WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed S.30, the Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, into law. The proposal was led in the House by Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), where it passed with broad bipartisan support last month. The legislation authorizes several projects that will help expand health care services to veterans  more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 21, 2023: Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR) introduced the Empowering Resilient Communities Act, bipartisan legislation to improve the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) preparation for, and response to, climate-fueled disasters. "Extreme heat is deadly. It is critical the federal government can prepare for and support communities impacted b  more

WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), reintroduced the Afghan Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Afghans--including those who supported U.S. military efforts-- who sought refuge in the United States to apply for permanent legal residency after undergoing additional vetting. Currently, Afghan  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Sam Graves (R-MO), Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Dina Titus (D-NV), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today introduced the bipartisan Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives Act (PFAS Alternatives Act), to support development of next-generation PFAS-free turnout gea  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 17, 2023: Today, Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Salud Carbajal (CA-24) unveiled bipartisan child care affordability legislation aimed at lowering the cost of child care for middle-class families and creating new pathways to expand child care availability for small businesses. The bill would improve a tax credit aimed at helping employers provide child care options to their employees, allo  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Today the House passed bipartisan legislation to update America's aviation system that included provisions led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to aid consumers and reduce airlines' carbon footprint. The Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act is a comprehensive reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration that will make flying safer and smoother  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 18, 2023: U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections and campaign finance law, joined with her colleagues to introduce the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation to improve access to the ballot for Americans, advance commonsense federal election standards and campaign finance reforms, and protect our democracy. The Freedom   more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley announced the introduction of two bills aimed at protecting communities across the nation from the hazardous health, economic, and environmental impacts of severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate chaos--the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act and the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act. "When wild  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Wyoming's U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis teamed up to introduce the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act, bipartisan legislation that would remove federal barriers to practice in federal health programs for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs). This legislation is a pathway to increasing patient choice, lowering health care costs, and empo  more

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to encourage International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien and United Parcel Service (UPS) Chief Executive Officer Carol Tome to work in good faith to reach a contract that provides all UPS workers fair wages, safe working conditions, affordable health care, and dign  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to encourage International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President Sean O'Brien and United Parcel Service (UPS) Chief Executive Officer Carol Tome to work in good faith to reach a contract that provides all UPS workers fair wages, safe working conditions, affordable health care, and d  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Florida, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Today, Congressman Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-Florida) introduced a bipartisan and bicameral resolution calling for an end to the global trade of dog and cat meat. According to nonprofit organizations, approximately 30 million dogs and 10 million cats are slaughtered yearly to sustain the   more

PORTLAND, Oregon, July 22 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 21, 2023: Today, members of the Oregon Congressional delegation announced that TriMet's 82nd Avenue Transit Project is receiving a $630,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The award follows a visit to 82nd Avenue by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this month. Buttigieg joined Representative Blumenauer, Senator Merkley, TriMet representatives and local stakeholders f  more

PORTLAND, Oregon, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Today, members of the Oregon Congressional delegation announced that TriMet's 82nd Avenue Transit Project is receiving a $630,000 grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The award follows a visit to 82nd Avenue by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg this month. Buttigieg joined Representative Blumenauer, Senator Merkley, TriMet representatives and local stakeholders for an   more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley's identical bills to restore fairness for the Siletz Tribe passed out of committee in both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. The legislation would remove a discriminatory legal clause that has severely limited the hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering abilities of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians (Siletz). The  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) voted in favor of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill (H.R. 3935). This bipartisan legislation sets aviation policy and includes two key pieces of pro-worker legislation led by the Congresswoman that supports flight and ground crew workers. "I'm proud that the FAA House bill included two critical pieces of legislation that   more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: On July 14th, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle's (OR-04) "Supporting Commercial Fishing in Port Infrastructure Projects Act" passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization bill. Rep. Hoyle's bill would ensure ports can apply for infrastructure grants that support commercial fishing, bolster jobs, and drive the economies of coastal communities. The bill will   more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on July 20, 2023: * * * Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (D-Tigard) issued the following statement after voting in favor of a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years: "Today, I voted in favor of H.R. 3935, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While imperfect, this package contained several key wins for Oregon's Sixth District. It w  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: Today, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), along with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), introduced the Insuring Fairness for Family Farmers Act, legislation that would reform current crop insurance policy to incentivize crop insurance agents to provide coverage to small and specialty crop farmers. "The vast majority of farms in Oregon are small f  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Maryland's U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen--members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee--today issued the following joint statement with Vermont's U.S. Senator Peter Welch: "Let us start by being clear: We warmly welcomed the visit of President Herzog to the United States and support what he said in his Joint Session to Congress today. It is what he  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- 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., sent a letter to Social Security Administration (SSA) Inspector General Gail Ennis regarding a series of complaints from current and former staff about the management of the office as the watchdog for Social Security. "The Finance Committee has received complaints from current and former staff of a hostile wor  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a hearing on organ transplantation reform on July 20, 2023: * * * Health Subcommittee hearing marks an important continuation of the Finance Committee's work to improve the organ transplantation system so it works on behalf of all Americans and their families who are in desperate need of a life-saving organ. Chairman Cardin has been a tireless champion for this cause an  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on July 17, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement today on the new guidance from the OECD related to the global minimum tax agreement: "There are concrete wins for American taxpayers and businesses in this announcement, particularly for companies involved in our clean energy sector that's booming as a result of the   more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on July 18, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today praised the Senate's passage of their legislation to approve the first trade agreement signed under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and set robust transparency and consultation requirements for any future agreements negotiated under the ini  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) praised the Senate's passage of their legislation to approve the first trade agreement signed under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and set robust transparency and consultation requirements for any future agreements negotiated under the initiative. Th  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues announced the inclusion of major anti-fentanyl legislation in the Senate's annual defense bill that would impose new sanctions and cut off illicit fentanyl at the source. "Despite diligent law enforcement work, overdoses and deaths from fentanyl and fentanyl-laced drugs in Oregon have continued unabated, and now it's time to stop the trafficking of fentanyl at a majo  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised the House Judiciary Committee, and lead sponsors Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., for passing the Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act out of committee and advancing strong new protections for Americans' rights. The Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act was authored by Wyden and Sen. Rand Pa  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: This week, Water and Power Subcommittee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., held a hearing on the importance of several bills that would help communities in Oregon and across the West respond to severe drought, improve water access for agriculture and conservation, and implement watershed restoration projects. "In Oregon, communities throughout the state, including the Klamath and Deschutes Basin, are suf  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 19, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues reintroduced legislation that would dramatically expand Tribal access to clean water by investing in water infrastructure. "Clean drinking water is a human right. Yet, The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and other Native American Tribes nationwide have been making do with inadequate water infrastructure that has left many with limited or no acces  more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Senate colleagues have introduced legislation that would support organic farmers in Oregon and nationwide by expanding funding for organics research and ensuring organics research is prioritized at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "Oregon farmers grow some of the most delicious blueberries, grapes and potatoes in the country," Wyden said today. "Supporting research  more

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on July 18, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., today led colleagues in urging the Biden administration to go further in its proposed update of federal privacy regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and ensure that Americans' protected health information (PHI) - for all categories of   more

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 20, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., today reintroduced legislation to ensure hemp-derived CBD products are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like other legal products used in dietary supplements, foods and beverages - an action that is essential to protecting consumer safety and treat  more