WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement regarding reports that a "gas tax holiday" may be under consideration in Congress. "Suspending the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax is not going to give consumers significant relief--if any at all--at the pump bec more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- 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), and Chair of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA) urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to strengthen its communication and coordination with partners, especially Tribal communities. "Partnerships are  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: The following are remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) at the Surface Transportation Board's public hearing on Amtrak's petition to restore Gulf Coast intercity passenger rail service between New Orleans, Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama. Chair DeFazio: more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) issued the following statement after Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Steve Dickson announced his resignation effective March 31, 2022. "While Administrator Dickson and I didn't always see eye to eye, I thank him for his dedicated more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2022: The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Dina Titus (D-NV) during today's hearing titled, "FEMA Priorities for 202 more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici led members of Oregon's congressional delegation - including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader - in calling for additional emergency rental assistance funding to be sent to Oregon. The letter to the Treasury Department supports a request made by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Congre more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 15, 2022: U.S. Representatives Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Raul Grijalva (AZ-03) today urged Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to immediately issue emergency Endangered Species Act protections for the Northern Rocky population of the gray wolf. On February 10, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White restored protections under the Endangered Species Act for gray wolves in much of the l more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. James M. Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2022: Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned witnesses at a hearing titled the Environmental Protection Agency's Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Challenges and Opportunities. Witnesses included: Cory-Ann Wind, Oregon Clean Fuels Program Manager, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; Emily Skor, Chief Exec more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today led a group of 21 lawmakers in urging the Biden administration to form a strong partnership with Honduras' new leader, President Xiomara Castro. In a letter sent to Secretary Antony Blinken, the bicameral group of lawmakers emphasize the urgency of U.S. and international backing for Castro's platform of human more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Feb. 15, 2022: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley--a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Democracy, and Human Rights--released the following statement after the U.S. formally sought the arrest and extradition of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez. "This extradition request is a long-overdue signal th more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici led members of Oregon's congressional delegation - including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader - in calling for additional emergency rental assistance funding to be sent to Oregon. The letter to the Treasury Department supports a request made by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Congress c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a Feb. 15, 2022, hearing entitled "Protecting Youth Mental Health: Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Care": * * * During this morning's hearing on the youth mental health epidemic, the committee has an opportunity to build on last week's excellent discussion with Surgeon General, Dr. Murthy. Last Tuesday, Dr. Murthy told us that mental health problems often show up more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Feb. 15, 2022, after a bipartisan briefing on the tax-filing season: * * * "Deputy Secretary Adeyemo, Commissioner Rettig, and other top Treasury and IRS officials today briefed the bipartisan membership of the Finance Committee on tax-filing season and efforts to transition away from ID.me. "Officials were clear about the challenges facing the IRS, including decades-o more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has joined six colleagues in introducing a bill that would remove unfair barriers for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educated international graduates who want to work in the United States after they complete their advanced degrees. "Retaining talented and enthusiastic international students with advanced STEM degrees is a no-brainer," Wyden said. "The Keep STEM T more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 16, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined six colleagues in calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether members of the Sackler family personally engaged in criminal conduct in connection with Purdue Pharma's admitted criminal wrongdoing in fueling the devastating opioid epidemic. The senators also urged DOJ to investigate whether any of the Sacklers' subsequent conduct warrants c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today joined with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of senators calling on the Labor Department to expedite the creation of a special claims unit to handle firefighter compensation claims in advance of the 2022 wildfire season in Oregon and nationwide. "Federal wildland firefighters have recently reported difficulty getting their medical treatment c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici led members of Oregon's congressional delegation - including Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Peter DeFazio, Earl Blumenauer, and Kurt Schrader - in calling for additional emergency rental assistance funding to be sent to Oregon. The letter to the Treasury Department supports a request made by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Congress crea more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 15, 2022: U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), senior member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Senators Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today introduced The Periodically Listing Updates to Management Act of 2022 (PLUM Act 2022). Currently, the federal government publishes a comprehensive list of positions appointed by the President once every four years called  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total investment of $1,532,089 million in grant money headed to the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). These funds will be distributed to Oregon seafood processing facilities and processing vessels to cover expenses incurred preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon is among 24 more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 17, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total investment of $1,532,089 million in grant money headed to the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). These funds will be distributed to Oregon seafood processing facilities and processing vessels to cover expenses incurred preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Oregon is among 24 ot more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management strongly urging the agency to put funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to go towards the mitigation and treatment of Sudden Oak Death, a disease that poses severe economic and environmental threats to counties in Southern Oregon. "Sudden Oak Death poses a significant threat  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today sent a letter to the Bureau of Land Management strongly urging the agency to put funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to go towards the mitigation and treatment of Sudden Oak Death, a disease that poses severe economic and environmental threats to counties in Southern Oregon. "Sudden Oak Death poses a significant threat to  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Feb. 15, 2022: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., with committee members Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., today urged the Labor Department to take steps toward ensuring state unemployment insurance programs are able to securely verify their applicants' identities without relying on private contractors like ID.me that employ more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass., today wrote to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) expressing support for the agency's recent notice of proposed rulemaking to enhance the resiliency of communications networks during emergency situations as aging infrastructure and climate change ignite wildfires in Oregon and across the West. Strong action by the FCC is n more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici this week asked the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture to follow congressional intent in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect and restore old-growth forests as well as protect other carbon-rich mature forests in Oregon and nationwide. The Oregon lawmakers wr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 18, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Peter DeFazio and Suzanne Bonamici this week asked the U.S. Departments of Interior and Agriculture to follow congressional intent in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect and restore old-growth forests as well as protect other carbon-rich mature forests in Oregon and nationwide. The Oregon lawmaker more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive more than $35.1 million in federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grants. "This partnership with hunters, anglers and others builds even stronger recreational opportunities in Oregon while also protecting sustainable resources," Wyden said. "Our state's world-renowned natural treasures generate recr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Feb. 14, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive more than $35.1 million in federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) grants. "This partnership with hunters, anglers and others builds even stronger recreational opportunities in Oregon while also protecting sustainable resources," Wyden said. "Our state's world-renowned natural treasures generate recreat more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 -- 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) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Rick Larsen (D-WA) requested the U.S. Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG) to review the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) refusal to exercise proper oversight over Boeing's  more PR