WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Oct. 25, 2023: * * * Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), released the following statement on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict: "It is hard to describe the anguish I feel in the aftermath of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas. It continues the record I've seen from Hamas for as long as I've been in Congress. Under Yasser Arafat, Hamas torpedoed a peace agreement that was almost adopted with Pre  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, DC [10/25/23] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan package of legislation that will help people get quality jobs by increasing access to apprenticeships, workforce training programs, and youth career counseling programs. The ACCESS Act - introduced with Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA) - would improve career counseling programs for youth to help them access hig  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Marcus Molinaro (R-NY) introduced bipartisan legislation to increase access to healthy meals and snacks for children in care settings. The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act updates the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to allow an additional meal or snack for children in care for a full day, and streamlines the program to make it easier for earl  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, chairman of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, issued the following statement on Oct. 26, 2023: * * * Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries held a legislative hearing on seven bills covering a wide variety of issues, including Endangered Species Act (ESA) reforms, species management improvements, water resource support and the elimination of regulatory delays. Subcommittee Chairman  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today introduced new legislation to provide a comprehensive framework to reform the federal government's care and custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children (UC). The Protecting Una  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit issued the following testimony by Kris Strickler, director of the Oregon Department of Transportation and a member of the board of directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, involving a hearing on Oct. 18, 2023, entitled "Running on Empty: The Highway Trust Fund": * * * INTRODUCTION Chair Crawford, Ranking Member Norton, and Members of the Subcommit  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) teamed up with Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley to introduce the bicameral Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act--the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the plastic pollution crisis that is poisoning our air, water, and land, and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income Americans. The legislation would redu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 25, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today made public new information raising questions about whether Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas properly reported up to $267,230 in loan forgiveness on his tax filings. According to information committee staff obtained through documents provided by Anthony Welters, who loaned Supreme Court Justi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today applauded the Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining for holding a hearing on the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act--bipartisan legislation that Wyden co-leads with Senators Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and James Risch, R-Idaho. The legislation would invest in rural communities  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 -- Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Washington, issued the following news release: WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), applauded the Biden-Harris administration's designation, through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub ("PNW Tech Hub") in Oregon and Washington as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in regions across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley chaired a subcommittee hearing exploring material alternatives for single-use plastic items and packaging. This hearing was the latest in a series of hearings Merkley is holding in the Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight to investigate plastic production and pollution and its effects on   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), sent a letter to the U.S. Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Daniel Werfel, urging the IRS to ensure that fuels derived from petroleum products will not qualify for the Sustainable Avi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley teamed up with California Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) to introduce the bicameral Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act--the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the plastic pollution crisis that is poisoning our air, water, and land, and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income Americans.   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve access to local media on streaming platforms. Current law and FCC rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, line  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden joined colleagues in a letter urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to improve access to local media on streaming platforms. Current law and FCC rules state that traditional cable and satellite networks must work directly with a local television station before broadcasting local news, sports, and other programming. However, linear   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Tech hub designations primed for technological innovation and job creation benefiting national security and sustainable housing Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas, today announced the designation of two tech hubs coming to Oregon from the U.S. Economic Development Administration  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Val Hoyle, and Andrea Salinas, today announced the designation of two tech hubs coming to Oregon from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. These hubs are created through the Tech Hubs program and the 2022 bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, an economic development initia  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: This year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continued its efforts to undermine Taiwan's vibrant democracy and engagement with the world. U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) reintroduced the Taiwan Relations Reinforcement Act to update and bolster U.S. policy to support Taiwan amid China's increased military and diplomatic aggression. "The Chinese Communist Party has isolated Taiwan  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will convene a committee hearing on Thursday, November 2, 2023 to consider the Social Security Commissioner nomination. The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. in Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The following nominee is scheduled to testify: The Honorable Martin O'Malley, of Maryland Who: Senate Fi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a hearing on Oct. 25, 2023, on the need for guaranteed paid leave to better support american workers and families: * * * The Finance Committee meets this morning to talk about a pressing issue - paid leave. Why are we holding this hearing? Because low- and middle- income workers are falling through the cracks - people like construction workers, nurses, or cashiers who   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 25, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden blasted the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's decision today to abandon support for key digital trade principles, principles that allow the free flow of information across borders, protect against the forced transfer of American technology and promote open markets for digital goods exported by businesse  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) led Senate Finance Committee Democrats this week in sending a letter pressing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to take additional steps to protect seniors from deceptive practices used by marketing middlemen in Medicare Advantage. "The marketing onslaught can create confusion among b  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Oct. 26, 2023: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., and U.S. Representative Don Beyer, D-Va., today introduced legislation to update and expand unemployment insurance so that the program better meets the needs of the modern workforce and is ready to respond should America face a future recession. "The past few years hav  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- The Senate Judiciary Committee issued the following information for an executive business meeting at 10 a.m. on Oct. 26, 2023, at 216 Hart Senate Office Building: AGENDA I. Committee Organization * Subcommittees II. Nominees * Mustafa Taher Kasubhai, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon * John A. Kazen, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas * Eumi K. Lee, to be United States District Judge for the Northern Dis  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon was awarded $40.2 million in federal funding to help low-income households and Tribes pay for energy bills, prevent utility shut-offs and more. "With temperatures forecast to drop near or below freezing this weekend in Oregon, this assistance is especially timely," Wyden said. "These federal funds will help Oregonians alread  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: *** Original text here: https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/wyden-announces-virtual-town-hall-on-oct-31-for-malheur-county  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after voting against a resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from the Republic of Niger: "I voted against this resolution, which recklessly removes U.S. troops combating terrorism from the Republic of Niger and the wider region within 30 days. A sudden withdrawal would not only send a harmful message to our partner  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he and six congressional colleagues are demanding answers from five tax preparation companies that recently received notices of penalty offenses from the Federal Trade Commission. The lawmakers sought those answers in letters sent to H&R Block, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, Ramsey Solutions, and Intuit regarding the improper sharing of taxpayer's sensitive and confident  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has introduced legislation that would help state, local and Tribal governments accelerate the permitting and inspection process for residents to install home energy systems, like rooftop solar panels. "Each year, more Americans are installing solar panels and other clean energy products into their homes but local governments are struggling to streamline t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Klamath County Public Health and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have secured a combined $5.1 million in federal funds for air quality. "This federal investment packs a one-two punch because it improves overall air quality and helps Oregonians get efficient heat sources to replace their wood-burning un  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Klamath County Public Health and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have secured a combined $5.1 million in federal funds for air quality. "This federal investment packs a one-two punch because it improves overall air quality and helps Oregonians get efficient heat sources to replace their wood-burning units  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Washington, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley as well as U.S. Reps. Suzanne Bonamici and Andrea Salinas said today they are joining more than 100 congressional colleagues to urge leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to preserve the Building Chips in America Act in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The chips permitting bill, which passed with overwhel  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and John Thune (R-S.D.), today reintroduced the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act, which would improve child support enforcement for tribal child support agencies by allowing the more than 60 tribes that operate their own child-support programs to access the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program, which lets them collect past-due child support from non-custodial parents. The bill wou  more