The U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter removed from Newport has been returned, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley said.

"I just got off the phone with the U.S. Coast Guard, who has returned the rescue helicopter to Newport and promised to keep it there," Wyden said in a Dec. 4 post on X. "This is a big win to keep fishermen and the Newport community safe."

Merkley said in a post on X he and Wyden jointly called a representative from the Coast Guard and from the Department of Homeland Security to explain the importance of the helicopter to Newport.

"The acting commandant assured me that they had returned the helicopter because of the court action, but they had intended to return it by the start of crab season anyway and it was back in Newport to stay," Merkley said.

Lincol

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