WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colorado, issued the following news release: Denver -- U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and U.S. Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) alongside 26 Senate and House colleagues representing Western states called on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change. "Drought remains a severe risk for A  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [05/01/2024] - Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced legislation to crack down on predatory debt collectors. The Securing Consumers Against Misrepresented (SCAM) Debt Act will empower consumers with the information they need to protect themselves from debt collectors that use misleading allegations to convince people to pay debts they do not legal  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Oregon, issued the following news release: Today, the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Antisemitism Awareness Act (H.R. 6090), which would help ensure antisemitic hate crimes on college campuses are properly investigated and prosecuted. Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), who has been an outspokenadvocate for Jewish students as a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, voted in favor of the proposal. The vote comes as pro  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Val Hoyle, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on May 1, 2024: * * * "Today I voted against H.R. 6090,the Antisemitism Awareness Act, a bill that purports to combat antisemitism at institutions of higher education. "Antisemitism on campus is a serious threat to the Jewish community; however, H.R. 6090 does not adequately address antisemitism. By singling out higher education and codifying a single definition of antisemitism into lawwhile explicitly excluding all  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, issued the following news release: Lawmakers from Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Oregon, and Arizona Call on USDA to "Bring All Resources to Bear" to Address Long-Term Drought Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) joined Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and 29 Congressional colleagues in calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change. "Drought rem  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-California, issued the following news release on May 1, 2024: U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), U.S. Representative Donald Beyer (D-VA-8), Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, and Connecticut's U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy today led their colleagues in introducing the Choose Medicare Act. This legislation opens up Medicare to all Americans with a new 'Part E' and builds on the system we have today. By allowing Medicare to compete with private   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: DC [04/30/24] - Today the House passed legislation led by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to improve tsunami warning systems and control harmful algal blooms. The Weather Act Reauthorization Act was co-led by Bonamici and designed to improve the ability of the United States to better forecast, understand, and communicate about weather. It includes provisions based on Bonamici's Tsunami Warning, E  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Connecticut's U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), and U.S. Representative Donald Beyer (D-VA-08) today led their Senate and House colleagues in introducing the Choose Medicare Act. This legislation opens up Medicare to all Americans with a new 'Part E' and builds on the system we have today. By allowing Medicare to compete with private   more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Connecticut's U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), and U.S. Representative Donald Beyer (D-VA-08) today led their Senate and House colleagues in introducing the Choose Medicare Act. This legislation opens up Medicare to all Americans with a new 'Part E' and builds on the system we have today. By allowing Medicare to compete with private h  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA-02) released the following joint statement today after the conclusion of the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) in Ottawa, Canada: "The global plastic pollution crisis demands bold, urgent action. Plastic waste is polluting our ecosystems--from lands to oceans to water  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Lawmakers from Oregon, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Arizona, Nevada, & Montana Urge USDA to "Bring All Resources to Bear" to Address Long-Term Drought Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) alongside 26 Senate and House colleagues representing Western states - including U.S. Senat  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Yadira Caraveo (D-Colo.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) alongside 26 Senate and House colleagues representing Western states - including U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) - called on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change. "Drought remains a s  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 30, 2024: Today, Congressman Cliff Bentz (OR-02) gave the following speech on the House floor in defense of America's ranchers. This speech occurred during debate on H.R. 764 the "Trust the Science Act" which will delist the Gray Wolf from the Endangered Species Act in the Lower 48 states: "Thank you, Chair Westerman. You know, I don't think I've encountered such an amazing display of ignorance regardi  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 29, 2024: On Friday, May 3, 2024, Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Chairman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) will lead an oversight field hearing titled, "How Many Wolves Are Enough? Examining the Need to Delist the Grey Wolf." This hearing will take place in Minnesota and provide a platform for expert testimony on the multifaceted implications of the gray wolf surge, including its economic, ecolog  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on April 30, 2024: * * * Please see the below statement from Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and longtime champion of ending the failed war on drugs, on today's reporting that the DEA plans to reclassify cannabis as a Schedule III substance. "If today's reporting proves true, we will be one step closer to ending the failed war on drugs. "Marijuan  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 1, 2024: Salem, OR -On Tuesday, April 23, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered $500,000 to Salem Cherriots. Rep. Salinas fought for and secured this funding in the government funding package for Fiscal Year 2024, which passed Congress and was signed into law by the President last month. "Whether it's commuting to work or school, going to the grocery store, or visiting loved ones, many w  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on May 1, 2024: Salem, OR -- On Thursday, April 25, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered $1,000,000 to the City of Tigard. Rep. Salinas fought for and secured this funding in the government funding package for Fiscal Year 2024, which passed Congress and was signed into law by the President in March. ""Tigard has grown exponentially over the last few decades, turning Hall Boulevard into a busy   more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Rep. Andrea Salinas, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Salem, OR - On Tuesday, April 23, U.S. Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) delivered over $1.3 million for two important projects in the City of Independence. Rep. Salinas fought for and secured this funding in the government funding package for Fiscal Year 2024, which passed Congress and was signed into law by the President in March. Click here for usable photos "For far too long, Oregon's rural communit  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a hearing on the Change Healthcare cyberattack and UnitedHealth Group's Response, on May 1, 2024: * * * This morning the Finance Committee examines the Change Healthcare hack that nearly brought the nation's health care system to a standstill six weeks ago. Joining the committee is Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, which owns Change Healthcare. I'll put things   more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on April 30, 2024: * * * U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement today on reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration will reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III controlled substance: "After decades of the federal government being dug in on prohibition, moving cannabis to Schedule III would be a huge shift in policy and signal to the American peo  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Chair Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) released a legislative proposal to address persistent economic problems leading to shortages of generic medicines plaguing America's health care system, including chemotherapy drugs and ADHD medications. "Prescription drug shortages are fueling high prices and limiting a  more

WASHINGTON, May 4 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on May 3, 2024: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today released a draft legislative proposal to address persistent economic problems leading to shortages of generic medicines plaguing America's health care system, including chemotherapy drugs and ADHD medications. "It is unacceptable that America is consistently runn  more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following news: Continuing their push to improve the quality of veterans' health care, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently led a group of their colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to authorize several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects across the nation. The Senators'   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, issued the following news release: Continuing their push to improve the quality of veterans' health care, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently led a group of their colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to authorize several Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) construction projects across the nation. The Senators' Fiscal Year 2024 Veterans Affairs Major Medi  more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised the House passage of the REPORT Act this week, and President Biden's expected signature of the bill today. The REPORT Act, by Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., will modernize the U.S. system for reporting digital child sexual abuse material to improve investigation and prosecution of heinous crimes against children. "Senators Blackburn and Ossoff wor  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Video HERE of Wyden exchange with Secretary Haaland at Hearing on President Biden's Budget Today, at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing, Secretary Deb Haaland committed to U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., that if his Malheur Community Empowerment for the Owyhee Act becomes law, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will implement it as enacted. "Back east people call the Owyhee Oregon's version  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden today demanded that Intuit make whole all Oregon taxpayers whose recent use of the company's TurboTax product incorrectly led them to overpay their state tax. In a letter to Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi, Wyden cited a recent report that a TurboTax software error opted Oregon taxpayers into claiming the standard deduction on their state taxes when itemizing would have produced a larger refund. Wyden  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised the Federal Communications Commission for voting today to approve fines against AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, for selling customers' detailed location data to shady data brokers in violation of federal law. Wyden originally revealed the practice in 2018 and called on the FCC to investigate wireless carriers for betraying their customers' privacy and security. Wyde  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., introduced two bipartisan bills that would extend existing programs to continue important water management programs and address long-term drought in the West. The Drought Preparedness Act and the Water Data Improvement Act would reauthorize current programs managed by the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey   more

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., requested the Federal Trade Commission investigate major automakers for breaking a pledge to protect their customers' location data, in a letter to Chair Lina Khan sent today. The automakers had deceptively pledged that they would insist on warrants or other court orders before turning over location data from their customers' connected automobiles to law   more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Klamath Falls will receive $345,000 in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to help conserve groundwater and increase supply of recycled potable water. "Rural communities in Oregon depend on water for everything from taking showers at home to sustaining their entire economies," Wyden said. "I'm glad   more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Klamath Falls will receive $345,000 in federal funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to help conserve groundwater and increase supply of recycled potable water. "Rural communities in Oregon depend on water for everything from taking showers at home to sustaining their entire economies," Wyden said. "I'm glad thi  more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring the Next Step Home Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at restoring voting rights for people with felony convictions who have been released under the First Step Act and successfully reentered society. "Making voting easy and accessible shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican issue. It's an American democracy issue," Wyden said. "By re  more

WASHINGTON, May 3 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring the Next Step Home Act, a crucial piece of legislation aimed at restoring voting rights for people with felony convictions who have been released under the First Step Act and successfully reentered society. "Making voting easy and accessible shouldn't be a Democratic or Republican issue. It's an American democracy issue," Wyden said. "By restor  more

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., today introduced the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Access Data Collection Act of 2024 (WASH Access Data Collection Act) to make sure the United States has the comprehensive data it needs to address the water and sanitation needs of rural, Tribal and other underserved communities. In addition to improving national data collection, the bil  more

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said today that he has joined U.S. Sens. Gary Peters, D-Mich., Rand Paul R-Ky., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho to press the Department of Homeland Security about its use of border search authority on electronic devices, including details on what data is retained from these searches, how it is stored, and who has access. The senators' letter inquired about how U.S. Customs and Border Protec  more