WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Sen  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) offered his support for the "Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act," which includes critical protections proposed by the Committee for workers in the Nation's transportation sectors as well as language to help ensure funds collected   more

SPRINGFIELD, Oregon, April 2 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on April 1: Today, days after Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act to provide resources for public health and help for millions of workers and families, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Chair of the  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The members of the Congressional Western Caucus issued the following statements on April 2 after Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed a final decision to construct and maintain a system of up to 11,000 miles of strategically placed fuel breaks to control wildfires within a 223 million-acre area in portions of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington: "One of the easiest ways to prevent catastrophic wildfires is by properly managing the fuel loads across  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-OR) joined U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Carper (D-DE) to send a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki asking the agency use its authority to temporarily defer the collection of fees and charges from NRC licensees. Walden serves as Republican leader of the H  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report (GAO-20-134) is entitled "Temporary Protected Status: Steps Taken to Inform and Communicate Secretary of Homeland Security's Decisions". The report was sent to Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D-Maryland, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights and Global Women's Issues, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, Sen. Cory Booker,  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report (GAO-20-361) is entitled "Federal Leasing: Quality Information and Metrics Would Allow GSA to Better Assess the Value of Its Broker Program". The report was sent to Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, chairman, Sen. Thomas Carper, D-Delaware, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman, and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Missouri, ranking member of the House Transportat  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 27 after the House passed the third bipartisan coronavirus relief package: "The coronavirus has quickly and severely disrupted the lives of people in NW Oregon and across the country, putting the health of loved ones at risk and jeopardizing our economic security. "Many families and individuals are left to wonder how they will put food on the table in the face of sudden unemployment, businesses are  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden in a letter to the White House backed Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's request for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 members of the Oregon National Guard in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oregon lawmakers noted in their bipartisan letter that the governor fully activ  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following floor statement the House passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (H.R. 478): "While this bill is not perfect, the relief in this package flows to workers first, not last - and it makes clear to any industry getting relief: no stock buybacks, no executive giveaways, no layoffs. Workers first - period. "I'm proud to have been a part of the House negotiating team that protected jobs because we kno  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following transcript on April 1: Days after Congress passed the $2.2 trillion CARES Act to provide resources for public health and help for millions of workers and families, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, and Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Frank Pallone on a press call to discuss potenti  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04) led more than 120 lawmakers in demanding that Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig, along with Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul and Veterans' Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, automatically send stimulus payments to vulnerable seniors, veterans receiving pensions, and individuals with disabilities. "After the 2008 financi  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following floor remarks on March 27 in support of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (H.R. 478): There's no doubt this global pandemic has brought our nation to its knees. Public health experts agree this virus will worsen in the coming days. People we know and love will get sick. And more people will die, despite the heroic efforts of health care workers who are sacrificing their own health to give strangers a  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: Fourteen House Committee Chairs sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought requesting an immediate extension of public comment periods, hearings and meetings due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Committee leaders asked that OMB direct agencies to extend public comment periods by at least 4  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, and Sam Graves, R-Missouri, chairman and ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following joint statement with Reps. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-New York, and Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio, chair and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, after reports that the Trump administration was considering waiving the Jones Act: The Jones Act is a U.S. law that requires American   more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden in a letter to the White House backed Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's request for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 members of the Oregon National Guard in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oregon lawmakers noted in their bipartisan letter that the governor fully activate  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate   more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement on April 3 with Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Ways and Means, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, calling for additional Congressional action to ensure that COVID-  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 27 regarding the passage of the bipartisan Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act: "Today I voted to provide critical relief to Oregon's working families, small businesses and our frontline health care providers. This is comprehensive response that puts resources directly in the hands of those need it the most." "The CARES Act will designate hundreds of billions of dollars to our health car  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate   more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded over $1.2 million in Community Development Block grants to a selection of communities throughout the Second District. This funding comes as a result of the CARES Act, which Walden helped champion into law last week. "I applaud the Trump Administration for swiftly awarding this funding to Oregon. Th  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) praised recent action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to lower barriers for providing care to rural communities during COVID-19. Because of concerns over the contagiousness of the disease, and the unique challenges associated with providing care in rural areas, telemedicine has been a valuable tool for fighting COVID-19 in places like Oregon's Second Dis  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden released a statement applauding President Trump after he approved the disaster declaration for Umatilla County and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation to help the community recover and rebuild from February flooding. "I am grateful for President Trump's approval of this disaster declaration, ensuring that eastern Oregon has the resources necessary to recover and   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following statement after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced the decision to reduce wildfire risks around roads and utility lines in eastern Oregon: "Fire season is quickly approaching, and we must do everything we can to prepare our forests and communities for it. The Trump Administration and the Bureau of Land Management are taking action to get  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released an update on COVID-19 for April 1, 2020. The latest on the coronavirus: More Money for Oregon's Seniors and Disabled: Working with the administration Walden helped secure an additional $80 million for Oregon to provide home and community care for seniors and disabled Oregonians during this pandemic. Read more here. Good news for COVID-19 testing: As of 3/  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released an update on COVID-19 for April 3, 2020. The latest on the coronavirus: Application Now Open for Paycheck Protection Program: Starting today, businesses can apply through their local lender for the Paycheck Protection loan program that will provide businesses with up to eight weeks of funding to keep employees on the payroll. The Treasury Department release  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released the following video statement after President Trump approved Oregon's request for a disaster declaration. The announcement comes just days after Walden joined the rest of the Oregon Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Trump asking for a disaster declaration for the state. Click here (https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/iqClickTrk.  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement after President Trump signed into law The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the third relief package for the nation's COVID-19 response efforts. Earlier today, Walden voted in support of the bill. The legislation unanimously passed both the House and Senate. "I was proud to help write and pass the rescue package an  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement on increased unemployment in America: "The job losses and economic carnage we're seeing today is why I pushed so hard to get the Phase 3 CARES package to the President's desk last week," said Walden. "The Administration has moved at light speed to get help to those in need, from our neighbors who have lost their jobs and are signing up for enhance  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following op-ed on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, published in the The Hill: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) penned an op-ed in The Hill explaining how The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act delivers for America's health care needs during this crisis. An excerpt of Rep. Walden's op-ed is below. CARES Act delivers on our health care needs in a big way The Hill By Rep. Greg   more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a video statement thanking our nation's first responders as well as the many other Americans who are helping out during this time of crisis: "I want to thank our first responders, our medical providers, and everyone associated with our health care delivery system for your help during this period of the coronavirus outbreak. "On behalf of the people of Oregon's  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement encouraging small businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program, the new Small Business Administration's 7A loan program. "I want to encourage small business owners across Oregon and especially in Oregon's Second Congressional District to take full advantage of the new SBA 7A loan program available through your local lender. This program  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Four bipartisan Energy and Commerce Committee leaders wrote to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Joseph Simons urging increased vigilance and enforcement actions against scams as the recently signed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is implemented. The letter was signed by Republican Leader Greg Walden (R-OR),  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. John Shimkus, R-Illinois, raking member of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, raking member of the Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, after the release of the joint safer affordable fuel emissions vehicles rule issued by Environmental Protection Agency an  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, issued the following statement: Representative Greg Walden (R-Hood River) released a statement announcing that as a result of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Oregon would receive an additional $80 million for the state's K-Plan, which is a Medicaid plan that provides home and community care for seniors and disabled citizens. "The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides the necessary support for seniors and disabled Oregon  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following joint statement with Rep. Bob Latta, R-Ohio, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, on the Federal Communications Commission's decision to adopt a $200 million telehealth program to support health care providers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: The funds were appropriated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and   more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Merkley explains economic recovery hub in new video * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley launched a new coronavirus resource webpage to provide guidance specific to small business owners, 501(c)(3)s, and self-employed Oregonians. "Oregon's small businesses have long been the lifeblood of our economy, and I'm going to keep fighting for them--and the families they support--as we get through the  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after weekly unemployment claims shot up to a record-shattering 6.6 million, showing the economic devastation of the coronavirus crisis. "Over the last several weeks, I've spoken with so many Oregon workers and small business owners who are terrified about what this crisis means for their families and their futures. Behind these historically ba  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - The current public health emergency will disproportionately jeopardize education quality for children without internet access * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with 34 of his Senate colleagues, renewed their push for the robust funding K-12 students need to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools are closed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In their letter t  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan backing for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 National Guard members comes in letter to White House * * * U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden in a letter to the White House backed Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's request for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 members of the Oregon Nationa  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, issued the following joint statement with four bicameral Democratic health leaders - Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Sen. Ro  more

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, ranking Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after joining his House colleagues to pass the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to bring much-needed relief to workers, businesses and families during the coronavirus pandemic: "This week, Congress and President Trump sent an important message: help is on the way. The relief provided in this bipartisan bill is vital to American  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Senators' letter comes after IRS releases guidance that contradicts provisions of the CARES Act that explicitly give Treasury authority to provide direct assistance to Social Security beneficiaries who do not file taxes * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined a group of 42 senators urging the Treasury Department and Social Security Administration to ensure all Social Security beneficiaries in Ore  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden joined U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to urge Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia "to do everything" within the power of the Department of Labor to help states rapidly disburse unemployment benefits to millions of Americans in desperate financial need. Due to a record-breaking 3.3 million Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week in the economic  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined a group of his colleagues to call on the Department of Education to return all amounts garnished from the federal tax refunds of student loan borrowers since this year's filing season began on January 27, 2020. The administration previously announced it would halt all collection activity on certain defaulted federal student loans during the COVID-19 emergency and would re  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - New web resource to help unemployed Oregonians, Oregon small businesses and more * * * As the Small Business Administration launches the Paycheck Protection Program, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden announced a one-stop economic resources link on his web page for Oregonians needing more information during the COVID-19 public health crisis about unemployment insurance, direct cash assistance, and grants and loans f  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 3: * * * - Wyden's letter to Treasury follows reports of confusion and uncertainty around verification process and liability for the lending program * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., urged the U.S. Department of the Treasury to do everything in its power to reassure U.S. banks and lenders that they are adequately prepared to provide relief to America's small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. led colleagues in urging the Trump administration to issue national guidance for child welfare agencies that must still work to protect and support children during the COVID-19 outbreak. The child welfare system is not currently designed for the social distancing recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The senators, therefore, urged the administration to is  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden announced he plans to introduce a legislative fix that would make dependents 17 and older count toward what a family gets in direct payments from the bipartisan coronavirus relief package signed into law last week. "Oregon families facing an economic tsunami from the impact of this public health crisis need financial help to make the rent, pay medical bills, buy groceries, cover college c  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden urged the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to treat cooperative businesses--or co-ops--the same as other small businesses and allowed equal access to aid provided in the recent Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). In a letter to SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza, Wyden specifically requested that co-ops in Oregon and nationwide can fully participate in t  more

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., joined his colleagues to urge Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services (DHS) to take additional steps to expand child care options for health care workers and others on the frontlines responding to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. "Frontline workers are needed at their places of employment now more than ever, but in many cases do not have safe child care f  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 2: * * * - Senators urge Lifeline internet service providers to expand service to ensure American families can work and learn remotely, access telehealth resources during this pandemic * * * U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden led a group of his colleagues to demand better mobile internet service for low-income Americans impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Improved internet access would help Americ  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden (OR) and Representative Kurt Schrader (OR-05) led a letter to Secretary of Commerce Ross to expedite the final approval of the West Coast and Tribal Fisheries Disaster Grant. "After months of delay, it is unacceptable that Congressionally appropriated disaster relief funds for West Coast fisheries still have not been released by the Department of Commerce," said Senator Wyden and Rep. Schr  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden (OR) and Representative Kurt Schrader (OR-05) led a letter to Secretary of Commerce Ross to expedite the final approval of the West Coast and Tribal Fisheries Disaster Grant. "After months of delay, it is unacceptable that Congressionally appropriated disaster relief funds for West Coast fisheries still have not been released by the Department of Commerce," said Senator Wyden and Rep. Schrader  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan backing for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 National Guard members comes in letter to White House * * * U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Kurt Schrader and Greg Walden in a letter to the White House backed Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's request for federal support to mobilize up to 1,250 members of the Oregon National G  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Community members who need social services, are experiencing homelessness, and fighting AIDS will benefit * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making over $32 million in grants available to communities in Oregon to support a variety of social services and homelessness assistance programs in the face of the corona  more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Community members who need social services, are experiencing homelessness, and fighting AIDS will benefit * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making over $32 million in grants available to communities in Oregon to support a variety of social services and homelessness assistance programs in the face of the cor  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Resolution pushes for a halt in disconnections, reconnection fees, late fees, and rate hikes amid coronavirus crisis * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with six of their Senate colleagues, introduced a congressional resolution urging states and utility companies to issue a moratorium on gas and electric service disconnections, late fees, reconnection fees, rate hikes, a  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Resolution pushes for a halt in disconnections, reconnection fees, late fees, and rate hikes amid coronavirus crisis * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with six of their Senate colleagues, announced a congressional resolution urging states and utility companies to issue a moratorium on gas and electric service disconnections, late fees, reconnection fees, rate hikes, and o  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the U.S. Forest Service is bringing on five additional airtankers for use when needed to battle wildfires in Oregon. The additional contracts awarded by the Forest Service means the agency has 18 airtankers currently under exclusive use with the agency, each with a base period of one year and then four one-year options. In total, the agency will ha  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced the U.S. Forest Service is bringing on five additional airtankers for use when needed to battle wildfires in Oregon. The additional contracts awarded by the Forest Service means the agency has 18 airtankers currently under exclusive use with the agency, each with a base period of one year and then four one-year options. In total, the agency will have   more

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 2: * * * - Senators urge Lifeline internet service providers to expand service to ensure Oregonians can work and learn remotely, access telehealth resources during this pandemic * * * Oregon's U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley demanded better mobile internet service for low-income Americans affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Improved internet access would help Oregonians bet  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley pressed federal agencies to implement the tribal provisions of the CARES Act swiftly and in a manner that upholds the federal trust and treaty responsibilities to tribes, respects tribal sovereignty and provides for meaningful government-to-government consultation in Oregon and nationwide. The senators, along with colleagues in the Senate and House, sent a letter to Don  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley pressed federal agencies to implement the tribal provisions of the CARES Act swiftly and in a manner that upholds the federal trust and treaty responsibilities to tribes, respects tribal sovereignty and provides for meaningful government-to-government consultation in Oregon and nationwide. The senators, along with colleagues in the Senate and House, sent a letter to Donald  more

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley urged federal officials to provide immediate assistance to cattle producers in Oregon and nationwide by using resources from the latest coronavirus relief package passed last week. The Oregon lawmakers said in a bipartisan letter from 143 House and Senate members to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue that replenishing the Commodity Credit Corporati  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Oregon senators say new FDA policy in wake of COVID-19 request is a good first step but more needs to be done * * * U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said that federal officials' updated blood donation deferral policy takes a needed first step in the middle of the COVID-19 public health crisis to let more healthy gay and bisexual men donate blood. The new FDA policy comes after the Oregon sena  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * - Oregon senators say new FDA policy in wake of COVID-19 request is a good first step but more needs to be done * * * U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said that federal officials' updated blood donation deferral policy takes a needed first step in the middle of the COVID-19 public health crisis to let more healthy gay and bisexual men donate blood. The new FDA policy comes after the Oregon senator  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., urged the U.S. Department of Interior to immediately stop pursuing any policy proposals or actions unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency that require a public comment period until the threats of COVID-19 have subsided. "As the country is addressing the public health emergency of COVID-19, the agencies within the Department of Interior s  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., urged the U.S. Department of Interior to immediately stop pursuing any policy proposals or actions unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency that require a public comment period until the threats of COVID-19 have subsided. "As the country is addressing the public health emergency of COVID-19, the agencies within the Department of Interior shou  more

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Tom Udall, D-N.M., urged the U.S. Department of Interior to immediately stop pursuing any policy proposals or actions unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency that require a public comment period until the threats of COVID-19 have subsided. "As the country is addressing the public health emergency of COVID-19, the agencies within the Department of Interior shou  more

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: Rep. DeFazio released the following statement in response to the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service's release of its Final Report on the Selective Service System (SSS), which recommends that women aged 18-25 should also register for the military draft: "The Commission's recommendation to force even more young Americans to register for the military draft is merely an extension of an   more