WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) called on the U.S. Department of State with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) to continue working to address the passport backlog for Oregonians by driving down wait times, increasing commu  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) called on the U.S. Department of State with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) to continue working to address the passport backlog for Oregonians by driving down wait times, increasin  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 29, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) called on the U.S. Department of State with U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) to continue working to address the passport backlog for Oregonians by driving down wait times, increasing commu  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on June 30, 2023: * * * Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer released the following statements regarding today's Supreme Court decisions in which the court ruled on cases pertaining to LGBTQ+ rights and student loan forgiveness. * * * 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis "The First Amendment was never intended to give the right to discriminate. It is not only disingenuous but shameful to abuse it to perpetuate anti-LGB  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) has helped lead a number of wildfire-related proposals during her first six months in office - most recently cosponsoring the Wildfire Tech DEMO Act, which is a bipartisan bill that seeks to expand access to wildfire technologies. Additionally, she has supported several other bills that would help Oregonians combat and recover from previous wildfires an  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 29, 2023: Today, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) joined Reps. Val Hoyle (OR-04), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), and Cliff Bentz (OR-02) as well as Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in urging the U.S. Department of State to continue working to address the passport backlog for Oregonians by driving down wait times, increasing  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 27, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and 64 Members urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan to do more to reduce plastic waste and pollution and prevent microplastics from entering our waterways. "As our waterways overflow with plastics and our bodies are invaded by microplastics, now is the time f  more

SAN RAFAEL, California, June 28 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023, and a letter: This week, Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02), U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) requesting they exa  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced today that he secured two community-initiated projects with Senator Wyden totaling $31 million for the Oregon Air National Guard in the FY 24 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies funding bill. The bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support, putting the Oregon Ai  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Federal Transportation Administration is awarding transit districts in Oregon $17,129,662 for the purchase or lease of low- or no-emission vehicles, and related equipment or facilities. "As climate chaos intensifies, we must act boldly and quickly to transition to clean and renewable strategies," Merkley said. "Low- a  more

WASHINGTON, June 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 28, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Federal Transportation Administration is awarding transit districts in Oregon $17,129,662 for the purchase or lease of low- or no-emission vehicles, and related equipment or facilities. "As climate chaos intensifies, we must act boldly and quickly to transition to clean and renewable strategies,"?Merkley said.?"Low- and   more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $826,000 to the state of Oregon to support projects and activities that will help underserved, small and disadvantaged communities to access and invest in water infrastructure and comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). "Water is the elixir of life. Providing  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 29, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding $826,000 to the state of Oregon to support projects and activities that will help underserved, small and disadvantaged communities to access and invest in water infrastructure and comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). "Water is the elixir of life. Provid  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today applauded the news that a total of $688,914,932.17 in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding is heading to Oregon. These new federal investments--which are part of President Biden's Internet For All program--will help ensure Americans in every corner of the country have the opportunity to be connected. The projects funded by th  more

WASHINGTON, June 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on June 29, 2023: * * * Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement after the Supreme Court struck down the use of race in college admissions: "Education is the great equalizer. Yet, as the first in my family to go to college, I know the struggles facing students whose parents have never been through the process before or don't have the money for expensive test prep or advisors to h  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 30, 2023: Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement following the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in the 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis case: "Discrimination and hate have no place in America. Unfortunately, today the extremist majority on the Supreme Court has trampled on anti-discrimination laws in an effort to push an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. "It should be alarming to all of us t  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release and letter on June 26, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chair of the Committee on Indian Affairs, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, and Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) sent a letter to the Governmental Accountability Office (GAO) requesting they examine tribal criminal   more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on June 26, 2023: * * * On Saturday, June 24, 2023, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement to mark one year since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade: "One year ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and robbed millions of their fundamental right to make deeply personal health care decisions. The catastrophic Dobbs ruling was the inevitable outcome of f  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) announced that the Federal Transit Administration has awarded $6,586,104 to the Salem Area Mass Transit District (SAMTD) for the construction, expansion, and enhancement of zero-emission electric buses and related facilities. "We've all experienced the dirty exhaust fumes   more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced the introduction of the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act, legislation to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to offer specialized wildland firefighter training to Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students. Salinas is joined by three co-leads, Representatives Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chuck Edwards (NC-11), and   more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on June 26, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement today on the announcement that the Supreme Court will hear Moore v. United States, a case dealing with the parameters of Congressional authority to levy taxes: "The petitioners in Moore are hoping the Supreme Court will toss out a Ninth Circuit ruling along with potentially  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: On the ten-year anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation providing equal dignity in the tax code for all legal marriages. The Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act, which is cosponsored by 43 other memb  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the announcement that Oregon will receive a record $689 million to expand access to broadband internet to rural and underserved communities - the largest single broadband grant in Oregon's history. "Today's announcement of nearly $700 million to boost broadband access could be life-changing for Oregonians across our state. In rural Oregon, a commu  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on June 30, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today urged top federal officials to crack down harder on the flow of fentanyl and other drugs pouring into Oregon communities on the I-5 and I-84 corridors. In a letter to Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Troy A. Miller that followed the senator's recent meeting with agency officials, Wyden noted that traffic stops on northbound I-5 and we  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on June 30, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan: "Once again, the far-right extremist Supreme Court has decided to radically alter people's lives for the worse and this time it's chosen to shackle millions of working-class borrowers in financial handcuffs. "By throwing student loa  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and colleagues announced today they introduced legislation to help small farms access federal conservation programs. "Family farmers and ranchers in Oregon and nationwide play an essential role in conservation, but often face financial barriers to farming practices that improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions. Our bill has one goal -- making it easier for underser  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023, and a letter: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues today urged the Federal Trade Commission to require that auto dealers provide a comprehensive and binding "offer price" for new vehicles, do away with hidden junk fees, retain records to enable enforcement and compliance, and ensure that non-English speakers are treated fairly in the car-buying process. "We write to support your efforts  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined with colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. "As we celebrate Pride this month, we must continue the fight for equal rights and justice for LGBTQ people in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "With extreme right-wing attacks escalating on fundamental rights to health care and bodily  more

WASHINGTON, June 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 27, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined with colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. "As we celebrate Pride this month, we must continue the fight for equal rights and justice for LGBTQ people in Oregon and nationwide," Wyden said. "With extreme right-wing attacks escalating on fundamental rights to health care and bod  more

WASHINGTON, June 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on June 26, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Jeff Merkley and Senate colleagues announced today they introduced bipartisan legislation that would require the Department of Defense to pass a full, independent audit in fiscal year 2024. Last year, the Department of Defense failed its fifth audit and was unable to account for over half of its assets, which are in excess of $3.1 trillion, or roughly 78 percent of the   more