Press Releases
Whitehouse Slams Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Roe v. Wade
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision today in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which strikes down Roe v. Wade's protection of a woman's right to obtain an abortion: "This is a sad, dark day for women everywhere, who have relied on the protection of Roe as settled law, and for the Court, whose reputation degrades further. Today's decision shreds a ha… Continue Reading
06.23.22
Whitehouse Votes to Pass Bipartisan Gun Violence Prevention Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on passage tonight of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act-a bipartisan measure to address gun violence in America. The bill cleared the Senate by a vote of 65 to 33 and now awaits action in the House. "Gun violence touches every corner of our society, from schools to places of worship to grocery stores. On the day when a Supreme Court the NRA helped build struck down more gun safety protections, action i… Continue Reading
06.23.22
Whitehouse Statement on SCOTUS Decision in Major 2nd Amendment Case
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision today in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen, striking down a vital protection against deadly firearms from falling into the wrong hands: "The Court That Dark Money Built just handed a massive win to a gun industry that drives horrific violence in this country. The NRA, gun manufacturers, and their dark-money allies have spearheaded a 'project' to wipe all… Continue Reading
06.22.22
Whitehouse Makes the Case for Boosting Retirement Savings
Today, the Senate Finance Committee held a markup of the Enhancing American Retirement Now (EARN) Act, which would improve the U.S. retirement system. The Committee approved the bill on a unanimous, 28-0 vote. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) delivered the following remarks at today's Committee markup about his proposal to boost retirement savings for American workers: "Nearly half of American workers have no personal retirement savings at all. Given workers' stagnant wages in this country,… Continue Reading
06.21.22
Whitehouse, Grassley, Durbin, Cornyn Applaud Signing of Their Bipartisan Bill to Improve the Bankruptcy Process for Small Businesses & Working Families
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and John Cornyn (R-TX) welcomed President Joe Biden's signing of their bipartisan legislation to help small businesses and individuals stay afloat during bankruptcy. The senators guided the bill through the Senate with unanimous support. "The bankruptcy process should help small businesses and working families to weather financial hardship and emerge stronger. This new law will help them do that," said Whitehouse.… Continue Reading
06.18.22
Whitehouse Applauds News of International Fisheries Agreement to Begin Leveling Playing Field for Domestic Industry
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded news from the World Trade Organization's Ministerial Conference that the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai, has secured an international agreement that will help preserve fish stocks and take a step toward leveling the playing field for the domestic fishing industry by curbing harmful subsidies abroad. "This agreement was two decades in the making, and the Biden administration showed real leader… Continue Reading
06.17.22
Whitehouse & Colleagues Raise Concerns About Cryptomining’s Heavy Toll on Environment
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ed Markey (D-MA) have sent a letter to the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy raising concerns that energy-intensive cryptomining is taking a heavy toll on the environment and threatens to pull the nation further off track from meeting its climate commitments. The Senators propose requiring that cryptominers use verified new zero-carbon energy sources and … Continue Reading
06.17.22
Whitehouse, Schatz, Warren, Senators Call For Stronger Emissions Disclosure Requirements, Dark Money Transparency In Proposed SEC Climate Risk Rule
Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) submitted a comment letter on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) mandatory climate disclosure rule, highlighting several areas for improvement and key elements that the SEC should preserve in its final rule. In addition to Whitehouse, Schatz, and Warren the comment letter was signed by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and U.S. Senators Martin Heinri… Continue Reading
06.16.22
Senate Judiciary Committee Gives Bipartisan Approval to 1st Circuit Nominee Montecalvo
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that a bipartisan majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee has backed the nomination of Lara E. Montecalvo to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In a 12-10 vote, the Committee voted this morning to send the nomination to the full Senate for final confirmation, which requires approval by a simple majority. Montecalvo's nomination was announced by the White House in April after Whitehouse and U.S. Senator J… Continue Reading
06.16.22
Whitehouse, Grassley & Colleagues Mark International Day against Drug Abuse & Trafficking with Bipartisan Resolution
Washington, DC - This week, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), co-Chairs of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, led a bipartisan group of their colleagues, including all Caucus members, in introducing a resolution recognizing June 26, 2022 as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This day has been observed by the United Nations since 1987 to raise awareness about the dangers of the illicit narcotics trade and the dark econ… Continue Reading
06.14.22
Whitehouse, Warren, Sanders, Markey, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Reduce Racial & Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced today the Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Juvenile Justice System Act. Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, and other youth of color are vastly overrepresented in America's juvenile justice system, and those youth are more likely to face more severe treatment. The senators' new bill would expand access to vital funding for juris… Continue Reading
06.13.22
Whitehouse & Sullivan Lead Bipartisan Call for International Agreement on Curbing Harmful Fisheries Subsidies, Leveling Playing Field for Domestic Industry
Washington, D.C. - With the World Trade Organization's Ministerial Conference underway in Geneva, Switzerland, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) have led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in calling on the United States Trade Representative to seek a meaningful international agreement that will curb harmful fisheries subsidies and level the playing field for America's domestic fishing industry. "An agreement is long overdue. At next week's Ministerial Confere… Continue Reading
06.08.22
Whitehouse, Grassley, Durbin, Cornyn Bill to Help Small Businesses & Families in Bankruptcy Heads to Biden’s Desk
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and John Cornyn (R-TX) applauded passage of their bipartisan legislation to help small businesses and individuals stay afloat during bankruptcy in the House of Representatives last night. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and now heads to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. "This is a win for the small businesses and working families trying to regain their financial footing after a… Continue Reading
06.08.22
Whitehouse and Colleagues Introduce Clean Competition Act to Boost Domestic Manufacturers and Tackle Climate Change
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced the Clean Competition Act, legislation aimed at making American companies more competitive in the global marketplace and tackling major sources of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions by creating a carbon border adjustment mechanism. The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). "American manufacturers doing the right things on climate are often at a d… Continue Reading
06.07.22
Whitehouse Commemorates 250th Anniversary of the Burning of the Gaspee
Washington, D.C. - As Rhode Islanders make big preparations to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Gaspee Affair and with a new search underway to find the charred remains of the HMS Gaspee, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today delivered his annual speech on the floor of the Senate recalling the story of the bold Rhode Island colonists who stood up to British rule. The Gaspee raid unfolded on Narragansett Bay near Warwick, Rhode Island on June 9, 1772 - more than a year before the Boston Te… Continue Reading
06.06.22
Additional $2 Million in Federal AmeriCorps Funding Heading to RI to Support Child Development & Housing Programs
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced that Rhode Island is receiving over $2 million in American Rescue Plan funding and State and National AmeriCorps grants to support child development and stable housing access in the Ocean State. The $2,068,124 in federal funding will support an estimated 85 AmeriCorps members in collaboration with NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, the Providence After School Alli… Continue Reading
06.03.22
Reed & Whitehouse Help Introduce U.S. Senate Resolution Recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month
WASHINGTON, DC - As millions of Americans celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month during June, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse teamed up with their Democratic Senate colleagues to offer a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The senators' resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LG… Continue Reading
06.02.22
Whitehouse Introduces Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced the Zero-Percent Student Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow Americans to refinance their federal student loans at a zero percent interest rate. The bill would help borrowers pay down the principal on their loans more rapidly and ease a massive burden on tens of millions of people carrying student debt. Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT) has also introduced the bill in the House. "Big student loan interest payments can create … Continue Reading
06.01.22
Whitehouse, Merkley Introduce Bill to Simplify, Strengthen the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) unveiled today the Simplifying and Strengthening PSLF Act, to streamline and improve the troubled federal program to help Americans pursuing careers in public service - like firefighters, teachers, police officers, and those working for nonprofits - have their student loan debt forgiven. "The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program promised loan relief to Americans willing to pursue a career in public service. Instead,… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Whitehouse, Khanna, Colleagues Urge Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer to Bring Big Oil Windfall Profit Tax to the Floor
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Whitehouse (D-RI), Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), Representative DeFazio (D-OR), and Representative Bowman (D-NY) along with over 30 members of the House and Senate sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer calling on them to bring windfall profit tax legislation to the floor to stop Big Oil's wartime profiteering and deliver gas price relief for Americans. Last week, the House voted to pass the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act, introduced b… Continue Reading
