Wyden, Bennet, Reed, Colleagues Urge Full Funding of Unemployment Insurance to Combat Fraud and Provide Benefits for Jobless Workers
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Senate Finance Committee Member Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I., along with 17 colleagues, urged the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies to fully fund Unemployment Insurance (UI) administration based on President Joe Biden’s request in his Fiscal Year […]
Wyden Statement on Biden Action to Stand Up To China’s Trade Cheating
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Trade Representative’s announcement that the U.S. will substantially raise tariffs on a range of green technology products made in China: “I’m pleased President Biden is taking steps to fight back against China’s predatory trade practices […]
Wyden and Crapo Release Draft Legislation to Combat Prescription Drug Shortages
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today released a draft legislative proposal to address persistent economic problems leading to shortages of generic medicines plaguing America’s health care system, including chemotherapy drugs and ADHD medications. “It is unacceptable that America is consistently running out of affordable […]
Wyden Hearing Statement on Change Healthcare Cyberattack and UnitedHealth Group’s Response
This morning the Finance Committee examines the Change Healthcare hack that nearly brought the nation’s health care system to a standstill six weeks ago. Joining the committee is Andrew Witty, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, which owns Change Healthcare. I’ll put things in perspective. Last year, UHG generated $324 billion in revenue, making it the […]
Wyden Statement on Reports that DEA will Reschedule Cannabis
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement today on reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration will reschedule cannabis as a Schedule III controlled substance: “After decades of the federal government being dug in on prohibition, moving cannabis to Schedule III would be a huge shift in policy and signal to […]
Wyden Statement on Nursing Home Staffing and Medicaid Rules
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued a statement after the Biden administration finalized several rules aimed at improving health care for Americans in nursing homes, those receiving home and community-based services (HCBS) through Medicaid, as well as updates to Medicaid managed care to strengthen health services covered by these […]
Wyden Statement on Final HHS Rule to Strengthen Reproductive Health Care Privacy
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released the following statement today on the final rule announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to strengthen reproductive health care privacy: “I commend the Biden-Harris administration for pulling out all […]
Wyden Hearing Statement at Trade Agenda Hearing
Today I’m going to discuss the ways in which Congress and the administration can work together to build a trade agenda that will supercharge America’s diverse industries and create good-paying and innovative jobs across Oregon and nationwide. Let’s start with trade enforcement: without enforcement, our trade laws aren’t worth the paper they’re written on. India’s […]
Wyden Statement at Finance Committee Hearing on IRS Direct File and Continued Improvements to Customer Service
The Committee meets this morning to discuss the IRS budget and tax filing season, which closed just yesterday. I want to thank Commissioner Werfel for being here at a very busy time for everybody at the IRS. There are a lot of issues to discuss, and I’ll begin with Direct File. Anybody who denies that […]
State Attorneys General Misused Medicaid Authority to Persecute Teens Seeking Gender Affirming Care, Finance Inquiry Finds; Politicized Requests for Patient Information Caused Spike in Teen Crisis Mental Health Calls
Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., released a staff report today finding that state attorneys general misused their Medicaid investigative and consumer protection authorities to persecute teens and adults seeking transgender health care, harming patients and causing a spike in LGBTQIA+ teens and adults seeking crisis mental health services. The report […]