WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2021: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the full committee will hold a hearing titled, "Industry and Labor Perspectives: A Further Look at North American Supply Chain Challenges." In announcing this hearing, Chair DeFazio said: "Nearly two years into the COVID-19 pa more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands issued the following testimony by Sandra Watts, associate deputy chief at the U.S. Forest Service, as part of a Nov. 9, 2021, remote legislative hearing on three bills. The bills would (H.R. 980) withdraw certain land located in Curry County and Josephine County, Oregon, from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, location, entry, and patent under the m more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands issued the following testimony by Tom Medema, acting associate director of the interpretation, education and volunteers of the National Park Service, as part of a Nov. 9, 2021, remote legislative hearing on 10 bills. The bills would (H.R. 268) provide for the boundary of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, authorize the donation of land for addition to that hi more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands issued the following testimony by Dean Finnerty, northwest regional director for the angler conservation project of Trout Unlimited, as part of a Nov. 9, 2021, remote hearing on the Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act (H.R. 980): * * * Thank you, Chair Neguse, Ranking Member Fulcher, and members of the Subcommittee for inviting me to testify today. I'm honored to be a more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2021, after the House passed the Build Back Better Act (H.R. 5376): * * * "Just days after President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law--which will inject $550 billion in new funding into rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure--House Democrats are moving forward with enacting the rest of t more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing safety concerns with the telecom industry's plan to utilize the band of spectrum between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, or the more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Yesterday, Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) introduced H.R.6019, a bill that would codify the Trump Administration's Northern Spotted Owl (NSO) Critical Habitat Revision, which would fine-tune the NSO's habitat designation and remove about one million acres of non-NSO habitat lands from the area designated as owl habitat. "The Biden Administration's newly announced critical habitat designatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Cliff Bentz, R-Oregon, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2021: * * * Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario) released the following statement regarding his vote against the Build Back Better Act. "Thank you to Leader McCarthy who made history in the House of Representatives last night and into the early hours this morning. He held the line by delaying the massive $1.9 trillion (but more like $4 trillion) Democrat-welfare spending bill on the House Floor for 8  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2021: * * * U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) issued the following statement today after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, legislation that will cut pollution and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels, all while lowering health, child, and family care costs and creating jobs. "Today's vote will go down in history as one of the most transformative s more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, issued the following opening statement at a Nov. 17, 2021, hearing on strengthening the U.S. - Africa trade and investment relationship: * * * Today's hearing is the next step in this Committee's ongoing work on the U.S. - Africa trade and investment relationship. We met with the President of Kenya as well as Kenya's Ambassador to the United States to discuss trade matters. And, r more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2021: U.S. Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) today unveiled his report and legislative agenda to address the onslaught of climate disasters, including the increasingly intense wildfires and heat waves that have leveled entire towns and killed hundreds of Oregonians in recent years. "We can no longer afford to send mixed messages about the severity of the climate crisis for people's everyday l more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) joined the House in passing the Build Back Better Act. "The Build Back Better Act is a victory for children, families, caregivers, early childhood educators, and our planet," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "This monumental legislation will improve lives and create more opportunities for Oregonians and people across the country. We are tak more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2021: Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today announced a $19 million grant for the Franklin Boulevard Corridor revival project. The project will redesign Franklin, a vital link between Eugene and Springfield, as a modern boulevard to serve multiple needs of the community, improving bike and pedestrian safety and access, increasing transit opportunity and reliability, and stimulating economic acti more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following opening statement at a Nov. 17, 2021, hearing entitled "Industry and Labor Perspectives: A Further Look at North American Supply Chain Challenges": * * * Supply chain challenges stemming from new freight shipment patterns in a world impacted by COVID-19 continue to hamper businesses and consumers. Americans are buying more items from overseas instead o more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 15, 2021, after President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law: * * * "Today, President Biden is making history by signing into law the largest investment in America's infrastructure in a generation. "This historic law will help address the climate crisis, create good-paying jobs, and boost Amer more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today voted in support of the Build Back Better Act, an economic stimulus and job creation package that is key to President Biden's Build Back Better economic agenda. The legislation will bring down costs for families, create jobs, fight the climate crisis, and help everyday Americans get ahead. The Build Back Better Act will help fight inflation and is full more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Nov. 15, 2021: * * * Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law. "Today, President Biden is making history by signing into law the largest investment in America's infrastructure in a generation. "This historic law will help address the climat more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today held a press conference hailing passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. "As Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I'm thrilled to have led the effort to help pass needed investments to improve our rail systems, bridges, highways, transit, water, and broadband infrastructure," said Rep. De more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: Ahead of major national elections in Honduras later this month, Members of Congress led by Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), and Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) are pushing the U.S. State Department to do more to ensure a free and fair elections in the Central American country. In recent years, Honduras has been p more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) is pleased to announce the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is releasing a fourth funding wave from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF), which includes nearly $576,000 for Oregon schools and libraries. This brings the state's combined total funding through this program to over $59.6 million to date. Congressman Schrader secured the ECF in the American Rescue P more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 16, 2021: U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) championed the IDEA Full Funding Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation was reintroduced by U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02) to finally ensure Congress' commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has ac more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) issued the following statement after voting to pass the Build Back Better Act in the U.S. House of Representatives: "Together, my colleagues and I passed a smartly targeted, paid-for Build Back Better Act in the House that delivers on Oregonians' top priorities. I am especially proud my proposals to substantially lower prescription drug costs for all Americans, par more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) introduced bipartisan legislation to make more nutritious meals and snacks available to children in care settings. The Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act would strengthen and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), which currently serves 4.7 million low-income children in child care centers, Head Start and after more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Nancy Mace (SC-01), and Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) today led dozens of their colleagues in a bipartisan letter to President Biden expressing serious concern with the recent pattern of unauthorized U.S. military strikes and actions in Syria and Iraq. They urged the Biden administration to provide transparency about U.S. military actions in the region and more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Nov. 19, 2021: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, setting up a Senate vote: "Hallelujah! Now the Senate must seize the momentum, pass this bill, and send it to the Oval Office. Working families can't afford for the Senate to fail. "It's no secret that life has gotten harder for m more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is leading a group of nine senators in pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to crack down on synthetic nicotine. Vaping manufacturers have reportedly been switching to synthetic nicotine to sidestep the FDA's regulatory process for tobacco products and to continue to ensnare teens with sweet flavors that the industry has used to hook a new generation on nicoti more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley is leading a group of his Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to work with young Americans to make progress on climate action. Merkley was joined by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Richard Blumentha more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Ahead of major national elections in Honduras later this month, Members of Congress led by Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), and Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) are pushing the U.S. State Department to do more to ensure a free and fair elections in the Central American country. In recent years, Honduras has been plagu more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 18, 2021: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on the decision of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reestablish its commitment to furthering nondiscrimination policies across the agency and to rescind Trump-granted state waivers allowing federally-funded child welfare agencies to deny vulne more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Nov. 18, 2021: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on revenue from increased IRS enforcement against wealthy tax cheats: "Investing in the IRS will generate at least $400 billion in additional tax revenue from wealthy tax cheats. I'm confident in the Treasury Department's estimate, which is backed up by experts  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today welcomed bipartisan passage of his legislation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to boost recreation opportunities in Southwestern Oregon and on the Molalla River in Clackamas County, while ensuring wildfire prevention work in both of those regions. Wyden's bill is now eligible to be considered by the full Senate. The Oregon Recre more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., today sought answers about expensive, restrictive e-book lending contracts with libraries, in letters to nine e-book aggregators and platforms. Aggregators are middlemen that license e-books to libraries on behalf of book publishers, and can also develop the e-lending platforms used by library patrons. The questions are part of Wyde more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Bob Casey (D-PA) today announced that their bipartisan Bridge Investment Act has been signed into law by President Biden. The senators have been pushing for this legislation since 2018, and reintroduced the bill in 2019 and  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee issued the following statement by Charles F. Sams III, President Biden's nominee to be Director of the National Park Service, at an Oct. 19, 2021, confirmation hearing: * * * I am joined today by my wife, Lori Sams and my oldest daughter, Rosevelie Sams. Our son Chauncey and daughters Clara and Ruby are home in Oregon. I am honored and deeply appreciative to be President Biden's nominee to be the 19th director of the Nat more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: Tonight, the Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Chuck Sams as National Park Service Director after U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., went to the Senate floor and asked the Senate pass the nomination by unanimous consent. "Chuck Sams is the right nominee to lead the National Park Service as it addresses these challenges. I know Chuck. He is hardworking. He is committed," Wyden said on  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a $7 million grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help repair damaged electrical infrastructure in Marion County. "Wildfires and intense winds caused significant damage to our electrical infrastructure in Marion County, jeopardizing the stability of small businesses and the homes of many Oregon families more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island: * * * Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement today regarding the next nominee to chair the Federal Reserve: "Jerome Powell refuses to recognize climate change as an urgent and systemic economic threat. During his tenure, Chair Powell first ignored climate change and then resisted calls for the Fed to use its more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-Rhode Island, issued the following joint statement with Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, on Nov. 19, 2021: * * * Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement today regarding the next nominee to chair the Federal Reserve: "Jerome Powell refuses to recognize climate change as an urgent and systemic economic threat. During his tenure, Chair Powell first ignored climate change and then resisted calls for  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: Ahead of a busy holiday travel season, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) said today he has joined with U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to reintroduce comprehensive legislation to expand protections for air travelers. Among a host of key consumer protections, the Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights would ensure that airlines p more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 17, 2021: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today announced he and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) have placed a friendly "wager" on Saturday's college football game between Oregon and Utah, with the winners of the "bet" being the community members facing food insecurity in both states - and the food banks working hard year-round to help fight hunger. Thanks to Farmers Ending Hunger and Tillamook County Creamery  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., introduced bipartisan legislation today to protect Americans against warrantless searches of the data generated and stored in their cars and trucks. The Closing the Warrantless Digital Car Search Loophole Act ends the outdated "vehicle exception" to the Fourth Amendment, that was created by courts long before automobiles contained more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), this week wrote U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to support his recent decision to offer additional points to applicants to the department's ReConnect Program who commit to following net neutrality principles. The ReConnect Program furnishes critical loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici today announced that Lane and Washington counties have earned a combined more than $31 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for road, rail, and transit improvements. "I've said for a long time, you can't have a big league economy with little league infrastructure," Wyde more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 18, 2021: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici today announced that Lane and Washington counties have earned a combined more than $31 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for road, rail, and transit improvements. "I've said for a long time, you can't have a big league economy with little league infrastructure," Wyden sa more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a $7 million grant from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will help repair damaged electrical infrastructure in Marion County. "Wildfires and intense winds caused significant damage to our electrical infrastructure in Marion County, jeopardizing the stability of small businesses and the homes of many Oregon famil more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Nov. 19, 2021: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO), Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Subcommittee Ranking Member Garret Graves (R-LA) requested the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (OIG) conduct  more PR

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Nov. 15, 2021: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.)'s proposal to upgrade America's power system and protect local communities from extreme weather events was signed into law today as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Wyden and Neguse introduced the Disaster Safe Power Grid Act earlier this year to ensure that power companies do their part to reduce the  more PR