Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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1,537 rows where chamber = "House", state = "OR" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending
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party 2
- Democrat 1,357
- Republican 180
year 1
- 2020 · 1,537 ✖
state 1
- OR · 1,537 ✖
chamber 1
- House · 1,537 ✖
| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/2020-year-disruptions-good-and-ill | 2020: A year of disruptions, for good and ill | 2020-12-31 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | The Feb. 19 arrest sparked outrage, including from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Beaverton Democrat whose House district includes all of Washington County. Bonamici has lobbied without success for Congress to pass a bill she has sponsored to keep ICE away from bus stops, schools, courthouses and other "sensitive locations." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/minority-group-leaders-discuss-covid-19-vaccine-equity-oregon | Minority group leaders discuss COVID-19 vaccine equity in Oregon | 2020-12-31 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | The livestream discussion lasted more than two hours, including recorded remarks from Oregon's US Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/increasing-pentagon-spending-when-people-are-going-hungry-madness | Increasing Pentagon Spending When People Are Going Hungry Is Madness | 2020-12-30 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | In addition to Khanna, the Democrats who cast no votes were: California's Mark DeSaulnier, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, and Barbara Lee; Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard; Illinois's Chuy Garcia; Oregon's Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici; Massachusetts's Joe Kennedy, Jim McGovern, and Ayanna Pressley; Michigan's Rashida Tlaib; Minnesota's Ilhan Omar; New York's Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Washington's Pramila Jayapal; and Wisconsin's Mark Pocan. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/community-invited-discuss-equitable-vaccine-distribution-experts-elected-officials | Community Invited to Discuss Equitable Vaccine Distribution with Experts, Elected Officials | 2020-12-29 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | The discussion features greetings from US Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and US Senator Ron Wyden. Speakers include: Susheela Jayapal, Multnomah County Commissioner; Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority Director; Pam Treece, Washington County Commissioner; and Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County Health Department Public Health Director. Moderators for the discussion are Juwairyah Syed, Chair of the OIA STEM Program, and Ronault Polo Catalani, Creative Writer and Founder of New Portland Foundation. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://www.merkley.senate.gov/news/in-the-news/climate-emergency-oregon-sen-merkley-calls-for-national-declaration | Climate Emergency: Oregon Sen. Merkley calls for national declaration | 2020-12-26 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Jeff Merkley | M001176 | www.merkley.senate.gov | legacy | Climate Emergency: Oregon Sen. Merkley calls for national declaration Saturday, December 26, 2020 Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is urging the incoming Biden administration to declare a national climate emergency, he said would unlock powerful tools to address the climate crisis. Merkley outlined his recommendations in an op-ed published Dec. 21 by The Washington Post. Too many Americans are experiencing the wrath of climate-related disasters firsthand," Merkley wrote. "These disasters are killing our citizens, bankrupting businesses, endangering our national security and threatening to leave our children a world of growing scarcity and conflict. The climate crisis is an emergency, and President-elect Joe Biden needs to treat it that way. That means using every tool available to him, including declaring a national climate emergency and using emergency powers to take unilateral executive action. According to Merkley, declaring climate chaos a national emergency under the National Emergency Act (NEA) would unlock powers that would allow the United States to take significant, concrete actions, regardless of congressional gridlock. Specifically, the declaration would allow the president to redirect spending to build out renewable energy systems, help put large-scale clean transportation solutions in place, and finance distributed energy projects to boost climate resiliency. Each of these steps would help safeguard communities across America and slash the harmful pollution that continues to drive the climate crisis. Merkley also explained in his op-ed that the Defense Protection Act (DPA) would help address the national security threats posed by our climate crisis and strengthen emergency preparedness in America by supporting the construction of resilient energy infrastructure and mobilizing domestic industry to ramp up the manufacturing of clean energy technologies. These are necessary steps to protect Americans from the coming deluge of violent storms and extreme weather events on … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/year-review-student-loan-forgiveness-legislation | Year In Review: Student Loan Forgiveness Legislation | 2020-12-24 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | Streamlining Income-driven, Manageable Payments on Loans for Education (SIMPLE) Act (H.R. 3833). Introduced by Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) with 5 cosponsors on 7/18/2019, this bipartisan bill automates the updating of income information for borrowers in income-driven repayment plans. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-key-wins-for-everyone-who-relies-on-oregons-waterways-and-ports | Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Wins for Everyone who Relies on Oregon’s Waterways and Ports | 2020-12-23 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 23, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce Key Wins for Everyone who Relies on Oregon's Waterways and Ports After last-minute legislative push, bill will increase funding to nearly all Oregon ports WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkleywho serves on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and on the Senate Appropriations Committeeand Ron Wyden today announced that the full Senate has passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which includes a number of key provisions that will benefit Oregonians. As we continue to work to beat back the coronavirus and rebuild our economies after this devastating year, we must focus on creating the strong foundation our communities need to be healthy and thrive, said Merkley, who authorizes these projects through his role on the Environment and Public Works Committee, and then funds them through his role on the Appropriations Committee. That's why I fought to ensure that this year's WRDA bill will help us safeguard Oregon's incredible waterways, and make key investments in the harbors and ports that our coastal economies rely on. Much of Oregon's economy flows through our state's ports and harbors, and these investments help provide coastal communities a much-needed lifeline to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic, Wyden said. I'm gratified these resources are headed to Oregon waterways and will keep working to support these job-creating assets throughout our state. The WRDA bill provides authorizations for studies and projects that upgrade infrastructure like jetties, levees, and breakwaters in Oregon's communities, such as West Linn and Coos Bay-North Bend, as well as critical funding for ports, such as the Port of Astoria, Port of Bandon, and Port Orford. The bill unlocks the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) by providing the authority to appropriate $2 billion in additional funds annually for harbor maintenance needs from… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://blumenauer.house.gov/media-center/enewsletters/help-way-much-more-needed | Help is on the way. Much more is needed. | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Earl Blumenauer | B000574 | blumenauer.house.gov | legacy | Yesterday, Congress finally passed another bill to help the millions of families and small businesses who are struggling to make ends meet. After so many months of obstruction by Senate Republicans, I'm relieved that additional help is on the way to Oregonians. This long-overdue legislation is by no means perfect. But it will help people put food on the table, stay in their homes, and keep small businesses afloat until we can work with the Biden-Harris administration on further support. In the short-term, some of the things we secured include: A one-time $600 direct cash payment to adults with annual incomes up to $75,000, plus another $600 per child. A family of four could receive $2,400. However, this is still inadequate and I will continue to fight for larger, re-occurring payments. An additional $300/week in increased unemployment benefits for those who have lost jobs. This is a start, but we need to enhance and extend this. An extension of the CDC's eviction moratorium, along with $25 billion in funds that will help people make rent. $13 billion to help more families have food to eat throughout the crisis. $69 billion to speed-up distribution of the vaccine in Oregon and across the country. $325 billion to help small businesses stay open and keep people employed. I was able to secure some relief for local, independent restaurants, though much more is still needed to save our beloved neighborhood spots. We're still working to pass our RESTAURANTS Act, that already passed the House and has more than 50 co-sponsors in the Senate. In the meantime, we want to get information out about this bill quickly. My website will have new resources posted as they become available. And please remember, we are here to help. You can always call my office at (503) 231-2300. As we look ahead to the new year, I want to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/oregonians-wait-see-if-trump-signs-relief-bill-and-if-it-includes-600-or-2000 | Oregonians wait to see if Trump signs relief bill and if it includes $600 or $2,000 checks | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | legacy | "Right now, people need relief, not political posturing. On Monday I will vote to increase the direct payments, and I hope that change passes. But no matter what happens, Trump must sign the bill and get help to our communities," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, on Thursday. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-investments-in-rural-communities-included-in-spending-bill | Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Rural Communities Included in Spending Bill | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 22, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce Investments in Rural Communities Included in Spending Bill Merkley co-authored agriculture spending bill included in the fiscal year 2021 omnibus bill passed by Congress WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkleywho serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture and rural developmentand Ron Wyden today announced that the Senate has passed a fiscal year 2021 agriculture spending bill that will benefit Oregon's farms and families. The next step for the bill is to be signed into law by the president. In every corner of our state, I've heard about the need for investments in our farms and rural industries, affordable housing, and good-paying jobsespecially as the coronavirus crisis' toll on our health and economy continues to deepen, said Merkley, who co-authored the agriculture appropriations bill. I fought hard to ensure that those insights, and the specific ideas and priorities Oregonians have shared with me, would make it into this bill, so we can strengthen the vitality of our communities and keep delivering the world-class agricultural products Oregon is known for. Building the strongest possible quality of life throughout Oregon requires robust investment to support signature job-creating state industries such as agriculture and fishing, while also ensuring rural residents have housing they can afford, Wyden said. I'm glad this bill helps to achieve all those goals that Oregonians have shared with me on Zoom calls, virtual town halls and socially distanced conversations during this most challenging year. Merkley is the only Oregon member of Congress from either chamber since Senator Mark Hatfield a generation ago to serve on the Appropriations Committee, considered to be one of the most powerful on Capitol Hill. He joined the committee in 2013 so that Oregon would have a strong voice in decisions about the inv… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-major-investments-in-oregon-communities-included-in-spending-package | Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Oregon Communities Included in Spending Package | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 22, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce Major Investments in Oregon Communities Included in Spending Package The fiscal year 2021 omnibus bill passed by Congress includes investments in natural resources, small ports, transportation, housing, and more Washington, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkleywho serves on the Senate Appropriations Committeeand Ron Wyden today announced a wide range of investments that will benefit Oregon and are included in the fiscal year 2021 spending bill that has passed the Senate. The next step is for the president to sign the bill into law. Taken together, the investments announced by the senators impact virtually all communities in every corner of the state, addressing some of Oregonians' biggest challenges. The provisions highlighted include only a fraction of those in the omnibus package that benefit Oregon, including health care, education, science and conservation, and more. These bills include key investments to create jobs in the woods and reduce wildfire risk. They support stakeholders working on collaborative water solutions so family farms have the irrigation water they need to make it to the next generation. They will create new housing where it's desperately needed, help modernize infrastructure without burdening ratepayers, support port dredging on the coast, and keep small airports open for business, Merkley said. Government is supposed to be how all of usWe the Peoplecome together to solve problems and build a better future, and I'm trying to make sure Oregonians' voices and priorities are reflected in our investment decisions. Oregonians in every nook and cranny of our state are hurting from the devastating blows delivered in 2020. I've heard their concerns throughout this challenging year over Zoom, virtual town halls and socially distant conversations, and I'm glad to report this bill will open doors for new jobs, housing, water solutions for smal… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-crapo-short-line-rail-efforts-included-in-end-of-year-package | Wyden, Crapo Short Line Rail Efforts Included in End-of-year Package | 2020-12-22 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 22, 2020 Wyden, Crapo Short Line Rail Efforts Included in End-of-year Package Washington, D.C.--A long-term, bipartisan effort by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) to permanently extend a critical tax credit used to repair and upgrade short line railroads was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 omnibus package. Shortline railroads play a critical role in creating good-paying jobs throughout Oregon, said Wyden. Permanently extending this tax incentive to rehabilitate and maintain these tracks, after years of effort, is critical to growing Oregon's economy, and ensuring small businesses have accessible transportation options to move their goods to market. I greatly appreciate Senator Crapo's longtime partnership on this issue, which is so important for both our states. Access to affordable and reliable options for transporting goods to markets is an important part of Idaho small businesses' success and ability to grow and innovate, said Crapo. All over the country, short line railroads act almost like arteries, connecting freight from rural areas to the heart of our major transportation lines, and they have proven quite instrumental at moving Idaho goods to customers worldwide as part of the COVID-19 pandemic response. Witnessing first-hand the economic expansion efforts this industry has brought to Idaho and the nation has been incredible. I have been a longtime champion of the short line rail tax credit, and its permanent extension is excellent news for supporting critical infrastructure. I thank Senator Wyden for his partnership on this effort. Making the short line railroad rehabilitation tax credit (45G) permanent is a tremendous victory for the thousands of agricultural, energy, and manufacturing customers throughout Idaho, Oregon, and the entire country that rely on short line service, said Chuck Baker, President of American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. Making the credit permanent after 15 years of on-again off-again extensions will create… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-helps-secure-relief-unemployment-benefits-cash-assistance-oregonians | Bonamici Helps Secure Relief, Unemployment Benefits, Cash Assistance for Oregonians | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [12/21/20] –Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici helped the House pass bipartisan legislation to provide needed relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. "The pandemic has raged for nearly a year, threatening the health of Oregonians and pushing many working families to the brink of financial collapse," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "The heartbreaking loss of life and economic damage inflicted by COVID-19 demand bold action from Congress. I've long fought for additional economic relief that meets the scale and scope of this crisis. Although I am grateful that this package will put some money directly into the hands of Oregonians and help stave off some of the worst effects of the pandemic, I acknowledge that there is still more to be done. "Fortunately many frontline health care workers in Oregon and across the country have already received vaccinations, but we know it's going to take a massive effort to make vaccines available to all. This relief package will accelerate the distribution of vaccines, improve testing, and help overcome the barriers faced by communities of color. "The bill passed today also includes a critical extension of unemployment insurance for nearly 72,000 Oregonians, and a $300 per week enhancement of the benefits, which will help provide a lifeline to so many people who are out of work. Additionally, the bill provides a new round of $600 direct payments for individuals and families, including many families who were previously denied assistance because of the immigration status of a household member. This is much less than the ongoing, direct cash assistance to Oregon families I've been advocating for throughout the pandemic, and it is infuriating that we could not convince Senate Republicans to provide more direct relief to people in such dire need. "This new relief package also expands support for small businesses, which are the lifeblood of our communities and our economy. There are provisions to help independent venues, the arts, nonprofit organizations, and more. U… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-young-deutch-bill-strengthen-marine-energy-passes-house | Bonamici, Young, Deutch Bill to Strengthen Marine Energy Passes House | 2020-12-21 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [12/21/20] –Today the House passed bipartisan legislation to increase federal investments in marine energy led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Don Young (R-AK), and Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL). The Water Power Research and Development Act strengthens water power programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) and provides funding for research, development, demonstration, and commercialization of marine energy. The legislation passed the House as part of a funding and COVID relief package. It will authorize $186.6 million for the DOE Water Power Technologies Office over the next four years, including $137.4 million for federal investments in marine energy. "Our ocean holds tremendous potential to mitigate the climate crisis, but for too long the power of waves, tides, and currents has been an untapped clean energy resource," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "We must expedite our transition to a 100 percent clean energy economy, and scaling up the development of marine energy technologies can help sustainably power our homes, buildings, and communities, and also create good-paying jobs. I am thrilled that our Water Power Research and Development Act will be signed into law because it will accelerate innovative research and development, including the efforts of Oregon State University and the Pacific Marine Energy Center. I appreciate the support and collaboration of Rep. Don Young and Rep. Ted Deutch in moving this bill forward." "Hydropower is crucially important to Alaska, and I am very proud that the Water Power Research and Development Act has made it into the final omnibus package. I have long supported harnessing Alaska's vast hydropower capabilities. I was very proud to support projects such as the Terror Lake Hydroelectric Plant and the Swan Lake Hydroelectric Project. Both of these ventures are generating energy, and sustaining good-paying jobs in our communities," said Congressman Don Young. "As a nation, we need to get serious about helping renewables compete on a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-covid-relief-bill-contains-multiple-wins-for-oregon-families-and-small-business | Wyden: COVID Relief Bill Contains Multiple Wins for Oregon Families and Small Business | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 20, 2020 Wyden: COVID Relief Bill Contains Multiple Wins for Oregon Families and Small Business Senator cites gains in top priorities he pressed for in relief package to help Oregonians with broadband, improved access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said tonght that the COVID relief bill contains significant Oregon wins for top priorities he fought to include for families and small business -- broadband assistance, help for renters, improved access to capital for women and minority-owned businesses, and more. Those gains, he said, come in addition to the relief package's provisions Wyden negotiated on unemployment insurance for Oregonians who are out of work through no fault of their own, health policy and tax incentives made permanent for craft beverage producers. Oregon families and small businesses face a holiday season like few others in American history more than nine months into this public health crisis and its devastating economic impact, said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. I'm glad this package will provide relief on multiple fronts statewide and will keep pressing in the new year to get Oregon communities all the help that's needed to weather this crisis. Wyden highlighted these following additional provisions in the package: Based on Wyden's Emergency Broadband Connections Act, $3.2 billion will be provided to keep working families connected to the internet. It provides $50 a month for broadband access to anyone laid off or furloughed during the pandemic critical assistance for Americans needing broadband connections to get new jobs, and to have access to school, health care and other government services. Establishment of the first-ever emergency federal rental assistance program to be distributed by state and local governments. These funds will be targeted to families in Oregon and nationwide aff… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-the-broadband-provisions-in-covid-relief-package | Wyden Statement on the Broadband Provisions in COVID Relief Package | 2020-12-20 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 20, 2020 Wyden Statement on the Broadband Provisions in COVID Relief Package Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on the broadband provisions in the COVID relief package, which include hisEmergency Broadband Connections Act, providing $3.2 billion to keep working families connected to the internet. It provides a $50 a month emergency broadband benefit for anyone laid off or furloughed during the pandemic: Broadband connections are essential for Americans seeking to get new jobs, and to access school, health care and other government services. Ensuring working families can stay online will pay massive dividends for kids' education, helping people find jobs and jump starting the economic recovery next year. The provision mirrors sections of the HEROES Act, which passed the House of Representatives in May.Wyden also applauded the inclusion of $1 billion in grants for Tribal broadband programs and $300 million for broadband infrastructure grants. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bipartisan-save-our-seas-20-act-signed-law | Bipartisan Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Signed into Law | 2020-12-18 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska), today welcomed the signing of the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive legislation ever passed by Congress to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal ecosystems and communities, and harming marine life. "Across the globe, our widespread use of plastics is polluting our ocean and exacerbating the climate crisis," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Save Our Seas 2.0 is an important step to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program and invest in infrastructure to prevent the mismanagement of plastic waste, and I am glad it was signed into law. I will continue working with my fellow House and Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to advance comprehensive action to minimize the production of new plastics, remove waste, reduce pollution, and protect the health of our ocean." "After two years of collaboration, hard work and advocacy, I am incredibly excited to announce that the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act is now the law of the land," said Senator Sullivan. "This historic accomplishment is the result of so many people who love our oceans: members of Congress who span the country and political spectrum, members of the administration, stakeholders in industry and environmental groups, and everyday citizens. SOS 2.0 will improve America's ability to clean up waste, advance international cooperation with nations responsible for the majority of trash entering the oceans, and explore innovative ways to manage and even reuse plastic waste. This bill will be particularly important for Alaska, a state that disproportionately experiences the impact of ocean debris with our thousands of miles of coastline. I commend President Trump for signing SOS 2.0 into law, and I also thank my colleagues—Sheldon Whitehouse, Bob Menendez, Suzanne Bonamici, Don Young, and all of the other cosponsors—for being such strong partners and champions … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-presses-for-relief-for-foster-youth-facing-unique-covid-19-challenges | Wyden Presses for Relief for Foster Youth Facing Unique COVID-19 Challenges | 2020-12-16 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 16, 2020 Wyden Presses for Relief for Foster Youth Facing Unique COVID-19 Challenges Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide relief for young people in the foster care system as they continue to face a number of unique challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. In a letter to Assistant Secretary Lynn Johnson, Wyden and 11 other senators asked that HHS work with states to extend relief to foster families and implement temporary and long-term changes to help foster youth weather this crisis and secure a better future. Almost all families in the United States have had to make significant adjustments in their daily lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, for the children and young adults in our nation's foster care system, periods of change and adjustment are not new, the senators wrote.Foster youth have survived a lifetime of uncertainty before and after entering foster care. The serious health challenges and economic downturn brought by the COVID-19 pandemic have merely exacerbated existing challenges faced by the approximately 424,000 children in the foster care system and the more than 20,400 young adults whoage out'of foster care each year. As of December10, 2020,over 70million applications for unemployment benefits had been filed since March 21, 2020. Given this high unemployment ratethe highest we have seen in the U.S. in recent memorywe are increasingly concerned about the potentially dire consequences foster youth may face during the economic recession brought on by the pandemic,they continued.Even before the public health emergency, only about half of youth aging out of the foster care system each year were anticipated to have some form of gainful employment by the age of 24. We believe that if temporary changes are made to strengthen support and resources for foster youth, they will be better equipped to pursue their goals and become active members of our nation's workforce. In their letter, th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-senators-press-trump-administration-on-decision-not-to-pre-order-more-doses-of-pfizer-covid-19-vaccine-need-for-transparent-plan-going-forward- | Wyden, Merkley, Senators Press Trump Administration On Decision Not to Pre-Order More Doses of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, Need for Transparent Plan Going Forward | 2020-12-14 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 14, 2020 Wyden, Merkley, Senators Press Trump Administration On Decision Not to Pre-Order More Doses of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, Need for Transparent Plan Going Forward Reporting revealed the Trump Administration turned down an option this summer to pre-order additional doses Pfizer's vaccine Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today asked top Operation Warp Speed officials about recent reports that earlier this year the Trump Administration declined to buy additional doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine when given the opportunity. The letter from Wyden, Merkley and 16 other senators to Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Chief Advisor of Operation Warp Speed, and General Gustave Perna, Chief Operating Office of Operation Warp Speed, expresses concern about the Trump Administration's lack of planning and transparency, and presses for more information about the Administration's preparations to purchase vaccines. We write to you about reports the United States Government declined to exercise its option to purchase additional doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine earlier this year, the senators wrote. We are concerned the failure to secure an adequate supply of vaccines will needlessly prolong the COVID-19 pandemic in this country, causing further loss of life and economic devastation. We fear this is yet another instance in which the Trump Administration's failure to develop a comprehensive national vaccines plan in a timely manner could jeopardize efforts to get people vaccinated and ultimately end this pandemic. The letter continued, To earn public confidence, demonstrate accountability, and ensure the incoming Biden Administration has the information it needs to hit the ground running in getting our COVID-19 response on track, the Administration must be more transparent about its preparations, as well as how much funding is available, and is needed, to purchase, distribute, and administer … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-western-senators-push-senate-leadership-to-provide-housing-assistance-to-communities-impacted-by-2020-wildfires- | Merkley, Wyden, Western Senators Push Senate Leadership To Provide Housing Assistance To Communities Impacted by 2020 Wildfires | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 11, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Western Senators Push Senate Leadership To Provide Housing Assistance To Communities Impacted by 2020 Wildfires WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden teamed up with with U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to push Senate leaders to deliver critical housing assistance to Americans struggling to find reliable shelter in the wake of catastrophic wildfire damage in western states. This year alone, fires in the west burned over 5.8 million acres, claimed over 30 lives, and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes. The current wildfires will further exacerbate an already critical affordable housing shortage impacting western states. Oregon, California, and Washington are short over 1.2 million affordable rental housing units, and have an average of 75% of extremely low income renter households dealing with severe cost burden, the senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby and Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy. State resources and funding were already seriously strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, and are now completely depleted by weeks of fighting some of the most dangerous and widespread fires on record. With nowhere else to turn, western states are looking to the Senate to deliver critical housing relief, the lawmakers continued. The senators' request includes $15 billion for Community Development Block Grants, $3 billion for the National Housing Trust Fund, $2 billion in Emergency Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Funding, and $1 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development and Rural Housing Service. The letter also included specific program guidance to ensure the funds would put much-needed housing assistance funding in the hands of people significantly impacted by fire; help incentivize and prioritize affordable housing r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-votes-no-on-defense-policy-bill-12-11-2020 | Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill | 2020-12-11 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 11, 2020 Wyden Votes No on Defense Policy Bill Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after voting against the conference report on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): I want to be clear that I support plenty of provisions in this NDAA. I evenintroducedor negotiated some of the language to improve the bill like anti-money laundering provisions and amendments to push the Pentagon toward encrypting its computers and require the Army to provide a plan to finish cleaning up the former Umatilla Army Depot. The conference report will also set in motion a three-year process to remove Confederate names from military assets. I would have preferred a shorter timeline, but I am glad that Congress will be taking this overdue step to ensure that military bases do not honor traitors who fought to defend the horrific institution of slavery. Because of the time and effort that Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed and other individuals put into this package, this year's NDAA contains some invaluable provisions of which the American people should be deeply proud. I thank Senator Reed for his tireless work. But I cannot in good conscience authorize $740 billion in military spendingincluding roughly $70 billion to continue the forever warswhile Senate Republicans are offering mere crumbs to help folks stay safe from a raging pandemic and help small businesses stay afloat during this unprecedented time. This bill also does nothing to prevent Donald Trump or any future president from sending federal agents to occupy American cities and treating peaceful protestors like foreign enemies, just as Trump did in Portland this summer. I regret that these and other flaws mean that I must continue to oppose this NDAA. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-casey-release-new-report-showing-nursing-home-rates-of-death-and-infection-are-rising-rapidly | Wyden, Casey Release New Report Showing Nursing Home Rates of Death and Infection are Rising Rapidly | 2020-12-10 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 10, 2020 Wyden, Casey Release New Report Showing Nursing Home Rates of Death and Infection are Rising Rapidly Washington, D.C. As the nation enters what experts predict will be the most severe months of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of COVID-19 deaths and infections among residents and workers in nursing homes is rapidly rising. Today, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, and Bob Casey (D-PA), Ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging, are releasing a report that shows that the already dire situation in nursing homes is worsening. In November, more than 15 nursing home residents died from COVID-19 per hour, with 19 residents dying each hour during the week of November 22, 2020, the most recent week reported. The number of weekly COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents has increased 133 percent since Labor Day, and 96 percent among nursing home workers during the same period. Workforce shortages have increased since Labor Day: In November, one in six nursing homes nationwide reported that they do not have a sufficient workforce. These new findings serve as a warning for what is to come if Congress does not come together to alleviate the COVID-19 crisis in nursing homes. It's with great sadness that we are once again giving a grim update on the toll that COVID-19 is continuing to take on nursing homes. It's abundantly clear that inaction has contributed to the loss of more than 104,000 mothers, fathers, grandparents, friends and neighbors who lived and worked in nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the country, said Senators Wyden and Casey. Experts are predicting that we are heading into the most severe months of the COVID-19 pandemic, marred by climbing caseloads and increasing stress on our Nation's health care system. We are once again calling on our colleagues to work with us to pass a comprehensive COVID relief bill to bring urgently needed help to nursing homes, residents and workers. Since the b… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-portman-introduce-open-courts-act-to-reform-federal-court-record-system-to-ensure-easy-and-free-use-for-all-americans | Wyden, Portman Introduce Open Courts Act to Reform Federal Court Record System to Ensure Easy & Free Use For All Americans | 2020-12-10 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 10, 2020 Wyden, Portman Introduce Open Courts Act to Reform Federal Court Record System to Ensure Easy & Free Use For All Americans WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have introduced the Open Courts Act to reform the federal government's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER), a database of federal judicial filings. This consensus legislation builds off the Electronic Court Records Reform Act that Wyden and Portman introduced in 2019. The PACER system is outdated and charges exorbitant fees to users. This bill will reform PACER to solve these problems and ensure easy and free public access to federal government court records. Representatives Doug Collins (R-GA) and Hank Johnson (D-GA) are leading the legislation in the House of Representatives. For far too long, unnecessary paywalls have kept the American people from freely accessing public court records. The Open Courts Act will deliver a long-overdue upgrade to PACER, totaling a savings of more than a hundred million dollars a year in operating costs. Federal courts will then be able to remove burdensome paywalls and provide the public, including researchers and journalists, with free access to public court documents,Wyden said. PACER was intended to create a level playing field for small-time litigants, small business, civil society, journalists, and citizens who care about transparency in government, said Senator Portman. However, with its frustrating interface and fees, PACER has done the opposite. The American people should have easy access to the court records of their country, and this bipartisan, consensus legislation will fix the problem once and for all by putting in place a free, streamlined system with an emphasis on security, accessibility, affordability, and performance. NOTE: This legislation will resolve three issues with the PACER system: PACER aggregates 319 million legal documents across 94 district courts and 13 appellate circuits, but it has no uniform way of fi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-chu-and-bonamici-praise-reports-nomination-katherine-tai-us-trade | Reps. Chu and Bonamici Praise Reports of Nomination of Katherine Tai for US Trade Representative | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Following reports that Katherine Tai, Chief Trade Counsel for the House Ways and Means Committee, has been nominated by President-elect Joe Biden to serve as United States Trade Representative, Reps. Judy Chu (CA-27), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), a member of the USMCA Working Group, issued the following statements praising the nomination: "Katherine Tai is immensely qualified to be our next trade ambassador," said Rep. Bonamici. "Her diplomatic skills and subject matter expertise have earned her the respect of Congress, labor and environmental leaders, and the trade community at large. President-elect Biden will be well served by her representing the American people in global negotiations as U.S. Trade Representative." "While still not confirmed, I'm thrilled to hear reports that Katherine Tai will be nominated to be our next US Trade Representative," said Rep. Chu. "From our work together on Ways and Means, I have seen firsthand Ms. Tai's skill and experience with trade deals and have been impressed by her work on the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement, as well as her vast knowledge of the current and coming trade challenges. Through her work as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement at USTR, Ms. Tai has also demonstrated her commitment to enforcing trade deals that work for the United States. That's why Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and I led a letter to President-Elect Biden with 10 women members urging the nomination of Katherine Tai. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-help-for-working-class-in-covid-19-relief-proposal | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Help for Working Class in COVID-19 Relief Proposal | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 09, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge Help for Working Class in COVID-19 Relief Proposal WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined four of their colleagues in urgingtheir fellow senatorsto recognize the enormity of the economic and public-health crisis posed by the pandemic, by ensuring that any COVID-19 relief proposal includes $1,200 in direct payments to adults and $500 to their children, and rejecting any provisions that give liability shields to corporations that threaten the health and safety of their workers and customers. In a letter to theSenate Democratic Caucus, the senators note that COVID-19 is infecting nearly 200,000 Americans and killing 2,000 Americans daily, and argue that a bipartisan proposal under negotiation does not go anywhere near far enough, as America experiences the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Only $348 billion in new money is currently allocated in that proposal, the Senators point out, even though the Trump Administration and a bipartisan coalition in the House supported over $1.8 trillion in COVID-19 relief that also included another $1,200 direct payment. It would be unacceptable to take a major step backwards from those previous efforts by passing legislation that only included $348 billion in new money,the senators wrote. The lawmakers further expressed their opposition to a get-out-of-jail free card to companies that put the lives of their workers and customers at risk currently under consideration in a bipartisan COVID-19 relief measure, and cited concerns from labor groups that granting immunity would make the country less safe at the exact moment when the COVID-19 pandemic is entering a new, dangerous phase. The letter's signatories also registered their agreement with President-elect Biden that a $1,200 direct payment should be included in this proposal, as over half of American workers live paycheck to paycheck and one in four are either unemployed or make less than $20,000 a year, while mil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-colleagues-press-fbi-and-dhs-for-information-on-qanon-threat-posed-to-america-and-abroad | Wyden, Colleagues Press FBI and DHS for Information on QAnon Threat Posed to America and Abroad | 2020-12-09 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 09, 2020 Wyden, Colleagues Press FBI and DHS for Information on QAnon Threat Posed to America and Abroad Letter seeks answers on how QAnon operations peddle dangerous conspiracy theories Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today joined his colleagues in requesting from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a written assessment to Congress on the threat posed by QAnon in the United States and abroad. The senators also requested information on the role of foreign influence operations in the inception and amplification of QAnon conspiracy theories. In a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Principal Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Joseph Maher, the senators wrote, QAnon conspiracy theories have inspired acts of domestic extremism and violence, sought to undermine democratic institutions, and contributed to hatred in the United States and overseas. There is also reporting indicating that foreign influence operations have contributed to the dissemination of QAnon conspiracy theories. QAnon has been active in attacking America's democratic institutions by disseminating false and dangerous conspiracy theories, includingabout the November 2020 presidential election. Recent reports also indicate that foreign influence operations have contributed to theamplification of QAnon conspiracy theories resulting in dangerous misinformation campaigns. [W]e request that you provide to Congress a written assessment of the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad, and on the role of foreign influence operations in the inception and amplification of QAnon conspiracy theories. We further request that this assessment be made public, with any classified matters provided separately to Congress through appropriate channels, the senators concluded. The letter, led by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-feds-to-begin-expedited-review-of-klamath-dam-removal-plan | Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Begin Expedited Review of Klamath Dam Removal Plan | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 08, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Urge Feds to Begin Expedited Review of Klamath Dam Removal Plan Letter: Timely removal of these dams is critical to tribes in the Klamath Basin, West Coast fishing and recreation communities, and farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon and Northern California. Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today wrote federal regulators to urge consideration of an amended application for the Lower Klamath Project and begin environmental reviews as soon as possible of the plan's four proposed dam removals. The Oregon senators' letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Secretary Kimberly D. Bose comes in the wake of the Nov. 17 announcement by Oregon and California agreeing to become co-licensees with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) in the dam removal project. Wyden and Merkley wrote in a letter with two other lawmakers that the KRRC has a plan, schedule and resources in place to implement the settlement, and has the financial capacity to take over the Lower Klamath Project and subsequently remove the dams. Additionally, KRRC's amended application demonstrates that there is a sufficient body of environmental documentation to allow for expedited environmental review, they wrote. Removal of the Lower Klamath Project is necessary for the health and vitality of the Klamath River System broadly, which for decades has had fish passage blocked, experienced repeated harmful algal blooms, and seen conflicts between various stakeholder groups. Timely removal of these dams is critical to tribes in the Klamath Basin, West Coast fishing and recreation communities, and farmers and ranchers in Southern Oregon and Northern California, Wyden and Merkley wrote. In addition to Wyden and Merkley, others signing the letter are U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA). The entire letter is below. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary F… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-neguse-lead-call-for-wildfire-relief-funds-to-be-included-in-next-covid-19-relief-package | Wyden, Neguse Lead Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package | 2020-12-08 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 08, 2020 Wyden, Neguse Lead Call for Wildfire Relief Funds to be Included in Next COVID-19 Relief Package Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Rep.Joe Neguse, D-Colo.,todayled their colleagues in sending a letter toHouse and Senate leadership requesting that funds for wildfire risk mitigation and recovery efforts be included in the next COVID-19 relief package. Entire communities in Oregon and across the West were leveled to ash in the wake of this year's wildfire seasonlives lost and homes and small businesses destroyed, and all on top of a life-threatening global pandemic,Wyden said.With the blow 2020 delivered to these communities, Congress has a responsibility to provide for their recovery and invest in preventing future devastation. A record 2020 wildfire season has forced thousands of evacuations, threatened air and water quality, and destroyed homes and businesses. Communities that have been fighting the public health and economic impacts of COVID-19 are now also beginning the long journey of recovering from catastrophic wildfire,saidNeguse.Congress has the power to not only help these communities recover, but also to make major federal investments in sustainable forest management to ensure they are better prepared for the next season. After a devastating wildfire season in Colorado, it is critical that we ensure our firefighters and communities are protected from future tragedies of this magnitude, and fully equipped for the long road of recovery. Specifically, the letter calls for: Local economic relief to assist cash-strapped cities and towns originally excluded from the CARES Act in order to ensure firefighters and first responders can remain on payroll and have access to needed staff and resources; Investments in fire risk mitigation, such as establishing a 21st Century CivilianConservation Corps to restore forest health and making investments in vital Forest Service programs that assist with forest management, such as the Collaborative Forest Landscape R… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-leads-letter-us-army-concerning-covid-19-protocol-oregon | Oregon Delegation Leads Letter to U.S. Army Concerning COVID-19 Protocol for Oregon National Guardsmen | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the Oregon Congressional delegation sent a letter to Secretary McCarthy of the U.S. Army on behalf of members of Oregon's 41st Infantry Brigade. Rep. Schrader was alerted by family members of Oregonian soldiers who recently returned from Kosovo and are currently at Ft. Bliss for demobilization that at least 10 soldiers have tested positive for COVID-19 and dozens more are showing concerning symptoms. "We must ensure that our brave servicemen and women who put their lives on the line to protect us, are being protected themselves," wrote the delegation. "Their safety and the safety of their families is of critical importance and we look forward to a swift response from Secretary McCarthy regarding sufficient PPE, testing kits and adequate quarantine protocol for demobilizing soldiers." Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy U.S. Department of the Army 1600 Army Pentagon Washington, DC 20310-1600 Dear Secretary McCarthy, December 3, 2020 We are writing on behalf of members of Oregon's 41st Infantry Brigade who recently returned from Kosovo to Ft. Bliss for demobilization before returning home to Oregon. Our offices have learned that among the recently returned members, at least 10 soldiers have tested positive for coronavirus with dozens more showing symptoms consistent with coronavirus. Our concern for the health and wellbeing of the soldiers and their families is of the utmost priority as they reintegrate back into their communities, and to that end, we have questions as to their care at Ft. Bliss: What is the Department of the Army testing and quarantine protocol for these soldiers upon returning stateside and having positive cases in their unit, including protocol and plan for living quarters during observation and quarantine? Does the Department of the Army have sufficient test kits, PPE, and personnel to test, trace, monitor and treat each soldier currently demobilizing with Oregon's 41st Infantry Brigade at Ft. Bliss? If not, what is the plan to address shortages and is there assistanc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-inclusion-of-county-payments-in-end-of-year-federal-funding-efforts | Wyden, Merkley Urge Inclusion of County Payments in End-of-Year Federal Funding Efforts | 2020-12-07 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 07, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Urge Inclusion of County Payments in End-of-Year Federal Funding Efforts Letter led by Wyden, Merkley, Crapo, Risch ties county payments to COVID crisis Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that the COVID-19 pandemic is one more reason that payments to counties under the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) and Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs should be prioritized in a year-ending appropriations bill. In order to assist these rural counties' response to the current public health crisis, as well as to invest in infrastructure, schools, and law enforcement, Congress must include a reauthorization of SRS, Wyden and Merkley wrote in a letter with a bipartisan group of 25 senators to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. Wyden, Merkley and Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) have led the effort to ensure federal payments for counties by reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools program through S. 430, which has received approval in committee but not yet passed the full Congress. The time is now for Congress to help rural Oregon communities facing the unprecedented economic and public health challenges of the coronavirus crisis as well as the aftermath of this year's devastating fires, Wydensaid. Our bipartisan request is a must to help these communities in our state and nationwide continue to provide essential services such as roads, schools and public health programs while Congress develops a long-term permanent solution to support a strong quality-of-life for rural America. Our rural towns and counties are already suffering from lost revenue due to the coronavirus crisis. Failing to fully fund SRS and PILT could mean first responders and teachers losing their jobs, which would be terrible for everyone,Merkley said. For c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-applauds-house-passage-of-cannabis-legalization-legislation | Wyden Applauds House Passage of Cannabis Legalization Legislation | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 04, 2020 Wyden Applauds House Passage of Cannabis Legalization Legislation Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applaudedHouse passage of the MORE Act, legislation to legalize cannabis at the federal level and includes Wyden's proposal, developed in partnership with Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.,to establish clear rules of the road to responsibly tax and regulate cannabis. Wyden released the following statement: Today commonsense and justice prevailed, and the federal governmentis closer than ever to closing the chapter on failed cannabis prohibition a prohibition that has needlessly destroyed lives, stifled researchand treated job-generating legalsmall businesses like criminal organizations.This moment has been culminating since Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis in the 1970s, andI want to commend my goodfriend and fellow Oregonian Rep.Earl Blumenauer forhis steadfastdedicationto bring our cannabis policies out of yesteryear. "Weare onthe brink of history, with a vast majority of Americans behind our efforts.Now,we needto get Mitch McConnell to heed their call to legalize cannabis.Today we celebratevictory in the House, and then get right back to the fight for justice in the Senate." ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-calls-for-virtual-exam-software-companies-to-improve-equity-accessibility-and-privacy-for-students | Wyden Calls For Virtual Exam Software Companies to Improve Equity, Accessibility & Privacy For Students | 2020-12-04 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 04, 2020 Wyden Calls For Virtual Exam Software Companies to Improve Equity, Accessibility & Privacy For Students Letter follows reports that students of color and students with disabilities have reported major issues in using the software of leading online testing platforms Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden is pressing three of the largest virtual testing companies used by schools and testing administrators amid the COVID-19 pandemic to address alarming equity, accessibility, and privacy issues faced by students using the platforms. Recent reports indicate students, particularly students of color and those with disabilities, have had severe issues using the software, been locked out of tests, or wrongly accused of cheating. For example, students of color and students wearing religious clothing like headscarves reported the software failed to recognize their facial features and they were temporarily barred from access. Students have run head on into the shortcomings of these technologiesshortcomings that fall heavily on vulnerable communities and perpetuate discriminatory biases, Wyden and five other senators wrote in a Dec. 3 letter to virtual testing company ExamSoft. Similar letters were sent to virtual testing companies Proctorio and ProctorU. It is critical that bias, including racial and gender disparities, be addressed expeditiously to ensure that our students of color are not facing additional barriers in their fields, the senators wrote. The senators raised major concerns about the companies' accommodations for students with disabilities, for example those with facial tic disorders or muscle reflexes, who may be flagged by the software as suspicious or cheating, and virtual proctors unprepared to accommodate students with disabilities. The senators also expressed alarm over the safety and privacy of students who are being recorded and observed by virtual proctors, are requi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-legislation-championed-reps-bonamici-young-improve-ocean-data | House Passes Legislation Championed by Reps. Bonamici, Young to Improve Ocean Data Collection and Information Sharing | 2020-12-03 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK-At Large), Co-Chairs of the Bipartisan House Oceans Caucus, applauded passage of the Coordinated Ocean Observations and Research Act — legislation they championed in the House to improve data collection and information sharing between the federal agencies and coastal observation partners dedicated to monitoring oceans, coasts, and the Great Lakes. "The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the planet, but despite our intrinsic connection to our ocean we know very little about what is beneath its surface," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Coastal communities rely on accurate ocean data and monitoring for information about ocean acidification, harmful algal blooms and hypoxia, sea level rise, flooding, navigation, and port security. In the Pacific Northwest, we are fortunate to have the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems leading the way. I was pleased to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Congressman Don Young, to support these important ocean observation efforts." "This is a great day for our oceans and the health of our marine ecosystems for generations to come. This is not just an environmental issue, but an economic one too. Our integrated Ocean Observation System helps make maritime commerce possible," said Congressman Don Young. "Equipping our fishermen and ship captains with the best possible data is essential to making our waters safer and more navigable. Accurate data collection is also critical to maritime search and rescue operations, fisheries' health, and the mitigation of coastal hazards. I am very grateful to my Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Suzanne Bonamici, for her continued partnership on this and countless other Caucus priorities. Our work is not done. In the 117th Congress and beyond, I look forward to continuing to move future Oceans Caucus priorities across the finish line. The health of our waters depends on it." The bill, which includes the technical changes impl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-warren-markey-schatz-secure-dhs-ig-investigation-of-cbp-phone-location-data-surveillance-program | Wyden, Warren, Markey, Schatz Secure DHS IG Investigation of CBP Phone Location Data Surveillance Program | 2020-12-02 | 2020 | 2020-12 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | December 02, 2020 Wyden, Warren, Markey, Schatz Secure DHS IG Investigation of CBP Phone Location Data Surveillance Program Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will launch an inspector general investigation into Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) warrantless tracking of phones in the United States following an inquiry from the senators earlier this year. If federal agencies are tracking American citizens without warrants, the public deserves answers and accountability, Wyden said. I won't accept anything less than a thorough and swift inspector general investigation that sheds light on CBP's phone location data surveillance program. CBP is not above the law and refused to answer questions about purchasing people's mobile location history without a warrant -- including from shady data brokers like Venntel. I'm glad that the Inspector General agreed to our request to investigate this potentially unconstitutional abuse of power by the CBP because we must protect the public's Fourth amendment rights to be free from warrantless searches, Senator Warren said. Americans are increasingly concerned that they cannot travel, move, or go about their daily lives without being tracked. Information about where we are and where we have been is highly sensitive, and it's time for answers about exactly how the Department of Homeland Security is accessing this type of data. I am proud to partner with Senator Wyden on this effort to uncover and stop any inappropriate or unlawful surveillance that may be taking place. The right to privacy must not become a thing of the past, Markey said. As revealed by public contracts, CBP has paid a government contractor named Venntel nearly half a million dollars for access to a commercial database containing location data mined from applications on millions of Americans' mobile phones. CBP officials also confirmed the agenc… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-press-extend-open-enrollment-period-dec-31 | Oregon Delegation Press to Extend Open Enrollment Period to Dec. 31 | 2020-11-30 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici today pushed the Trump administration to extend the Open Enrollment for the Health Insurance Marketplace through the end of the year in light of severe obstacles Oregonians faced due to COVID-19 and historic wildfires. "The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe health and economic consequences for Oregon. To date, nearly 60,000 Oregonians have been diagnosed with COVID-19, over 700 lost their lives, and 145,000 remain jobless. The crisis is also far from over: around 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 are being reported each day, and over 50,000 Oregonians have filed new unemployment claims since the beginning of September," the lawmakers wrote. "This makes ensuring access to health coverage more critical now than ever as families continue to grapple with the effects of the virus on their health and livelihoods." "At the same time, thousands of Oregonians have become displaced or homeless as a result of wildfires that raged across the state earlier this fall. Over 2,000 wildfires led to evacuation orders affecting 500,000 Oregonians, destroyed more than 4,000 homes, and led to 24,000 claims for public assistance," the lawmakers continued. The current scheduled close for Open Enrollment is December 15, 2020. The Oregon members wrote to the Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma to push for approval of Governor Kate Brown's request to extend the deadline to December 31, 2020. "Extending the Open Enrollment … is critical to protecting the health and wellbeing of Oregonians and all Americans. We urge you to take this step immediately to ensure people have access to the affordable and comprehensive health coverage during these unprecedented times," the lawmakers concluded. A copy of today's letter is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bonamici-bill-support-paid-job-training-opportunities-rebuild | House Passes Bonamici Bill to Support Paid Job Training Opportunities, Rebuild Economy | 2020-11-20 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [11/20/20] –Today the House passed the National Apprenticeship Act, legislation co-led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) that will create nearly one million apprenticeships over the next five years. The legislation supports workers who have historically faced barriers to employment with paid job training opportunities and will help rebuild the economy. "Registered Apprenticeships are critical at a time when hundreds of thousands of people are out of a job because of the coronavirus pandemic," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Apprenticeships provide meaningful upskilling and reskilling opportunities and supportive services for displaced and dislocated workers. I am pleased to be co-leading this important bill with Congresswoman Susan Davis to create nearly one million new Registered Apprenticeship, youth apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship positions." "Recently I convened a virtual roundtable discussion with apprentices, pre-apprentices, and union leaders from across Northwest Oregon. I heard from apprentices like Lacy who said, ‘I don't know where I would be or what I would be doing' without her apprenticeship with Laborers Local 737, because it ‘made it possible to pay my bills and feed my kid.' With the National Apprenticeship Act, we are helping workers like Lacy gain the skills and support services to provide for themselves and their families." Bonamici's bipartisan Promoting Apprenticeships through Regional Training Networks for Employers' Required Skills (PARTNERS) Act was included in the legislation. The PARTNERS Act will help small and medium sized businesses establish Registered Apprenticeships and provide workers with the support services they need to succeed. The PARTNERS Act provides funding to industry partnerships that bring together employers, education, training, labor, and community-based organizations to create paid, on-the-job training programs that meet the needs of employers and provide workers with important support services and training. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-beyer-castor-grijalva-lead-89-members-opposing-trump-effort-undermine | Bonamici, Beyer, Castor, Grijalva Lead 89 Members in Opposing Trump Effort to Undermine Climate Science | 2020-11-19 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [11/19/20] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Natural Resources Committee Chair Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) led 89 members in calling on Donald J. Trump to stop any attempts to further undermine climate science during the last days of his presidency. Recently the Trump administration attempted to derail and politicize work on the Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA), which is crafted by 13 federal agencies under the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The NCA is the country's most comprehensive science-based evaluation of the consequences of the climate crisis, the risks of inaction, and potential adaptation strategies. "We cannot stand by and tolerate the suppression, censorship, and manipulation of climate science," the Members wrote. "Peer-reviewed, evidence-based science can and should support and inform policies, and it is vital that the NCA remain free from political interference or bias." The members noted that they are extremely concerned about the recent removal of Dr. Michael Kuperberg from his detail as the Executive Director of USGCRP and subsequent reports that Dr. David Legates, a political appointee at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a long-time climate change denier, may soon assume the role. "By undermining the trust built into the process and placed in the leadership of the USGCRP, the Administration is destabilizing the NCA process and politicizing the NCA and its findings," the Members wrote. "…We urge you to increase transparency and make sure that the NCA process is driven by high quality, evidence-based, peer-reviewed science. Our communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, facing raging wildfires and extreme weather events. We must preserve this robust process to make sure that they have the regional assessments they need to implement effective mitigation and adaptation efforts." The full text of the letter can be found her… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-bonamici-urge-united-states-coast-guard-bring-additional-deep | Merkley, Wyden, Bonamici Urge United States Coast Guard to Bring Additional Deep Water Vessels to Tongue Point in Astoria | 2020-11-19 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) decision to homeport two new Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) at Tongue Point in Astoria, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), have requested that the USCG consider stationing an additional two FRCs at the port. FRCs are used to strengthen port, waterways and coastal security, as well as conduct fishery patrols, and search and rescue and national defense missions. "The Coast Guard has a critically important mission that benefits the Pacific Northwest in many ways: by safeguarding our fishing fleets and recreational vessels, ensuring safe passage for the maritime shipping industry, and protecting our borders and national security. The community of Astoria is well equipped to support the Coast Guard and its vessels in their mission here in Oregon. Co-locating four FRCs at Tongue Point will advance the Coast Guard's mission, increase efficiency and economy of scale, and provide close proximity to a number of worldclass maritime services and shipyards," the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Admiral Karl Schultz, Commandant, United States Coast Guard. "A strong Coast Guard presence is critical in this community given its regional significance as the gateway to the Columbia River and the notoriously treacherous waters of the ‘graveyard of the Pacific.' We applaud the Coast Guard's decision to station two FRCs at Tongue Point and hope that you will consider homeporting two additional FRCs alongside them. Astoria benefits greatly from the US Coast Guard's presence in the community and looks forward to hosting additional staff and resources," the lawmakers continued. "The City of Astoria values the tremendous positive impact its Coast Guard members and families bring to the community. Astoria is committed to supporting a robust Coast Guard presence and homeporting infrastructure. The growing shipyard and other maritime services capability at North Tongue Point make it an ideal location fo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-urges-fema-assume-100-percent-cost-share-wildfire-impacts | Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Assume 100 Percent Cost Share for Wildfire Impacts | 2020-11-17 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Oregon's entire congressional delegation is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures from the wildfires that ripped through the state this year. The letter to FEMA from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader comes in support of a similar state cost-share request. "As you saw when you toured the state with us earlier this year, wildfires have utterly decimated communities across Oregon," the lawmakers wrote. "Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Emergency Management predict that total disaster costs will ultimately total more than $1 billion—a burden the state will be unable to shoulder in light of ongoing pandemic-related responses." The letter noted the damage assessment from the 2020 fire season in Oregon now exceeds the regulatory threshold for FEMA to support an increased federal cost share from 75 percent to 100 percent and also that FEMA has regularly increased its cost share in past disasters. "FEMA has authorized 90% cost share in more than 20 disasters since January 2017, including wildfires, and 100% cost share in 22 disasters during the same period," the Oregon lawmakers wrote. "Indeed, the administration recently amended the Major Disaster Declaration for California to authorize 100% percent cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures." A copy of the entire letter is here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/oregon-delegation-urges-fema-to-assume-100-percent-cost-share-for-wildfire-impacts- | Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Assume 100 Percent Cost Share for Wildfire Impacts | 2020-11-17 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 17, 2020 Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Assume 100 Percent Cost Share for Wildfire Impacts Lawmakers' letter seeking more aid for debris removal, emergency protective measures comes as state's total disaster costs expected to exceed $1 billion Washington, D.C. Oregon's entire congressional delegation is urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assume 100 percent of the cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures from the wildfires that ripped through the state this year. The letter to FEMA from U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Suzanne Bonamici and Kurt Schrader comes in support of a similar state cost-share request. As you saw when you toured the state with us earlier this year, wildfires have utterly decimated communities across Oregon, the lawmakers wrote. Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Emergency Management predict that total disaster costs will ultimately total more than $1 billiona burden the state will be unable to shoulder in light of ongoing pandemic-related responses. The letter noted the damage assessment from the 2020 fire season in Oregon now exceeds the regulatory threshold for FEMA to support an increased federal cost share from 75 percent to 100 percent and also that FEMA has regularly increased its cost share in past disasters. FEMA has authorized 90% cost share in more than 20 disasters since January 2017, including wildfires, and 100% cost share in 22 disasters during the same period, the Oregon lawmakers wrote. Indeed, the administration recently amended the Major Disaster Declaration for California to authorize 100% percent cost share for debris removal and emergency protective measures. A copy of the entire letter is here. Related Files Print Email Tw… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-statement-on-klamath-dam-removal | Wyden, Merkley Statement on Klamath Dam Removal | 2020-11-17 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 17, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Statement on Klamath Dam Removal Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley released the following statement on today's Klamath Dam announcement by Oregon and California: Oregon and California have made the best of a bad situation forced upon the two states when FERC upset the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement dam removal process with an unexpected and unwelcome ruling last summer, said Wyden and Merkley. We're glad to see the states step up and all the parties that signed the Klamath settlement reach this agreement, and we look forward to seeing these dams come out just as soon as humanly possible. Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-urge-armed-services-leaders-to-rename-military-bases-and-other-assets-honoring-the-confederacy- | Wyden, Merkley Urge Armed Services Leaders to Rename Military Bases and Other Assets Honoring the Confederacy | 2020-11-11 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 11, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Urge Armed Services Leaders to Rename Military Bases and Other Assets Honoring the Confederacy Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are urging Senate and House Armed Services leaders to retain a bipartisan measure that would require military installations and assets honoring the Confederacy and Confederate officers to be renamed within the next three years. The letter from Wyden, Merkley and 35 of their colleagues to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees comes as those Armed Services leaders begin the final stage of conference this week on the National Defense Authorization Act. In June, the Republican-led Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) passed a bipartisan version of the amendment to remove all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy and anyone who voluntarily served it from bases and other property of the U.S. military on a voice vote. The House Armed Services Committee passed a similar measure, both creating a process for identifying all military assets where the Confederacy is honored and implementing the new removal requirement. The House bill requires the process to be complete within one year, while the Senate bill authorizes a three-year period for complete renaming. In their letter, the Senators urge the conference committee to adopt a reconciled version of the measure that would require renaming to be complete within three years. Both committees passed their bills out of committee with overwhelming bipartisan majorities and each chamber followed suit. The Senate and House strongly supported the inclusion of this requirement by passing their bills with overwhelming, veto-proof, bipartisan majorities. The requirement also received bipartisan support in committee markups, the senators wrote in their letter to Armed Services Committees' leadership. Their letter raises concerns with Senate Armed Services Chairman Inhof… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-oregon-unemployment-benefits-backlog | Wyden Statement on Oregon Unemployment Benefits Backlog | 2020-11-09 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 09, 2020 Wyden Statement on Oregon Unemployment Benefits Backlog Washington, D.C.Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the Oregon Employment Department's commitment to resolve the unemployment benefits backlog by the end of the year: The Oregon Employment Department told me that the agency is finally getting on track to resolve the thousands of claims currently in the adjudication backlog by the end of the year. This is a real commitment to help Oregonians who have been struggling for months to pay rent and buy groceries. OED also committed to paying current waiting week claimsincluding the additional $600by the end of November, with a goal to start by Thanksgiving. Given the enormous frustration Oregonians have experienced, I intend to watchdog every day to ensure these critically important goals are met. It's unconscionable when Oregon is first in so many areas to have Oregon lagging behind in getting workers the benefits they need and are entitled to receive. I also won't allow self-employed and gig workers to be told to go pound sand. It's urgent that Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims are processed, and I'm pushing hard to extend that program into 2021. I'm also working on legislation that would cover these workers on a permanent basis so we're better prepared for the next crisis. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-the-appointment-of-chris-miller-to-head-dod- | Wyden Statement on the Appointment of Chris Miller to Head DoD | 2020-11-09 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 09, 2020 Wyden Statement on the Appointment of Chris Miller to Head DoD Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today made the following statement regarding the appointment of Chris Miller as the acting secretary of defense. Wyden previously opposed Miller's nomination to the National Counterterrorism Center: Donald Trump fired someone who wouldn't order U.S. troops to attack peaceful protesters and is replacing him with someone he may think will carry out those orders. I opposed Chris Miller's nomination earlier this year, because he refused to promise that intelligence agencies wouldn't target Americans based on their political views. He should remember that anyone who carries out an illegal order from Donald Trump will be held fully accountable under the law. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-32-million-in-federal-investments-to-help-agricultural-producers-in-oregon-develop-market-new-innovations-funding-is-headed-to-15-businesses_ | Merkley, Wyden Announce $3.2 Million in Federal Investments to Help Agricultural Producers in Oregon Develop, Market New Innovations Funding is headed to 15 businesses | 2020-11-05 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 05, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce $3.2 Million in Federal Investments to Help Agricultural Producers in Oregon Develop, Market New Innovations Funding is headed to 15 businesses WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development is allocating $3.2 million among 15 agricultural producers in Oregon, helping businesses develop and market new products. Agricultural innovation has long played an essential role to the vitality of rural economies throughout our state, said Merkley, who servesas the top Democraton the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA.I'm pleased that these investments are headed to Oregon to help grow the small businesses and farms that continue to be trailblazers in producing the sustainable and creative products we're known for. Especially as we continue to grapple with the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis, I will continue to look for every available opportunity to support our agricultural producers as they create more jobs, expand their operations, and find new markets. A strong quality of life in rural Oregon depends on continuing to invest in these innovative agricultural businesses that generate good jobs and world-class products in every nook and cranny of our state, Wyden said. Those investments are especially vital during this pandemic to help farms and small businesses statewide weather this economic storm, and I'm glad these signature Oregon enterprises have secured these federal resources. This is good news for these businesses and I am committed to finding and funding more winning investments throughout Oregon. The funding awardees are as follows: Friends Farm, LLCor the Deck Family Farmin Lane County will receive $250,000 to expand its marketing and scale of pasture-raised poultry. Chalice Vineyards LLC in Lane County will receive $250,000 to expand the sale of its sustainably produced wine. Mt. Hood Forest Products LLC will rece… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-oregon-housing-authorities-to-receive-23-million-in-covid-19-aid | Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Housing Authorities to Receive $2.3 Million in COVID-19 Aid | 2020-11-04 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 04, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Housing Authorities to Receive $2.3 Million in COVID-19 Aid Federal resources heading to housing agencies helping residents in Clackamas, Douglas, Polk, Wasco and Clatsop counties Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that Clackamas, Douglas, Polk, Wasco and Clatsop counties will receive about $2.3 million to help residents with housing choice vouchers during COVID-19. Heading into winter when temperatures drop and with the battle ongoing against coronavirus, these housing resources are timely and essential to keep Oregonians safe and housed, Wyden said. I'm gratified this help has been secured for Clackamas, Douglas, Polk, Wasco and Clatsop counties and I'll keep working to ensure that all corners of Oregon get all possible housing aid during this public health crisis. Before the coronavirus hit, Oregon's rural and urban communities alike were already experiencing severe affordable housing shortages, said Merkley. Now, this pandemic has pummeled our public health and economy and made it even harder for our families to keep roofs over their heads. I'm grateful that this federal funding is coming to Oregon to help us tackle our urgent housing crisis, and will keep fighting to secure every resource available to ensure that every Oregonian has a safe, affordable place to call home. The $2.32 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Housing Choice Voucher program will assist very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing in the private market. This supplemental housing choice voucher funding is authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and will be distributed as follows: Housing Authority of Clackamas County, $966,710 Housing Authority of Douglas County, $448,243 Housing and Urban Renewal Agency of Pol… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-3-million-energy-investment-in-umatilla-county_ | Merkley, Wyden Announce $3 Million Energy Investment in Umatilla County | 2020-11-03 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 03, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce $3 Million Energy Investment in Umatilla County WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Umatilla Electric Cooperation Association has received a $3 million federal loan to finance major energy efficiency upgrades that will reduce energy waste and cut costs for residents of Umatilla County. The 20 year loan is being administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)a program designed by Senator Merkley to allow rural electric co-ops to offer their customers low-interest loans to provide affordable financing for energy efficiency improvements. Customers then pay back the loans through the savings on their electric bills. Throughout this year, the coronavirus crisis has claimed Oregonians' lives and livelihoodsupending every aspect of our lives, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the USDA. Now is the time to do all that we can to build a road to recovery, and that road must include the state-of-the-art infrastructure investments our rural communities need to access essential utilities, cut costs, and thrive. I'm pleased that this loan will help pave that road, and will continue to fight for more of these investments for rural areas in every corner of our state. When I was in Pendleton last month, I heard both during my online town hall and in a meeting with local economic development officials how COVID-19 and the February floods have combined in 2020 to wallop Eastern Oregon, Wyden said. Smart investments like this loan for the Umatilla Electric Cooperative to help low-income customers make their homes more affordable to heat this winter are a must for rural Oregonians to weather this economic storm, and I'll keep battling for communities throughout our state to secure resources like this so they too can be helped in their recovery. ### … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-walden-announce-official-signing-of-critical-fix-to-help-klamath-irrigators | Merkley, Wyden, Walden Announce Official Signing of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators | 2020-11-02 | 2020 | 2020-11 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | November 02, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Walden Announce Official Signing of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators The technical correction to the Water Resources Development Act gives basin irrigators access to up to $10 million in drought relief WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Greg Walden (R-OR-2), today announced that a critically needed fix to the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)which will provide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by droughthas been signed into law. Between this year's unprecedented wildfires, a severe drought, and the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus crisisthis has been a difficult time for the Klamath Basin, Merkley said. But through it all, irrigators have consistently come together to work collaboratively with one another to make headway with longstanding water challenges that have only become more complicated during this particularly difficult season. I'm pleased that this correction will allow farmers to swiftly access much-needed resources, so we can continue working toward long-term solutions to support the region's water needs for generations to come. Oregonians don't shrink from challenges we work together to find solutions that work for everybody, Wyden said. That Oregon Way approach guided this legislation freeing up resources for Klamath Basin farmers and ranchers to take a good step forward in this tough year of drought, wildfires and the coronavirus' economic fallout toward a long-term resolution to longstanding water supply challenges. "This is welcome news for irrigators in the Klamath Basin, who are enduring another drought-stricken year, unprecedented wildfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic all at the same time, Walden said. This legislation will ensure they have the tools they need to get through these hard times as well as prepare irrigators in the Klamath… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-put-politics-aside-end-plans-to-hold-critical-public-health-resources-hostage | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Put Politics Aside, End Plans to Hold Critical Public Health Resources Hostage | 2020-10-28 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 28, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Put Politics Aside, End Plans to Hold Critical Public Health Resources Hostage Administration plotting to withhold funding from Democratic-leaning cities for COVID-19 care, food, HIV and opioid treatment, among other programs WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) led five of their Senate colleaguesincluding Senator Ron Wydenin pressing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that millions of dollars in federal funding for critical public health programs will not be withheld to inflict political retribution in the middle of a pandemic. President Trump and Attorney General Barr have threatened to withhold the funding as part of a politically-motivated scheme to punish Americans in Democratic-leaning cities where residents have been protesting for racial justice. HHS reportedly sent a list of more than 1,500 grants awarded to Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, New York City, and Washington, D.C.cities that President Trump and Attorney General Barr have specifically targeted due to local leaders' support of racial justice proteststo the White House budget office. Tying federal funds for local public health efforts to an arbitrary definition of anarchist jurisdictions' is of questionable legality and an appalling abuse of powerparticularly in the midst of a deadly pandemic and economic recession. According to a report, HHS has identified numerous public health programs and funding mechanisms for potential cuts, including those related to HIV treatment, the opioid crisis, addiction and recovery services, lung disease, hearing screenings for newborns, nutrition and mental health for the elderly, hospital preparedness, child support enforcement, care for COVID-19 patients at community and migrant health centers, and more, th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-slams-trump-claim-that-he-has-ended-the-pandemic-as-covid-19-cases-surge-nationwide | Wyden Slams Trump Claim That He Has “Ended The Pandemic” As COVID-19 Cases Surge Nationwide | 2020-10-28 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 28, 2020 Wyden Slams Trump Claim That He Has Ended The Pandemic As COVID-19 Cases Surge Nationwide White House Continues to Push False Narrative As Infections Grow Across the Country Washington, D.C. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today slammed new claims from the Trump administration that the COVID-19 pandemic is over despite record viral transmissions sweeping the country, and dire warnings that health care may soon need to be rationed as hospitals reach capacity. On Tuesday, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy released a list of accomplishments that included ending the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that his administration had taken decisive actions to understand, treat, and defeat the disease. The claim that Trump has ended the pandemic wouldn't pass the fact-checking desk at The Onion, Wyden said. It is an insult to people whose lives are being cut short for the Trump administration to list defeating COVID-19 as an accomplishment at a time when field hospitals are being set up around the country to relieve overflowing medical systems. The president doesn't have to look any further than the vice president's office to know that the pandemic isn't over, Wyden added. Now, communities from Texas to Wisconsin are paying the price for Donald Trump trying to wish, explain and lie away a deadly disease that has taken more than 225,000 American lives. The White House's blatantly false claims about the COVID-19 pandemic come at a time when all measurements point to a deteriorating public health situation in communities across the United States: Surging Infections and Deaths: More than 1.5 million people have tested positive for COVID-19, and more than 18,000 have died since October 1st, bringing the U.S. total to 8.7 million people infected and at least 226,000 dead. Hospitalizations Continue Breaking Records: COVID-19 hospitalizations hav… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-statement-on-commerce-committee-section-230-hearing | Wyden Statement on Commerce Committee Section 230 Hearing | 2020-10-28 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 28, 2020 Wyden Statement on Commerce Committee Section 230 Hearing Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on Section 230, a provision of the Communications Decency Act authored by Wyden: When it comes to writing laws usually you need two things first, lawmakers need to agree on what the existing law says, and second, they need to know what problem the new law would solve. After watching the hearing today, I don't believe my Republican colleagues have read the First Amendment, let alone Section 230. Their obsession with forcing private companies to print misinformation, lies and hate speech is unconstitutional and lays bare how little this is about Section 230 and how much it is a transparent attempt to work the refs a week before the election. "I stand ready to take on big tech and ensure that users, free speech and innovation are always the guiding light of tech policy. I'm all for comprehensive privacy laws, stronger antitrust enforcement and, importantly, laws to better protect and empower the vulnerable online. But today's sad spectacle shows how far this body is from having a rational debate about how to make the internet a better place. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-state-department-to-bolster-efforts-to-protect-journalists | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge State Department to Bolster Efforts to Protect Journalists | 2020-10-27 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 27, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge State Department to Bolster Efforts to Protect Journalists WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with nine of their Senate colleagues, are pushing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Trump administration to increase efforts to protect journalists around the world, and hold foreign leaders accountable for suppressing freedom of the press. The lawmakers' letter to the State Department marks the recent anniversary of the 2018 killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post journalist and resident of the U.S. who was murdered in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul under orders from the Saudi government because of his writings in opposition to Saudi government policies. Recently, we marked the somber anniversary of the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was brutally killed by agents of the Saudi government at its Consulate in Istanbul for openly criticizing that country's leadership, the senators wrote in their letter to Secretary Pompeo. Two years later, we have yet to see evidence that the State Department recognizes the fundamental importance of a free press. The senators' call also follows the State Department Inspector General's report that the administration revoked the Department's prestigious International Women of Courage Award to Jessikka Aro, a Finnish investigative journalist who faced death threats and harassment over her work exposing Russian propaganda efforts, because she authored social media posts critical of President Trump. The United States is stronger and safer when our values including defense of a free press are protected at home and advanced as a central component of our foreign policy. We must make it clear that it is unacceptable to suppress, imprison, and violently target the press and that the United States will hold foreign governments who attempt to do so accountable, the senators continued. To ensure that the State Department is taking necessary steps to protect jou… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-brown-urge-trade-associations-to-take-action-to-ensure-members-are-not-complicit-in-chinas-state-sanctioned-forced-labor-program | Wyden, Brown Urge Trade Associations to Take Action to Ensure Members Are Not Complicit in China’s State-sanctioned Forced Labor Program | 2020-10-27 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 27, 2020 Wyden, Brown Urge Trade Associations to Take Action to Ensure Members Are Not Complicit in China's State-sanctioned Forced Labor Program Chinese Government Has Violated Human Rights of More Than A Million Uyghurs, Other Muslims by Coercing Them into Forced Labor in Global Supply Chains WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) senta letter to trade associations urging them to take immediate action to ensuretheir members are not complicit in China's state-directed human rights abuses, including by relocating production from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The Chinese government has violated the human rights of more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims by coercing them into a forced labor program that has extensively infiltrated global supply chains across multiple sectors. The senators also asked that the corporate members of the trade associations take critical, comprehensive steps to achieve the supply chain integrity and transparency American consumers and workers deserve. American workers and consumers are harmed by corporations' failures to prevent and eradicate human rights abuses in their supply chains.It is not acceptable to hide behind subcontractors or shared production facilities.It is not credible to say it is too complicated to track all of the components that go into the assembly of items stamped with your members' brands. It is time for multinational corporations to take responsibility for their supply chains and to ensure all internationally recognized labor rights and human rights are respected throughout them,wrote the senators. In September, Sens. Wyden and Brown sentaletterto President Trump urging him to take further and effective action to crack down on Chinese products imported into the U.S. that are made with forced labor. In 2015, Wyden and Brownauthoredan update to U.S. law closing a loophole that allowed imports into th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-oregon-company-secures-70-million-federal-contract-for-air-tankers-to-fight-wildfires | Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Company Secures $70 Million Federal Contract for Air Tankers to Fight Wildfires | 2020-10-27 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 27, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: Oregon Company Secures $70 Million Federal Contract for Air Tankers to Fight Wildfires Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that Hillsboro-based Erickson Aero Tanker has earned a $70.5 million federal contract for next-generation large air tanker services to support wildland firefighting in Oregon and nationwide. The blazes that devastated so much of Oregon this year unfortunately provide the latest example of the urgent need to build a comprehensive arsenal of tools to fight wildfires in our state and the entire country, Wyden said. Air tankers are an essential piece of that arsenal and I'm glad Erickson Aero Tanker has earned this contract that will help keep Oregon communities safe while also generating good jobs in Washington County. I drove hundreds of miles across Oregon as this year's unprecedented wildfires raged, and I saw unfathomable destruction and hazardous smoke at every turn, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA. This year was a devastating reminder of just how important it is that we have every possible toolincluding airtankersat the ready to keep our communities safe from future blazes. I'm pleased that this funding is headed to our state, and I'm going to keep doing everything I can to make sure we're not only prepared, but taking urgently needed steps to reduce the risk of more catastrophic wildfires. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the air tankers for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) will provide modern aerial firefighting support delivering retardant throughout the United States. We are very pleased that the USFS has selected two of our MD-87 fire bombers under the NextGen 3.0 contract for large airtankers, said Erickson Aero Tanker general manager Matt Isley. With this contract, Erickson Aero Tanker will have four MD-87s under exclusive use contracts with two more available for call-when-needed emergency use. This fire season, our tankers … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-adams-lead-call-protect-workplace-rights-women | Bonamici, Adams Lead Call to Protect Workplace Rights for Women | 2020-10-26 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [10/26/20] – Today Education and Labor Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee Chair Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair Alma Adams (NC-12) led their colleagues in calling on the Department of Labor (DOL) to withdraw a harmful proposed rule to narrow its interpretation of employee status under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which would leave workers vulnerable to employee misclassification and threaten workplace protections for women. "Equal pay requirements, break time for nursing workers, and paid leave are hard-fought protections that promote the health and economic security of millions of working women and their families," the Members of Congress wrote. "The Department's proposed rule fails to acknowledge or quantify the potential effects for workers if they are stripped of these key protections." The Members noted that even before the pandemic, women struggled with economic insecurity and were overrepresented in low-wage jobs. Even though women are nearly half of the workforce and many serve as essential workers, four times more women than men dropped out of the labor force in September 2020 because of the economic consequences of the pandemic. Women of color face even greater disparities. "Fast tracking a rule that would exclude workers from critical protections during a period of deep economic strife goes against the mission of the Department to assure work-related benefits and rights for wage earners and job seekers," the Members wrote. "We implore the Department to stop this attempt to push through a rule that would leave workers, including women, worse off." The full text of the letter can be found here and below. The Honorable Eugene Scalia Secretary of Labor U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20210 RE: Comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, RIN 1235-AA34, Independent Contractor Status Under the Fair Labor Standards Act Dear Secretary Scalia: We urge the Department of Labor to withdraw its h… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-five-oregon-tribes-receive-expanded-access-to-wireless-broadband | Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Tribes Receive Expanded Access to Wireless Broadband | 2020-10-26 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 26, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: Five Oregon Tribes Receive Expanded Access to Wireless Broadband Broadband gains for Grand Ronde, Umatilla, Coquille, Cow Creek and Warm Springs Tribes follows Oregon senators' work to help address the digital divide Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today that five Oregon Tribes have secured spectrum licenses from federal regulators that will help to close the digital divide by providing Tribes with expanded access to broadband and other advanced wireless services. The good news for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Coquille Indian Tribe, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs follows work by Wyden and Merkley to address the digital divide hurting Tribes and to provide them every opportunity to expand broadband access in Oregon and nationally. Tribal members throughout rural Oregon need this modern wireless broadband access for a quality of life that includes top-notch connectivity to telehealth, classroom instruction and work opportunities, Wyden said. I'm glad we have advanced broadband equity for tribal communities, and I will continue fighting to provide full broadband access and address all other historic inequities this country has inflicted for far too long on Tribes in our state and nationwide. The federal government has a long history of morally reprehensible action against tribal nations, and we have a responsibility to turn the page and do everything we can to support these communities, said Merkley. That must include making sure they have access to the resourceslike reliable, affordable broadbandcommunities need to thrive and be healthy. I'm pleased this funding is making its way to these tribes, helping to make remote school and work more accessible, and putting telehealth services within reach at a time when it's needed the mo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-takes-to-senate-floor-to-oppose-rushed-scotus-confirmation | Wyden Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Rushed SCOTUS Confirmation | 2020-10-26 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 26, 2020 Wyden Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose Rushed SCOTUS Confirmation As Prepared for Delivery Mr. President, everything that's happened since the untimely passing of the legendary Justice Ginsburg is a clear reminder that much of what goes on in Washington DC is not on the level. Right now, this country is hurting. Mass death. Mass unemployment. Mass hunger and suffering among children. The two sides in Congress ought to address those challenges together. Now more than ever, while so many people are fearful about the future, the rules we play by and the agreements we make ought to stand for something. That's how I felt when I negotiated for the $600 per week unemployment insurance boost in March. The Treasury Secretary for the Republicans agreed to it, but then at the last minute, Republican Senators pretended otherwise and tried to vote it out of the bill. Think about that. There was an agreement between both sides on the key proposal to help workers pay the rent and the food bill, and Republicans went back on it. Another example is unfolding right here before our eyes. Until a few weeks ago, Leader McConnell and Chairman Graham would have told you it was essentially the 11th Commandment, carved in stone: No election-year Supreme Court appointments. Again, Republicans have gone back on their word. If the cure to COVID-19 was partisanship and rule-breaking, then Republicans might be onto something with their low stunt on the high court. But it isn't. The American people have a much more sensitive radar for unfairness than Senate Republicans do. When I was home, I went to counties that went for Trump and counties that went for Clinton in 2016. The people I talked to all said the person who wins the 2020 election should choose the nominee. And in this case, the American people know what's at stake for them personally as a result of this rule breaking. If Judge Barrett is confir… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-votes-no-on-amy-coney-barrett | Wyden Votes 'No' on Amy Coney Barrett | 2020-10-26 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 26, 2020 Wyden Votes 'No' on Amy Coney Barrett Senate Republicans have broken rules, violated their word and gamed the system in bad faith to pack the courts with far-right ideologues who will do their dirty work for them Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., voted no' on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Supreme Court today. Wyden released the following statement: The Republican agenda throwing millions of Americans off their healthcare, overturning Roe and their myriad other priorities that threaten fundamental freedoms is too unpopular to enact through legislation, so Republicans are working to enact it through the Courts. That's really what the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett is all about. This rush job to fill the Ginsburg seat has been illegitimate from the beginning, and it was proven to be a sham when Judge Barrett turned out to be the Babe Ruth of ducking and dodging simple questions during her nomination hearing. Justice Ginsburg was not just an iconic fighter for the rights of the powerless and vulnerable. She always said what she meant, and meant what she said. We did not get that from Judge Barrett. Senate Republicans have broken rules, violated their word and gamed the system in bad faith to pack the courts with far-right ideologues who will do their dirty work for them. They have done severe damage to the legitimacy and the independence of the judiciary in this country. We need to give serious consideration to any solution that can undo this damage and ensure that all Americans are guaranteed equal protection under the law. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-blasts-continued-attempts-by-senate-republicans-to-influence-the-election-with-bogus-allegations | Wyden Blasts Continued Attempts by Senate Republicans to Influence the Election with Bogus Allegations | 2020-10-23 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 23, 2020 Wyden Blasts Continued Attempts by Senate Republicans to Influence the Election with Bogus Allegations Senate Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in response to the latest shameless, unfounded and partisan investigation by the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and Finance Committee Republicans, targeting Vice President Biden: The Republicans continue to push bogus allegations in an attempt to influence the election instead of addressing our urgent national problems. I have seen no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe Biden, and last night the Wall Street Journal confirmed the same. Hopefully the FBI can get to the bottom of this transparent effort to interfere in an election. ### Press Contact Keith Chu (202) 224-4515 Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-introduces-legislation-to-improve-soil-health-crop-resilience-and-address-the-climate-crisis | Wyden Introduces Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis | 2020-10-23 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 23, 2020 Wyden Introduces Legislation to Improve Soil Health, Crop Resilience and Address the Climate Crisis Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to helpaddress the climate crisisby encouraging farming practices thatimprove soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. In 2020 alone, the climate crisis hasdelivereddevastating wildfires, severe droughts and floods that decimated crops and with them thelivelihoods of countless family farmersin Oregon and nationwide, Wyden said.Tackling the climate crisis head on through smart farming practices is a must and asignificantvictoryfor both farmers and the environment. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act builds on a2018 Farm Bill provision authored by Wydenby creating a permanent soil health program through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The program would provide $100millionto producers who adopt practices designed to improve soil health through increasing carbon levels in soil. By promoting farming practices that capture carbon in soil, producers will improve soil health and crop resilience, while lowering the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. The bill establishes protocols for measuring soil organic carbon levels before and after these practices begin in order to determine which farming practices store the most carbon. This is critical because there is a significant need for more science and data to determine which conservation methods are most effective at storing carbon in the soil to improve soil health. The Healthy Soils Healthy Climate Act will also establish a Soil Health and Carbon Science Research Program at Agriculture Research Stations that would provide grants to land-grant colleges and universities to conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science and conduct research relating to soil health and carbon science at Agriculture Research Stations of the Department of Agriculture. Bill tex… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-to-dea-interim-rule-on-hemp-contradicts-congressional-intent-by-criminalizing-intermediate-steps-in-hemp-processing | Wyden, Merkley to DEA: Interim Rule on Hemp Contradicts Congressional Intent by Criminalizing Intermediate Steps in Hemp Processing | 2020-10-23 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 23, 2020 Wyden, Merkley to DEA: Interim Rule on Hemp Contradicts Congressional Intent by Criminalizing Intermediate Steps in Hemp Processing Oregon senators say DEA is hurting farmers and that the agency no longer has authority to regulate hemp production Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkleytodayexpressed strong objections tothe U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)'sunilateral and uncalled for actions onhempthat runcountertothe 2018 Farm Bill and congressional intentbytreating this legal cropas a Schedule I controlled substancewheneverits THC content exceeds 0.3%. Authors of the provision in the 2018 Farm Bill to legalize hemp, Wyden and Merkleysaidin their letter to the DEA that the agency's Interim Final Rule (IFR)on hemphurts hemp farmers in Oregon and nationwide by seriously misunderstanding hemp processing. The Oregon senators noted thatin the intermediate stages of hemp processing, hemp extracts can temporarily exceed the 0.3% THC threshold that Congress used to define hemp, even though the plant and the final product both meet the threshold. In effect, the IFR criminalizes the intermediate steps of hemp processing, which is wholly inconsistent with Congress's clearly stated purpose and the text of the 2018 Farm Bill,the senators wrote. In our view, the IFR rewrites the 2018 Farm Bill contrary to Congressional intent. The senators also noted that the 2018 Farm Billformally removed hemp, including its seeds and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, whether growing or not, from the purview of the DEA. This places the sole authority to promulgate federal regulations and guidelines that relate to the production of hemp, which includes its derivatives, extracts and cannabinoids, with the Secretary of Agriculture. Acopy of the letter can be found here. ### Print Email Twe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-van-hollen-davis-introduce-legislation-to-improve-federal-programs-to-promote-healthy-relationships-and-financial-stability-for-low-income-families | Wyden, Van Hollen, Davis Introduce Legislation to Improve Federal Programs to Promote Healthy Relationships and Financial Stability for Low-Income Families | 2020-10-23 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 23, 2020 Wyden, Van Hollen, Davis Introduce Legislation to Improve Federal Programs to Promote Healthy Relationships and Financial Stability for Low-Income Families Legislation Would End Harmful Federal Policy that Takes Child Support Money out of the Hands of Families WASHINGTON Today, Senate Finance Committee Ranking MemberRon Wyden (D-Ore.), U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Danny Davis (D-Ill.) introduced legislation to make important improvements to our nation's child support program to ensure that low-income children and families get the financial support they need. The current child support program aims to ensure that all non-custodial parents contribute financially to their children. However, right now,if families receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) assistance, the government takes a cut of child supportpaid from noncustodial parentsto recoup the costs of that assistance, depriving the lowest income families of this much-needed financial support and making it more difficult to maintain healthy co-parenting relationships. The Senators' new legislation would address these issues while also reauthorizing the Healthy Marriage Promotion and Responsible Fatherhood grant program to help strengthen parents' relationships with each other and their children. Families receiving TANF shouldn't be penalized for needing help, Senator Wyden said. When families are depending on social services to make ends meet, it's cruel to then turn around and take child support payments intended to help children to pay back the state and federal governments for TANF aid. This bill would not only end cost recovery for good, it would bolster child support programs to help encourage healthy relationships between parents and their children, regardless of custody status. Parents play a critical role in their children's lives. And even when parents are not living with their chil… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-warren-brown-markey-schatz-push-for-investigation-of-cbp-phone-location-data-surveillance-program | Wyden, Warren, Brown, Markey, Schatz Push for Investigation of CBP Phone Location Data Surveillance Program | 2020-10-23 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 23, 2020 Wyden, Warren, Brown, Markey, Schatz Push for Investigation of CBP Phone Location Data Surveillance Program Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., and Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, today requested an inspector general investigation into Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) warrantless tracking of phones in the United States. As revealed by public contracts, CBP has paid a government contractor named Venntel nearly half a million dollars for access to a commercial database containing location data mined from applications on millions of Americans' mobile phones. CBP officials also confirmed the agency's warrantless tracking of phones in the United States using Venntel's product in a September 16, 2020 call with Senate staff. In 2018, the Supreme Court held in Carpenter v. United States that the collection of significant quantities of historical location data from Americans' cell phones is a search under the Fourth Amendment and therefore requires a warrant. CBP is not above the law and it should not be able to buy its way around the Fourth Amendment, the senators wrote in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari. Accordingly, we urge you to investigate CBP's warrantless use of commercial databases containing Americans' information, including but not limited to Venntel's location database. The senators also requested the inspector general investigate any legal analysis CBP's lawyers performed before the agency started to use this surveillance tool and how CBP was able to begin operational use of Venntel's location database without the DHS Privacy Office first publishing a Privacy Impact Assessment. In September 2020, Wyden and Warren successfully pressed for an inspector general investigation into the Internal Revenue Service's use of Venntel's commercial location tracking service without a court order. A full copy of today's letter is available here. ### … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/merkley-wyden-blumenauer-bonamici-demand-answers-doj-following-prolonged | Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Demand Answers From DOJ Following Prolonged Deputations of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers in Oregon | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden teamed up with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) today to press the Department of Justice (DOJ) for more information regarding the recent special deputation of state and local law enforcement officers in Oregon, which the DOJ now indicates will last for the remainder of the year against the wishes of local authorities. "Despite the temporary nature of the public safety emergency caused by a planned right wing extremist rally, which we understand prompted the deputations, it has come to light that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to keep the deputations in force through the remainder of this year," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Donald Washington, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service at the DOJ. "This echoes a troubling history of DOJ over-reach into local law enforcement policies and practices that led to heightened tensions in recent months between protesters and members of law enforcement. Numerous reports have indicated that a primary purpose of the deputations is to circumvent the duly-elected Multnomah County District Attorney, and enable federal prosecutors to bring charges for what otherwise would be charged under the Oregon Revised Statutes and decided at a local level," the lawmakers continued. "The importance of transparency in response to continued federal involvement in local jurisdictional matters cannot be overstated." In order to receive urgent clarification of the reasons for deputation, and particularly why the USMS and DOJ have maintained the deputations—contrary to the explicit requests of local authorities—the lawmakers requested a thorough explanation, including all supporting documentation and memoranda that led to this determination. Additionally, the lawmakers requested responses to nine other questions within 10 days, including how many city or state law enforcement officers in Oregon have been federally deputized; the scope and limitations of the deputations; whether … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-135-democratic-lawmakers-to-senate-and-house-leadership-we-must-take-bold-and-comprehensive-action-to-prevent-the-next-pandemic | Merkley, Wyden, 135 Democratic Lawmakers to Senate and House Leadership: We Must Take Bold and Comprehensive Action to Prevent the Next Pandemic | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, 135 Democratic Lawmakers to Senate and House Leadership: We Must Take Bold and Comprehensive Action to Prevent the Next Pandemic Even as Congress works to put an end to the current COVID-19 pandemic, it must also take steps, now, to prevent future pandemics from occurring WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden teamed up with a group of 135 Democratic lawmakers to send a letter to House and Senate leadership urging them to prioritize the development of comprehensive policy plans to prevent and mitigate the impact of future pandemics. In the letter, the lawmakers outline the steps necessary to prevent future pandemics while also noting that Congress must act to provide relief to Americans suffering from the current economic downturn and public health emergency. As the United States continues to weather the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic, we write to ask that Congress take action to learn from the mistakes of our nation's preparation and response and lay the groundwork to prevent and mitigate future pandemics. The current Administration's response has exposed serious flaws in the country's ability to combat large scale public health challenges, wrote the lawmakers. In addition to passing a robust package to address the current crisis, we must take bold and comprehensive steps now to ensure the nation is better prepared for the next pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on communities across the country and has devastated the nation's economy. Currently, the United States leads the world with more than eight million confirmed cases and 220,000 dead, out of over one million worldwide. Millions are out of work and struggling to make ends meet. It is clear that pandemics are already rapidly accelerating: animal-to-human outbreak prevalence grew six-fold from 1980 to 2010,and experts predict they will become even more common in the future.… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-blumenauer-bonamici-demand-answers-from-doj-following-prolonged-deputations-of-state-and-local-law-enforcement-officers-in-oregon | Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Demand Answers From DOJ Following Prolonged Deputations of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers in Oregon | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Blumenauer, Bonamici Demand Answers From DOJ Following Prolonged Deputations of State and Local Law Enforcement Officers in Oregon Requests from local authorities to end the deputations have been refused WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden teamed up with Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) today to press the Department of Justice (DOJ) for more information regarding the recent special deputation of state and local law enforcement officers in Oregon, which the DOJ now indicates will last for the remainder of the year against the wishes of local authorities. Despite the temporary nature of the public safety emergency caused by a planned right wing extremist rally, which we understand prompted the deputations, it has come to light that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to keep the deputations in force through the remainder of this year, the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Donald Washington, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service at the DOJ. This echoes a troubling history of DOJ over-reach into local law enforcement policies and practices that led to heightened tensions in recent months between protesters and members of law enforcement. Numerous reports have indicated that a primary purpose of the deputations is to circumvent the duly-elected Multnomah County District Attorney, and enable federal prosecutors to bring charges for what otherwise would be charged under the Oregon Revised Statutes and decided at a local level, the lawmakers continued. The importance of transparency in response to continued federal involvement in local jurisdictional matters cannot be overstated. In order to receive urgent clarification of the reasons for deputation, and particularly why the USMS and DOJ have maintained the deputationscontrary to the explicit requests of local authoritiesthe lawmakers requested a thorough … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-urge-devos-to-help-82-million-federal-student-loan-borrowers-currently-unable-to-access-relief_ | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Currently Unable to Access Relief | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Urge DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Currently Unable to Access Relief WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are among 34 Senate Democrats urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to ensure all struggling federal student borrowers can gain access to crucial federal relief. Since March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has provided forbearance, waived interest, and halted collections for borrowers whose student loans were directly held by the U.S. Department of Education. But, according to new information, 8.2 million federal student loan borrowers currently cannot take advantage of this relief, because some or all of their loans do not quality. Of those borrowers, 4.4 million people are not receiving any relief, and 3.8 million people have a mix of loans that qualify and those that do not. To ensure that these borrowers don't continue to face unnecessary financial struggles and confusion, the senators wrote to Secretary DeVos to demand that she take immediate action to help these students qualify for much-needed relief. The more than eight million student loan borrowers falling into donut holes of critical relief have missed out on needed benefits and suffered unnecessary complexity and confusion for more than six months, wrote the senators in their letter. It is essential that the Department immediately begin the targeted outreach and take the actions we are requesting. In order to ensure that students receive critical relief, the senators demanded that Secretary DeVos immediately reach out to borrowers currently missing out on relief and help them consolidate their loans into qualifying loans. They also urged Secretary DeVos to use her administrative authority to improve the consolidation process for borrowers by waiving restrictions and penalties during the coronavirus national emergency. The letter follows the introduction of a resolution by Merkley, Wyden, and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-and-schumer-fbi-must-not-launch-political-investigations-to-influence-the-election | Wyden and Schumer: FBI Must Not Launch Political Investigations to Influence the Election | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Wyden and Schumer: FBI Must Not Launch Political Investigations to Influence the Election Succumbing to Pressure from Trump to Investigate Vice President Biden's Family Would Undermine National Security, Credibility of Law Enforcement and Do Irreparable Harm to U.S. Democracy Washington, D.C. The FBI must reject pressure from Donald Trumptoannounceinvestigations ofJoe Biden or his familyto influence the presidential election, or else it risks doing lasting harm to our democracy and national security, Senate Intelligence Committee member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray. Following a widely questioned article in the New York Post, that alleged to have obtained stolen Hunter Biden emails from the president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump has publicly called for investigations of Vice President Biden and his son. We are deeply concerned about the possibility that in response to these reports the Trump Administration will take actions before Election Daythat would seek to damagethe Democratic presidential candidate and undermine the rule of law,Wyden and Schumer said. Giuliani has worked for months to spread false and misleading allegations about the Biden family, including working with Russian asset Andrii Derkach, who has been sanctioned by the United States for interfering in the U.S. election. The FBI has a critical role to play in safeguarding our elections and, in partnership with the Intelligence Community, is responsible for exposing and combating both foreign cyber and influence efforts targeting our electoral process,the senators continued. In carrying out this critical national security mission, law enforcement's handling of this matter must be above politics and beyond reproach. I therefore urge you to resist pressure from President Trump and other partisan actors to take a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-leahy-schumer-merkley-ask-national-guard-for-wildfire-readiness-assessment | Wyden, Leahy, Schumer, Merkley Ask National Guard for Wildfire Readiness Assessment | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Wyden, Leahy, Schumer, Merkley Ask National Guard for Wildfire Readiness Assessment Senators praise Guard response to 2020 wildfires, say assessment will help ensure Guard has the firefighting resources it needs Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., today led colleagues in asking the National Guard for a report on its readiness to help states prepare, fight and recover from wildfires. In a letter to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Daniel R. Hokanson, the senators wrote, As devastating fires of historic proportion continue to ravage the United States, we ask you to provide us an assessment of the National Guard's ability to prepare for, respond to, and help state firefighting forces recover from wildfires. A frank estimation will help Congress address any gaps and use every resource available to respond to this year's fires. It will also help us better resource and equip the Guard for a future in which human-driven climate change will make fire seasons increasingly severe and destructive." We commend all the heroic men and women of the National Guard who have been responding to raging wildfires as part of a federal, state, and local effort, the senators wrote.With a more complete understanding of the Guard's ability to respond, we can ensure proper resourcing and will be better able to keep our Guard members always ready and always there. The senators requested the National Guard provide the following information in response to today's letter: The availability of appropriately trained personnel and equipment for firefighting-related needs; An accounting of the capacity available through Emergency Management Assistance Compacts and whether expanding them may provide additional opportunities or wildfire capacity; and Any National Guard Bureau plans or constructs developed with governors… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-denounce-trump-administrations-historically-low-refugee-resettlement-goal- | Wyden, Merkley Denounce Trump Administration’s Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Goal | 2020-10-22 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 22, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Denounce Trump Administration's Historically Low Refugee Resettlement Goal Letter from Oregon senators and 21 colleagues pushes for increased refugee admissions Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today denounced the Trump administration's proposal to cap refugee admissions at 15,000 for Fiscal Year 2021the lowest ceiling in the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and urged the administration to restorerefugee admissionsto their long-standing historic average. The United States has a long, bipartisan legacy of providing refugees protection through resettlementprior to 2016 we resettled an average of more than 80,000 refugees per year, Wyden, Merkley and 21 Senate colleagues wrote in a letter to Secretaries Michael Pompeo and Alex Azar and Under Secretary Chad Wolf. Yet, during this time of soaring global resettlement needs, this Administration has once again abdicated America's global leadership role by further reducing the refugee admissions ceiling to its lowest level in the 40-year history of the program, the senators wrote. We urge you to substantially increase the refugee admissions target for FY 2021, and end the current suspension of the refugee resettlement program. The lawmakers highlighted the importance of a strong resettlement program, which serves as an essential lifeline for the most vulnerable among the 29.6 million refugees worldwide while also strengthening our communities and economy. In addition, the senators affirmed the importance of U.S. leadership on resettlement as a powerful tool to garner greater global support for refugees facing persecution. American leadership in refugee resettlement is critical in securing greater global support for this important lifeline, which is available to less than one percent of all refugees, the senators added.As this Administration has slashed its annual refugee admissions goals,… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-calls-for-disaster-assistance-for-winegrape-growers-amid-destructive-wildfire-season | Wyden Calls for Disaster Assistance for Winegrape Growers Amid Destructive Wildfire Season | 2020-10-21 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 21, 2020 Wyden Calls for Disaster Assistance for Winegrape Growers Amid Destructive Wildfire Season Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Ron Wyden,D-Ore., todayasked Senate appropriators to provide additional disaster assistancefor winegrape growersdevastatedbysmoke during this year's destructive wildfire season. In the 2019 disaster relief package, Congress provided $3 million through the Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP)for winegrowers whose grapes weredamagedby wildfires in 2018 and 2019. Due to the fact that wildfires have burned millions of acres of land throughout the West and caused heavy layers of smoke in 2020, winegrape growersnowrequire the same assistance. As Ranking Member Merkley knows firsthand, our home state's wine industry has been hurt by the catastrophic wildfires, leaving many winegrape growers unable to sell their smoke-tainted product.Exposure to smoke particles can dramatically change the flavor of wine grapes, rendering them unusable in the winemaking process,Wyden wrote ina letter to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Chairman John Hoeven and Ranking Member Jeff Merkley. I thank you both for your continued efforts and commitment to address the wildfires in Oregon and your past efforts to secure WHIP assistance for wine grapes damaged by wildfire smoke. A copy of the letter can be found here. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-co-sponsor-heroes-small-business-lifeline-act | Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Heroes Small Business Lifeline Act | 2020-10-21 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 21, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Heroes Small Business Lifeline Act Legislation would provide more than $370 billion to the hardest-hit, most vulnerable small businesses in Oregon and nationwide Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today co-sponsored a new comprehensive package of measures that would provide more than $370 billion to the hardest-hit, most vulnerable small businesses in Oregon and nationwide. Both senators said the HEROES Small Business Lifeline Act is a must to respond to the economic fallout of COVID-19 on small business, including minority-owned businesses and industries, such as restaurants and live venues. Oregon is an overwhelmingly small business state, and those small businesses generate jobs and pump life into communities across our state, said Wyden, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation would provide an urgently needed lifeline for thousands of small businesses struggling to keep their doors open and to employ Oregonians who want very much to earn a paycheck. Throughout this crisis, I've been in touch with small business owners and workers struggling to weather the storm, said Merkley. And like so many of these Oregonians, I'm frustrated by continued inaction from some in Washington, DC who are more interested in lining the pockets of Wall Street executives than in saving our Main Streets. If we don't act soon, we risk losing countless businesses across our state that families rely onnot only for the valuable services they provide, but for their livelihoodsand I'm going to keep fighting to do all that I can to make sure that doesn't happen. The HEROES Small Business Lifeline Act is nearly identical to the small business provisions of HEROES 2.0, which passed the House of Representatives on October 1. The HEROES Small Business Lifeline Act would: Extend and improve the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to better se… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-announces-ocean-based-climate-solutions-act | Bonamici Announces Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act | 2020-10-20 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [10/20/20] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus and the only member of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis from the Pacific Northwest, unveiled the Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act with Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) and Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL). The bill is a comprehensive ocean climate package based on the Select Committee's Climate Action Plan. The package includes provisions from Bonamici's Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, COAST Research Act, Water Power Research and Development Act, and BLUE GLOBE Act, as well as six other bills she co-led. "Every person on this planet benefits from a healthy ocean, but for too long the ocean has literally taken the heat for us," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "As Co-Chair of the House Oceans Caucus, I am leading efforts to capture the power of the ocean to be part of the solution in mitigating the climate crisis. I'm grateful to Chair Grijalva and Chair Castor for their partnership on this comprehensive bill, which is based on the Select Committee's Climate Action Plan. The Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act will address the climate crisis, protect our ocean, and advance marine energy as we work to build a clean energy economy. I'm pleased that this legislation includes many of my ocean climate bills, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance meaningful policies to address the climate crisis." Click here for video of the Congresswoman's remarks at today's press conference on the bill. Bonamici's ocean priorities included in the legislation are: The Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, which would create a national map and inventory of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, like mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrasses, and kelp forests, that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it for centuries to millennia. The COAST Research Act, a comprehensive bill to confront the challenges of ocean acidification and c… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-abandon-plans-for-expanded-biometric-data-collection-in-immigration-system | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Abandon Plans for Expanded Biometric Data Collection in Immigration System | 2020-10-19 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 19, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Abandon Plans for Expanded Biometric Data Collection in Immigration System DHS has proposed an expansion of facial scans, voice prints, and DNA testing that would allow the Department to force U.S. citizens and children to share their data WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), are urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to abandon plans to dramatically expand U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) collection of information about individuals' bodies, both non-citizens and U.S. citizens alike. The Department's proposal would allow DHS to collect biometric information as it conducts removal proceedings, processes family-based immigration applications, and vets immigrants seeking naturalization. In September, USCIS, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would allow USCIS to dramatically expand the populations subject to invasive biometric data collection and increase the types of data that USCIS collects. The proposal would permit USCIS to require U.S. citizens and children to submit to biometric data collection. It would also allow the agency to create detailed biological profiles of individuals involved in the immigration system by amassing data from facial scans, voice prints, and even DNA testing. By DHS' own estimates, the proposal would lead to more than six million people sharing sensitive information about their bodies. Compelling non-citizens navigating the U.S. immigration system to submit to data collection involving highly sensitive and immutable information carries serious privacy risks; subjecting U.S. citizens and children to this surveillance would be unacceptable,write the senators in their letter to Acting Se… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-feds-investing-72-million-for-affordable-rental-housing-in-morrow-tillamook-and-yamhill-counties_ | Wyden, Merkley: Feds Investing $7.2 Million for Affordable Rental Housing in Morrow, Tillamook and Yamhill Counties | 2020-10-19 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 19, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: Feds Investing $7.2 Million for Affordable Rental Housing in Morrow, Tillamook and Yamhill Counties Resources will help preserve 122 units in Heppner, McMinnville, Newberg and Tillamook Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed more than $7.2 million in federal resources to renovate affordable housing units in Heppner, McMinnville, Newberg, and Tillamook. Oregonians working hard to pay rent as well as their bills for groceries, prescription drugs and more know full well how the pandemic's economic fallout has worsened the longstanding challenge of affordable housing, Wyden said. This much-needed investment will help rural Oregonians to meet that challenge, and I will keep fighting for all available affordable housing resources for all Oregonians needing them. Everyoneregardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, or their incomedeserves a safe place to call home, especially during a pandemic, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA. But we still have a long way to go, in our rural and urban communities alike, to meet serious affordable housing shortages. I'm grateful that these resources are headed to Oregon where they will help tackle this urgent problem in some of our rural communities, and will continue to do all that I can to secure the support needed in every corner of our state to put roofs over Oregonians' heads. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Glenhaven Park LLC will buy and renovate four apartment complexes using $7.25 million in loans from the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing that have been guaranteed by USDA Rural Development. The apartments will maintain affordable rates and retain rental assistance provided by USDAfor eligible low-income residents. The renovations by Chrisman Development, Inc. will preserve 122 units of affordable r… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/walden-merkley-wyden-applaud-official-signing-of-the-bill-to-rename-bend-va-clinic-after-robert-maxwell- | Walden, Merkley, Wyden Applaud Official Signing of the Bill to Rename Bend VA Clinic after Robert Maxwell | 2020-10-16 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR)applaudedthe signing into law of a bill introduced by the Oregon delegation to rename the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) clinic in Bend after Robert Maxwell, a World War II veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient who lived in Bend. The bill was signed into law on Tuesday, October 13, 2020. At the time of Maxwell's passing, he was the oldest Medal of Honorrecipient in the nation and one of four remaining veterans from World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor. After his courageous service, he worked as a teacher in Bend. "Bob Maxwell was a selfless and humble public servant and a friend to everyone he met,said Walden. As we approach what would've been Bob's 100th birthday, I can't think of a better way to honor Bob than renaming the Bend VA Clinic after him. I applaud President Trump for swiftly signing this bill into law and forever ensuring that Bob's legacy is honored, and his heroism is remembered." "Bob Maxwell's life is a testimony to the power of selflessness and dedication to serving a cause bigger than oneself,said Merkley.That lesson couldn't be more important today, and just like the countless Oregonians who have been moved by his story, I am grateful for the example he set throughout his lifetime of service. I am thrilled that this renaming will help ensure that his legacy will be remembered, and know that his courageous and generous spirit will continue to inspire for generations to come." "Robert Maxwell's name on the VA Clinic in Bend is a well-deserved tribute to a World War II hero and beloved teacher in Central Oregon,Wyden said.I'm glad this Medal of Honor winner will be remembered in such a fitting fashion for his public service both overseas and at home." Oregon's congressional delegation previously wroteto the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs committees in support of the renaming. The City of Bend, American Legion Department of Oregon, Veterans of Foreign W… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-la-pine-community-health-center-earns-55-million-federal-investment | Wyden, Merkley: La Pine Community Health Center Earns $5.5 Million Federal Investment | 2020-10-16 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 16, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: La Pine Community Health Center Earns $5.5 Million Federal Investment Resources will help clinic provide health care for 22,000 rural residents in Central Oregon Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the La Pine Community Health Center has secured $5.5 million in federal resources that will help the non-profit clinic provide services to thousands of rural Central Oregon residents. High-quality health care goes hand in hand with high quality of life in rural Oregon, especially now during a pandemic, Wyden said. I'm gratified the La Pine Community Health Center has earned this investment that will help provide continued and first-rate care for residents in Central Oregon. All Oregoniansregardless of where they live or how much money they makedeserve affordable and quality medical care, said Merkley. I'm thankful for the dedicated health professionals at La Pine Community Health Center for helping to put their critical services within reach for Central Oregonians, especially during a time when so many need it the most. These federal dollars will help support them in their efforts, and I will continue to do all that I can to make sure every Oregonian has access to affordable health care. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development loan of $5.5 million helps the La Pine Community Health Center to buy the facility it's now leasing, stabilize its financial obligations by locking in its real estate expenses and helping it plan for the future. The clinic provides primary health care services to an estimated 22,000 Oregonians in La Pine, north to Sunriver, south to Crescent, and east to Christmas Valley. Our leadership team and staff are so thankful for this loan that was made possible by the USDA's Community Facilities Program. We are thrilled to have secured a long-term home for our health center and are excited that we n… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-expand-tribal-broadband-application-deadline | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Tribal Broadband Application Deadline | 2020-10-15 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 15, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Tribal Broadband Application Deadline Bill follows FCC's refusal to implement a sufficient extension, instead giving tribal nations a severely limited application period that expired on September 2, 2020 Washington, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with 11 of their Senate colleagues, have introduced a bill to expand the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window to allow Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations the time they need to apply for spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum over their own landsa critical step to expanding broadband access in their communities. In 2019, The FCC created the 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window to provide Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations an opportunity to apply for spectrum licenses over their land. However, the Window expired in September before many Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations were able to applyin some cases due to the COVID-19 pandemicand the FCC declined to extend the deadline any further, in opposition to multiple requests made by Tribal Nations, Native Hawaiian organizations, telecommunications groups, and bipartisan Senate and House lawmakers. The Extending Broadband Tribal Priority Act of 2020 will require the FCC to open a new 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Priority Window that lasts at least 180 days, to commence no later than 30 days after the bill is enacted. This bill will give Tribal Nations and Native Hawaiian organizations an adequate amount of time to apply for spectrum licenses to deploy much-needed internet services on their lands. From patients engaging in telehealth visits, to students studying remotely, and employees working from home, high-quality broadband access has never been so vital to maintaining our public health, education, and economy. But millions of people, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-demands-investigation-of-federal-agencies-surveilling-black-lives-matter-protests | Wyden Demands Investigation of Federal Agencies Surveilling Black Lives Matter Protests | 2020-10-15 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 15, 2020 Wyden Demands Investigation of Federal Agencies Surveilling Black Lives Matter Protests Washington, D.C. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) and Congressman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) are urging the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB), an independent federal agency, to investigate allegations that government agencies have been surveilling recent Black Lives Matter protests. The lawmakers' detailed letter states the importance of protests in advancing civil rights, cites several uninvestigated press reports of protester surveillance by federal agencies, enumerates several congressional inquiries on the topic, and urges PCLOB to use its statutory powers to investigate the federal government. The act of protesting has played a central role in advancing civil rights in our country, and our Constitution protects the right of Americans to engage in peaceful protest unencumbered by government interference, the lawmakers wrote.We are, therefore, concerned that the federal government is infringing on this right, and we ask that the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) investigate the federal government's surveillance of recent protests, the legal authorities for that surveillance, the government's adherence to required procedures in using surveillance equipment, and the chilling effect that federal government surveillance has had on protesters. The full text of the letter can be found HERE and enclosures to the letter can be found HERE. Reps. Eshoo and Rush have written several letters about protester surveillance, including a letter on June 9th signed by 35 Representatives to the FBI, National Guard, DHS, and CBP; follow up letters signed by 23 Representatives on July 17th to the FBI and CBP; and a letter on September 23rd requesting an investigation by the Inspectors General of DHS, DOJ, and the Intelligence Community. Their June 9th letter led to an Air Force Inspector General investigation of the National Guard's flights over protest… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-17-million-in-funding-for-economic-development-in-eight-rural-communities- | Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.7 Million in Funding for Economic Development in Eight Rural Communities | 2020-10-14 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 14, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.7 Million in Funding for Economic Development in Eight Rural Communities Grants will create jobs, upgrade essential facilities, and improve quality of life WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that eight rural communities throughout Oregon will be receiving $1.7 million in federal funding to create jobs, upgrade essential facilities, and improve quality of life. The funding, which is being administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program, will support essential services for 24,091 Oregonians in Tillamook, Lane, Lincoln, Grant, Baker, and Douglas counties. Every Oregonian in every part of our stateregardless of their zip code or their incomeshould have the facilities and infrastructure necessary to build community and stay safe from risks like wildfires and cyberattacks, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA and rural development. But major infrastructure investments, from firehouse upgrades to public pool maintenance, are especially expensive in our rural communities. These grants will help cover some of those steep upfront costs and put essential services within reach for nearly 25,000 Oregonians. Our state is strongest when families in every corner of Oregon can thrive, which is why I'll keep fighting for critical investments like these. "EquippingOregonians with up-to-datefacilities andessential resourcesthey needto stay safe in the face of emergencies anddisaster is a must," Wyden said. "This welcomeinvestment in our rural communities will mean moresecurity, more jobs and improved quality of life for Oregon families." Grant awardees are as follows: Oakridge High Schoolthe town of Oakridge's designated emergency shelterin Lane County will receive $600,000 to purchase an emergency generator and convert u… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-27-million-for-wildfire-resiliency-conservation-efforts-in-the-umatilla-and-wallowa-whitman-national-forests | Merkley, Wyden Announce $2.7 Million for Wildfire Resiliency, Conservation Efforts in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests | 2020-10-14 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 14, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce $2.7 Million for Wildfire Resiliency, Conservation Efforts in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests Merkley successfully led charge for five year extension of program administering these funds in 2018 Farm Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $2.7 million in federal funding is headed to the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests to implement a cross-boundary restoration project that will improve forest resiliency, reduce long term costs of fire management, and improve watershed conditions. This investment in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests will support the execution of a strategically located series of controlled fuel breaks and specialized efforts to protect cultural sites, municipal watersheds, and animals recognized by the Endangered Species Act. In 2018, Senator Merkley successfully led the chargewhich Senator Wyden joinedfor a five year extension of the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program, which is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and is administering the funds. This year's unprecedented wildfire season is a stark reminder of how important resilient forests areto protecting our communities,said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the USDA. This investment in the Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests will help restore forests in Eastern Oregonthat have made invaluable contributions to the spirit and economy of our state. I'm going to keep doing everything I can to support similar win-win projects throughout each of Oregon's forests. These resources earned by everybody working hard for a collaborative success in the Umatilla and Wallowa Whitman National Forests provides a big vote of confidence in the Oregon Way' -- coming together to find common ground on science-… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-defazio-coos-bay-rail-line-secures-99-million-federal-grant-for-improvements | Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio: Coos Bay Rail Line Secures $9.9 Million Federal Grant for Improvements | 2020-10-13 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 13, 2020 Wyden, Merkley, DeFazio: Coos Bay Rail Line Secures $9.9 Million Federal Grant for Improvements Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio today announced the Coos Bay Rail Line has secured a $9.9 million federal grant to rehabilitate and replace ties and resurface track along the 121 miles of track from Coos Bay to Eugene. The Coos Bay Rail Line plays a crucial role in supporting a robust economy that generates jobs on the South Coast and southern Oregon, Wyden said. I'm glad the rail line has earned this key investment to make needed improvements. And I'll keep fighting for similar investments throughout Oregon in infrastructure, which takes on magnified importance when Oregonians are working hard to weather the economic fallout of this public health crisis. Now more than ever, between the blazes and hazardous smoke of this year's wildfires and the massive impacts of the coronavirus, our communities need a strong economic foundation for the future, said Merkley. And as we build that foundation, transportation infrastructure that puts goods within reach for more Oregonians and helps our small businesses get their products where they need to go must be a priority. This investment in the Coos Bay Rail Line will create jobs, support local businesses, and reconnect our communities after this pandemic is overand I'll keep working to secure similar resources for every corner of our state. The Coos Bay Rail Line is a vital connection between Oregon's natural resource economy and the world market, which is why I have fought to bring more than $40 million in infrastructure investments to this line, said DeFazio. Federal investment in critical local infrastructure like the CBRL is essential to preserving and promoting Southwest Oregon's economic viability, and I'm proud to have secured this funding to help keep this vital rail line moving. The $9.9 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant would go toward replacing 67,000 crossties and resurf… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-co-sponsors-legislation-to-make-payroll-tax-deferral-optional-including-for-military-members-and-federal-employees | Wyden Co-sponsors Legislation to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, including for Military Members and Federal Employees | 2020-10-09 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 09, 2020 Wyden Co-sponsors Legislation to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, including for Military Members and Federal Employees Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today he is co-sponsoring legislation that would make Donald Trump's payroll tax deferral scheme optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. Donald Trump's phony payroll tax cut is the worst kind of election-time gimmickry deceiving American workers for a few weeks with a sham executive order and then saddling them with a post-election double tax in 2021, said Wyden, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation is a must to restore working Americans' ability to choose for themselves what works best financially for them and their families. In addition to Wyden, other co-sponsors of the Protecting Employees from Surprise Taxes Act introduced by U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) are U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Patty Murray (Wash.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.). Among the organizations supporting the legislation are the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, the National Federation of Federal Employees, the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, the Senior Executives Association, the Federal Managers Association, the Professional Managers Association, National Association of Assistant United States Attorneys, United Power Trades Organization, Antilles Consolidated Education Association, National Weather Service Employees Organization, Patent Office Professional Association, National Association of Government Employees, Nation… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/senate-democrats-release-new-report-detailing-the-assault-on-our-democracy-by-republican-appointed-judges | Senate Democrats Release New Report Detailing the Assault on Our Democracy by Republican-appointed Judges | 2020-10-08 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 08, 2020 Senate Democrats Release New Report Detailing the Assault on Our Democracy by Republican-appointed Judges The issue-based report released as part of Senate Democrats' Captured Courts project "DonaldTrump's judicial nominees, as well as judges nominated by previous Republican presidents, are responsible for the vast majority of the decisions that have resulted in voter suppression and made it nearly impossible to regulate political spending" Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Tom Udall, D-N.M., Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., andDebbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today led Senate Democrats inreleasinga new report outlining theways campaign finance lawsand theright to votehave been gradually dismantled by conservative Supreme Court justices, withDonald Trump's latestSupreme Court nomineeposingfurther threatsto American democracy. This is thefourthin a series of Captured Reports by Senate Democrats. In the report,Captured Courts:The Judicial Assault on Democracy,the senators highlighted ways the conservative justices on the Court havemade it harder and harder for Americans to have their voices heard in our democracy by sanctioning unlimited political spending and undercutting voting rights. The senators also documentthe dark-money groups behind this effort and howa number of them areworking to undermine access to the ballot in the 2020 election. Wyden, Udall, Whitehouse and Stabenow were joined by Sens.Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.,Ben Cardin, D-Md.,Chris Coons, D-Del.,Jeff Merkley, D-Ore.,Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, andRichard Blumenthal, D-Conn. in releasing the report. We ought to be making it easier for folks to vote, not harder. Yet, theSupreme Court an institution that should be protecting this most fundamental right has been undermining it.The Roberts' Court has advanced an anti-voting agenda, making it harder for people to cast a ballot, Wyden said.And with DonaldTrump and Mitch McConnellw… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-will-hold-virtual-eastern-oregon-town-hall-on-october-14 | Wyden Will Hold Virtual Eastern Oregon Town Hall on October 14 | 2020-10-08 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 08, 2020 Wyden Will Hold Virtual Eastern Oregon Town Hall on October 14 Live on-line town hall hosted by Town Hall Project will be for residents of Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Wallowa counties Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall on Wednesday, Oct. 14 hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Wallowa counties. Anybody wanting to watch Wyden's virtual regional town hall beginning at 11:30 am on Wednesday, Oct. 14 can go to this Facebook link. Video at that link is available as well to people who don't have a Facebook account. Residents of Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Wallowa counties who would like to participate by asking Wyden a question can fill out this form for consideration by Town Hall Project. A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP Award, Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that a large, indoor open-to-all public meeting poses no unusual health risk for Oregonians. The virtual regional Oct. 14 town hall hosted by Town Hall Project is Wyden's second for Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Wallowa counties this year. While the pandemic forces Oregon and the country to hold off on big indoor public gatherings until they're safe to resume, I want to make sure Oregonians still have every opportunity to ask me questions directly and voice their views, said Wyden, who will be in Pendleton for the virtual town hall. I'm grateful that Town Hall Project is helping to continue these essential conversations and I very much look forward to hearing from Umatilla, Union, Morrow, and Wallowa counties. "Town Hall Project was founded on the conviction that in-person town halls are essential to our democracy, said… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-baker-technical-institute-earns-federal-health-care-training-grant-for-students-in-eastern-oregon | Wyden, Merkley: Baker Technical Institute Earns Federal Health Care Training Grant for Students in Eastern Oregon | 2020-10-07 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 07, 2020 Wyden, Merkley: Baker Technical Institute Earns Federal Health Care Training Grant for Students in Eastern Oregon Senators say $147,203 USDA distance learning grant will enable students to participate in health care classes from John Day, Burns, Heppner and Enterprise Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that the Baker Technical Institute has secured a $147,203 federal grant to increase access to health care training for rural students in remote and frontier areas of eastern Oregon. The rural development investment in the Baker facility will allow it to establish a state-of-the-art distance learning system that lets students participate in health care classes remotely at the Blue Mountain Hospital in John Day, Harney District Hospital in Burns, Morrow County Health District in Heppner, and Wallowa Memorial Hospital in Enterprise. Eastern Oregon benefits in a big way from this good news that taps into technology to educate the health care providers of tomorrow in rural communities, Wyden said. The importance of telemedicine and distance learning has been magnified during the coronavirus pandemic, and I'm gratified that Eastern Oregon has earned these federal resources to support a robust health care system and a strong quality of life. High quality, reliable broadband internet service has never been more important than it is right nowespecially for our students who are learning remotely, and for our health care providers who are working around the clock to provide exceptional care and essential services to their communities, said Merkley, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I'm pleased that this funding is headed to our state, where it will make Baker Technical Institute's remote health classes accessible for more students, and help us keep communities in Eastern Orego… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-will-hold-virtual-central-oregon-town-hall-on-october-12 | Wyden Will Hold Virtual Central Oregon Town Hall on October 12 | 2020-10-07 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 07, 2020 Wyden Will Hold Virtual Central Oregon Town Hall on October 12 Live on-line town hall hosted by Town Hall Project will be for residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties Washington, D.C. U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will have a live on-line town hall on Monday, Oct. 12 hosted by Town Hall Project for residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. Anybody wanting to watch Wyden's virtual regional town hall beginning at 11:30 am on Monday, Oct. 12 can go to this Facebook link. Video at that link is available as well to people who don't have a Facebook account. Residents of Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties who would like to participate by asking Wyden a question can fill out this form for consideration by Town Hall Project. A two-time winner of Town Hall Project's MVP Award, Wyden has held 970 in-person town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall each year in each of Oregon's 36 counties. Wyden has postponed in-person town halls until there are clear-cut public health guidelines that a large, indoor open-to-all public meeting poses no unusual health risk for Oregonians. The virtual regional Oct. 12 town hall hosted by Town Hall Project is Wyden's second for Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties this year. He also held an in-person town hall in Jefferson County in February before COVID-19 halted in-person meetings. While the pandemic forces Oregon and the country to hold off on big indoor public gatherings until they're safe to resume, I want to make sure Oregonians still have every opportunity to ask me questions directly and voice their views, said Wyden, who will be in Bend for the virtual town hall. I'm grateful that Town Hall Project is helping to continue these essential conversations and I very much look forward to hearing from Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. "Town Hall Project was founded on the con… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-call-for-investigation-into-political-interference-with-coronavirus-information | Wyden, Merkley Call for Investigation into Political Interference with Coronavirus Information | 2020-10-06 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 06, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Call for Investigation into Political Interference with Coronavirus Information Senators: In the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 200,000 lives in the United States alone, the American people rely on the expertise of our federal agencies to keep them safe Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today called for an immediate investigation into allegations of political interference with public health information at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The letter from Wyden, Merkley and 28 colleagues to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General follows alarming reports of widespread and ongoing political interference in the agencies' COVID-19 response. Those include reports that the White House pressured the CDC into downplaying risks associated with children returning to in-person learning at schools, Secretary Alex Azar revoked the FDA's ability to regulate lab-developed diagnostic tests, and HHS political appointees reviewed and may have altered or delayed weekly scientific reports issued by CDC about the pandemic. In the midst of a pandemic that has now claimed over 200,000 lives in the United States alone, the American people rely on the expertise of our federal agencies to keep them safe, the senators wrote. Our communities, schools, health care providers, businesses, and families turn to agencies like the CDC and FDA for guidance on how to make important decisions: when people should get tested, how to protect children at home or in the classroom and workers on the job, and which treatments to use to save a life. The consistent pattern running through these reports of political interference is the ongoing effort to minimize the seriousness of the virus, they wrote. This message directly harms millions of Americans and jeopardizes public trust in scien… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-urges-fema-approve-direct-housing-assistance-wildfire | Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Approve Direct Housing Assistance for Wildfire Victims | 2020-10-05 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Peter DeFazio today led the Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Greg Walden (OR-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve the State of Oregon's request for direct housing assistance utilizing a full range of options for wildfire victims. The housing assistance, known as a Temporary Housing Mission, will allow FEMA to avail itself of a wide range of temporary housing options including travel trailers, manufactured housing units, direct lease, and multi-family lease and repair. Housing assistance for qualified individuals and households may be available for up to 18 months. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, the lawmakers write, "In times of disaster, people seek comfort and safety in their homes. However, with no homes to return to, thousands of Oregonians lack the opportunity to find that same solace and are instead temporarily housed in hotel rooms...While still a far cry from a return to home, temporary solutions provide people certainty, privacy, and the ability to resume some aspects of their normal daily routine as they recover." DeFazio and Senators Wyden and Merkley hand-delivered the letter to Administrator Gaynor in Salem on Sunday during his multi-day visit to Oregon to tour areas impacted by the wildfires. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/oregon-delegation-welcomes-new-fema-wildfire-assistance | Oregon Delegation Welcomes New FEMA Wildfire Assistance | 2020-10-05 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici said today that federal officials have notified them that eight Oregon counties will get assistance for removing and disposing hazardous materials and solid waste debris as part of response and recovery to the wildfires. The news that Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties would receive what's known as Category A assistance follows a Sept. 24 letter making that request to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor from the Oregon lawmakers, led by Wyden and DeFazio. "The wildfires that raged through Oregon caused great devastation, and we must continue doing all we can to help our communities recover as quickly as possible," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "I'm grateful FEMA is acting quickly in response to our requests for assistance in removing and disposing harmful waste and debris." "I heard consistently from Oregonians this past weekend while touring fire-devastated communities with Administrator Gaynor how worried they are about growing mountains of hazardous materials left by these blazes that ripped through their communities," Wyden said. "I'm glad FEMA has recognized the urgency of this situation as fall rains comes and the risks grow of dangerous debris leeching into waterways for these eight counties, and I'll continue working to get this Category A assistance into all Oregon communities needing to dispose of any hazardous materials from these horrific wildfires." "I've driven over 1,000 miles around our state to see up close the unfathomable damage this unprecedented wildfire season has caused—and what I've seen is truly heartbreaking," said Merkley. "On behalf of all Oregonians, I thank the firefighters and first responders, as well as all who are working around the clock to clean up hazardous materials left behind in the wake of the blazes. This support to help safely clean up toxic debris is absolutely critical to many of our communities, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/oregon-delegation-welcomes-new-fema-wildfire-assistance | Oregon Delegation Welcomes New FEMA Wildfire Assistance | 2020-10-05 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 05, 2020 Oregon Delegation Welcomes New FEMA Wildfire Assistance Hazardous Waste/Solid Waste Debris Disposal Assistance for Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties follows delegation letter led by Wyden and DeFazio Washington, D.C. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici said today that federal officials have notified them that eight Oregon counties will get assistance for removing and disposing hazardous materials and solid waste debris as part of response and recovery to the wildfires. The news that Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion counties would receive what's known as Category A assistance follows a Sept. 24 letter making that request to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor from the Oregon lawmakers, led by Wyden and DeFazio. I heard consistently from Oregonians this past weekend while touring fire-devastated communities with Administrator Gaynor how worried they are about growing mountains of hazardous materials left by these blazes that ripped through their communities, Wyden said. I'm glad FEMA has recognized the urgency of this situation as fall rains comes and the risks grow of dangerous debris leeching into waterways for these eight counties, and I'll continue working to get this Category A assistance into all Oregon communities needing to dispose of any hazardous materials from these horrific wildfires. I've driven over 1,000 miles around our state to see up close the unfathomable damage this unprecedented wildfire season has causedand what I've seen is truly heartbreaking, said Merkley. On behalf of all Oregonians, I thank the firefighters and first responders, as well as all who are working around the clock to clean up hazardous materials left behind in the wake of the blazes. This support to help safely clean up toxic debris is absolutely critic… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/oregon-delegation-urges-fema-to-approve-direct-housing-assistance-for-wildfire-victims | Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Approve Direct Housing Assistance for Wildfire Victims | 2020-10-04 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 04, 2020 Oregon Delegation Urges FEMA to Approve Direct Housing Assistance for Wildfire Victims WASHINGTONRep. Peter DeFazio today led the Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Reps. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Greg Walden (OR-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve the State of Oregon's request for direct housing assistance utilizing a full range of options for wildfire victims. The housing assistance, known as a Temporary Housing Mission, will allow FEMA to avail itself of a wide range of temporary housing options including travel trailers, manufactured housing units, direct lease, and multi-family lease and repair. Housing assistance for qualified individuals and households may be available for up to 18 months. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, the lawmakers write, In times of disaster, people seek comfort and safety in their homes. However, with no homes to return to, thousands of Oregonians lack the opportunity to find that same solace and are instead temporarily housed in hotel rooms...While still a far cry from a return to home, temporary solutions provide people certainty, privacy, and the ability to resume some aspects of their normal daily routine as they recover. DeFazio and Senators Wyden and Merkley hand-delivered the letter to Administrator Gaynor in Salem on Sunday during his multi-day visit to Oregon to tour areas impacted by the wildfires. For a PDF version of the letter to Administrator Gaynor, click here. Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/transportation-and-infrastructure-chair-defazio-leads-oregon-delegation-urging | Transportation and Infrastructure Chair DeFazio Leads Oregon Delegation in Urging FEMA to Increase Federal Cost Share for Wildfire Disaster Costs | 2020-10-02 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Peter DeFazio, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, today led Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and Reps. Earl Blumenauer, Greg Walden, Kurt Schrader and Suzanne Bonamici in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency to increase the Federal cost share for debris removal costs related to the recent wildfires in Oregon to 100 percent. Typically, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments pick up 25 percent of the costs of FEMA assistance. However, given the scope and severity of the damage caused by September's wildfires—combined with the financial stress state and local governments are facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic—the lawmakers are urging FEMA to cover all the costs associated with debris removal for the disaster. FEMA has previously authorized limited 100 percent Federal share adjustments in 22 disasters under the Trump Administration. In the letter to FEMA Administrator Peter Gaynor, the lawmakers write, "We ask you to take into account the size and scale of this disaster as well as the backdrop upon which this disaster fell. In the span of a few short days, fires burned an area the size of the State of Rhode Island. As a result, thousands of our fellow Oregonians have been displaced, and countless businesses have been lost. Furthermore, the State and local governments continue to respond to and recover from four additional Presidentially-declared disasters since May 2019, including three counties which are covered under both Major Disaster Declarations from floods and the wildfire disaster last month…Oregon and her citizens are suffering under the strain of enormous calamity." Last week, Rep. DeFazio introduced the FEMA Assistance Relief Act, which would adjust the federal cost share of certain disaster assistance provided by FEMA under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) to not less than 90 percent Federal for disasters declared in calendar year 2020 and to 100 percent for all COVID-19 related E… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-merkley-press-for-answers-regarding-beachie-creek-fire-and-the-potential-role-of-power-lines | Wyden, Merkley Press For Answers Regarding Beachie Creek Fire and the Potential Role of Power Lines | 2020-10-02 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 02, 2020 Wyden, Merkley Press For Answers Regarding Beachie Creek Fire and the Potential Role of Power Lines Washington, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today askedthe role power lines may have playedin the cause or spread of the Beachie Creek fire. In a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen and Oregon Department of Forestry State Forester Peter Daugherty, Wyden and Merkley wrote,We write to ask for an analysis of the role of power lines in the cause and/or spread of the Beachie Creek fire. In a recent visit to the North Santiam Canyon, in which a number of Oregonians have lost their homes, vehicles, documents, and family mementos to the Beachie Creek fire, we were questioned repeatedly about the cause of the fire and how it could have been prevented. Wyden and Merkley also acknowledged the possible role of lightning, severe drought and historic windstorms had in the beginning and spread of this fire. Wyden and Merkley continued,We are grateful to the first responders and the firefighters, and the support coming to these communities. We understand that hundreds of our emergency managers and state and federal workers put their own lives on hold to respond to this disaster. These actions are a part of the Oregon Way' where people work together in uncommon efforts to deal with overwhelming and complex problems. A copy of today's letter is availablehere. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-statement-updated-covid-19-relief-package | Bonamici Statement on Updated COVID-19 Relief Package | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [10/1/20] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici helped the House pass an update to the Heroes Act to provide important relief and assistance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. "As the coronavirus death toll tragically surpasses 200,000 and the pandemic continues to devastate our communities and economy, the American people need relief," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "The House passed critical legislation several months ago to stem the loss of life and blunt the worst effects of the pandemic, but the Senate failed to act. This update to the Heroes Act reflects what our country needs now — aid for schools, workers, businesses, child care, testing and treatment, and more. "Oregonians are struggling with record levels of unemployment and financial hardship. Importantly, this update to the Heroes Act includes a second round of $1,200 direct payments and an extension of enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits to put money in the pockets of families and individuals. It also includes funding I fought for to help working families pay for electricity bills and housing, support for our seniors, enhanced testing and tracing resources, and improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program to aid small businesses. Saving our child care system and making it more accessible is also essential to our recovery. I'm grateful this update includes the strong investment I advocated for that will help working families and early childhood educators. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to immediately pass this relief package. Our communities cannot wait any longer." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-bipartisan-bicameral-bill-clean-marine-debris | House Passes Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Clean Up Marine Debris | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Suzanne Bonamici | B001278 | bonamici.house.gov | bonamici | https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC [10/01/20] –Today the House passed bipartisan legislation led by House Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Don Young (R-AK) along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to strengthen the federal response to marine debris. Save Our Seas 2.0, S. 1982, builds on the original Save Our Seas Act to improve the domestic response to marine debris, incentivize international engagement on marine debris, and strengthen domestic waste management infrastructure to prevent the creation of new marine debris. "We need to fundamentally change our reliance on plastics," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, who spoke in support of the legislation on the House floor. "A problem this pervasive - a global problem of this magnitude - cannot be solved with a single bill. We cannot limit our action to removing existing plastic from the ocean, and we also cannot recycle our way out of plastic waste that ends up on our shores. We need comprehensive action. Save Our Seas 2.0 is a meaningful bill that builds on our foundation of bipartisan, bicameral efforts to strengthen the NOAA Marine Debris Program. We have significant work ahead of us to prevent marine debris, and I look forward to continuing to work with my House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair, Don Young, and our Senate Oceans Caucus colleagues to protect the health of our ocean." "Alaska is home to more coastline than any other state in the Union, and healthy oceans are essential to Alaska's economy and way of life," said Congressman Don Young. "Serving as House Oceans Caucus Co-Chair has given me the opportunity to stand up and fight for Alaska's waters, and I am very proud of what we were able to accomplish today. Save Our Seas 2.0 builds on our successes combating marine debris through bolstering plastics research and funding needed for infrastructure improvements. Countless Alaskan families earn a living on the water; clean oceans are not just an environmental issue, but an economic one as wel… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-06-28T00:34:36Z |
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-announce-nearly-15-million-safety-investment-in-mcminnville-airport | Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $1.5 Million Safety Investment in McMinnville Airport | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 01, 2020 Merkley, Wyden Announce Nearly $1.5 Million Safety Investment in McMinnville Airport WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that $1,467,000 in federal grant funding is headed to the McMinnville Municipal Airport to support the reconstruction of 10,500 square yards of existing apron. Airport aprons are terminal-adjacent areas where aircraft are parked, boarded, unloaded, and refueled. The McMinnville Municipal Airport plays a critical role in helping Yamhill county residents and businesses stay connected with other communities in Oregon and beyond, said Merkley. I'm pleased that this funding will help maintain the airport so that it will continue to serve Oregonians for years to comeand will keep fighting for the transportation investments we need to resume travel and rebuild our economy after this pandemic is over. Airports providing service to Oregonians living and working in smaller communities like Yamhill County are essential to quality of life and keeping the local economy robust despite the economic consequences of COVID-19, Wyden said. I'm glad the McMinnville Municipal Airport has earned these federal resources, and will keep working for all parts of Oregon to secure investments that similarly support jobs and strengthen transportation infrastructure. The funding is being distributed by the U.S. Department of Transportation. ### Print Email Tweet Next Article Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-develop-vaccine-strategy-that-addresses-coronavirus-disproportionate-impacts-on-communities-of-color | Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Develop Vaccine Strategy That Addresses Coronavirus’ Disproportionate Impacts on Communities of Color | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 01, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Develop Vaccine Strategy That Addresses Coronavirus' Disproportionate Impacts on Communities of Color Recent 57-page U.S. Department of Health and Human Services vaccine plan barely acknowledges serious health inequities WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led 19 of his colleaguesincluding Senator Ron Wydentoday in demanding that the Trump administration develop a national vaccine distribution strategy that both recognizes and addresses the alarming racial disparities in rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. The senators' letter follows the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) long-overdue guide to state, territorial, and local public health programs on how to plan for the distribution of a future coronavirus vaccine or vaccinesa 57-page document that only mentions communities of color in three sentences. The alarming disparities in rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths are not coincidental. The divergent outcomes are directly linked to existing inequities and discriminatory federal, state, and local policies. Overrepresentation in frontline, essential jobs in which social distancing is more difficult, a disproportionate prevalence of preexisting health conditions, policies that lead to overcrowded and segregated housing, and reliance on public transportation, have placed communities of color at greater risk of COVID-19, the senators wrote in their letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar. Latinx, Black, and Asian patients are more than twice as likely to test positive for the coronavirus when compared to white patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 75 percent of coronavirus deaths among people under the age of 21 have been Black, Latinx, and Indigenous youth. Ov… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/merkley-wyden-walden-announce-house-passage-of-critical-fix-to-help-klamath-irrigators | Merkley, Wyden, Walden Announce House Passage of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 01, 2020 Merkley, Wyden, Walden Announce House Passage of Critical Fix to Help Klamath Irrigators Legislation gives Basin irrigators access to up to $10 million in emergency drought relief WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Greg Walden, today announced that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a critically needed fix to the 2018Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)that will provide relief to Klamath Basin irrigators who have been hard-hit by drought. The legislation was passed by the U.S. Senate in July of this year, and is now headed to the president's desk to be signed into law. In 2018, WRDA included language that was essential for irrigators in the Klamath Basin to effectively use $10 million in drought relief funds that the lawmakers had previously secured. The new bill provides clear flexibility in how the relief may be used, enabling irrigators to access the funding when there is a severe shortage of water. Through drought, the global pandemic, and most recently these unprecedented wildfires, Klamath Basin irrigators have shown they're committed to working collaboratively with the many water stakeholders in the region, and it is critical that the federal government steps up to be a strong partner to their efforts,said Merkley, who worked with the Bureau of Reclamation to develop the legislation.To ensure that farming and ranching have a strong future in the Basin, we need to get through this drought and work on long-term solutions to our water supply challenges. This fix will help us do that. This legislation frees up urgently needed resources for farmers and ranchers in the Klamath Basin to help survive a 2020 that's proven incredibly difficult with a brutal combination of drought, wildfires and COVID-19's economic fallout, Wyden said. This bipartisan and collaborative solution takes a solid step forward for the Basin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.wyden.senate.gov//news/press-releases/wyden-peters-warner-klobuchar-and-schumer-dhs-must-release-document-showing-trumps-attacks-on-us-election-are-consistent-with-foreign-influence-campaign | Wyden, Peters, Warner, Klobuchar and Schumer: DHS Must Release Document Showing Trump’s Attacks on U.S. Election Are Consistent With Foreign Influence Campaign | 2020-10-01 | 2020 | 2020-10 | Democrat | House | OR | Ron Wyden | W000779 | www.wyden.senate.gov | legacy | October 01, 2020 Wyden, Peters, Warner, Klobuchar and Schumer: DHS Must Release Document Showing Trump's Attacks on U.S. Election Are Consistent With Foreign Influence Campaign Washington, D.C. Senior Senate Democrats today requested Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf release a document that shows President Donald Trump's attacks on American Elections are consistent with a foreign influence campaign. Senate Intelligence Committee member Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Ranking Member Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Intelligence Committee Vice-Chair Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., Rules Committee Ranking Member Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sent the request today. We write to urge you to immediately release to the public a September 3, 2020, analysis produced by the Department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis.This document demonstrates that a foreign actor is attempting to undermine faith in the US electoral system, particularly vote-by-mail systems, in a manner that is consistent with the rhetoric being used by President Trump, Attorney General Barr, and others, the senators wrote. The document has been marked Unclassified/For Official Use Only,' meaning that its release would not pose a risk to sources and methods and that it has already been widely distributed around the country through unclassified channels.It is now critical and urgent that the American people have access to this document so that they can understand the context of Trump's statements and actions. View a PDF of the letter here. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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