WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-New York, issued the following news release and letter on March 7, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), led 15 of their colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Education (ED) to better address racial and ethnic gaps in higher education access and attainment by expanding the collection of college admissions data. "Despite a shrinking difference in racial a  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY-16) and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), led 15 of their colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Education (ED) to better address racial and ethnic gaps in higher education access and attainment by expanding the collection of college admissions data. "Despite a shrinking difference in racial and ethnic gaps of hi  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced an updated version of their Vote At Home Act today, to ensure American voters can vote more conveniently and securely at home. The bill would allow all American voters to vote at home, provide pre-paid envelopes to return ballots and automatically register citizens to vote at DMVs. "Oregon has led the   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 (TNSres) -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 9, 2023: * * * "Today I introduced the End Oil and Gas Tax Subsidies Act of 2023. This legislation eliminates nearly a dozen of the most egregious tax breaks enjoyed by the oil and gas industry.President Biden proposed a similar initiative in his Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The climate is changing. This fact is indisputable, as is the fact that humans are primary cause of the changing climate  more

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 10, 2023: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) introduced the Bill of Rights for Students and Parents, a resolution to advance an inclusive, aspirational, and affirmative vision for public education. The Bill of Rights for Students and Parents is a comprehensive resolution that serves as a blueprint for public education rooted in evidence-based practices that support teaching, learning,   more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) held the Subcommittee's first hearing of the 118th Congress on "Benefits and Access: The Necessity for Multiple Use of Water Resources." "It was an honor to gavel in and chair, for the first time, the Natural Resource Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Today's hearing focused on water and oceans as essenti  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 7, 2023: This evening, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) supported several bills that seek to help veterans access their private records, ensure they are reimbursed for emergency medical care, and help veterans and service members receive the benefits they deserve. The Wounded Warrior Access Act, RELIEVE Act, and H.R. 502 all passed the House with bipartisan support. "Our veterans put their liv  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) recently joined Reps. Michael Guest (MS-03) and David Trone (MD-06) to help introduce the END FENTANYL Act, which would require U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to identify improvements for preventing drug and human trafficking. The bipartisan and bicameral legislation builds off a 2019 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that fou  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, has signed onto the Parents Bill of Rights as a cosponsor. The proposal, officially introduced in the House last week, seeks to promote children's well-being and success by empowering parents and ensuring they have a seat at the table in their child's education. "As a mother of two, I know that no one understan  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) today announced that she has joined the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers - equally divided between Republicans and Democrats - dedicated to finding common ground on many of the key issues facing the nation. The caucus is led by Co-Chairmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). "When I served as mayor, there were no 'Democrat' pro  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: Yesterday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on the Parents Bill of Rights. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a cosponsor of the proposal, offered two amendments to provide clarity for parents and to set teachers up for success. Both amendments were adopted by the committee and are now included in the bill. "I promised Oregonians that I would stand up f  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) voted in favor of a joint resolution that would ease the impending regulatory burden on Oregon farmers and ranchers caused by the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. The EPA's rule, announced in December 2022, would undo the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule - leading to sweeping changes to the  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 9, 2023: * * * Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement after President Joe Biden released his Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal: "President Biden's 2024 budget provides a fiscally responsible, yet forward-thinking blueprint for America with core tenets that will resonate with all Oregonians: fairness, opportunity, and growth. "Like so many Americans, Oregonians are frus  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release and letter: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) called on the Biden Administration to work with the European Union to address the discriminatory aspects of EU digital regulations that target a handful of American companies while failing to regulate similar companies based in Europe, China, Russia and elsewhere, giving those companies a competitive advantage  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) on Thursday introduced legislation that would cap the list price of insulin at no more than $20 per vial, substantially reducing the cost of the lifesaving drug for the more than 7 million people who use insulin across the United States and the 1.3 million Americans who were forced  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, issued the following statement on March 8, 2023: * * * The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held an oversight hearing on the necessity of multiple uses of American water resources. Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) issued the following statement in response: "It was an honor to gavel in and chair, for the first time, the Natural Resour  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley - the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight on the Committee on Environment and Public Works - pressed Alan Shaw, the CEO of Norfolk Southern, to commit to safety improvements before engaging in further stock buybacks to enrich executives and shareholders. Shaw refused. "This tragedy demands accou  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined his Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution opposing Congressional Republicans' plan to impose a nationwide sales tax on all goods and services, which would increase prices for hardworking families by 30 percent. Instead of this misguided tax increase, the resolution calls for supporting a tax cut that will help working families and grow the middle class. "As man  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in introducing the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. This legislation would prevent the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies which pose significant privacy and civil liberties issues and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. "Law enforcement and government's use of facia  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in introducing the Facial Recognition and Biometric Technology Moratorium Act. This legislation would prevent the government from using facial recognition and other biometric technologies which pose significant privacy and civil liberties issues and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. "Law enforcement and government's use of fa  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 7, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released another $15 million for restoration activities in the Klamath Basin and has begun accepting project grant proposals from the community. This second round of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Klamath Basin--which is set to total $162 million over five years--is int  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 7, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has released another $15 million for restoration activities in the Klamath Basin and has begun accepting project grant proposals from the community. This second round of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for the Klamath Basin--which is set to total $162 million over five years--is   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 9, 2023: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after President Joe Biden released his administration's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2024: "This budget is a strong blueprint for opening doors of opportunity to everyone - no matter where they live, what they look like, or what stage of life they are in. I hold a town hall in every Oregon county, every year, and what   more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 9, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Danny Werfel to serve as IRS Commissioner: "For Mr. Werfel to get bipartisan support to lead the IRS at a time when a lot of Republicans would happily mothball the entire agency is a testament to his fairness, his ability to work with b  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on March 7, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today reintroduced the Decent, Affordable, Safe Housing for All (DASH) Act, legislation to make a landmark investment to house all people experiencing homelessness, tackle the housing affordability crisis by increasing supply, and expand homeownership opportunities, especially for young people, by creatin  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 7, 2023, on affordable housing crisis: * * * In recent memory the Finance Committee has a proven record of working together, Democrats and Republicans, to solve big, national challenges. We've helped more Americans save for a dignified retirement. Cut taxes for families and small businesses. Updated the Medicare guarantee with the Chronic Care Act. Made progress on  more

WASHINGTON, March 8 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 7, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement: "President Biden's plan is proof positive that Medicare's guarantee of quality health care for older Americans can be secured for the next generation without raising the eligibility age, cutting benefits, or handing over the program to big insurance companies," Wyden said.   more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 6, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement praising the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative for taking action against Mexico's regulations blocking certain U.S. agricultural goods: "Today's announcement is good news for U.S. farmers, who need the United States to show it's serious about enforcing our tr  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release and letter: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, called on the Biden Administration to work with the European Union to address the discriminatory aspects of EU digital regulations that target a handful of American companies while failing to regulate similar companies based in Europe, China, Russia and elsewhere, giving  more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Legislation Makes Elections More Secure and Accessible with Oregon-Style Voting U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., introduced an updated version of their Vote At Home Act today, to ensure American voters can vote more conveniently and securely at home. The bill would allow all American voters to vote at home, provide pre-paid envelopes to return ballots and autom  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden this week sounded the alarm at a Senate hearing on the devastating impact of the climate crisis, increasingly dangerous wildfires and the need for additional investments in the wildfire resilience workforce in Oregon and nationwide. "The reality is these fires are not your grandfather's fires. They are bigger, hotter, more powerful and we get them almost year round," Wyden said during a   more

WASHINGTON, March 9 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 8, 2023: * * * Lifts Hold on Michael Ratney to Serve as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will lift his hold on Michael Ratney, the nominee to serve as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, after securing new commitments from the State Department to revoke the visas of foreign officials involved in assisting foreign nationals in evading prosecution or fleeing the U.S  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 6, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today sent a letter urging the Department of Education to provide strong, comprehensive model contracts to help school districts across the country protect the privacy of students using educational technology. This resource is essential as school districts rarely have the expertise, resources, or leverage to negotiate privacy terms and conditions with large, so  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 6, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that he and six colleagues are urging top federal officials to bolster opportunities for underserved and underrepresented small businesses and entrepreneurs in Oregon and nationwide without requiring any new spending. In a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Wyden and the senators asked for the transfer of $200 million from the Stat  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 6, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues from both parties have reintroduced legislation that would support the families of disabled veterans, including children who take on caregiving roles in Oregon and nationwide. "The families of veterans have stepped up as caregivers and Congress is long overdue in stepping up for these families with critical support and financial as  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he joined Senate colleagues to urge President Biden to use a "whole-of-government" approach that comprehensively addresses critical housing needs in Oregon and nationwide. "Our nation's housing is an essential piece of our infrastructure, but it is a sector that remains in crisis. With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Infl  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues to introduce federal legislation that would guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. "We must pass the Women's Health Protection Act and enshrine abortion rights into black letter law, full stop," said Wyden, who has t  more

WASHINGTON, March 10 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 9, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today joined colleagues to introduce federal legislation that would guarantee access to abortion, everywhere across the country and restore the right to comprehensive reproductive health care for millions of Americans. "We must pass the Women's Health Protection Act and enshrine abortion rights into black letter law, full stop," said Wyden, who has take  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 6, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce comprehensive legislation that would protect workers' right to organize and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces in Oregon and nationwide. "From child labor laws to sick leave and overtime, some of the most vital worker rights and protections exist thanks t  more

WASHINGTON, March 7 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 6, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce comprehensive legislation that would protect workers' right to organize and bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces in Oregon and nationwide. "From child labor laws to sick leave and overtime, some of the most vital worker rights and protections exist thank  more