WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: As wildfire season continues, bipartisan legislation to train more firefighters introduced by Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) took a step forward in the Senate today. Earlier this month, Senators Merkley and Daines teamed up to introduce the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act directing the Secretary of Agriculture and the Department of Interior t more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the religious objections to nondiscrimination laws - Supreme Court October Term 2022 (No. LSB10833) on Sept. 29, 2022 by legislative attorney Valerie C. Brannon: * * * The Supreme Court has been presented recently with multiple appeals from religious institutions that object to laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. A baker who objects to making a c more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release: House and Senate leaders submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County v. Talevski. The Democrats wrote in support of the ability of individuals to use federal courts to enforce the requirements of certain federal programs, including Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Section 504 of th more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: The Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus announced the appointment of Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-1) as the new Chair of its LGBTQ+ Aging Issues Task Force, beginning October 1. Congresswoman Bonamici is a Vice Chair of the Equality Caucus and a longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ seniors. Equality Caucus Vice Chair Congressman Ted Deutch (FL-22) is the current Chair of the LGBTQ+ Aging Issues Task Force,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, D-Mississippi, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee issued the following statement at a hearing on Sept. 21,2022, entitled "Critical Infrastructure Preparedness and Resilience: A Focus on Water": * * * I would like to begin by saying that my thoughts are with those in Alaska, Puerto Rico, California, and Oregon who are experiencing disasters. Over the weekend, Alaskans felt the impact of a typhoon, while Puerto Rico was hit with Hur more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) helped the House pass legislation that will support and improve student mental health. The Mental Health Matters Act will build a pipeline of school-based mental health service providers and invest in Head Start to address the mental and behavioral health of young children and support staff wellness. The legislation also includes Bonamici's  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: This week, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) applauded the House passage of four bills under the jurisdiction of the committee, including his bill, the Global Aircraft Maintenance Safety Improvement Act. Chair DeFazio also joined Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) in applauding  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: The following are opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, from Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) during today's hearing titled, "Investing in our Nation's Transportation Infrastructure and Workers: Why it Matters." Video of DeFazio's opening statement is here (http more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release: The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and 69 other House Members sent a letter to Nicholas Calio, President and CEO, Airlines for America; Faye Malarkey Black, President and CEO, Regional Airlines Association; and George Novak, President, National Air Carrier Association; urging their members  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources today held a hearing on U.S. Senator Ron Wyden's legislation that would protect the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reservation from wildfire and empower the Tribe to restore cultural and forest resources on Mt. Hood. The legislation is also co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley. "This legislation is about honoring Tribal Treat more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release and letter: Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration with oversight over federal elections, and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, in introducing comprehensive legislation to address the rise in threats targeting election workers. The Election Worker Protection Ac more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced four Oregon based organizations will be receiving awards totaling $100 million to foster partnerships around Oregon to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities. These projects are intended to expand markets for commodities that are produced with smaller or no carbon footprints, helping reduce the carbon pollution drivi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced four Oregon based organizations will be receiving awards totaling $100 million to foster partnerships around Oregon to support the production and marketing of climate-smart commodities. These projects are intended to expand markets for commodities that are produced with smaller or no carbon footprints, helping reduce the carbon pollution driving  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced $6.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for wildfire prevention projects in Oregon on 49,039 acres of land across the state. The additional funding is intended to help complete fuels treatments on nearly 2 million acres nationwide this fiscal year, a substantial increase over the last year's fiscal year. "As Or more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced $6.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for wildfire prevention projects in Oregon on 49,039 acres of land across the state. The additional funding is intended to help complete fuels treatments on nearly 2 million acres nationwide this fiscal year, a substantial increase over the last year's fiscal year. "As Orego more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a total of $22,972,499 in Department of Health and Human Services grants to combat the opioid crisis is coming to the State of Oregon and Tribes. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2021, Oregon overdose deaths increased 41%, compared to a 16% increase nationwide. In 2020 non-Hispanic American Indian more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2022: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that a total of $22,972,499 in Department of Health and Human Services grants to combat the opioid crisis is coming to the State of Oregon and Tribes. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2021, Oregon overdose deaths increased 41%, compared to a 16% increase nationwide. In 2020 non-Hispanic American Ind more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that three Oregon credit unions will receive a total of $520,659 in federal dollars to support small loans to families and businesses. The funding is coming from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) through the FY22 round of the Small Dollar Loan (SDL) Program. "Whether it's a mortgage, a  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced that three Oregon credit unions will receive a total of $520,659 in federal dollars to support small loans to families and businesses. The funding is coming from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) through the FY22 round of the Small Dollar Loan (SDL) Program. "Whether it's a mortgage, more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 28 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following statement on Sept. 27, 2022: * * * Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley issued the following statement regarding the Senate moving forward with legislation to fund the government, without a proposal to undermine the federal permitting process for fossil fuel projects. "This is the right move. I intended to vote against tonight's motion to proceed because the proposed energy project permitting reforms and the approval of  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Rep. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 28, 2022, and letter: Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Peter DeFazio (D-OR) today wrote the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regarding the enforcement of "Buy America" provisions within their jurisdiction. "One of the greatest threats to a strong U.S. transportation manufacturing sector is the more PR

PORTLAND, Oregon, Sept. 29 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to the City of Portland for the redevelopment of Pride Plaza. The funding will support infrastructure and beautification upgrades to a significant anchor for pedestrian travel through downtown. These improvements, a more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Congressman David Price (D-NC), and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released the following statement on President Joe Biden's Executive Order reinstating the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH). This Executive Order reverses the actions of President Trump in 2017, who refused to renew PCAH, dissolving the Committee after 35 years. Prior to more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following statement on Sept. 28, 2022: * * * Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement after President Joe Biden announced that Medicare Part B premiums would go down next year. "I am very pleased that older Americans will see lower health care costs next year," Wyden said. "Medicare Part B, which primarily pays for visits to the doctor and other outpatient c more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, issued the following news release on Sept. 27, 2022: Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy Subcommittee Chair Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, will hold a colloquy on Social Security on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. This comes after several Republican members in the House and Senate have made proposals to undermine the retirement security Americans have e more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 28, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today announced he will hold the nomination of Michael Ratney to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. When The Oregonian revealed the Saudi regime has systematically helped its citizens flee the United States after being accused of violent crimes, Wyden pressed the executive branch to win justice for the victims of these crimes, including the manslaughter  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Catherine Cortez Masto and Brian Schatz today introduced the Native American Tax Parity and Relief Act of 2022 to help support economic development in Indian Country by removing unfair tax burdens on Tribal communities. This legislation would ensure that Tribal governments are treated similarly to state and local governments in the federal tax code and are consulted wh more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) funds for crucial emergency preparedness. "The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced the need to prepare our communities for emergencies like a pipeli more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 30, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that Oregon will receive a combined more than $1.1 million in Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) funds for crucial emergency preparedness. "The past few years of raging wildfires, floods, hail storms, power outages and ice have only reinforced the need to prepare our communities for emergencies like a pipeline  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley this week announced that three organizations and governments in the metro area will receive a combined more than $1.37 million from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to continue to provide temporary housing, victim services and criminal intervention after sexual violence. "Addressing the atrocity of sexual violence in our communities couldn't be more urgent," W more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that three Oregon tribal organizations will receive a combined more than $1.6 million from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to continue to provide victim and intervention services after sexual violence on tribal land. "Addressing the atrocity of sexual violence on tribal land couldn't be more urgent," Wyden said. "I am grat more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced that three Oregon tribal organizations will receive a combined more than $1.6 million from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) to continue to provide victim and intervention services after sexual violence on tribal land. "Addressing the atrocity of sexual violence on tribal land couldn't be more urgent," Wyden said. "I am gratifi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced an investment in Eastern Oregon from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development totaling about $20.5 million to support high-speed internet in Baker, Grant and Malheur counties. "Quality of life in rural Oregon requires quality Internet connections that link children reliably and quickly to educational opportunities as w more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 26, 2022: U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced an investment in Eastern Oregon from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development totaling about $20.5 million to support high-speed internet in Baker, Grant and Malheur counties. "Quality of life in rural Oregon requires quality Internet connections that link children reliably and quickly to educational opportunities as well more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 -- Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon, issued the following news release on Sept. 29, 2022: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden today announced that all 36 Oregon counties will receive a combined $113.1 million in federal assistance over the next two years through a program he successfully fought to include in the American Rescue Plan. "This federal investment in rural Oregon and all parts of our state is timely and welcome news as counties work on their communities' needs to support roads, scho more PR