WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Today, Democratic members of the Senate Budget Committee along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) demanded that Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) delay Russell Vought's nomination to serve as Director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) until he satisfactorily answers questions regarding his advice to the President relating to the illegal impoundment of Congressionally appropri more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, issued the following news release: * * * Crapo, Wyden Issue Discussion Draft to Improve IRS Administration Washington D.C.-- U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation making an array of common-sense fixes to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) procedure and administration. "As the tax filing season gets underway, this draft legislation suggests practical ways to improve the taxpayer exp more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley Applauds Investigation into TSA's Unchecked Use of Facial Recognition Technology at Airports Nationwide Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today released the following statement in response to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph Cuffari launching an investigation into the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) use of facial biometric data: "We only get one face, and everyone who values pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Sullivan Team up on Bipartisan Bill Calling Out China's Human Rights Violations Against Southern Mongolians Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Alaska's U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan today led bipartisan legislation that elevates and affirms the human rights of Southern Mongolians in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Southern Mongolian Human Rights Policy Act would make it U.S. policy to advocate for preserving the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley, Wyden Blast President Trump's Illegal Federal Funding Cuts That Harm American Families Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today issued the following statements in response to a federal judge blocking the Trump Administration's executive order immediately stopping all federal loans and grants: "The attack on these programs that allow families to get on their feet and thrive is the great betrayal coming from more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Merkley: Trump's Fossil Fuel Cabinet is a Disaster for our Climate, Economy, and our Kids' Futures Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley--Ranking Member of the Senate Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee--today released the following statement on the nominations of Lee Zeldin for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Doug Burgum  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) announces, The Dalles Watershed Development Act, which is critical legislation if enacted would transfer 150 acres of U.S. Forest Service land within The Dalles' municipal watershed to city ownership. The City of The Dalles relies on its municipal watershed for 80% of its annual water supply. Protecting this watershed is essential to maintaining water quality, meeting future demand, and ensuring public safety. The proposed tra more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Rep. Bynum: "This is irresponsible, unproductive, and exactly what Americans have said they want to see less of in Washington." * * * Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released the following statement following the Trump Administration's order to federal agencies to freeze grant and loan payments beginning this afternoon: "This decision is threatening to impact Oregonian's ability to pay for groceries, to pay their rent, to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * PORTLAND, OR-- Today, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) released the following statement on Trump's order to freeze federal funding for grants, loans, aid and more: "Trump's order to 'pause' federal assistance is brazen and illegal. But that's nothing new. What's cruel is the uncertainty and confusion this causes for our community. "This is a great betrayal of Oregonians who have planned around these programs and funding.  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Salinas Condemns Trump's Order to Freeze Federal Grant Funding Washington, DC - Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) issued the following statement after the Trump Administration ordered (link is external) a blanket freeze of all federal grant funding and loan payments, effective at 5:00 PM ET today: "With the stroke of his pen, President Trump is ordering an unprecedented steal that will take critical resources away from our police, firef more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., co-chair of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, blasted Donald Trump's firing of 17 federal inspectors general last night. IGs are independent watchdogs that investigate waste and fraud within government agencies, and have been a nonpartisan check on abuse of federal taxpayer resources. "Donald Trump is systematically dismantling the protections against abuse, corruption and fraud within the federal government," Wyden said. "Cou more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 27, 2025, opposing the confirmation of Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary: * * * As Prepared for Delivery The Senate will vote shortly on the nomination of Scott Bessent for Treasury Secretary. I urge my colleagues to oppose his confirmation. A few reasons why. First off the list, nearly a million dollars in unpaid Medicare taxes. For the vast majority of Americans, paying Medicare taxes is automatic. Th more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Smith & Wesson will be a critical case for victims and survivors of gun violence hoping to hold the gun industry accountable for its actions * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today he has joined 46 lawmakers in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court concerning a legal case that would hold gun manufacturers accountable for their role in the illegal trafficking of firearms to Mexico. "As the American firearm industry continu more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2025: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said today that he joined the reintroduction of legislation that would expand access to federal support for the families of firefighters and other first responders who died or became permanently disabled from service-related cancers. The Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act would also extend disability benefits in cases where these first responders become permanently and totally disabled due to cancer. "In the wake of record more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 23, 2025: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today that he and U.S. Representative Mike Flood, R-Neb., are urging FuboTV, Hulu, and YouTube to carry C-SPAN on their pay TV live streaming services. Their bipartisan letter to the streaming service companies notes that C-SPAN has been a part of packages sold by cable and satellite providers for more than 40 years yet major live TV streaming services have unfortunately failed to carry C-SPAN as they've en more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 23, 2025: * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement after voting no to advance the nominations of Doug Burgum to be Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Chris Wright to be Secretary of the Department of Energy: "After years and years of Republicans standing in the way, Congress finally passed my technology neutral clean energy tax credits as a centerpiece of the Inflation Reduction Act. The clean energy tax credits ar more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2025: Today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with five colleagues in the Senate, reintroduced legislation to help working families access affordable housing and child care. U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., introduced companion legislation in the House. The Build Housing with Care Act would invest $500 million to construct child care centers co-located in affordable housing developments and cover the costs of retrofitting to help family  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter today announced they have joined 19 legislative colleagues in a letter to Donald Trump urging him to take meaningful steps to lower grocery prices for American families. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised he would lower food prices "immediately" if elected. However, during his first week, none of the many executive orders he signed addressed any sort of plan to lower food more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2025: * * * Wyden Blasts Announcement of Blanket, Arbitrary New Taxes on Products from Canada, Mexico and China; Working Families Will Be Hit Hardest * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., warned that blanket, arbitrary 25 percent tariffs announced by the White House today on products from Canada and Mexico and 10 percent tariffs on products from China would immediately hamme more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following opening statement from a Jan. 22, 2025, confirmation hearing for Russell T. Vought to be director of the Office of Management and Budget: * * * Well thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations on your new role leading this Committee. I look forward to working with you, and welcome to the Committee. Senator Cornyn, Senator Ricketts - and new to the Senate and new to the Committee, Senator Moreno - welcome. This C more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: Today, Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley - Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee - blasted the Trump administration's late-night announcement freezing all federal funds, a clear violation of law and Congress's constitutional duty to appropriate funds: "The President is not a king, and the laws Congress passes are not suggestions. The Trump administration must follow the law and immedia more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Legislation would implement fixes to improve the taxpayer experience * * * U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a discussion draft of bipartisan legislation making an array of common-sense fixes to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) procedure and administration. "As the tax filing season gets underway, this draft legislation suggests practic more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2025: * * * In New Letter to Treasury Secretary Bessent, Wyden Warns That Political Meddling in Treasury Payments Risks Severe Economic Damage, Calls Out Dangerous Conflicts of Interest Stemming from Elon Musk's Close Business Ties to the Chinese Government * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., demanded answers from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent today following a report t more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Jan. 29, 2025, at a confirmation hearing for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be Health and Human Services Secretary: * * * As Prepared for Delivery The question before the Finance Committee this morning is whether Robert F. Kennedy Jr. should be trusted with the health and well-being of the American people. Committee staff have examined thousands of pages of statements, books, and podcast transcripts in a review of his  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the following statement from a Jan. 21, 2025, confirmation hearing for Scott Bessent to be secretary of the Treasury: * * * I'll have just a few key points explaining why I will oppose Mr. Bessent's nomination. First off, Mr. Bessent is not square on his taxes. Like a lot of Wall Street titans, he's opted out of paying a fair share into Medicare, starving the program of almost a million dollars over just three years. The IRS has gone to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 31, 2025: * * * As Nominee Delivered Written Answers to Finance Ranking Member's Questions, Trump Administration Took Down a Key CDC Webpage for Vaccine Information * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. returned written answers to questions to committee members following his nomination hearing to lead the Department of Health  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2025: * * * Following Noncommittal Answer in Committee and Statement by CMS, Finance Democrats Press for Commitment to Continuing Medicare Drug Price Negotiation on Schedule * * * Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and all 12 Democratic members of the committee today sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pressing him to answer nearly a dozen questions regarding his views on M more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Jan. 29, 2025: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today issued the following statements in response to a federal judge blocking the Trump Administration's executive order immediately stopping all federal loans and grants: "The attack on these programs that allow families to get on their feet and thrive is the great betrayal coming from President Trump, who campaigned on helping working families, said Merkley, Ranking Member of the Senate B more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 27, 2025: * * * Senators fight back against Donald Trump's day-one withdrawal of the United States from Paris Climate Agreement * * * U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they have joined 20 U.S. Senate colleagues to reintroduce the We Are Still In resolution in response to Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement through a day-one executive order. "With increasingly severe weather consisten more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Jan. 28, 2025: * * * Resolution is a direct response to Trump pardoning more than 1,500 Jan 6 insurrectionists--including those convicted of violent assaults on police officers * * * U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they have joined 47 of their Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution condemning the pardons of individuals found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers on Jan. 6, 2021. "America continues to suffer the scars  more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Thompson, Merkley Introduce Bill to Combat Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke Washington - Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced the Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act--legislation to protect communities across the country from the hazardous health, economic, and environmental impacts of severe wildfire smoke and extreme heat events. Thompson introduced the bill in the House and Merkley introduced the compa more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Co-sponsor Climate Resolution Senators fight back against Donald Trump's day-one withdrawal of the United States from Paris Climate Agreement Washington DC-- U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they have joined 20 U.S. Senate colleagues to reintroduce the We Are Still In resolution in response to Donald Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement through a day-one executive order. " more PR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: * * * Wyden, Merkley Co-Sponsor Resolution Condemning Pardons of Criminals Convicted of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers Resolution is a direct response to Trump pardoning more than 1,500 Jan 6 insurrectionists--including those convicted of violent assaults on police officers Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced they have joined 47 of their Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution condemning the pardons of indi more PR