Wyden Floor Statement on Opioid Bill and Mary Wakefield Nomination
I’d like to address two issues today, both of which are examples of how the Senate is leaving work undone on its way out the door. First I’d like to begin with the opioid bill. If ever there was an issue that should be unifying to the Congress – that should bring Democrats and Republicans […]
Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on MACRA
There are big opportunities ahead to make substantial, bipartisan progress when it comes to protecting and updating the Medicare guarantee, and that’s what the Committee will be discussing this morning. The first is implementing the plan to throw in the trash can the hopelessly broken, out-of-date Medicare reimbursement formula known as the SGR. This was […]
Wyden Statement on Approval of EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., welcomed today’s approval of the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework. “The free movement of data and information across the Atlantic is critical to the U.S.-EU economic relationship, to promoting a thriving digital economy, free speech and collaboration,” Wyden said. “I am glad we were able reach a solution […]
Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on Stark Law
The U.S., over the last few years, has seen the beginning of a major transformation in the way medical care is paid for. This country is moving away from an old system – fee for service – which opened the till for every visit, every test, and every procedure in a doctor’s office or hospital. […]
Wyden Comments on 385 Regulations Following Meeting with Treasury Secretary Lew
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee met with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to discuss the proposed section 385 regulations: “We must stop erosion of the American tax base from the inversion virus,” said Wyden. “We can’t sit on our hands while companies […]
Wyden Disappointed in Multi-Million Dollar Windfall for Drug Makers Instead of Care for Pregnant Women in Opioid Conference Report
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today expressed disappointment in the results of the bicameral conference meeting on legislation to address the national opioid epidemic. In addition to a lack of funding in the bill, the conference voted down two amendments offered by Wyden, including one that would take away a $75 […]
Wyden Concerned by National Academy Committee Ties to Opioid Manufacturers
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., is raising concerns that a National Academy of Medicine (NAM) panel set to begin studying prescription opioid abuse in the United States has been insufficiently vetted for potential financial ties to opioid manufacturers. In a letter sent to Dr. Victor Dzau, president of NAM, Wyden […]
Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on Medicare Part B Drug Demonstration Project
What underlies this debate, in my view, is the fact that the U.S. is in an era of miracle treatments and cures. There are drugs on the market today and close on the horizon that were science fiction not too long ago. The question now is whether Americans will be able to afford them. These […]
Wyden Applauds Win for Trade Enforcement in ITC Steel Decisions
WASHINGTON – Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised the International Trade Commission decision today to impose new duties on steel imports from China and other nations that are harming U.S. jobs and steel companies with unfair trade practices. Wyden had urged ITC to vigorously enforce U.S. trade laws, in testimony last […]
Wyden Comments on House GOP’s Tax Blueprint
Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement regarding the recently released House GOP tax blueprint. “There is no question its long past time that we reform our badly broken and overly complicated tax code. Few would disagree that we need a fresh set of simple rules that creates good […]