Press Releases
Reed & Whitehouse Reintroduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) have joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 41 Senate Democrats to reintroduce the Background Check Expansion Act, which would expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. This loophole gives people who are barred from purchasing or possessing firearms-because of felony o… Continue Reading
03.02.21
Whitehouse Cheers Solicitor General’s Reversal in SCOTUS Dark Money Case
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the brief filed by the Acting U.S. Solicitor General in Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Becerra, a First Amendment challenge before the Supreme Court: "I'm pleased the Solicitor General changed its position in this case. The Trump Justice Department predictably sided with the right-wing donors and their armada of anonymously funded amicus groups, who want to use … Continue Reading
03.02.21
Whitehouse Congratulates Raimondo on Senate Confirmation
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today congratulated Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo on her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Commerce. Raimondo was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in a bipartisan 84-15 vote. "I wish Secretary Raimondo all the best as she takes on a significant role in President Biden's cabinet overseeing the national economic recovery. As an Ocean State native leading the Department of Oceans and Commerce, Raimondo will be an important partner in protec… Continue Reading
02.25.21
Whitehouse, Cicilline Introduce DISCLOSE Act to Repair Americans’ Faith in Democracy
BILL TEXT HERE Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) led 197 colleagues in both houses of Congress in introducing the DISCLOSE Act to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The bill would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, allowing the American people to see who is attempting to sway their elections and gain control over their government. "Americ… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Whitehouse, Judiciary Dems to FBI Director Wray: How Are You Responding to Ongoing Domestic Terrorism Threat?
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and several Judiciary Committee members in sending a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting information on the FBI's response to the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. The letter comes ahead of an FBI oversight hearing next Tuesday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Wray will testif… Continue Reading
02.24.21
Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Protect Nursing Home Residents and Workers
Washington, DC - With the COVID-19 pandemic having claimed the lives of more than 170,000 residents and workers in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) in introducing legislation to save lives and assist with vaccinations. The COVID-19 Nursing Home Protection Act would provide funding to ensure that nursing homes have the resources to kee… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Mourns 500,000 Americans Lost to COVID-19
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) this evening released the following statement mourning the 500,000 Americans, including nearly 2,500 Rhode Islanders, lost to the COVID-19 pandemic: "The pandemic has taken so much from so many. It is hard to fathom that a half million Americans who were with us a year ago have been lost to COVID-19. We mourn each one of those 500,000 lives, and grieve for the families who have had to face tragedy in solitude. "There are hopeful signs in … Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Takes Helm of Judiciary and Finance Subcommittees
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that he has been selected to serve as Chairman of both the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights and the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight for the 117th Congress. "Rhode Islanders' interests will be front and center as I set the agendas for key subcommittees on the Senate Judiciary and Finance Committees," said Whitehouse. "With gavels in hand, … Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Statement on Garland Hearing
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, signaled his support for the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to serve as Attorney General after Garland's nomination hearing concluded today: "Judge Garland proved he's the right person to restore a battered Department of Justice after four troubled years under Donald Trump. We still don't know the extent of the damage Trump inflicted, but even our incomplete picture reveals sweeping harm.… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Whitehouse Proposes Expansion of Telehealth Services and More Funding to Fight Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - With opioid overdoses on the rise in Rhode Island and communities across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have introduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act to support the expansion of telehealth services for substance use disorder treatment. The bill would build on previous steps taken by the federal government to temporarily waive regulatory restrictions for a… Continue Reading
02.18.21
Reed & Whitehouse Press Postmaster General to Restore On-Time Delivery and Stop Harmful Changes
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and 31 colleagues in pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about persistent mail delays and what action he is taking to restore on-time mail delivery. Operational changes at the Postal Service ordered by Postmaster General DeJoy last summer resulted in compromised service in Rhode Island and across the country. While Congressional oversight efforts and public pressure helped ens… Continue Reading
02.17.21
Whitehouse, Graham Call on Federal Judiciary to Strengthen Judicial Ethics Standards
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released today a letter sent to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts calling on the Court to bring judicial financial disclosure requirements in line with other branches of government. Following passage of the Ethics Reform Act of 1989, Congress and the executive branch implemented strong disclosure requirements for officials' outside income, gifts, and reimbursements. The judiciary, for its part, has adopted signi… Continue Reading
02.13.21
Whitehouse Statement on Final Vote in Second Trump Impeachment
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on his vote today to convict former president Donald Trump on the article of impeachment for incitement to insurrection: "The House managers did a masterful job. They presented a complete and vivid case that spanned Donald Trump's cultivation of his stolen election lie, the incitement of his mob, and the deadly harm his mob perpetrated. They recounted the bravery and pain of the people who defended us. They… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Senators Call Out Dark-Money Influence Behind SCOTUS Labor Case
READ THE BRIEF HERE Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) filed a brief today in Cedar Point Nursery v. Hassid, a major Supreme Court challenge to labor unions' ability to organize agricultural workers. The senators point to the raft of anonymously funded pro-corporate groups that have helped to guide the case to the Court, and are now lobbying the justices for an outcome that would not on… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Whitehouse Statement on Conclusion of Impeachment Presentations
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement tonight upon conclusion of House managers and defense counsels' presentations in the second impeachment of former president Donald Trump: "The House managers presented a disciplined, vivid, and damning case that followed the arc of Trump's months-long recruitment and incitement of his mob. They brought to life again the fear, violence, and bravery in the halls of the Capitol that day, and presented new deta… Continue Reading
02.12.21
Whitehouse, Baldwin, Braun, and Brown Lead Senate Introduction of Bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced the Senate introduction of the bipartisan Medicaid Reentry Act, legislation expanding access to addiction treatment and other health services for Medicaid-eligible individuals 30 days before their release from jail or prison. Federal statute currently prohibits any form of federal health coverage for incarcerated individuals except under very limited circum… Continue Reading
02.11.21
Reed & Whitehouse Announce Selection Process for U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, & RI State Director of the Farm Service Agency
PROVIDENCE, RI -- In response to inquiries regarding federally appointed U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) positions in Rhode Island, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today outlined their process for ensuring that there is a talented pool of highly-qualified applicants for the positions of U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, and Rhode Island State Director of the Farm Service Agency. All interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume via e … Continue Reading
02.09.21
Whitehouse Statement on Beginning of Second Trump Impeachment Trial
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today on the beginning of the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump in the Senate: "My Republican colleagues cannot make excuses for avoiding impeachment. The former president incited violent insurrection to obstruct constitutional duties of a coequal branch of government. He must be held to account. That is why I look forward to a full and fair impeachment proceeding. The House managers will… Continue Reading
02.09.21
Senators Call on Solicitor General to Reverse Position in SCOTUS Case Threatening Constitutional Protection for Dark Money
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led Judiciary Democrats in calling on the Biden administration to reverse the Department of Justice's position in Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) v. Becerra, a First Amendment challenge before the Supreme Court. The senators warn the Biden Justice Department that the case could lead Trump-appointed right-wing justices … Continue Reading
02.04.21
Whitehouse Supports Quick, Robust COVID-19 Relief Effort
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, is applauding the use of the budget reconciliation process to deliver urgently needed relief to Rhode Island families during the COVID-19 pandemic: "Too many Rhode Island families are grieving a loved one lost to COVID-19, and too many are on the edge of a financial abyss. Our public health response and our economy are at a tipping point, and the danger is in not doing enough. We are moving ahead w… Continue Reading
