WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following opening statement at a hearing on March 17, 2022, entitled "Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector": * * * The Finance Committee meets this morning to discuss ways to go about promoting charitable giving in America. Americans are generous people, and that's why charity is one of the key incentives embedded at the heart of our tax code and a top priority for D more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on March 29, 2022: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released a report documenting the array of shortfalls that currently exist in the mental health care system that prevent American families from accessing the care they need. The report was jointly authored by majority and minority staff on the committee. "This report marks the Finance Committee's more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., will convene a hearing on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, on the President's fiscal year 2023 Department of Health and Human Services budget. The hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m. in Room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The witness at Tuesday's hearing will be: * The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary, United  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- The House Budget Committee issued the following testimony by MomsRising member Rosa Walker involving a hybrid hearing on March 16, 2022, entitled "Ensuring Women Can Thrive in a Post-Pandemic Economy": * * * My name is Rosa Walker, and I live in Oregon City, just outside Portland, Oregon. I'm an occupational therapist working in early education with young children and their families. I am also the mom of three incredible boys: Matias, age 11, Tomas, age eight, and Gabrie more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on March 29, 2022: The House of Representatives passed H.R. 6865, the Don Young Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, which the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved on a bipartisan basis earlier this month. The bill was named for Rep. Don Young, who served as the Chair of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructu more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: The House passed bipartisan legislation with provisions by Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) to help workers who move between jobs track, consolidate, and grow their retirement savings accounts. The Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2022, or SECURE Act 2.0 makes important bipartisan improvements that will increase enrollment in and access to retirement savings plans. It includes provisions based  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) announced the committee will hold a hearing titled, "National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization." The purpose of this hearing is for Members to hear from the NTSB regarding their reauthorization proposal and related transportat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on March 31, 2022: The Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) introduced The Safe Aircraft Maintenance Standards Act, legislation that would strengthen the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) oversight of repair stations located outside the United States. "Aviation safety must be priority more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: 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) announced a hearing titled, "FEMA's Priorities for 2022 and the 2022-2026 Strategic Plan." At the hearing, members will more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Cynthia Axne, D-Iowa, issued the following news release: Rep. Cindy Axne (IA03) introduced legislation to reauthorize programs established under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, which support community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention efforts, and to make treatment options for opioid addiction more accessible. The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act is named after the son of former Oregon Senator Gordon Smith. Garrett died by suicide in his apartment in more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Representative Earl Blumenauer, Chair of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee released the following statement after the House took an important step toward appointing a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the America COMPETES Act and U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). "The House spoke with a strong bipartisan voice to initiate the conference committee between the America  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on April 1, 2022: * * * U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) released the following statement on the U.S. House of Representatives passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. "As we mark fifty years of the devastating war on drugs it is past time for Congress to catch up with the public and majority of states who have legalized some form of cannabis, and pass legislati more PR

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 28, 2022: Congressman Peter DeFazio (OR-04) today announced that the city of Sweet Home would receive $30,056,061 to help its wastewater treatment plant achieve Clean Water Act compliance. "Clean water is a basic, human right," said Rep. DeFazio. "With this funding, the city of Sweet Home will be able to bring their wastewater treatment plant into compliance with Clean Water Act standards. I'm prou more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on March 30, 2022: The House of Representatives passed eight bills within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with bipartisan support. "I applaud the House for passing eight bills today most of which were approved by our committee on a bipartisan basis," Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Young Kim, R-California, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) joined House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05) and Reps. Cindy Axne (IA-03) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) to reauthorize the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. This bill reauthorizes community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention programs created in the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act, named after the son of former Oregon Senat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) is pleased to announce the Biden Administration awarded $30 million to Oregon through the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Congressman Schrader helped secure the funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. "I am proud to have secured this funding to enable more Oregonian families and households to utilize this critical program more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Kurt Schrader, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) issued the following statement in response to the FDA's budget request for the President's FY23 budget that includes a proposal to amend the process for beginning the clock on the 180-day exclusivity period for being the first generic to market to encourage timely entry of third and fourth competitor, generic drugs: "I am pleased to see the President recognize the imp more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Last Thursday Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh in Oregon to highlight their efforts to increase access to quality, high-wage jobs. The Secretary and Congresswoman toured Portland Community College's new Training Center at the Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) in Scappoose. Later in the day, Oregon Governor Kate Brown and Rep. Earl Blumenauer joined th more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on March 29, 2022: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding the committee's passage of the Ethiopia Peace and Stabilization Act (S.3199), and the ongoing diplomatic negotiations to resolve the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia: "Today's committee action is an important step as the United States seeks a comprehensive p more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 31, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Delaware's U.S. Senator Tom Carper today led colleagues in a letter to United States Post Office Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, pressing USPS to explain its financial analysis behind its plan to acquire a new delivery fleet comprised of predominantly gas-powered vehicles. "USPS accounts for roughly one-third of the federal fleet and the actions that  more PR

PORTLAND, Oregon, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced he will have 12 live on-line town halls hosted by People's Town Hall in April for residents of Coos, Curry, Yamhill, Clatsop, Linn, Benton, Polk, Gilliam, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Morrow counties. Heading into this month's virtual town halls, Wyden has held 1,007 town halls statewide in fulfillment of his pledge to hold at least one town hall eac more PR

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on March 28, 2022: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today continued his oversight of the Opportunity Zone program and whether it has achieved Republicans' stated goals of encouraging investment and creating jobs in low-income communities. Wyden is pressing cryptocurrency companies--Argo Blockchain and Redivider Blockchain--as well as Mr. Blake Christian more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following floor remarks on March 30, 2022, on the nomination of January Contreras as Health and Human Services assistant secretary for children and families: * * * Mr. President, the Senate will soon vote on an important nomination to the Department of Health and Human Services. January Contreras is President Biden's choice to serve as Assistant Secretary for Children and Families. When she more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a March 30, 2022, hearing examining barriers to mental health care: * * * The Finance Committee meets for our third hearing on mental health care this year, and we'll begin with mental health parity. For 13 years, the parity law has required equal treatment by insurance companies of mental health care and physical health care. That law was the result of the efforts of  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement at a March 31, 2022 Finance Committee hearing examining the president's 2022 trade policy agenda: * * * The biggest trade and economic security stories in the world today are Russia and China. Their governments are united in putting up barriers to American products and American values. Since Putin launched his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. and our allies hav more PR

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on March 28, 2022: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on President Biden's Billionaire Minimum Income Tax. "President Biden has put forward a solid proposal that would ensure billionaires pay taxes every year, just like my Billionaires Income Tax. "There's no way to fix our broken tax code without getting at th more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden today released the following statement on Donald Trump requesting political favors from Vladimir Putin and Senate Republicans resurrecting their innuendo-filled investigation to benefit Donald Trump. "As Vladimir Putin wages an unprovoked war in Europe, Donald Trump has again explicitly requested Putin's help winning the ne more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 31, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today renewed his calls for an overhaul of domestic critical mineral production to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign mineral imports, as well as reliance on foreign energy. "It is past time for the United States to become a competitive producer of critical minerals and wean itself off of both foreign oil more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following statement: * * * Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement in support of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the United States Supreme Court: "Following today's meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, I'm pleased to officially announce my support of her historic nomination to the Supreme Court. "We had a productive meeting where Judge Jackson's deep knowledge of the law and fair-minded judicial temp more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined colleagues in asking the federal Departments of Education and Justice for an update on efforts to improve how the agencies handle undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings. "The undue hardship exception (11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8)) currently serves as the only option in the bankruptcy code for discharge of student loans, and that exception more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 31, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today with colleagues introduced a resolution to recognize the achievements and courage of the transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and gender-diverse communities around the world, and to celebrate International Transgender Day of Visibility. "Today, we celebrate the lives--the joy, the contributions, the perseverance and so much more--of trans and non-binary pe more PR

WASHINGTON, March 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and, Jon Tester (D-MT) today released an updated version of their Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The senators first introduced the bipartisan bill in November. "Oregon's ranchers shouldn't face an unfairly tilted marketplace that favors corporate meat packers and undercuts their small family businesses from producing nation more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosigned a letter to President Joseph R. Biden urging the administration to act now to extend the pause on federally-held student loan payments until at least the end of the year and to provide meaningful student debt cancellation. "Given the fast-approaching deadline for borrowers to resume payments, your administration must act as quickly as possible to extend more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and seven western colleagues from both parties this week urged the Department of Interior (DOI) to allocate a significant portion of funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law toward sagebrush ecosystem restoration in the American West to boost wildfire mitigation efforts, create jobs and support the economy in Oregon and the West. "As Senators representing Western states, we urge you  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said today that bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored to help fix supply chains and ease shipping backlogs in Oregon and nationwide has passed the Senate by voice vote. "Oregon farmers and all other businesses exporting our state's world-renowned products need a level playing field to do what they do best -- compete successfully in a global economy so they can continue gene more PR

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Senate Finance Committee issued the following testimony by Susannah Morgan, CEO of Oregon Food Bank, involving a hearing on March 17, 2022, entitled "Examining Charitable Giving and Trends in the Nonprofit Sector": * * * Thank you for the opportunity to share my on-the-ground perspective regarding charitable giving in the nonprofit sector. My name is Susannah Morgan, and I am the Chief Executive Officer of Oregon Food Bank. Our network is among the largest in the c more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Maine's U.S. Senator Susan Collins today introduced the bipartisan Wastewater Infrastructure Pollution Prevention and Environmental Safety (WIPPES) Act, a bill to address heath, ecosystem, and wastewater infrastructure concerns caused by the flushing of non-flushable wet wipes. "Wastewater treatment facilities run equipment around the clock so that Or more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, New Hampshire's U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, and House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today announced the introduction of the Affordable Loans for Any Student Act of 2022, comprehensive legislation that would ensure affordable, simple income-based repayment plans for all federal student loan borrowers. The Affordable Loans for Any Student Act o more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 29, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $32 million in federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headed to Oregon to fund safe drinking water projects and strengthen wastewater infrastructure. "Reliable access to clean drinking water is vital to the health and safety of any community--especially during an ongoing global pandemic," said M more PR

WASHINGTON, March 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 29, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced a total of $32 million in federal funds from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headed to Oregon to fund safe drinking water projects and strengthen wastewater infrastructure. * "Reliable access to clean drinking water is vital to the health and safety of any community--especially during an ongoing global pandemic," s more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced critical project funding headed to Northeast Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) will be investing $1.8 million into the La Grande Valley West Resilience Project over the next three years to support forest management and outreach to private forestland owners to support and promote resilient forests, helping prevent out-of-contr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on March 30, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced critical project funding headed to Northeast Oregon. The U.S. Forest Service (FS) will be investing $1.8 million into the La Grande Valley West Resilience Project over the next three years to support forest management and outreach to private forestland owners to support and promote resilient forests, helping prevent out-of-co more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden cosigned a letter to President Joseph R. Biden urging the administration to act now to extend the pause on federally-held student loan payments until at least the end of the year and to provide meaningful student debt cancellation. "Given the fast-approaching deadline for borrowers to resume payments, your administration must act as quickly as possible to ext more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would extend federal school meal flexibilities for children in Oregon and nationwide from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023. These flexibilities have been crucial to feeding children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And with 90 percent of schools still facing many challenges as they retu more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on April 1, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said today they are co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation that would extend federal school meal flexibilities for children in Oregon and nationwide from June 30, 2022 to September 30, 2023. These flexibilities have been crucial to feeding children throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And with 90 percent of schools still facing many challenges as they return  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined colleagues in asking the federal Departments of Education and Justice for an update on efforts to improve how the agencies handle undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings. "The undue hardship exception (11 U.S.C. 523(a)(8)) currently serves as the only option in the bankruptcy code for discharge of student loans, and that except more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week co-signed a letter with Senate and House colleagues to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts demanding answers regarding Justice Thomas's potential violation of federal ethics law, after last week's explosive reporting on the efforts of his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Justice Thoma more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week co-signed a letter with Senate and House colleagues to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts demanding answers regarding Justice Thomas's potential violation of federal ethics law, after last week's explosive reporting on the efforts of his wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Justice Th more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon will receive $30.6 million in federal funds for home weatherization to help reduce energy expenses for low-income families. "Due to climate change, Oregon is suffering more instances of extreme weather--from heat islands to ice storms--and the costly weatherization and high energy bills have hit families hard," Wyden said. "I am gratified  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that Oregon will receive $30.6 million in federal funds for home weatherization to help reduce energy expenses for low-income families. "Due to climate change, Oregon is suffering more instances of extreme weather--from heat islands to ice storms--and the costly weatherization and high energy bills have hit families hard," Wyden said. "I am gratifi more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Mark Warner, D-Va., today reintroduced legislation that would make the costs and outcomes associated with higher education clear in order to help students, families, policymakers and taxpayers. The bipartisan Student Right to Know Before You Go Act makes data available to prospective college students about schools' graduation rates, debt levels, how much gradua more PR