Press Releases
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
05.25.22
Reed, Whitehouse Back Expedited NATO Application Process for Sweden and Finland
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined a bipartisan group of 82 U.S. Senators in sending a letter the White House to expedite the Administration's process to advance Sweden and Finland's applications for NATO membership. In the letter, the senators noted that NATO's expansion will send a clear message to Vladimir Putin and authoritarian leaders across the globe that the free world stands… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Whitehouse Introduces First Circuit Nominee Lara Montecalvo Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today introduced U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit nominee Lara E. Montecalvo before a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Montecalvo's nomination was announced by the White House last month after Whitehouse and U.S. Senator Jack Reed jointly made their recommendations for the seat to the President. Montecalvo currently leads the office of the Rhode Island Public Defender. "Ms. Montecalvo's record and commitment to the law shi… Continue Reading
05.24.22
Whitehouse Statement on Uvalde School Shooting
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on the mass shooting today at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas: "Today, we sustained another mass murder of innocent children. My heart breaks for the families of those killed, and for the community of Uvalde. I wish them comfort. "We are all too familiar with this kind of tragedy in America. Uvalde joins a long list of American communities torn apart by gun violence in our schools. The slaughter of … Continue Reading
05.20.22
Whitehouse, Coons introduce legislation to accelerate carbon dioxide removal
WASHINGTON - This week, Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced legislation to reduce emissions by accelerating U.S. global leadership in carbon dioxide removal technologies and help tackle climate change. "We will fail to meet our climate safety targets through emissions reduction, so carbon removal is a necessary part of safety planning for the future. Our bill would help position the U.S. as a world leader in pioneering carbon dioxide removal technology," said… Continue Reading
05.19.22
Whitehouse, Cornyn Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act Clears Senate Judiciary Committee during Police Week
Washington, DC - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved bipartisan legislation, co-authored by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), to improve training for police officers interacting with individuals dealing with mental health, behavioral health, and substance use issues. The Law Enforcement De-escalation Training Act advanced among a slate of law enforcement-related bills during National Police Week-a time to honor the officers keeping our communities safe. "Pol… Continue Reading
05.19.22
Whitehouse Wins Nearly $100 million to Disrupt Dirty Russian Financing & Hold Putin & His Oligarchs Accountable for the War in Ukraine
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) cheered the Senate's passage today of nearly $100 million in funding he requested for the fight against Vladimir Putin's corruption and kleptocracy. Whitehouse's provisions passed as part of Congress's supplemental funding measure to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. The bill now heads to President Biden to be signed into law. "This funding will boost some of the most effective enforcement tools available to hold Vladi… Continue Reading
05.18.22
RI Delegation Helps Land Another $7.3M for Airport Upgrades
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline announced that the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) has been awarded over $7.3 million in federal funding for upgrades to Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport and Quonset State Airport. The Congressional delegation helped land the federal U.S. Department of Transportation grants, which will be administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to supp… Continue Reading
