Wyden, Merkley COVID-19 news releases – Friday
WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Here are some of the latest news releases issued by Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., related to the federal response to the COVID-19 outbreak:
Wyden Calls on Trump Administration to Fully Use Defense Production Act & Protect Veterans from COVID-19
“This Administration must prioritize VA’s sacred mission to care for our nation’s veterans who are especially vulnerable during this pandemic”
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., called on the Trump administration to make full use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) in order to better protect veterans, health care professionals, Oregonians and all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The depletion of medical supplies nationally and a broken federal procurement and distribution process has left the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)—the nation’s largest health care system—scrambling to secure Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), test kits, ventilators and supplies necessary to combat the ongoing public health crisis. In a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, Wyden and 15 of his Senate colleagues pushed the administration to fully invoke the DPA to address the nation’s staggering shortage of supplies and the VA’s broken supply chain.
“With the fate of VA’s ability to procure supplies now in the Supply Chain Task Force’s hands, the Administration must act quickly to fix this problem,” the senators wrote “During this time of crisis, it is unconscionable that VA is having to compete for supplies to protect its health care providers and veterans. This Administration must prioritize VA’s sacred mission to care for our nation’s veterans who are especially vulnerable during this pandemic. Working in a more coordinated manner would result in a better outcome for veterans and all Americans.”
Wyden and his colleagues noted that the administration’s procurement and distribution system has forced VA to implement austerity measures that have left health care workers on the front lines scrambling to protect themselves and veterans in the community. The senators urged the Supply Chain Task Force, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to work in a coordinated manner to support VA in its unique mission to serve as the nation’s back-up health care system in times of emergency.
The senators highlighted, “Our nation made promises to provide the care our veterans earned through their service to defend the freedoms we all hold dear. The Administration's slow response and lack of a coordinated nationwide effort undermines the services the VA can provide veterans. As such, the Administration must act aggressively to better utilize all the tools at hand to bring all Americans through this crisis. We must recognize that we share the same goal—to save lives. Making better use of the DPA is one way to do just that.”
Wyden has been pushing the administration to protect those who served our nation against the COVID-19 health crisis as Oregon has experienced COVID-19 deaths in a Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Ore. and at the Portland VA hospital.
In addition to Wyden, the letter was signed by Senators Jon Tester, D-Mont., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Jack Reed, D-R.I., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Gary Peters, D-Mich., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., and Bernard Sanders, I-Vt.
A copy of the letter is available here.
Wyden Announces Plans to Reintroduce Community Broadband Act in Wake of Coronavirus Emergency
Bill aims to improve internet access in underserved communities, as millions of students, families struggle to learn, work remotely
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden today announced he will reintroduce the Community Broadband Act to improve internet access in underserved communities as millions of students and families find themselves struggling to learn and work remotely during the coronavirus public health emergency.
“Access to broadband is a must for communities to thrive in Oregon and nationwide. Oregon communities like Maupin and The Dalles have proven that municipal broadband can be a game changer in places without top-tier internet access,” Wyden said.
“The COVID-19 public health crisis spotlights that need for high-speed Internet access more than ever for homes now filled with adults working remotely and students tapping into the web for classroom assignments,” he said. “This legislation would provide help to those millions of Americans by knocking down obstacles to municipal broadband that can help now and in the future.”
The bill would ban any state, local, or tribal statute or regulation that prohibits cities from providing high-speed internet, thereby preserving and protecting the rights of cities and localities to build municipal broadband networks. Right now, more than two dozen states restrict local communities from building their own broadband networks. Municipal broadband can often provide an affordable, reliable option for rural and low-income communities that face persistent barriers to high-speed internet access.
In addition to Wyden, other sponsors of the bill include U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward Markey (D-MA), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
The bill is endorsed by the following organizations: the National Association of Counties, the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Public Knowledge, Free Press Action, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Institute for Local Self Reliance, New America’s Open Technology Institute, Consumer Reports, the Telecommunications Industry Association, the Southern California Southern Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Ebay, and Google.
Wyden Urges Congress to Provide Housing Support for Domestic Violence Survivors During COVID-19 Pandemic
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today urged Senate leadership to include resources to meet domestic and sexual violence survivors’ urgent housing needs, which have been exacerbated by stay-at-home orders, social distancing and the ongoing economic upheaval caused by COVID-19 in any future relief package.
“Communities need a surge of resources to meet survivors’ diverse housing needs, increase the capacity of local programs to address those needs, and be responsive to the housing availability in each community,” Wyden and 22 of his colleagues wrote. “Local programs are working to reduce the number of families in their shelters to respond to calls for social distancing. Some shelters will not be admitting new clients but will be looking to house clients in hotels, motels, or rental properties. Others are working to support survivors who have recently secured independent housing only to lose their jobs and economic stability as a result of COVID-19. Once the immediate health crisis subsides, there will be an influx of need as survivors make plans to escape while facing continued economic strain.”
In addition to Wyden, the letter was also signed by U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Ed Markey, D-Mass., Chris Coons, D-Del., Bob Casey, D-Pa., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Tina Smith, D-Minn., Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Mark Warner, D-Va., Cory Booker, D-N.J., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tim Kaine, D-Va., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisc., Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev.
A copy of the letter is available here.
MERKLEY, WYDEN ANNOUNCE HIGHER EDUCATION EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDING APPLICATION IS LIVE
Friday, April 24, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden today announced that funding is now available for accredited public and nonprofit private higher education institutions throughout Oregon, to help schools mitigate tuition losses and upfront costs of adopting remote learning technology amid the coronavirus crisis.
The funding will be distributed by the U.S. Department of Education, and was allocated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Congress approved last month.
“Our higher education institutions have given generations of Oregonians critical tools and skills to build roads to lifelong success,” said Merkley. “These schools make countless contributions to the spirit and economic vitality of our state, and help us deliver on our important responsibility to put higher education within reach for every student who wants to pursue it. This funding is a start to help these schools make it to the other side of this difficult time, but if we want these schools to be able to continue creating opportunity and training the next leaders of our communities, we are going to need to do more.”
“Young Oregonians’ path to a better future often runs through the classrooms of our state’s higher education institutions,” Wyden said. “Because the COVID-19 public health crisis has delivered an economic wallop to these schools and the students who depend on them, I am glad these resources will be available to keep that path viable. Much more needs to be done for higher ed in Oregon, and I will keep fighting to make sure our state’s schools get their fair share of federal funds.”
Today’s announcement comes shortly after Senators Merkley and Wyden announced $116 million in aid for college students in Oregon, to help them cover expenses like course materials, technology, housing, food, health care, and childcare. Senator Merkley previously led a group of 22 lawmakers—including Senator Wyden—in urging Senate leadership to include essential support provisions for students, colleges, and universities in the third coronavirus emergency relief bill.
Schools can apply for funding using this link. Allocations will be reached by a formula included in the CARES Act, which is weighted significantly by the number of full-time students who are Pell-eligible, but also takes into consideration the total population of the school and the number of students who were not enrolled full-time online before the coronavirus outbreak.
