Press Releases
Whitehouse Urges SCOTUS to Reject Challenges to Biden Student Loan Program, Deliver Relief for Over 63k Rhode Islanders
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today called on the Supreme Court to reject challenges to President Biden's student loan debt relief program and allow much-needed relief to flow to tens of thousands of Rhode Islanders and their families. "Student debt is an anchor holding down borrowers and their families, and the President's debt relief program would free up thousands of Rhode Islanders to buy homes, start families, and invest in their own children's education," said W… Continue Reading
01.30.23
RIPTA Gets $5M Action Plan Grant to Develop a Roadmap for Safety Improvements
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to improve traffic safety and prevent roadway accidents, Rhode Island's Congressional delegation and Governor Dan McKee today announced a new $5 million federal Action Plan Grant for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) under the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline helped create the SS4A program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure law and made $5 billion … Continue Reading
01.27.23
Whitehouse Statement on Tyre Nichols Video
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today issued the following statement after the release of surveillance and body-camera footage detailing the tragic incident involving Tyre Nichols and police in Memphis, Tennessee: "The video showing the violence that led to the death of Tyre Nichols is agonizing to watch, and our nation grieves tonight for the Nichols family. Local authorities took swift action to hold the officers involved accountable, and I urge peaceful protest as … Continue Reading
01.27.23
Sen. Whitehouse, Rep. Huffman Urge Climate Envoy Kerry to Oppose Oil Executive as COP28 Leader
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and U.S. Congressman Jared Huffman (CA-02) led their colleagues in a letter to Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry out of concern with the appointment of the chief executive of one of the world's largest oil companies as president of the next United Nations Climate Change Conference. "We are writing to urge you to push the United Arab Emirates to withdraw the appointment of Sultan Al Jaber, head of the Abu Dhabi National Oi… Continue Reading
01.27.23
Whitehouse, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Provide Historic, Permanent Investment in Home Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined colleagues U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) to introduce legislation to expand access to home and community-based services for older adults, people with disabilities, and injured workers, while increasing pay and improving benefits for the caregivers who provide life-sustaining care. "The Better Care Better Jobs Act will help ensure that our health care workforce is adequately paid… Continue Reading
01.26.23
Whitehouse to Take on Senate Budget Committee Gavel for 118th Congress
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that he will step into the role of Chairman of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee for the 118th Congress. "I very much look forward to taking the helm," said Whitehouse. "Together with the members of the Committee, we will examine a range of subjects that have enormous consequences for American families, the economy, and the federal budget. Chief among these is climate change, as economic experts warn of serious financial… Continue Reading
01.25.23
Whitehouse, Graham, Blumenthal on U.S., Germany Sending Tanks to Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today made this joint statement after President Joe Biden announced the United States and Germany will send tanks to Ukraine. "Today's announcement is welcome news from the Biden Administration. Evicting Putin from Ukraine is in America's national security interest, as other bad actors are watching the outcome of this conflict. "The German Leopard 2 tank is well suited for this fight and… Continue Reading
01.21.23
Whitehouse Joins Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Ukraine
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced that he joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on a bipartisan congressional delegation to Ukraine to learn more about how the U.S. can help Ukraine and its leaders achieve victory against Russia's brutal and unjust invasion. Traveling to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv yesterday, the delegation met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and held a press conferen… Continue Reading
01.09.23
Reed, Whitehouse & Cicilline Secure $61.7 Million to Support RI’s Small Business Growth
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to connect more small business owners to the capital they need, Rhode Island is set to receive up to $61.7 million in federal funding to promote small business growth and entrepreneurship in the Ocean State, thanks to legislation supported and passed by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline. Reed, Whitehouse, and Cicilline lauded U.S. Treasury's approval of Rhode Island's application to receive State Small Business Credit In… Continue Reading
01.09.23
Reed & Whitehouse Deliver $1.5 Million Upgrade for Warwick Sewers
WARWICK, RI - Modernizing local water systems and improving water infrastructure isn't always glamorous, but it's a critical investment in public health, environmental protection, and community development. In an effort to upgrade Warwick's wastewater treatment facilities, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse teamed up to secure a $1.5 million federal earmark to modernize the Warwick Sewer Authority's (WSA) equipment that provides round-the-clock monitoring of the city's wastewater tr… Continue Reading
01.05.23
Whitehouse Encourages Rhode Islanders to Take Advantage of New Tax Credits and Rebates to Lower Energy Bills and Green Up Homes
Cranston, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined with labor officials and representatives of Rhode Island Energy to encourage Rhode Islanders to take advantage of the new energy-efficient and clean energy home improvement tax credits now available thanks to Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act. The tax credits and rebates, which went into effect on January 1, can provide major savings on energy-efficient home improvements that will help families save money on utility bills. "Our Infla… Continue Reading
01.04.23
Whitehouse Joins Cranston Officials and Mental Health Professionals to Celebrate Improved Crisis Intervention Training for Local Law Enforcement
Cranston, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today joined Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins and representatives of the Cranston Police Department, Thundermist Health Center, Cranston Comprehensive Community Action Plan, and Gateway Emergency Health Services to announce improvements to de-escalation and crisis intervention training for local police officers. Whitehouse helped shepherd the bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act into law in late December, and also delivered a $500,000 C… Continue Reading
12.27.22
Whitehouse’s Bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act Signed Into Law
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statements after the Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act, which would equip law enforcement officers with the tools to effectively and safely respond to people in crisis, was signed into law by President Joe Biden. "Our bipartisan Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act - now the law of the land - will ensure that police officers have the right training for life-saving crisis interve… Continue Reading
12.23.22
Whitehouse-Graham Amendment to Transfer Liquidated Russian Oligarchs’ Assets to Aid Ukraine Clears Senate
Washington, D.C. - One day after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a joint meeting of Congress, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) offered an amendment to the FY2023 government spending bill to help ensure Putin and his corrupt oligarchs pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The amendment was added to the appropriations bill by voice vote. The appropriations bill passed the Senate yesterday on a bipartisan 68 to 29 vote. The Whitehouse-Graham amen… Continue Reading
12.23.22
Whitehouse Secures Funding to Increase Pell Grants and Address the Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) voted yesterday to pass the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which will provide inflation relief to families across Rhode Island, invest in local communities, address the climate crisis, and strengthen our national security. "This bill delivers significant support for Rhode Island as we continue to work to save lives from addiction and make college more affordable for working families," said Senator Whitehouse. "As a whole, this bill wil… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Whitehouse Delivers $87.2 Million Direct Investment in RI Via Omnibus Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that more than $87.2 million will soon be on its way to Rhode Island to support a total of 78 projects that will help grow the local economy and improve the quality of life for Ocean State families. Whitehouse successfully included the Congressionally Directed Spending requests in the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government through September. The Senate approved the Omnibus today, and it is expected… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Whitehouse, Kennedy Issue Report Examining Boundaries of Executive Privilege and the Importance of Congressional Oversight
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Kennedy (R-LA), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, released a report entitled: Overprivileged: A Closer Look at Congressional Oversight, Executive Privilege and the Separation of Powers. The new report breaks down the logjam of information disputes between the executive branch and Congress that is thwarting Con… Continue Reading
12.19.22
Whitehouse Statement on Criminal Referrals from January 6th Select Committee
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the bipartisan House Select Committee's criminal referral of former President Trump and several of his associates to the Department of Justice: "I applaud the Select Committee for its many months of diligent investigation and public hearings. The opinion of legislators about prosecution carries little weight at the Department of Justice,… Continue Reading
12.16.22
Whitehouse, Portman Laud Proposed Rule to Continue Telehealth Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) have issued the following statements in response to the announcement by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) that the agency released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to continue Public Health Emergency-related telehealth provisions, update opioid treatment program guidelines, and reduce barriers for providers and patients: "The opioid epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on Rho… Continue Reading
12.16.22
Reed, Whitehouse, & Cicilline: FIFA’s Anti-LGBTQ+ Stance Deserves a Red Card
WASHINGTON, DC - Ahead of this weekend's World Cup final, a group of 30 U.S. lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman David Cicilline, are calling foul over FIFA's decision to punish players wearing "OneLove" arm bands in support of LGBTQ+ rights. In a bicameral letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the lawmakers say FIFA made the wrong call to censor support for LGBTQ+ rights by fans and players at the 2022 World Cup. Reed, Whitehouse, and Cicil… Continue Reading
