WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 1, 2023: * * * "Today I introduced the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act. In sub-Saharan Africa, more than seventy percent of people rely on walking as their primary mode of transportation. Access to a bicycle unlocks new opportunities for these individuals and can multiply the impact of our international development programs. Low-cost, high-impact investments in bicycles will allow us to us  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Nanette Diaz Barragan (CA-44), Cori Bush (MO-01), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) announced the establishment of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness. The Caucus will act as a dedicated forum for Members of Congress to work toward the common goal of ending homelessness in this country. "Housing is vital to a full and meaningful participation in society, but too many people in  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) recently joined Reps. Tracey Mann (KS-01), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and 26 of her colleagues in support of the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act. This bipartisan legislation seeks to restore exemptions for family farms and small businesses under the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to ensure students do not lose access to needed financial assist  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 1, 2023: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) supported legislation that seeks to hold the executive branch accountable for the potential inflationary impact of executive orders. The REIN IN Inflation Act passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 272-148. "When our inflation rate is elevated, it increases the cost of everything from food and beverages to energy and transportation  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 3, 2023: Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), and Mike Waltz (FL-06) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Student Loan Disclosure Transparency Act, to bring more clarity to the federal student loan process. Specifically, the bill would require separate, monthly disclosures to student loan borrowers regarding their projected payments, accrued interest, total cost of a  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Feb. 28, 2023: * * * Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement on the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. "A good union job was my family's pathway out of poverty and into the middle class. "I believe everyone in Oregon and across the country deserves that same chance - that's why I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Richard L. Tru  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 2, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement after the Finance Committee approved the nomination of Danny Werfel to be IRS Commissioner by a vote of 17-9: "The fact that Mr. Werfel's nomination passed through committee with bipartisan support is a testament to his record as a fair-minded public servant who's abl  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI-01) to introduce the DISCLOSE Act. The DISCLOSE Act is bicameral legislation that would end the corrupting influence of dark money, shine a bright light of transparency on political spending, and make government more accountable to the will of voters. "My colleagues and I are su  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI-01) to introduce the DISCLOSE Act. The DISCLOSE Act is bicameral legislation that would end the corrupting influence of dark money, shine a bright light of transparency on political spending, and make government more accountable to the will of voters. "My colleagues and I are suppo  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, Feb. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Members of the Oregon Congressional delegation announced a $6 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant award to the Port of Portland to add a ground source heat pump system. The new system will help PDX reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the energy required to heat and cool PDX by 83%. The grant is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) FY2023 Airport Terminal Program (ATP)  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, March 2 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Members of the Oregon Congressional delegation announced a $6 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant award to the Port of Portland to add a ground source heat pump system. The new system will help PDX reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and reduce the energy required to heat and cool PDX by 83%. The grant is part of the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) FY2023 Airport Terminal Program  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following opening remarks on March 2, 2023, at a committee markup on IRS, Treasury, and HHS Nominations: * * * The committee meets this morning to vote on three important nominations. First up is the nomination of Danny Werfel to serve as IRS Commissioner. Mr. Werfel had an excellent hearing two weeks ago where he reminded everybody why he's the right pick for this job. A few quick thoughts   more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Feb. 28, 2023: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement in remembrance of his mother, Betty Lou Collins Merkley: My mother, Betty Lou Collins Merkley, passed away early this morning. Here's a little more about her life: As she wrote in an introduction to a collection of her life stories: "I have lived a full life, blessed with my wonderful husband Darrell, and the joy of rai  more

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following remarks on March 3, 2023: Thanks to Georgetown Law's Institute for Technology Law & Policy and Yale's Information Society Project for organizing today's event. You all have the NBA All-Stars of algorithmic accountability and AI on the agenda today. Before we get to the experts, I thought I'd kick off today's event by discussing my view of why these questions about fairness and effectiveness of AI systems are so important, an  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Feb. 28, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on President Biden's nomination of Julie Su as the next Labor Secretary: "I've long admired Deputy Secretary Su's commitment to labor rights. Throughout her career she has advocated for workers, especially the most vulnerable workers. "Whether it was fighting wage theft and forced labor or ensuring safe working conditions, D  more

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 1, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Michael Bennet, D- Colo., and John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., today introduced the Protect the West Act to make a $60 billion investment in the nation's forests to reduce wildfire risk, restore watersheds and protect communities. "Major investment is urgently needed to protect Western forests and watersheds from increasingly dangerous wildfires and droughts," said W  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 2, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues from both parties today reintroduced legislation that would end the antiquated and annoying practice of changing clocks twice a year. "It's time to put a stop to the twice-a-year time-change madness. Science and common sense show that more year-round daylight would improve our health, help kids spend a bit more time enjoying outdoor after school acti  more

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 28, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today reintroduced legislation that would provide consumers an enforceable right to a full cash refund when airlines cancel their flight. The Cash Refunds for Flight Cancellations Act would codify the federal Department of Transportation's authority to require major airlines to give passengers a cash refund if the airline cancels or significantly del  more

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 2, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that five Oregon cities will receive a combined nearly $2 million in federal grants to develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods, and create jobs in communities. "Sustainable, resilient communities where Oregonians can thrive start with quality, affordable housing. Full stop," Wyden said. "These federal  more