WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on e-cigarettes imported into the U.S. from 2016 through 2018. The report (GAO-19-619R) is titled "Electronic Cigarettes: U.S. Imports, 2016-2018". The report was sent to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, on July 12. Here are excerpts of summaries associated with the report. What GAO Found: "The customs value of e-cigarette devices, parts, and liquid imported into the United   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Following alarming reports that the Trump Administration is purposefully forcing pregnant asylum seekers to await their hearings in dangerous conditions in Mexico, Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley today called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General to open an immediate, priority investigation into the treatment of pregnant women at the border. Merkley's call for investigation follows inf  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators' push follows Miami Herald reporting that children will likely be sent back to the unlicensed facility in October * * * Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley, joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), today pushed the Trump Administration to permanently shut down the Homestead child prison in Florida. The Senator's push follows reporting from th  more

BEAVERTON, Oregon, Aug. 13 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Bonamici, Carter Visit Chehalem Cultural Center, BodyVox, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Portland Center Stage, and Portland Art Museum * * * Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) hosted Mary Anne Carter, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), for a series of visits to organizations that are part of Northwest Oregon's thriving arts community. "The arts enrich our live  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio today in a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr, questioned the legality of reported surveillance of Oregonians opposed to the Jordan Cove liquified natural gas (LNG) pipeline and processing facility. "Many of those protesting the Jordan Cove project are landowners - ordinary people - who are opposed to property seizure through eminent domain," said DeFazio in the letter. "  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) announced that the Oregon Washington Health Network in eastern Oregon will receive $1 million in federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The funding is a part of the 2019 Rural Communities Opioid Response Program and will help strengthen and expand substance use disorder (SUD) prevention, treatment, and recovery services in rural areas of  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) applauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for awarding $4,509,000 in grant funding to 27 health centers in Oregon, nine of which are in Oregon's Second District. Health centers in Boardman, Klamath Falls, Medford, La Pine, Prineville, Hood River, Grants Pass, and Enterprise will receive a combined total of $1,503,000 in federal funds, which will help c  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement applauding the Center for Disease Control for their efforts to combat the opioid epidemic: The CDC awarded Oregon Health Authority Public Health Division $3,034,987 in federal funding to help advance understanding and improve prevention and response activities regarding the opioid crisis. The funding will improve surveillance of the epidemic by implementing new tactics to collect more comprehensive and timelier da  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's prescribed fire guidelines: The announcement comes a year after Walden brought EPA Region 10 administrator to Medford to meet with concerned citizens, community leaders, and business owners to discuss the impact of wildfire smoke on people's health. Prescribed fire, utilizing low-intensity fire in the spring and fall that produces less smoke, is an important tool fo  more

KLAMATH FALLS, Oregon, Aug. 14 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Merkley used his seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee to secure funding for the recommendation that came out of his Sucker Recovery Summit * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley on Monday toured Gone Fishing sucker propagation project, which was expanded after recommended action that came out of the senator's first-of-its-kind Sucker Recovery Summit. Following the science summit  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's China tariff announcement: "Today's announcement is more proof that Trump's tariffs have always been about getting the headlines he wants. "He doesn't care about actually changing China's behavior, and he doesn't care how these tariffs impact American families. "Postponing tariffs on video game consoles and pet toys is giving Trump the  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 12 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration released its public charge rule: "The Trump administration's callous crusade to demonize immigrant families continues. "Like so many other Trump policies, this rule throws decency and commonsense out the window, instead welcoming in racism, xenophobia and discrimination. "This is cruelty for cruelty's sake, intended to harm i  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 14 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: * * * - New Report from Government Watchdog Reveals E-Cigarette Imports Doubled Over the Last Three Years, Mostly from China - Ranking Finance Democrat Announces Intent to Introduce Legislation to Tax E-Cigarettes * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today highlighted a newly released government report (https://www.gao.gov/product  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Citing alarming suicide statistics in Oregon and nationwide, senator had pressed FCC to act * * * U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today welcomed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) staff recommendation to designate a new nationwide three-digit phone hotline for people facing a mental health crisis and for suicide prevention. Citing alarming suicide statistics from Oregon and throughout out the United Sta  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $26,205 federal grant awarded to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for its program to improve environmental conditions for whales off the Oregon Coast by reducing the risk of whales entangled in fishing gear. "Oregon has a proud history of conservation, and fishing is the lifeblood of our coastal communities economies," Wyden said. "This importa  more