on manufacturing reflects the sector’s reputation for providing high-quality jobs that lead to gains throughout the economy. Workers in manufacturing jobs earn 22 percent more in annual pay and benefits than the average worker in other industries, according to the National Association of Manufacturers. Every new manufacturing job created adds another 1.6 jobs to the local service economy, and for every dollar in manufacturing sales, another $1.34 is added to the economy. Investments in manufacturing have a stronger impact than investments in any other economic sector. The package of bills includes two bills written by Merkley: the BUILD Career and Technical Education Act, which would support career and t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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