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'''Ron Wyden''' is one of the United States Senior Senator representing constituents from the State of Oregon. Wyden has been a Senator since 1996. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Finace, Intelligence, Aging, Budget and Energy & Natural Resources. He is the chairman of both Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests and the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. Sen. Wyden is a strong advocate for Americans' privacy rights. As Senator, he has been pushing for health care reform, energy independence, national security, consumer welfare and accountability.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/ron/ Meet Ron Wyden]</ref>
'''Ron Wyden''' is one of the United States Senior Senators representing constituents from the State of Oregon. Wyden has been a Senator since 1996. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Finace, Intelligence, Aging, Budget, and Energy & Natural Resources. He is the chairman of both the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests and the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. Sen. Wyden is a strong advocate for the privacy rights of Americans. As Senator, he has been pushing for health care reform, energy independence, national security, consumer welfare and accountability.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/ron/ Meet Ron Wyden]</ref>
==Personal Background==
==Personal Background==
He was born '''Ronald Lee Wyden''' to Jewish parents Edith Rosenow and Peter H. Wyden on May 3, 1949 in Wichita, Kansas.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000779 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref> His parents fled the German Nazis and moved to United States and settled in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1923. His father was a journalist and their family moved a around the country. After his parents divorced in 1960, Ron Wyden's mother moved to Palo Alto, California along with his younger brother. He grew up in Palo Alto and graduated from Palo Alto High School as a basketball superstar. <ref>
He was born '''Ronald Lee Wyden''' to Jewish parents Edith Rosenow and Peter H. Wyden on May 3, 1949 in Wichita, Kansas.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000779 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref> His parents fled the German Nazis and moved to United States and settled in Ridgefield, Connecticut in 1923, however his father was a journalist and their family moved around the country. After his parents divorced in 1960, Ron Wyden's mother moved to Palo Alto, California along with his younger brother. He grew up in Palo Alto and graduated from Palo Alto High School as a basketball superstar.<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ron-wyden-d-ore/gIQAfn599O_topic.html#at-a-glance Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Path to Power]</ref><ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/12/11/MN15604.DTL&type=printable Palo Alto To Honor Local Boy]</ref>
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ron-wyden-d-ore/gIQAfn599O_topic.html#at-a-glance Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Path to Power]</ref> <ref>
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/12/11/MN15604.DTL&type=printable Palo Alto To Honor Local Boy]</ref>
Senator Wyden was married to Nancy Bass Wyden on September 2005. They were blessed with twins William
Peter
and
Ava
Rose.<ref>[http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/10/wyden_twins_meet_the_world.html Wyden twins head home with parents]</ref> Senator Wyden's has two adult children, Adam David and Lilly Anne to his previous marriage to Nancy Oseran.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/constituents/internship/062009internpacket.pdf About Senator Wyden]</ref>
Senator Wyden was married to Nancy Bass Wyden in September 2005. They have twin children, William
Peter
and
Ava
Rose.<ref>[http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/10/wyden_twins_meet_the_world.html Wyden twins head home with parents]</ref> Senator Wyden also has two adult children, Adam David and Lilly Anne, from his previous marriage to Nancy Oseran.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/constituents/internship/062009internpacket.pdf About Senator Wyden]</ref>
==Education==
==Education==
Senator Wyden received a basketball scholarship after graduating high school from the University of California, Sta. Barbara. He transferred to the University of Stanford where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1974. He continued his studies at the University of Oregon School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/ron/ United States Senator Ron Wyden Quick Facts]</ref>
Senator Wyden received a basketball scholarship after graduating high school from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He transferred to the University of Stanford, where he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1974. He continued his studies at the University of Oregon School of Law and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1974.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/ron/ United States Senator Ron Wyden Quick Facts]</ref>
==Early Professional Career==
==Early Professional Career==
==Political Career==
==Political Career==
Wyden started his political career as member of the United States House of Representatives to the 97Th Congress on January 3, 1981 at the age of 31.He first defeated Darrel Conger. He was re-elected in seven succeeding Congressional elections representing the third district of Oregon until his resignation on February 5, 1996.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000779 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref>
Wyden started his political career as member of the United States House of Representatives of the 97th Congress on January 3, 1981 at the age of 31. He represented the third district of Oregon and was re-elected in seven succeeding Congressional elections until his resignation on February 5, 1996.<ref>[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=w000779 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]</ref>
Following his resignation as Congressman in1996, Wyden entered the Senate race in Oregon during a special elections to fill the seat vacated by former Republican Sen. Bob Packwood who resigned before his term expired due to the unanimous decision of the Senate Ethics Committee to expel him from office because of ethical misconduct.<ref>[http://www.now.org/nnt/11-95/packwood.html Packwood Resigns]</ref> Wyden defeated Republican nominee Gordon Smith by a narrow margin 48% to 47% via first nationwide mail-in election. <ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-31/news/mn-30719_1_oregon-senate-race Democrat Wyden Wins U.S. Senate Race in Oregon]</ref> He was sworn in as United States Senator on February 5, 1996. He was re-elected to a full term during the 1998 Senatorial race against John Lim with a large margin- 61% to 31%.<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1998&fips=41&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 1998 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref> In 2004, he won with 63% votes against his opponent Al King’s 31% votes. <ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=41&year=2004&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 2004 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref> In 2010, he defeated Jim Huffman by 18% margin. <ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=41&year=2010&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 2010 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref>
Following his resignation as Congressman in 1996, Wyden entered the Senate race in Oregon during a special election to fill the seat vacated by former Republican Sen. Bob Packwood, who resigned before his term expired due to the unanimous decision of the Senate Ethics Committee to expel him from office because of ethical misconduct.<ref>[http://www.now.org/nnt/11-95/packwood.html Packwood Resigns]</ref> Wyden defeated Republican nominee Gordon Smith by a narrow margin, 48% to 47%, via first nationwide mail-in election.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-31/news/mn-30719_1_oregon-senate-race Democrat Wyden Wins U.S. Senate Race in Oregon]</ref> He was sworn in as United States Senator on February 5, 1996 and was re-elected to a full term during the 1998 Senatorial race against John Lim, which he won by a large 61% to 31% margin.<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?year=1998&fips=41&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 1998 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref> In 2004, he won with 63% votes against his opponent Al King’s 31% votes,<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=41&year=2004&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 2004 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref> and in 2010, he defeated Jim Huffman by 18%.<ref>[http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=41&year=2010&f=0&off=3&elect=0&class=3 2010 Senatorial General Election Results-Oregon]</ref>
==Reputation as a Lawmaker==
==Reputation as a Lawmaker==
Senator Ron Wyden has established a reputation as a lawmaker with an independent voice, serving not just his constituents in the State of Oregon but all Americans. He is known as one of the leaders in bipartisan legislation. At every opportunity, he tries to offer creative, common sense solutions on issues that will provide great impact on the lives of people. One of his priorities as a lawmaker is Health Care Reform, and he is known as one of the leading voices in the Senate to address the issue. He has pushing for the passage of the Healthy Americans Act through a bipartisan legislation since 1994.<ref>[http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/ron-wyden-or/ National Journal Almanac-Sen. Ron Wyden (D)]</ref>
In 1997, he collaborated with Iowa Sen. Charles Grassly (R) for the passage of a provision in the Senate Reform Bill to scrap secret holds, which would require any senator to reveal his identity if he did not agree on a particular legislation or nominee. Wyden and Grassley's bipartisan effort earned a majority vote (84-13) from their colleagues in the Senate in 2006.<ref>[http://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/Article.cfm?customel_dataPageID_1502=6724 Senate Approves Wyden-Grassley Plan to Get Rid of Secret Holds]</ref> In 2010 the two Senators began working together again to end secret holds as part of the Wall Street Reform Bill.<ref>[http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/banking-financial-institutions/96009-wyden-grassley-want-to-end-secret-holds-in-wall-street-bill Wyden, Grassley want end to secret holds as part of Wall Street reform bill]</ref>
In 2009, Wyden worked with Sen. Olympia Snowe from Maine to incorporate the provision in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requiring financial institutions that recipients of bail-out money from
In 2009, Wyden worked with Sen. Olympia Snowe from Maine to incorporate a provision in the Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 requiring financial institutions who received bail-out money from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to repay the cash portion of any bonus paid in excess of $100,000 or face an excise tax of 35% if not repaid within 120 days after the enactment of the amendment.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=e648a972-7758-4869-b437-8828dce49a98 Wyden-Snowe Amendment Will Recover Taxpayer Dollars Paid-Out as Wall Street Bonuses]</ref>
Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to repay the cash portion of any bonus paid in excess of $100,000 or face an excise tax of 35% if not repaid within 120 days after the enactment of the amendment.<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=e648a972-7758-4869-b437-8828dce49a98 Wyden-Snowe Amendment Will Recover Taxpayer Dollars Paid-Out as Wall Street Bonuses]</ref>
==Legislative Efforts/Actions on Internet Related Issues==
==Legislative Efforts/Actions on Internet Related Issues==
===Internet Tax Freedom Act===
===Internet Tax Freedom Act===
Senator Ron Wyden is a strong advocate on the issue of Digital Rights for All Americans. Together with with Cong. Chris Cox, they sponsored the '''Internet Tax Freedom Act''', which prohibits multiple, new, and technologically discriminatory taxes targeting the internet. The Internet Tax Freedom Act was signed into law by President [[Bill Clinton]] on November 2008.<ref>[http://techlawjournal.com/taxation/20000203.htm Cox and Wyden Introduce Internet Non-Discrimination Act]</ref>
Senator Ron Wyden is a strong advocate for the issue of Digital Rights for All Americans. Together with with Congressman Chris Cox, they sponsored the Internet Tax Freedom Act, which prohibits multiple new, technologically discriminatory taxes targeted at the Internet. The Internet Tax Freedom Act was signed into law by President [[Bill Clinton]] on November 2008.<ref>[http://techlawjournal.com/taxation/20000203.htm Cox and Wyden Introduce Internet Non-Discrimination Act]</ref>
===Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006===
===Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006===
On March 2, 2006, Wyden introduced the '''Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006''' (A bill to ensure and promote a free and open Internet for all Americans). The bill aims to promote internet neutrality. If enacted the bill will prevent network operators to interfere with any content or services transmitted through the network, discriminate subscribers through bandwidth allocation and charging companies for faster delivery of contents. The bill also aims to protect consumers from internet threats such as adware, viruses, spam, inappropriate and harmful materials for minors.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:S.2360: Bill Summary and Status Internet Non-Discrimination Act]</ref> According to Wyden, his proposal is "plain and simple." He aims to keep the internet "free from discrimination at all times."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jf0VcJJ4Ss Internet Non-discrimination Act of 2006]</ref>
On March 2, 2006, Wyden introduced the Internet Non-Discrimination Act of 2006, a bill to ensure and promote a free and open Internet for all Americans, or Internet neutrality. If enacted, the bill would prevent network operators from interfering with any content or services transmitted through the network, or from discriminating subscribers through bandwidth allocation and charging companies for faster delivery of contents. The bill also aimed to protect consumers from Internet threats such as adware, viruses, spam, inappropriate and harmful materials for minors.<ref>[http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:S.2360: Bill Summary and Status Internet Non-Discrimination Act]</ref> According to Wyden, his proposal is "plain and simple." He aims to keep the internet "free from discrimination at all times."<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jf0VcJJ4Ss Internet Non-discrimination Act of 2006]</ref>
===Action Against COICA===
===Action Against COICA===
Sen. Wyden strongly opposed the '''Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act ([[COICA]])''', which was proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy on September 20, 2010. The proposed bill grants the Attorney General the power to execute in rem action against domain names "dedicated in infringing activities" even if they are located outside the United States. Once the court issues an injunction or temporary restraining order against the domain names, the registrar, registry, internet service provider ([[ISP]]), financial transaction provider or internet advertising service provider to lock or stop doing business with the domain name.<ref>
Sen. Wyden strongly opposed the Combating Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act ([[COICA]]), which was proposed by Sen. Patrick Leahy on September 20, 2010. The proposed bill grants the Attorney General the power to execute ''in rem'' action against domain names dedicated in infringing activities, even if they are located outside the United States. Once the court issues an injunction or temporary restraining order against the domain names, the registrar, registry, Internet service provider ([[ISP]]), financial transaction provider, or Internet advertising service provider is to lock or stop doing business with the offending domain name.<ref>
[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3804&tab=summary CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE SUMMARY]</ref> In a speech delivered during the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing, Sen. Wyden pointed out that he supports the objective of his fellow lawmakers to go after entities who are "stealing American intellectual property." However, the senator also emphasized that any legislation should be passed without throwing the First Amendment just to punish a few violators. In addition, he enumerated six points to consider to create a legislation that will not violate the First Amendment and will not cause harm to the internet architecture. Based on his speech, these points include:<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=3ad1419c-9af9-4779-b575-f1b3f48b83dc The Honorable Ron Wyden, Statement for the Record, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing, “Targeting Websites Dedicated To Stealing American Intellectual Property”- February 16, 2011]</ref>
[http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3804&tab=summary CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE SUMMARY]</ref> In a speech delivered during the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing, Sen. Wyden pointed out that he supported the objective of his fellow lawmakers to go after entities who are "stealing American intellectual property." But the senator also emphasized that any legislation should be passed without going against the First Amendment. In addition, he enumerated six points to consider in creating legislation that would not violate the First Amendment and would not cause harm to the Internet architecture. Based on his speech, these points included:<ref>[http://wyden.senate.gov/issues/issue/?id=3ad1419c-9af9-4779-b575-f1b3f48b83dc The Honorable Ron Wyden, Statement for the Record, U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Hearing, “Targeting Websites Dedicated To Stealing American Intellectual Property”- February 16, 2011]</ref>
# '''Don’t be hasty'''- Good public policy is not made on the back of a galloping horse. While both Congress and law enforcement are understandably eager to go after bad actors, both must be mindful of the precedents that they are setting in the U.S. and around the world. The law is best applied when the government’s assertions can be challenged before its actions are approved.
# '''Don’t be hasty'''- Good public policy is not made on the back of a galloping horse. While both Congress and law enforcement are understandably eager to go after bad actors, both must be mindful of the precedents that they are setting in the U.S. and around the world. The law is best applied when the government’s assertions can be challenged before its actions are approved.
# '''Avoid collateral damage'''-Granting law enforcement broad authority to censor online content has a chilling effect on free speech. Narrowly focus law enforcement’s authority on those who are deliberately breaking the law or infringing on others’ property rights for commercial gain.
# '''Avoid collateral damage'''-Granting law enforcement broad authority to censor online content has a chilling effect on free speech. Narrowly focus law enforcement’s authority on those who are deliberately breaking the law or infringing on others’ property rights for commercial gain.