WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today the Education and Labor Committee approved legislation sponsored by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to make higher education more affordable and accessible. Bonamici, who is Chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services, played a key role in leading the College Affordability Act. The comprehensive update of the Higher Education Act includes many of the policies from legislation  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Today, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved a slate of bipartisan measures by voice vote, including the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act; Funding Instruction for Safety, Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies Act, and a resolution expressing support for designation of October 28th as "Hono  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Joshua Harder, D-California, issued the following news release: Representatives Josh Harder (CA-10) and Susan Davis (CA-53) are commending efforts by Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) to get answers from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding her department's violation of a court order. Last week, a federal judge held Secretary DeVos in contempt of court for continuing to collect student loan payments from students of the now-defunct Corin  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today the House passed legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to update and revitalize programs and services that support nearly 11 million aging Americans and their caregivers. The Dignity in Aging Act, H.R. 4334, reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA) and increases funding for social services and community-based programs like Meals on Wheels. Bonamici is Chair of the Education and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.2440, bipartisan legislation authored by Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Peter DeFazio (OR-04), to unlock the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund and increase investments in critical harbor and port projects helping ensure that money intended to dredge the nation's coastal and inland commercial ports would actually go toward   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a Full Committee markup this Tuesday, October 29, 2019, at 10:00 am in 2167 Rayburn House Office Building to consider the following measures: * Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute (ANS) to H.R. 1497, Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019 * Amendment in the Natu  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative fosters regional cooperation, advances common goals * * * Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Todd Young (R-IN) today to announce a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the importance of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) to advancing  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations bill that provide critical investments in earthquake preparedness, water infrastructure, and wildfire suppression and recovery activities that are of particular importance to Oregon as wildfires become increasingly frequent and extreme. The Appropriations bill passed the full Sena  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Senate passes fiscal year 2020 agriculture spending bill--co-authored by Merkley--to drive economic development throughout rural Oregon * * * Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced key provisions in the Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill that will help Oregon's rural communities--from investments in rural housing; to research into the impacts of wildfire smoke on crops; to  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, senators slam delay and reported weakening of promised action on youth tobacco use epidemic * * * Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today joined U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Senate Democrats to denounce the Trump administration's delay in addressing the growing epidemic of youth tobacco use. In a letter sent to Health and Human Services (HHS)  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, senators slam delay and reported weakening of promised action on youth tobacco use epidemic * * * Oregon's Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today joined U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Senate Democrats to denounce the Trump administration's delay in addressing the growing epidemic of youth tobacco use. In a letter sent to Health and Human Services (H  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, issued the following statement after Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, announced his decision to retire at the end of the 116th Congress: "For two decades, Greg has served his constituents and the American people with distinction and selflessness. Whether it was his work on health care or telecommunications, Greg believed in America's innovative spirit and worked tirelessly to help ensure we lived up to our full potential. "H  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following statement in support of the House resolution outlining next steps for the impeachment inquiry: "The President must be held accountable for his actions. Evidence already uncovered, along with the President's own remarks, show a betrayal of the Constitution and a threat to national security. "The next phase of the impeachment inquiry will allow Oregonians and people across the country to witness the process designed by   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that he will retire at the end of the 116th Congress: "Greg Walden has been a great partner in the fight to make health care more affordable and accessible for patients across the country. "Chairman Walden's tenure at the Energy and Comme  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, Republican leader of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement on the announcement of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, to retire at the end of the 116th Congress: "While sad to hear the news of Leader Greg Walden's retirement. I look forward to working with him for the remainder of this Congress to accomplish the leader's priorities. "Greg Walden has a proven, successful track record of lea  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following remarks at a hearing entitled "The Boeing 737 MAX: Examining the Design, Development, and Marketing of the Aircraft": Boeing CEO, Dennis Muilenburg will testify at the hearing. This is the fourth hearing as part of a Committee investigation into two accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX airplane that killed 346 people. The accidents led to the worldwide grou  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following statement after House passage of a resolution (H.Res. 660) establishing the next phase of the impeachment inquiry including open hearings on the abuse of power by President Trump: "The president has admitted to soliciting assistance from a foreign leader to interfere with U.S. elections and aid his political campaign, which is a felony offense, a violation of the Constitution, a betrayal of the American people, and an imp  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - First Time in 32 Years Congress Has Authorized the Federal Wastewater Program * * * The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today approved bipartisan legislation drafted by Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio (OR-04), the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act, H.R. 1497, which authorizes federal funding to help communities across our country build and maintain wastewater infr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed four bills from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, including bipartisan legislation to unlock the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund. H.R. 2440 would increase investments in critical harbor and port projects by helping ensuring that the funds currently collected to dredge our nati  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-South Carolina, issued the following statement on the retirement of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, a ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee: "Congressman Greg Walden has been a tremendous leader on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and in his service to the people of Oregon's second congressional district. "It has been an honor to serve with him on the committee to advance American energy dominance, fight the opioid epidemic, and  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Yesterday, Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) spoke at an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on the safety and national security concerns over the U.S. reliance on drugs and pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured abroad. As Republican Leader of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Walden has been committed to working to provide government agencies with the tools necessary to ensure the s  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. S. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky, issued the following statement on the retirement announcement of Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon: "I want to thank Leader Walden for his dedication to public service and his steadfast leadership as the chairman and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "From combating the opioid crisis to protecting the environment to increasing rural telecommunications access, our committee saw many legislative victories under his lead  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after Ranking Member Greg Walden, R-Oregon, announced that he will retire from the House at the end of the 116th Congress: "The Energy and Commerce Committee has a proud tradition of bipartisanship, and during both his time as Chairman and Ranking Member, Greg has lived up to that tradition. "When Greg became Chairman of the full Committee, he focuse  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: Rep. Kurt Schrader (OR-05) cosponsored the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act that was introduced in the House of Representatives today. He issued the following statement on the bill: "The bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act is the product of a tremendous collaborative effort that represents first real breakthrough on immigration in over six years. American agriculture is facing a labor crisis  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on the House vote to hold public hearings on the impeachment inquiry: "I support the transition to public hearings in the inquiry on whether or not the President of the United States has crossed a line in influencing American elections. "It is time for the public to have access to much of the information that has begun to reveal itself under the current process. "Our Republican colleagues have requested a mo  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on the retirement of Rep. Greg Walden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee: "It has been an honor to represent the state of Oregon alongside Ranking Member Walden. "He was a great Chair of our Energy & Commerce Committee, always working to promote bipartisanship and fairness. "I wish him the very best in his retirement and hope that he spends much deserved time with his family  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) voted today for the bipartisan Full Utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund which would unlock nearly $34 billion dollars in already collected fees to maintain America's Federal ports and harbors over the next ten years. "Our infrastructure is desperate for new federal investments and it is a no-brainer to use these already collected funds to improve our harbors a  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) voted today for the bipartisan, Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts Act after working to improve the bill through the Energy & Commerce Committee process. This bill would be a commonsense step to lower the cost of prescription drugs by requiring greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) the middlemen who negotiate prices for three-fourths of the medication  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following remarks at the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce hearing entitled "Reauthorizing Brand USA and the U.S. SAFE WEB Act": "Good afternoon, and welcome to our witnesses. I am very pleased that the Consumer Protection and Commerce Subcommittee is moving these initiatives forward today. "While the Travel Promotion Act's funding authorization of   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following remarks at the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing entitled "Repurposing the C-Band to Benefit all Americans": "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to welcome our witnesses to this hearing. "Before diving into the debate over how to best clear a portion of the C-Band for 5G deployment, I want to emphasize the goals I believe every Member he  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following remarks at the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change hearing on the renewable fuel standard program waiver process for exemptions to small refineries: "I understand that today's hearing has multiple objectives: it's a legislative hearing on H.R. 3006, the Renewable Fuel Standard Integrity Act, an oversight hearing of both small refinery exemption  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump's nomination of Stephen M. Hahn to serve as Food and Drug Administration Commissioner: "I applaud President Trump for nominating Dr. Stephen M. Hahn to Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). "Dr. Hahn has a strong background in medical treatment, education, and management through a long career in academia and   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on the Stop the Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. John Katko, R-New York, and Kathleen Rice, D-New York, to combat fentanyl: "Fentanyl and other synthetic drugs are devastating our communities at a rapid pace; Congress can and must do something about it. "Fortunately, John Katko  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and fifteen Democratic colleagues sent a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler (NY-10) and Ranking Member Doug Collins (GA-09) urging them to make robust, progressive reforms to Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act, which expires on December 15, 2019. Government surveillance has historically had a disproportion  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Larsen, D-Washington, chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation, issued the following remarks at a hearing entitled "The Boeing 737 MAX: Examining the Design, Development and Marketing of the Aircraft": Chair DeFazio: "Thank you, Mr. Muilenburg and Mr. Hamilton, for being at today's hearing, "The Boeing 737 MAX: Examining the Design, Development, and Marketing of   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Oct. 30, remembering ex-North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan: I am deeply saddened to hear the news on Monday of the death of our former colleague, Kay Hagan. She is the sister, the wife, and the aunt of Navy veterans; daughter- in-law to a two-star Marine Corps general; daughter of a former Florida mayor; and niece to a former U.S. Senator and Governor. Service   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Oct. 30, on the For the People Act (S. 949): I am honored to join my colleague who has led this battle for the vision of the For the People Act that will restore the "we the people" democratic republic. Here we are on the floor of the Senate. It is an institution that once reverberated with great debates on the great issues our Nation faced--issues of war   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today condemned a proposed rule by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to allow sweeping taxpayer-funded discrimination nationwide. Under the proposed rule, and accompanying non-enforcement decision, HHS will allow recipients of federal funding to practice prohibited discrimination in the name   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: * * * - Wyden presses Trump administration on whether an investigation into Bidens, other political rivals was discussed in trade negotiations with China * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from the Trump administration regarding a possible quid pro quo during China trade deal negotiations. In a series of l  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: * * * - PROGRESS Act would create two new tax incentives to help small businesses hire and grow * * * To mark Women's Small Business Month, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced legislation to expand women entrepreneurs' access to capital. "Women business owners, particularly women of color, are underestimated, underrepr  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to New York Times' reporting on Opportunity Zones: "Groundbreaking reporting from the New York Times reveals that Secretary Mnuchin steered tax breaks worth potentially millions of dollars to a longtime crony--over the strong objection of nonpolitical IRS staff. "This is an egregious example of corruption that demands a serious congressional i  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the Treasury Department announcement of Opportunity Zone reporting requirements: "Requiring taxpayers to prove they're actually following the rules of the Opportunity Zone program is a positive first step, but it's one that should have been taken two years ago, instead of prioritizing rules to let the Treasury secretary's cronies profit at ta  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on the Agriculture Department's interim rule on hemp production: "I've long said that if you can make and sell hemp products in America, you should be able to grow hemp in America. "Congress passed my bipartisan Hemp Farming Act, and now federal regulations must be updated to reflect hemp's legal status. "The USDA interim rule is an important first step to ending uncertainty for farmers, and I now look forward t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the Treasury Department weakening the Obama administration's anti-inversion rules: "The corporations that got a massive taxpayer handout are getting another gift from Donald Trump. "The Obama administration had essentially shut down inversions--transactions whose only purpose is to help big multinational corporations move overseas to avoid p  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Wyden highlights his bipartisan recreation bill in an Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., a senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today highlighted the importance of protecting recreation opportunities for generations to come during a Committee hearing on his bipartisan Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act. The RNR Act would   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Program upgrades are essential to meet increasing health care demands * * * Oregon's Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), announced today that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously passed by voice vote the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019. This bipartisan legislation, which the Senators introduced in May during Nationa  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: * * * - Top Democrats on Finance and Foreign Relations Committees Question Administration on Possible Link Between Demands For Dirt on Political Opponents and Delay in Restoring Ukraine Trade Benefits * * * Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the ranking members of the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees, asked whether the White House   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Energy and Commerce Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR), Health Subcommittee Republican Leader Dr. Michael Burgess (R-TX), and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Republican Leader Brett Guthrie (R-KY) sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to request a briefing on efforts to improve the integrity of the app  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news: * * * - Nearly Half a Million More Children Did Not Have Health Coverage Last Year * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., today called on the Trump administration to detail how and why it has presided over an unprecedented rise in the number of uninsured child  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Senate passes fiscal year 2020 Department of Interior spending bill with Oregon priorities * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Ron Wyden adn Jeff Merkley today announced key provisions in the U.S. Department of Interior Appropriations bill that provide critical investments in earthquake preparedness, water infrastructure, and wildfire suppression and recovery activities that are of particular importance to O  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Letter follows reporting of Trump administration negligence regarding threats to New York Times Cairo Bureau Chief * * * Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley yesterday joined sixteen of their Congressional colleagues to demand answers from the State Department regarding the practices and policies in place to assist journalists who face threats to their personal safety while reporting overse  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Letter follows reporting of Trump administration negligence regarding threats to New York Times Cairo Bureau Chief * * * Oregon's Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley yesterday joined sixteen of their Congressional colleagues to demand answers from the State Department regarding the practices and policies in place to assist journalists who face threats to their personal safety while reporting overseas   more