Ron Wyden

(1949- )

Oregon's senior Senator is a different kind of public servant -- he listens to the people of Oregon, and works hard to help them find solutions to everyday challenges.  Ron Wyden keeps his promises, like holding town meetings in every county of Oregon every year of his Senate term, and he is the first U.S. Senator from Oregon ever to open constituent service offices in every part of the state.

Senator Wyden is known for fighting for Oregon's interests in the Senate, with a bipartisan, issue-oriented approach to key issues like health care, consumer protection, education, and the environment.  He has always been committed to protecting senior citizens.  As a young University of Oregon Law School graduate, he started a legal clinic for seniors in Eugene, and was the Director of the Oregon Gray Panthers.  In the 105th Congress, he has won passage of Medicare reforms that will increase reimbursement for Oregon seniors in managed care.  Now, Wyden is leading the fight in the Senate to pass prescription drug coverage for seniors.

Wyden introduced one of the first proposals to give middle class families a tax credit for college or vocational school tuition costs and was named 1997 "Senator of the Year," by the National Association of Police Organizations.  He is working hard to craft vital transportation legislation which will mean millions of dollars in funding for Oregon roads, bridges, and public transportation systems.

COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS

In the Senate, Wyden takes on a heavy workload, serving on five important committees that deal with issues important to Oregon families -- the Budget Committee; the Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee; the Energy & Natural Resources Committee; the Environment & Public Works Committee; and the Special Committee on Aging.  Senator Wyden is also a member of the bi-partisan Senate Reform Task Force.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Oregon's senior Senator has been a dedicated public servant for over 20 years.  Before his election to the U.S. Senate, Ron Wyden served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 15 years.

Wyden won a basketball scholarship to the University of California-Santa Barbara, and played in  Division I competition for two seasons before transferring to Stanford University to earn his B.A.  He earned his law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law in 1974, and worked as director of Oregon Legal Services for the Elderly and co-director of the Oregon Gray Panthers, as well as being appointed to the Oregon State Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators.

Source: Senator Ron Wyden. U.S. Senate.