WASHINGTON, July 19 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: * * * 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. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), where it passed with broad bipartisan support last month. The legislation authorizes several projects that will help expand health care services to veterans across th  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Earl Blumenauer's amendment to end the Veteran Administration's (VA) prohibition on providers assisting veterans in accessing state-legal medical cannabis. The amendment passed unanimously by voice vote. "Medical cannabis literally saves lives. It is shameful that we continue to force veterans to seek care outside of the VA to ac  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Senators Ron Wyden (OR) and Jeff Merkley (OR) applaud the Biden-Harris Administration's nearly $1.5 million investment in a new Urban Service Center to help urban farmers and strengthen local food systems in the Pacific Northwest. The Urban Service Center will be located in Portland, Oregon, and administered by staff   more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Senators Ron Wyden (OR) and Jeff Merkley (OR) applaud the Biden-Harris Administration's nearly $1.5 million investment in a new Urban Service Center to help urban farmers and strengthen local food systems in the Pacific Northwest. The Urban Service Center will be located in Portland, Oregon, and administered by staff fro  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1), Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), Andrea Salinas (OR-6), and Senators Ron Wyden (OR) and Jeff Merkley (OR) applaud the Biden-Harris Administration's nearly $1.5 million investment in a new Urban Service Center to help urban farmers and strengthen local food systems in the Pacific Northwest. The Urban Service Center will be located in Portland, Oregon, and administered by st  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., and Sean Casten, D-Ill., and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore. today introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere - with a strong focus on supporting the nation's small, rural and und  more

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) recently joined Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and several of her colleagues to introduce the Orally Taken Contraception (OTC) Act. The proposal would require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to send guidance to manufacturers on how to submit successful over-the-counter applications for oral contraceptives - streamlining the process to expand health car  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: * * * Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, released the following statement after supporting the bipartisan Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation (SGRLAA) Act - legislation reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) through fiscal year 202  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3202, the Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, with bipartisan support. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) released the following statement in support of the legislation, which seeks to hold China accountable for the proliferation of illicit fentanyl and fentanyl precursors. "The fentanyl crisis continues poisoning Oregonians and devastating our communities. According  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter: Reps. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) and Cliff Bentz (OR-02) urged Governor Tina Kotek to review every conditional commutation granted by her predecessor, Governor Kate Brown. The letter comes after investigators linked four suspicious deaths from earlier this year to one person of interest, and reports indicate that this individual was released from prison early after being granted conditional  more

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a total of $20 million in grants benefitting projects across 32 states, including $630,000 in funding for Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) to complete the 82nd Avenue Transit Project. The announcement comes after Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) joined Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Sens. Ron Wyen (D-Ore.) and Je  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Leaders Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), along with Senators Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), introduced the Improving Social Security's Service to Victims of Identity Theft Act--bipartisan legislation making it easier for identity theft victims to resolve their cases by creating a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for iden  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley introduced legislation with U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (D-NY-16) to stop universities across the country from giving preferential treatment to children of alumni and donors and help ensure equity in the admissions process. The bicameral Fair College Admissions for Students Act comes following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision overturning race-conscious c  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is awarding the state of Oregon, Lane Transit District, and nonprofits across the state nearly $20 million to build and sustain capabilities to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. "Ensuring Oregonians and communities across th  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023 and a letter: Today, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) following up on previous requests to deny permits for TC Energy's Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) Xpress project. With FERC's decision expected this week, the Senators warn that the expansion of this pipeline is not necessary or prudent and would only increase c  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023, and a letter: Today, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden sent a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) following up on previous requests to deny permits for TC Energy's Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) Xpress project. With FERC's decision expected this week, the Senators warn that the expansion of this pipeline is not necessary or prudent and would only increa  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Today, U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the "Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act" (SOWSPA), legislation to enact a mining withdrawal that would ensure certain federal lands are permanently "withdrawn" from eligibility for mining claims, protecting them from toxic mining pollution. U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) is an original cosponsor of the bill.   more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Today, U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the "Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act" (SOWSPA), legislation to enact a mining withdrawal that would ensure certain federal lands are permanently "withdrawn" from eligibility for mining claims, protecting them from toxic mining pollution. SOWSPA would permanently prevent new mining   more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Today, U.S. House Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Sean Casten (IL-06), along with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere - with a strong focus on supporting the nation's small, r  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) reintroduced legislation to create a new progressive tax on financial transactions that would curb high-risk trading practices, reduce economic inequality, and generate $752 billion in new federal revenue over the next decade. "Wall Street has cashed in on high-risk trades that add no real value to our economy and leave working families behind. We ne  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today proudly announced his selection of David Wilkinson to serve as a member of the Federal Commission on Social Impact Partnerships. Wilkinson is Executive Director of The Tobin Center for Economic Policy at Yale. "David Wilkinson is a dedicated leader in evidence-based policy, innovative finance, and community-driv  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: With the surprise merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) pending, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today introduced legislation that would revoke the PGA Tour's tax exemption and deem the PIF ineligible for a lucrative tax break that applies to sovereign wealth funds. "Most of America's big pro sports  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on July 26, 2023, at a markup of the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act: * * * The Finance Committee has convened today to vote on a set of proposals that will modernize federal prescription drug programs and put a stop to practices by pharmacy benefit managers that are driving up drug costs for patients and taxpayers. Pharmacy benefit managers are the middle  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on July 27, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on a new Government Accountability Office report he requested into the growing prevalence of businesses structured as large partnerships and the IRS's struggle to ensure they pay the taxes they owe. The report, IRS Audit Processes Can Be Strengthened to Addres  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on July 26, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement after President Biden announced the nomination of Governor Martin O'Malley to be commissioner of the Social Security Administration. "Social Security needs a confirmed commissioner in order to ensure Americans are receiving the best service possible for their earned Social Se  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- 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., requested in a new letter that Lear Co., the nation's largest car seat manufacturer, explain how it oversees leather supply chains in Brazil to prevent the illegal importation of goods made with forced labor or deforestation. Environmental groups and journalists have documented widespread forced labor and human  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today unveiled an ongoing investigation into the tax and estate planning of Apollo Global Management Co-founder Leon Black and his financial dealings with Jeffrey Epstein, who advised Black on those matters. The investigation has uncovered serious tax issues and other concerns with trusts and structures Black executed   more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) today cheered congressional passage of H.R. 2544, the House companion to S. 1668, the Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act. The legislation will help break up the monopoly contract used to manage the Organ  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today lauded committee passage of the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability Act (MEPA), which was reported out of committee 26-1. The legislation brings more transparency, accountability and competition to pharmacy benefit manager practices in the drug suppl  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on July 27, 2023: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) today released the following statement announcing that the committee will meet in September to mark up tax legislation strengthening our economic relationship with Taiwan: "Shortly after Congress returns from the upcoming state work period, the Finance Commi  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today released the Chairman's Mark of the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability (MEPA) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at updating federal prescription drug programs to address pharmacy benefit manager practices that have grown increasingly complex and opaque in recent years  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: Today, U.S Representatives Summer Lee (D-PA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Robert Garcia introduced the 'Equality in Our Laws' Act, legislation that would enshrine gender equity in the US legal code by replacing masculine generics with gender neutral language. Additionally, this key change would make the U.S. Code more inclusive to members of the LGBTQIA+ community, especially gender- nonc  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter on July 27, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today requested the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission and Cybersecurity and Cyber Safety Review Board investigate whether lax security practices by Microsoft enabled the recent Chinese government hack of multiple U.S. government agencies and high-ranking federal officials. The hack came two years after separate cybersecurity failings by Micr  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on July 27, 2023: * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act today. "I'd like to commend my Senate colleagues for ensuring that this year's defense policy bill received a open floor process, with the consideration of many worthy amendments across a diverse range of issues. Ultimately, this year's Senate bill authorizes $886 billi  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he and Senate colleagues have introduced legislation that would expand food benefits for people with medical expenses in Oregon and nationwide by breaking down rules that limit eligibility and benefit levels. "This anti-hunger legislation would bring families in Oregon and nationwide with medical expenses much needed financial relief," Wyden said. "I'll ba  more

WASHINGTON, July 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 26, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues introduced bipartisan legislation that would make it easier for identity theft victims to resolve their cases by creating a single point of contact at the Social Security Administration for identity theft cases. "Americans who have been targeted by identity theft scammers should be able to resolve their case without any bureaucratic red tape or delay  more

WASHINGTON, July 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Oregon will receive more than $4.3 million from the Department of the Interior to support future outdoor recreation and conservation projects. "Oregon is home to some of the most treasured natural beauty in our nation where Oregonians and visitors from all over the world can experience the great outdoors," said Wyden, who is the lead s  more

WASHINGTON, July 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 25, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Oregon will receive more than $4.3 million from the Department of the Interior to support future outdoor recreation and conservation projects. "Oregon is home to some of the most treasured natural beauty in our nation where Oregonians and visitors from all over the world can experience the great outdoors," said Wyden, who is the lead spon  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced Oregon Food Bank Southeast Oregon Services in Ontario will receive a $66,900 federal investment to buy a refrigerated box truck, fuel and insurance for two years - all of which will help this community mainstay respond to increased food demands in Malheur and Harney counties. "Quality of life in Malheur and Harney counties begins with ens  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., reintroduced the Fourth Amendment is Not For Sale Act today, following the bill's unanimous passage in the House Judiciary Committee last week. The bill, first introduced in 2021, blocks the government from purchasing information about Americans that would otherwise require a warrant. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Ha  more

WASHINGTON, July 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on July 27, 2023: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and Sean Casten, D-Ill., today introduced legislation to help address the climate crisis by encouraging farming practices that improve soil health and crop resilience and lower the amount of carbon in the atmosphere - with a strong focus on supporting the nation's small, rural and underserv  more