WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 17, 2023: Congressman Earl Blumenauer, founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, introduced the Small Business Tax Equity Act which creates an exception to Internal Revenue Code Section 280E to allow marijuana businesses operating in compliance with state law to take deductions associated with the sale of marijuana like any other legal business. "State-legal cannabis businesses a  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on April 19, 2023 * * * "Speaker McCarthy's debt limit proposal is a nonstarter. "This is an attempt to gloss over the sad details of the Republican's dirty energy bill, from doubling down on fossil fuels to reducing resources to go after tax cheats and repealing the largest investment in fighting the climate crisis in American history. "As if that weren't bad enough, it cuts critical programs Americans re  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced bicameral legislation to protect taxpayers from unscrupulous tax preparers. The Tax Refund Protection Act would prevent predatory preparers from skimming money off tax returns, overcharging for their services through hidden fees, or redirecting an entire refund into their own account. Millions of Amer  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey (D-PA), and Co-Chair of the House Elder Justice Caucus Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) today introduced legislation to protect seniors and people with disabilities from abuse, isolation, and neglect. The Elder Justice Reauthoriz  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) is celebrating several constituent service and legislative accomplishments completed during her first 100 days in office. "As promised, my team and I have hit the ground running to deliver results for Oregonians, and I'm proud of what we've been able to accomplish in these first 100 days. We've worked with hundreds of constituents - providing Oregonians with answers t  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) recently joined several of her colleagues to reintroduce the Safe Step Act, a bipartisan proposal that seeks to ensure patients are able to safely and efficiently access the best treatment available by improving step therapy protocols. The proposal is led by Reps. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02) and Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25). In addition to Chavez-DeRemer, cosponsors inclu  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on April 20, 2023: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, joined Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Val Hoyle (OR-04) along with Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in urging the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to take action as Oregon adolescents are dying of drug-relat  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries, issued the following statement on April 18, 2023: * * * The Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a hearing on legislation centered around reforms to the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Subcommittee Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) issued the following statement in response: "Today's Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee Legislative Hearing  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on April 20, 2023: * * * Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) issued the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass H.R. 734. "H.R. 734 seeks to strip transgender and intersex girls of equal opportunities, further isolating those who disproportionately struggle with mental health challenges, because of how society treats them. This hateful piece of legislation could force every single girl on  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- 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) expressed support for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed rule that would reduce barriers to kinship foster placement and ease the financial burdens on kin caregivers. "We write to express support for the proposed rule entitled Propose  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release on April 20, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a bipartisan framework that the Committee will use to pursue legislative solutions to modernize and enhance federal prescription drug programs, with the goal of reducing drug costs for patients and taxpayers. "Some of the most life-saving medications remain out of reach for far too many workin  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley shared the following statement after the United States Senate passed The Fire Grants and Safety Act. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, and the U.S. Fire Administration. "Oregon's firefighters work tirelessly, risking their lives   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley partnered with Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today to introduce the bipartisan Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2023. This legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to offer specialized training, specifically wildland firefighter training, to Job Corps Civilian Conservation Cent  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on April 20, 2023: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Biden Administration announced they are providing $1 billion to the Green Climate Fund to support developing countries in taking stronger climate action. "This contribution is critically important. Climate chaos is a global problem and it requires a global solution, but the United States is the largest historic  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on April 20, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Earl Blumenauer, Andrea Salinas, and Val Hoyle are raising concerns with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that Oregon teens are dying of drug-related causes faster than any other state, and the lawmakers are pushing for action. The Oregon delegation members are urging  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on April 20, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, Lori Chavez-Deremer, Earl Blumenauer, Andrea Salinas, and Val Hoyle are raising concerns with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) that Oregon teens are dying of drug-related causes faster than any other state, and the lawmakers are pushing for action. The Oregon delegation members are urging th  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following commentary to Albany Democrat-Herald on April 16, 2023: * * * Confronting Oregon's Drug Crisis Substance abuse and related overdose deaths are ravaging communities across the country. During my first couple months in office, a number of my colleagues have expressed concerns that narcotics like fentanyl are destroying families and livelihoods in their districts. It's a problem that's unfolding across the country,  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) announced she is requesting more than $36 million in the fiscal year 2024 federal government funding legislation for critical public safety, housing, infrastructure, and rural development projects across Oregon's sixth district. "I'm so proud to announce my funding requests for fiscal year 2024," said Rep. Salinas. "From the moment I took office, m  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Ore.) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-Neb.) announced the introduction of the Fight Inhumane Gambling and High-Risk Animal Trafficking (FIGHT) Act, a bipartisan bill to crack down on illegal cockfighting and dogfighting. The FIGHT Act would amend Section 26 of the Animal Welfare Act to enhance enforcement opportunities under the law and strengthen protections for at-risk animal  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following hearing statement on April 19, 2023: * * * This morning the Finance Committee welcomes Commissioner Werfel back to the Senate to discuss the IRS budget and this filing season, which came to a close yesterday. Let me start off by thanking the staff at the IRS for their hard work that made this the smoothest filing season in many years. Democrats made a big investment in taxpayer se  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on April 19, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on the House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's debt ceiling proposal: "It's clear that nothing unites House Republicans more than helping rich people cheat on their taxes. Republican cuts to the IRS made it far too easy for wealthy tax cheats to get away with breaking th  more

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on April 17, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement following a speech by Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy regarding the House Republican position on the debt ceiling. "Today House Republicans have made their priorities crystal clear: keep Wall Street happy and take away health care and food assistance from working Americ  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., House Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Co-Chair of the House Elder Justice Caucus Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to protect seniors and people with disabilities from a  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) expressed support for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed rule that would reduce barriers to kinship foster placement and ease the financial burdens on kin caregivers. "We write to express support   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a bipartisan framework that the Committee will use to pursue legislative solutions to modernize and enhance federal prescription drug programs, with the goal of reducing drug costs for patients and taxpayers. "Some of the most life-saving medications remain out of  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 18, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today expressed support for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed rule that would reduce barriers to kinship foster placement and ease the financial burdens on kin c  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on April 20, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today released a bipartisan framework that the committee will use to pursue legislative solutions to modernize and enhance federal prescription drug programs, with the goal of reducing drug costs for patients and taxpayers. "For years, drug pricing middlemen like  more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 18, 2023: Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio's Senator Sherrod Brown led 21 Senators today in introducing the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act. This bill is bipartisan and bicameral, with Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Michael Cloud (R-TX) leading the bill in the House. The ETHICS Act is new, comprehensive legislation that would prohibit members of   more

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on April 18, 2023: Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Ohio's Senator Sherrod Brown led 21 Senators today in introducing the Ending Trading and Holdings in Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act. This bill is bipartisan and bicameral, with Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Michael Cloud (R-TX) leading the bill in the House. The ETHICS Act is new, comprehensive legislation that would prohibit me  more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues this week reintroduced legislation that would allow doctors at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prescribe medical cannabis to veterans in Oregon and other states and territories where there are established medical cannabis programs. "Veterans in Oregon and nationwide are unfairly and unacceptably stuck in a legal gray zone when discussing me  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 21, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to move forward with a proposed rule banning noncompete agreements to give people in Oregon and nationwide the opportunity to change jobs and create new businesses. "We urge the agency to resist calls for additional postponement and act quickly to protect as many workers u  more

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 21, 2023, and letter: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues today urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to move forward with a proposed rule banning noncompete agreements to give people in Oregon and nationwide the opportunity to change jobs and create new businesses. "We urge the agency to resist calls for additional postponement and act quickly to protect as many workers unde  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed nearly $26 million in federal investment from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for 18 Oregon counties to use for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. This $25.6 million from the Bureau of Land Management for these 18 counties   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 19, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today welcomed nearly $26 million in federal investment from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act for 18 Oregon counties to use for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. This $25.6 million from the Bureau of Land Management for these 18 counties is   more

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that two rural Oregon airports will receive a combined more than $288,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for crucial runway improvements. "Small airports in rural areas help drive our state's economy," Wyden said. "I am gratified to see these dollars go toward improving crucial runway infrastructure that will allow for safer and more regular   more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon counties will receive more than $45 million in payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. "I'm glad the Secure Rural Schools law continues to pay huge dividends for rural Amer  more

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon counties will receive more than $45 million in payments under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (SRS) for school and road maintenance, youth job training, wildfire prevention, watershed restoration and habitat conservation. "I'm glad the Secure Rural Schools law continues to pay huge dividends for rural America  more