Saturday - October 18, 2025
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Oregon Newsletter for Friday September 26, 2025 ( 17 items )  

Continuing Epstein Investigation, Wyden Probes Major JPMorgan Chase Compliance Failures
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * Continuing Epstein Investigation, Wyden Probes Major JPMorgan Chase Compliance Failures New Reporting Indicates JPMorgan Chase Executives Turned a Blind Eye to Epstein's Conduct; Wyden Asks What Bank Executives Knew and When They Knew It -- And Why JPMorgan Chase Covered Up Epstein's Suspicious Transactions For Six Years After Firing Him   more

Housing Authority of Lincoln County Requests Reevaluation of Fair Market Rents for Oregon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Housing Authority of Lincoln County (Oregon) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development urging a reassessment of the Fair Market Rents (FMR) set for the Housing Choice Voucher program and related initiatives for the fiscal year 2026. The letter highlights a pressing concern regarding rising rental rates in Lincoln County, Oregon, and argues that the proposed FMRs do not adequately reflect the local housing market's re  more

Lake Oswego Resident Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering
PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 26 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon posted the following news release on Sept. 24, 2025: * * * Lake Oswego Resident Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering A Lake Oswego, Oregon, man pleaded guilty today to trafficking cocaine and laundering the proceeds through a business bank account to buy cryptocurrency. Michael Wayne Frost, 47, pleaded guilty to distributing more than 50 kilograms of cocaine and laundering the money   more

Markey, Warren, Merkley, Van Hollen Press Rubio to Protect Gaza Flotilla Carrying U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Markey, Warren, Merkley, Van Hollen Press Rubio to Protect Gaza Flotilla Carrying U.S. Citizens * Letter Text (PDF) Boston (September 25, 2025) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to intervene with the Netanyahu government to protect the safety of the civilian membe  more

Merkley Statement on OMB's Threat to Fire Public Servants If Republicans Shut Down the Government
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley Statement on OMB's Threat to Fire Public Servants if Republicans Shut Down the Government U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the below statement following release of the memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) detailing mass layoffs as Republicans continue on a path toward shuttin  more

Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $18 Million Invested into Oregon Airports
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Wyden Announce Over $18 Million Invested into Oregon Airports * Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investing $18,352,590 into airports throughout Oregon through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). "Our regional airports are vital hubs for Oregonians, supporting local businesses and providin  more

Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Champion Expanding Head Start for Working Families
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Wyden Join Colleagues to Champion Expanding Head Start for Working Families * Washington, D.C. - As the Trump Administration continues to attack and undermine Head Start, Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced today they joined their Senate colleagues to introduce the Head Start for America's Children Act. This sweeping legislation would expand Head Start to ensure that  more

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Urges EPA to Reconsider Air Quality Plan Disapproval
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding its recent partial disapproval of Colorado's air quality plan, known as the State Implementation Plan (SIP). The agency's announcement, issued on September 15, 2025, raised concerns about Colorado's regulatory strategy to address regional haze and source closures within its jurisdiction. The EPA's disapproval pertains to C  more

Oregon Health & Science University: Study - Team-based Care Helps Pregnant People With Substance Use Disorders
PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 26 (TNSjou) -- Oregon Health and Science University issued the following news: * * * Study: Team-based care helps pregnant people with substance use disorders Coordinated support from medical, behavioral, social service professionals improves outcomes By Angela Yeager A new study from Oregon Health & Science University shows that a team-based, whole-person approach to caring for pregnant people with substance use disorders holds promise in improving health outcomes a  more

Oregon Research Institute Research Scientist Urges FDA To Adopt NOVA System For Ultra-Processed Foods
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Erica M. LaFata, a research scientist at Oregon Research Institute submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding their request for information on ultra-processed foods. The writer, affiliated with Oregon Research Institute, urged the agencies to adopt the NOVA classification system as the foundation for a federal definition, citing its scientific rigor and policy readiness. The writer   more

Owner of Local Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Laundering COVID Funds
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Small Business Administration posted the following news release: * * * Owner of Local Restaurant Pleads Guilty to Laundering COVID Funds * Click Here to Sign Up for SBA OIG Email Updates on Recent Investigative Cases, Audit Oversight Reports, and General News Link is external Click Here to View the Original U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Press Release Link is external Bryan Ochoa Diaz, 32, a resident of Tigard, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to money launderin  more

Pacific Northwest Economic Region Urges USGS to Declare Potash a Critical Mineral for North American Food Security
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Geological Survey advocating for the inclusion of potash on the list of critical minerals. This recommendation underscores the importance of potash to the agricultural economy of both the U.S. and Canada, highlighting its role in food production and national security. PNWER represents a coalition of five U.S. states-Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington-and five Canad  more

Rep. Andrea Salinas' Statement on Release of Oregon Firefighter from ICE Facility
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Andrea Salinas' Statement on Release of Oregon Firefighter from ICE Facility * Tigard, OR - Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) released the following statement following the release of an Oregon firefighter from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. "I am relieved that my constituent, Mr. Rigoberto Hernandez, was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (  more

VoteVets Statement: "Jack Ciattarelli - Like Donald Trump - Has No Respect For Veterans And No Regard For Our Military"
PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 26 -- VoteVets issued the following statement on Sept. 25, 2025: * * * VoteVets Statement: "Jack Ciattarelli - Like Donald Trump - Has No Respect For Veterans And No Regard For Our Military" Today, in response to reports that the National Archives illegally released an unredacted version of Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill's military records to Nicholas De Gregorio, an ally of Jack Ciattarelli, her GOP opponent in the New Jersey governor's race, VoteVets Senior Advisor M  more

Wyden Joins Legislation to Protect Education Programs for Students with Disabilities
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden Joins Legislation to Protect Education Programs for Students with Disabilities * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he has joined legislation to ensure the continuation of special education programs for students with disabilities, following the Trump administration's draconian cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. "Every kid in America deserves equal education opportu  more

Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration to Back Off Plan to Gut Vehicle Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration to Back Off Plan to Gut Vehicle Emissions Standards * Current greenhouse gas emission standards set to be eliminated by Trump administration are projected to prevent 25,000 premature deaths and save drivers $6,000 over the next five years Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said that they are joining nine of their Senate col  more

Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration to Back Off Plan to Gut Vehicle Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Call on Trump Administration to Back Off Plan to Gut Vehicle Emissions Standards * Current greenhouse gas emission standards set to be eliminated by Trump administration are projected to prevent 25,000 premature deaths and save drivers $6,000 over the next five years Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today said that they are joining nine of their Senate collea  more