Thursday - November 21, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving Oregon Newsletter for Sunday September 29, 2024 ( 36 items )  

Bonamici, Bacon, Valadao Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Connect People with Overdose, Detox Aid
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [9/26/24] This week Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), and David Valadao (R-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide transportation for people in need of overdose prevention, substance use disorder treatment, detoxification, and supportive services. The Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act is inspired by the former long-runn  more

Chavez-DeRemer Helps Secure Protections for SNAP Theft Victims in Bipartisan Stopgap Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05) voted in favor of H.R. 9747, a stopgap funding bill that will prevent a government shutdown on September 30 and extend critical programs, including protections for victims of SNAP theft. Chavez-DeRemer joined a bipartisan group of her colleagues last month, urging congressional leadership to extend these reimbursement protections. The U.S. House of Representat  more

Commissioners Ask USMCA Trade Representatives To Take Additional Steps to Stop Forced Labor
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Urge passage of legislation in Canada and Mexico modeled on the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Four Commissioners from the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) today released a letter to the trade representatives of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, urging robust implementation of existing forced labor import prohibitions in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (U  more

Duckworth, Merkley Push to Ensure Health Insurers Cover and Provide Lactation Care for Pregnant and Nursing Parents
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans are required to cover lactation services--but many still fail to comply Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) called on the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Employee Benefits and Security Administration (EBSA) to issue strong recommended guidance for private health insurance plans and insurers to compl  more

During Climate Week, Markey, Badum, Merkley, Barragan Lead Over 100 International Lawmakers in Urging Biden Administration to Reject New LNG Exports
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety, today partnered with Representative Lisa Badum, group coordinator in the German Bundestag's Climate and Energy Committee and chairwoman of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Representative Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Senat  more

House Passes Chavez-DeRemer-Backed Bill to Restore Forest Health, Improve Wildfire Resiliency
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fix Our Forests Act (H.R. 8790) with bipartisan support. The proposal, cosponsored by Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), seeks to restore forest health, improve wildfire resiliency, and protect communities by increasing the pace and scale of forest restoration projects. This bill passed as Oregon is experiencing its most devastating wildfire season(li  more

Merkley Launches Effort to Protect Driver's Privacy
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator introduces new bill to address how car companies can use Americans' data Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today announced the introduction of new legislation to protect consumers' privacy from companies who collect and sell Americans' car data. Currently, there is a troubling trend of collecting, storing, and selling data from Americans' vehicles largely without drivers' knowledge. Recent reporti  more

Merkley Pushes for Crackdown on State, Local Corruption
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: After Supreme Court gutted anti-corruption laws, Senator leads new legislation Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today pushed to strengthen federal corruption laws after the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier for state and local officials to accept "gratuities" for official actions. Merkley's Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act makes it clear that gratuities and other gifts of value outside of official duties, int  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce $1.6 Million for Smith Rock State Park Enhancements
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is receiving a Land and Water Conservation grant of $1,628,498 to help develop a new welcome center and make other improvements to boost the visitor experience at Smith Rock State Park. "Oregon's public parks and lands are core to our quality of life and state's economy, and it's essential to ma  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $1.8 Million Investment in Oregon Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $1,852,748 is heading to the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) to bolster Oregon manufacturers. This funding will provide public-private partnerships to small and medium sized manufacturers across the state. "If we don't make things in America, we won't have a middle class in America, and when Oregon's man  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $1.8 Million Investment in Oregon Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today that $1,852,748 is heading to the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) to bolster Oregon manufacturers. This funding will provide public-private partnerships to small and medium sized manufacturers across the state. "If we don't make things in America, we won't have a middle class in America, and when Oregon's manufacturing indu  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $13 Million for Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Federal funding will help restore Klamath River's habitat following dam removal Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today a total of $13,398,211 was awarded to four projects in Oregon that will boost the conservation and restoration of essential aquatic ecosystems and habitat. This federal funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior includes efforts to upgrade fish passages, res  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million to Boost Behavioral Health Services in Oregon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding seven Oregon health centers a total of $4.1 million to launch and expand their behavioral health services. This federal funding is critical to providing Oregon communities with more resources to help address mental health and substance use disorder challenges. "As I tra  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $4 Million to Boost Behavioral Health Services in Oregon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is awarding seven Oregon health centers a total of $4.1 million?to launch and expand their behavioral health services. This federal funding is critical to providing Oregon communities with more resources to help address mental health and substance use disorder challenges. "As I travel  more

Rep. Blumenauer Proposes Overhaul to Hospice Benefit
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee, introduced the Hospice Care Accountability, Reform and Enforcement Act (Hospice CARE Act) to modernize Medicare's hospice benefit, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1982. The proposal comes as egregious reportsof fraud and abuse within the benefit persist, despite action   more

Senate Finance Committee Chair Wyden Demands Transparency From Hospitals Following Reports of Women Being Denied Emergency Reproductive Health Care
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today pressed eight hospitals in states with abortion bans for more information following news reports that the hospitals delayed and denied women emergency reproductive health care in potential violation of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA). Passed into law in 1986, EMTALA   more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden Announces Stacy Sanders as Finance Committee Health Chief
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced Stacy Sanders as the Chief Health Advisor on the Senate Finance Committee majority staff. She will officially join the committee in mid-October. "I'm thrilled to welcome Stacy to the Finance Committee," Wyden said. "Stacy has a proven track record fighting for better health care for wor  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden Investigation of Kushner Firm Continues; New Letter Outlines Affinity Partners Fee Structure, Lack of Return to Investors, Questionable Deals With Foreign Governments
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: On Tuesday, Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., continued his investigation into Affinity Partners, the firm owned by Jared Kushner, son-in-law and former top advisor of ex-President Donald Trump, with a letter detailing new findings on payments to Affinity from foreign governments and stating his concern that the firm represents a compen  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden Issues Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on Threats to Women Reproductive Health Care
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a finance committee hearing on threats to women's reproductive health care, on Sept. 24, 2024: * * * Today, the Committee meets to discuss the growing threat to reproductive health care. That threat is compounded by the failure of a growing number of states to adhere to the letter and spirit of the law in our committee's jurisdiction that protects the rights of women to  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden Issues Statement on Progress Confirming U.S. Tax Court Nominations
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 26, 2024: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement on the Senate's recent progress confirming nominations for the U.S. Tax Court: "In the last few days and weeks, the Senate has made tremendous progress filling vacancies on the U.S. tax court with highly qualified nominees. When Cathy Fung's nomination is confir  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden, Rep. Chu Introduce Bill to Boost Access to Capital for Businesses Owned by Women, People of Color
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 24, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Representative Judy Chu, D-Calif., today introduced legislation called the PROGRESS Act that would improve access to capital for small businesses owned by women and people of color. Short for Providing Real Opportunities for Growth to Rising Entrepreneurs for Sustained Success, the PROGRESS Act woul  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden, Rep. Pallone on CMS Actions to Ensure Compliance With Medicaid Eligibility Determinations
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 26, 2024: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., released the following joint statement today on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) actions to ensure states are complying with federal Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) regulati  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden, Sen. Hassan Lead Introduction of Legislation to Stop Labor & Delivery Unit Closures in Rural & Underserved Communities
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senator Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and 16 Senate Democrats today introduced legislation to address a rising trend of rural hospitals and hospitals in underserved areas closing their labor and delivery units with significant consequences for expectant parents, families, and their local communities. "Too man  more

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden, Sen. Warner Introduce Bill to Set Strong Cybersecurity Standards for American Health Care System
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Mark Warner, D-Va., today announced legislation to improve cybersecurity in the American health care system amid a wave of increased cyberattacks that are breaching Americans' privacy and causing major disruptions to care across the country. "Megacorporations like UnitedHealth are flunking   more

Senate Finance Committee Leaders Wyden, Pallone Applaud CMS for Ensuring 38 Million Children in Medicaid Receive Full Benefits
WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., released the following statement today applauding the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking action to ensure states and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) provide nearly half of America's ch  more

Senator Marshall Fights for Election Integrity on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, issued the following news release: Washington U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. called for the immediate passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act on the Senate floor this afternoon. The SAVE Act is crucial for protecting the integrity of our elections by requiring proof of American citizenship when registering to vote. Our elections must be decided by American citizens. Recently, states like Virginia, Texas, and Oreg  more

Wyden Backs Legislation to Empower Tenants' Right to Organize
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he has joined in introducing a crucial bill that would empower tenants to organize, participate in, and operate tenant organizations without fear of retaliation or interference in Oregon and nationwide. The Tenants' Right to Organize Act, led by Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., would amend the United States Housing Act of 1937 to support the formation of tenan  more

Wyden Backs Legislation to Establish Program Supporting Students' Basic Needs
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today he is cosponsoring legislation that would help ensure college students in Oregon and nationwide can meet their basic needs while pursuing their education. The Basic Assistance for Students in College (BASIC) Act aims to combat the basic needs crisis by allocating funding to help students access nutritious food, safe and secure housing, mental and physical he  more

Wyden Introduces Legislation to Clean Up Hemp Market, Keep Products Out of Kids' Hands
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) to establish national standards to protect public health and safety and keep cannabis products out of the hands of children. The CSRA would establish a national age restriction to prevent those under 21 from purchasing hemp-derived cannabis products. The legislation would require that all hemp-derived products are teste  more

Wyden Introduces Sweeping Court Reforms to Restore Public Trust as Supreme Court Faces Legitimacy Crisis
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2024: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced the introduction of new legislation to restore balance among the three branches of government, increase transparency to improve public trust in America's courts, and modernize the courts to ensure greater access to justice for more Americans. In the wake of recent rulings upending decades of precedent and evidence of unethical behavior, Wyden's   more

Wyden Joins Colleagues to Modernize Vehicle Safety Tests, Require Use of Female Crash Test Dummies
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2024: * * * Senator: "Safety testing that only uses male test dummies is negligent, and women are paying the price" * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said today he has joined U.S. Senate colleagues from both parties to introduce legislation that would improve passenger vehicle safety by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available -- including a female crash test dummy.   more

Wyden, Merkley Demand Postmaster General DeJoy Reverse Decision Hurting Mail Services in Southern Oregon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators: "We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region" Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded Postmaster General DeJoy immediately reverse his damaging position to relocate outgoing operations at the regional postal distribution center in  more

Wyden, Merkley Demand Postmaster General DeJoy Reverse Decision Hurting Mail Services in Southern Oregon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSres) -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Senators: "We share the grave concerns of the residents of Southern Oregon that this consolidation poses significant negative consequences for both our community and the efficiency of postal services in the region" * * * U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today demanded Postmaster General DeJoy immediately reverse his damaging position to relocate outgoing operations at the regional post  more

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Clean Up Hemp Market, Keep Products Out of Kids' Hands
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have introduced the Cannabinoid Safety and Regulation Act (CSRA) to establish national standards to protect public health and safety and keep cannabis products out of the hands of children. The CSRA would establish a national age restriction to prevent those under 21 from purchasing hemp-derived cannabis products. The legislation would require that all hem  more

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Social Media and Encrypted Messages Companies to Increase Resources Toward Combating 2024 U.S. Election Disinformation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 23, 2024: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues in calling on 11 of the largest and most popular social media and encrypted chat companies in the United States to increase resources needed to combat 2024 U.S. election administration and certification disinformation. "We are deeply concerned that the dissemination of election disinformation via your prod  more

Wyden, Merkley, Colleagues Urge Social Media and Encrypted Messages Companies to Increase Resources Toward Combating 2024 U.S. Election Disinformation
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they have joined Senate colleagues in calling on 11 of the largest and most popular social media and encrypted chat companies in the United States to increase resources needed to combat 2024 U.S. election administration and certification disinformation. "We are deeply concerned that the dissemination of election disinformation via your products and/or platform  more