Ron Wyden

Under a recently proposed bill, the federal government would prioritize use of mass timber in construction.  Senators from Oregon and Idaho are leading the bipartisan effort to pass the Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act.  The bill would make it a preference to use mass timber in federal construction projects.   Mass timbe...

Earlier this week, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden took to the Senate floor to call for passage of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes on Imported Goods Act.   Wyden said the legislation clarifies that that the President’s emergency powers can’t be used levy tariffs.   “Donald Trump cal...

Last week, Oregon’s Ron Wyden joined other senators to reintroduce legislation making a $60 billion investment in forests across the West.  The Democrat lawmakers say these funds will lessen wildfire risk, restore watersheds, protect communities, and reduce wildfire suppression costs.   Wyden ...

On Monday, western Democrats issued a statement over reports the BLM has issued stop work orders connected to projects removing hazardous wildfire fuels.  Oregon’s Jeff Merkley, New Mexico’s Senator Martin Heinrich said their letter, addressed to recently confirmed Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Acting Agriculture Secretary Gary Washington, “sounds the alarm”.   They said delaying these treatm

President Trump’s pick for U.S. Trade Representative was challenged repeatedly at his Senate confirmation hearing last week over Trump’s tariff wars and their harm to farmers and consumers.  Jamieson Greer, the former USTR Chief of Staff during Trump's first term, came under swift and even ‘hot’ questioning by Finance Committee senators over the President’s newest tariff war with Canada, Mexico, a

Senators from Oregon and Idaho are pushing for Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools Act before funding runs out.  States with timber on federal land depend on the program for funding schools and other projects that would have been paid for by timber harvests, which aren’t allowed on federal land.   “The S...

Tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada are on hold, but Oregon’s senior senator says the fight isn’t over.  Ron Wyden said the 30-day pause agreed upon by Mexico and Canada isn’t enough.   “We’re going to see more tariff chaos and we’re going to fight it at every opportunity,” Wyden said.   He and other Senate Democrats say groups from t...

Oregon senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced late last week that a $50 million federal investment from the Inflation Reduction Act is headed to the Klamath Basin.  The funds will primarily go toward a new agreement that supports irrigators facing prolonged drought conditions.  The programs receiving fund...

Last week, Oregon senator Ron Wyden introduced the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2025 to repeal “outdated sanctions” on Cuba and establish normal trade relations with the island nation. Wyden introduced the bill after the Biden White House announced it was removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism and Cuba agreed to free a number of political prisoners.  His fellow Ore...

Legislation introduced by eastern Oregon’s Cliff Bentz, protecting Klamath Basin users from being charged for maintenance and upgrade costs attributable to the Link River or Keno dams was signed into law by President Biden earlier this month.  Ben...