Merkley, Wyden, Hoyle Announce Newport Helicopter Returns to the Community

Senators obtain commitment directly from Coast Guard during a call today

Washington, D.C. - Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, along with Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04), today announced that Admiral Kevin Lunday, Acting Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, committed to the Senators on a call that an essential rescue helicopter located at the Newport Air Facility would remain there:

"Thanks to public pressure and action from the courts, the Coast Guard has committed to keeping the rescue helicopter in Newport for good, which is critical ahead of the start of crab season. This great news came after I arranged a meeting with the Acting Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Lunday, with Senator Wyden to share with him about the history and importance of this rescue helicopter being stationed in Newport," said Merkley. "And if anything changes, I will work with Senator Wyden and Congresswoman Hoyle to fight with the community because we know how important this asset is to saving lives on the coast."

"This is a big win to keep fishermen as well as Oregonians and tourists visiting the Newport area safe when they are enjoying the Pacific Ocean," said Wyden. "I'll keep watchdogging this Coast Guard commitment and battling against any move by the Trump administration to site an ICE detention facility in Newport or anywhere else on the Oregon Coast. But for today's helicopter victory, huge credit goes to the Newport Fishermen's Wives and local officials who sat down with me recently in town to press the Coast Guard to reverse its inexplicable and indefensible decision to move this helicopter more than 90 miles away."

"I'm so proud of our community and how hard they fought to ensure that we had a Coast Guard helicopter back in time for our fishermen to know that they will be more safe when doing one of the most dangerous jobs in the world," said Hoyle. "While Newport is home to just 10,000 people, everyone came together to make their voices heard. I especially want to thank the Fishermen's Wives and our local elected officials for never wavering on our goal to protect lives. We've fought this battle before, and every time Newport has been underestimated. Lesson for DHS and the Coast Guard: don't mess with Newport."

Merkley and Wyden's successful push to return the helicopter to Newport follows joint efforts with Congresswoman Hoyle and other members of Congress to hold the Coast Guard accountable for its decision to remove the rescue helicopter. Today, Admiral Lunday and a representative from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) both committed to keeping the rescue helicopter in Newport, Oregon.

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