Press Releases
Whitehouse, Padilla Introduce Bill to Grant Student Loan Forgiveness to Frontline Health Workers
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced the Student Debt Forgiveness for Frontline Health Workers Act to forgive the student loan debt of frontline health professionals. The legislation honors the sacrifice of health care workers and the enormous burden of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We owe so much to our health care workers - something we grew to appreciate even more during the COVID-19 crisis," said Whitehouse. "This legislation honors the contributi… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Ahead of Expected SEC Climate Rule, Whitehouse Calls for Increased Climate Lobbying Disclosure Requirements
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ed Markey (D-MA) today called on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include a disclosure requirement for lobbying activities related to climate change in the agency's anticipated new climate rule so that investors can accurately gauge their risk exposure. The Senators' letter to t… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Whitehouse Cheers Launch of Multinational Task Force to Help Seize Assets from Putin and Oligarchs
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a Senate leader in the fight against kleptocracy and corruption abroad, applauded the launch today of the Russian Elites, Proxies, and Oligarchs (REPO) multilateral task force to coordinate several rule-of-law nations' efforts to seize Russian President Vladimir Putin and his oligarchs' assets. The senator also cheered the Treasury Department's launch of the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Rewards Program, which offers reward payments for informatio… Continue Reading
03.16.22
Whitehouse Introduces Bills to Grant Student Loan Forgiveness to Frontline Health Workers and Teachers
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced a pair of bills to forgive the student loan debt of frontline health care workers and teachers. "We owe so much to our health care workers and teachers - something we grew to appreciate even more during the COVID-19 crisis," said Whitehouse. "This legislation honors the contributions of these public servants by helping them to wipe the slate clean of student loan debt." The Teacher Loan… Continue Reading
03.15.22
Senate Passes Whitehouse’s Bipartisan Legislation to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Washington, D.C. - Two days into Daylight Saving Time, the U.S. Senate has passed Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) legislation to make it permanent nationwide. Whitehouse joined fellow cosponsors of the Sunshine Protection Act on the Senate floor this afternoon to move the bill's passage. The Senate then passed the legislation by unanimous consent, sending it to the House of Representatives. "Resetting the clocks may soon be a thing of the past," said Whitehouse. "This is a bipartisan bill … Continue Reading
03.15.22
Whitehouse, Graham, Blumenthal, Wicker Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Seize Russian Oligarchs’ Assets to Aid Ukraine
Washington, DC - Today, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) will introduce the new bipartisan Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act, to enable the seizure and sale of Russian oligarchs' assets to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. This bill is the updated Senate version of a bipartisan House bill sponsored by Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC). "Putin and his oligarchs stow their dirty mone… Continue Reading
03.14.22
$1.2 Million Federal Grant Heading to Providence, Cranston School Districts for Clean Energy School Buses
RHODE ISLAND - In an effort to help local schools cut fuel and maintenance costs, reduce emissions, and lower engine noise, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that First Student Inc. - through their contract with the Providence School District - is receiving $1.2 million to replace four aging, diesel buses with new, zero-emission electric school buses. The delegation secured federal funding for this initiative in the Am… Continue Reading
03.14.22
Whitehouse and Portman Cheer $946 Million for CARA Programs to Bolster Opioid Epidemic Fight
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) - authors of the groundbreaking Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) and CARA 2.0 laws - applaud the $946 million for CARA grants included in the FY 2022 government appropriations measure, a 21 percent increase over FY 2021. The record funding will strengthen the federal government's response to the addiction crisis and deepen CARA's reach into communities where the crisis rages. "The addiction epidemic has ta… Continue Reading
03.14.22
Whitehouse and Cornyn Secure Funding Boost to Fight Substance Use in Jails & Prisons
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) applauded the $40 million appropriated to fund the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) for State Prisoners Program in the FY 2022 government funding bill. This $6 million funding increase from FY 2021 will strengthen a key program which aims to break the cycle of substance use for those in state, local, and tribal correctional facilities. "Those who are walking the long and noble path to recovery deserve our ful… Continue Reading
03.12.22
As Americans Prepare to Spring Ahead, Whitehouse Renews Call to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent
Washington, D.C. - As Americans prepare to set their clocks forward an hour, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is urging Congress to pass his bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act, a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide. Whitehouse is the lead Democrat on the bipartisan bill, which is also sponsored by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL). "Many people spend months looking forward to this weekend, when clocks will jump ahead an hour and winter starts to fade," said Whitehouse. "I… Continue Reading
03.11.22
Whitehouse Delivers $68.2 Million Investment in Rhode Island Communities Via Omnibus Funding Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced that more than $68.2 million will soon be on its way to Rhode Island to support 56 projects that will stimulate the local economy and create jobs. Whitehouse successfully included the Congressionally Directed Spending requests in the 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which funds the federal government for the rest of this fiscal year. The Senate approved the Omnibus last night, sending it to the President's desk to be signed into… Continue Reading
03.10.22
With Gasoline Prices Sky High, Whitehouse Leads Democrats in Introducing Curb on Big Oil Companies Engaged in Profiteering to Provide Relief at the Pump
Washington, D.C. - With gas prices skyrocketing in recent days against a backdrop of continued Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has introduced the Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax to curb profiteering by oil companies and provide Americans relief at the gas pump. The Senate legislation is cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack R… Continue Reading
03.09.22
Whitehouse Cheers Funding Measure’s Asset Recovery Initiative Team & Boost for Sanctions Enforcement against Putin and His Oligarchs
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded new emergency supplemental appropriations legislation included in the omnibus spending bill released early this morning, which includes provisions championed by Whitehouse to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin and his oligarchs accountable for their attack on a peaceful Ukraine. "This legislation will make sure Putin and his oligarchs pay an enormous price for their assault against the people of Ukraine," said Whitehouse. "The bill… Continue Reading
03.08.22
Whitehouse Statement on Ban of Russian Fossil Fuel Imports
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement regarding the American ban on the import of Russian oil and gas: "This is Putin's gas price increase. I was just at Normandy; the Greatest Generation gave a lot the last time a dictator started a land war in Europe. This is going to be hard, but the stakes are high once again. We have to cut off Russia's fossil fuel lifeline to stop Putin before his brutal invasion of Ukraine spirals. "While we sever eco… Continue Reading
03.08.22
Whitehouse Statement on Meeting with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
PHOTO AVAILABLE HERE Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding his meeting this morning with President Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: "Judge Jackson is an experienced judge, has a brilliant legal mind, and is committed to the Constitution and the rule of law. I was pleased to speak with such a qualified nominee about the importance of a Supreme Court that safe… Continue Reading
03.07.22
Whitehouse Joins Brown, Bennet, Kaine to Urge Administration to Propose a Public Option to Lower Health Care Costs for Americans
Washington, D.C. - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a letter to President Biden, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda D. Young, urging them to include a proposal to add a publicly administered health insurance option to the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual marketplaces in the President's fiscal year 2023 (FY23… Continue Reading
03.04.22
Congress Poised to Put ‘Stamp of Approval’ on Bipartisan Postal Reform
U.S. Senate on verge of passing bipartisan bill to strengthen the U.S. Postal Service & then send it to President Biden to be signed into law RI delegation says the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 should help save USPS about $49 billion over 10 years through structural benefit reforms, increase transparency, and facilitate timely mail and package deliveries Bill will ensure reliable, 6-day a week mail service for RI. It also expands special rates for local newspaper distribution to promo… Continue Reading
03.04.22
Whitehouse Urges Parents to Take Full Advantage of Expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit
Washington, D.C. - This tax filing season, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is encouraging Rhode Islanders to be sure to take advantage of the expanded Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which is bigger and will provide support for more families this year thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The American Rescue Plan increased the credit substantially for 2021 - up to $4,000 for one qualifying dependent and $8,000 for two or more qualifying dependents. The credit is also refundable, meaning a fil… Continue Reading
03.03.22
Joint Statement from Senators Menendez, Sullivan, Whitehouse on the UN Environment Assembly’s Establishment of Committee to Tackle Global Plastic Pollution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), the three lead sponsors of the enacted Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, issued the following joint statement on the United Nations Environment Assembly's approval of formal negotiations on a new international agreement to combat plastic pollution: "The approval of negotiations for a new international treaty on plastic polluti… Continue Reading
03.03.22
Whitehouse Offers Amendment to Shift USPS to Zero-Emission Fleet
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Tom Carper (D-DE) today introduced an amendment to the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 that would prohibit the United States Postal Service (USPS) from purchasing non-zero-emission vehicles. The USPS fleet makes up about one third of all government vehicles. Last month, the EPA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality warned USPS that the agency's current plan to replace its mass… Continue Reading
