Press Releases
Senate Passes Defense Authorization Measure
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate has passed the National Defense Authorization Act, legislation that will authorize funding for defense programs in the year ahead. Among other things, the legislation will provide funding for the construction of two Virginia-class submarines - an important priority for the defense industry in Rhode Island. It also includes two provisions authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Whitehouse's Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act was included as an amendme… Continue Reading
12.05.12
Whitehouse to Obama: No Need to Cut Medicare
Washington, DC - As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue to negotiate towards a deal that will prevent a series of automatic tax increases and spending cuts in January, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is making the case that Medicare benefit cuts should be off the table in these discussions. In a letter today to President Obama, Whitehouse argues that we don't need to cut benefits to save money in Medicare, and calls for the establishment of a specific goal for system-wide … Continue Reading
11.29.12
Senate Approves Whitehouse Cancer Research Bill
Washington, DC - The United States Senate today voted in favor of the Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act of 2012, introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). The legislation, which would support the coordination of research on those forms of cancer which are difficult to detect and have persistently low survival rates, was approved by voice vote as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012. The Recalcitrant Cancer Research Act would direct the National Cancer Ins… Continue Reading
11.29.12
Whitehouse and Baldwin Call on President to Include the Buffett Rule in Deficit Negotiations
Washington, DC - As President Obama and Congressional leaders continue discussions to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" - the mix of tax increases and spending cuts set to automatically take effect in January - two prominent Congressional Democrats are calling on the President to include a version of the Buffett Rule for tax fairness in any deal. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to fight for the Payin… Continue Reading
11.27.12
RI Congressional Delegation Announces $218,000 in Grants from the National Endowment for the Arts for Local Organizations
Washington, DC - Rhode Island's congressional delegation today announced that the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded a total of $218,000 in funding for arts organizations in the state. The funding will support the Rhode Island arts community and organizations that offer arts education to Rhode Island residents. "This federal funding will help support local artists and bolster economic development and education through the arts," said U.S. Senator Jack Reed, the Chairman of the A… Continue Reading
11.20.12
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Sen. Warren Rudman
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement upon the passing of former Senator Warren B. Rudman of New Hampshire: "Senator Rudman was a statesman who served the people of New Hampshire and his country admirably. I am grateful for his bipartisan support on my DISCLOSE Act. He was a leader in the fight against secret money in elections, which, as co-chair of Americans for Campaign Reform, he identified as both 'unprecedented and corrosive to the politi… Continue Reading
11.14.12
Whitehouse Statement on Failed Cybersecurity Vote
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today regarding today's failed vote on cybersecurity legislation: "I continue to believe that the cyber threat facing our nation is one of our most significant national security concerns, and we must take action to better protect ourselves. I'm disappointed that Republicans in the Senate chose once again to block our progress on this front, but I remain committed to working with anyone who is interested in thi… Continue Reading
11.09.12
Sen. Whitehouse Statement on Fiscal Cliff
Providence, RI - Following President Obama's speech today about the need to find a solution to the so-called "fiscal cliff" before the end of this year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below: "My top priority in the coming weeks is to protect middle-class Rhode Islanders from income tax hikes, and I agree with the President that we should move quickly to do so. In fact, the Senate has already passed legislation to shield 98 percent of families and 97 percent of sm… Continue Reading
11.03.12
Obama Approves RI Disaster Declaration for 3 Counties
PROVIDENCE, RI - In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, President Obama today granted Rhode Island's request for a federal disaster declaration for Washington, Bristol, and Newport counties. Yesterday, Governor Chafee, with the support of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation, signed a request seeking a presidential disaster declaration that would provide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance in three of the state's five counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Today's declar… Continue Reading
10.27.12
As Sandy Heads North, Delegation Urges Obama to Speed Emergency Assistance to RI
PROVIDENCE, RI - As Rhode Island prepares for the possible impact of Hurricane Sandy, the state's Congressional delegation wants to help speed up emergency assistance from the federal government. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline sent a letter to President Obama urging expedited approval of any forthcoming request for additional federal assistance as well as possible requests for emergency or disaster declarations for the st… Continue Reading
10.26.12
Whitehouse Urges Rhode Islanders to Prepare for Storm
Providence, RI - As Hurricane Sandy begins to make its way up the coast, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is working to make sure Rhode Islanders have access to information about what to do before, during, and after the storm. Whitehouse's website now features a new hurricane preparedness page with a message from the Senator and links to additional resources. The page can be viewed at whitehouse.senate.gov/sandy. "With Hurricane Sandy making its way up our coast and the National Weather Servic… Continue Reading
10.18.12
Whitehouse Applauds Court Decision on Defense of Marriage Act
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the following statement today regarding the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to join the First Circuit in striking down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the federal law which defines marriage as between a man and a woman: "Today's decision confirms that the so-called Defense of Marriage Act needs to go, and that Attorney General Holder made the right decision refusing to defend it. It's wrong that gay coup… Continue Reading
10.12.12
Whitehouse Urges Mortgage Regulator to Adopt New Approach to Foreclosure Crisis
Providence, RI - Last week, Rhode Island Federal District Court-appointed Special Master Merrill Sherman filed a report on Rhode Island's foreclosure crisis in which she argued for debt forgiveness, or "principal reduction," as a strategy to help families keep their homes. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) forwarded Sherman's report to the federal regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Edward DeMarco of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), along with a letter endorsing the … Continue Reading
10.11.12
Whitehouse Honors RI Veteran for his Service in World War II
Providence, RI - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse honored the service of World War II veteran Roger Salvas by presenting him with eight Navy medals and awards. Mr. Salvas was first granted the awards after his discharge from the Navy in 1945, but never received them. Whitehouse helped to secure the delivery of the actual awards. Mr. Salvas is a lifelong Coventry resident, who served in the Navy from August 1942 to December 1945. During World War II, he was stationed on two Navy warships, the U… Continue Reading
10.04.12
Whitehouse Receives Ocean Leadership Award
Narragansett, RI - In a ceremony today at the University of Rhode Island's Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO), the Consortium for Ocean Leadership presented U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse with its inaugural Admiral James D. Watkins Award. Whitehouse was recognized for his involvement in founding and co-chairing the Senate Oceans Caucus, as well as for his fight to establish a National Endowment for the Oceans to fund ocean and coastal research and restoration efforts. The Consortium is a n… Continue Reading
10.03.12
Whitehouse Receives Top Rating for Efforts to Combat Inequality
Providence, RI - A new study released today gives U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse its highest rating for consistently supporting efforts to improve economic equality. The "Inequality Report Card," which was released by the Institute for Policy Studies, gives letter grades to Members of Congress based on their voting record and bills they have introduced or cosponsored. Rhode Island and Vermont were the only two states to have both Senators receive a grade of A or higher, and Whitehouse was on… Continue Reading
09.27.12
RI Receives Over $17 Million to Help Unemployed Find New Jobs
PROVIDENCE, RI - Rhode Island will receive an additional $17 million to bolster the state's unemployment system and help provide more employment opportunities for Rhode Island workers, the state's Congressional delegation announced today along with Governor Lincoln Chafee. The federal funding will be used to reinstate some of the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training (DLT) staffers who were laid off from the Unemployment Insurance Division and to enhance the integrity of the unemploymen… Continue Reading
09.27.12
Delegation Members Announce $800,000 Grant to Reduce Recidivism in Rhode Island
Providence, RI - Members of Rhode Island's congressional delegation today announced the award of $808,864 to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) by the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. RIDOC will use the grant, provided under the Second Chance Act Adult Offender Comprehensive Statewide Recidivism Reduction Demonstration Program, to improve reentry services and substantially reduce recidivism. The Second Chance Act of 2007 was signed into law to help co… Continue Reading
09.21.12
U.S. Senate Passes Resolution Designating National Estuaries Day
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution this week declaring Saturday, September 29, to be National Estuaries Day. The resolution was sponsored by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, and recognizes the importance of coastal and estuarine regions to our national economy. It also reaffirms the Senate's support for protecting and restoring these vital resources. Coasts and estuaries contribute more than $800 billion in trade and commerce to the U.S. economy … Continue Reading
09.20.12
Whitehouse Introduces Bill To Crack Down On Fraud Aimed at Seniors
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse this week introduced the Telemarketing Fraud Modernization Act of 2012, legislation to close loopholes in the existing statute and give law enforcement agencies the tools they need to rein in scam artists, protect our nation's seniors, and strengthen the integrity of the Medicare program. The bill is cosponsored by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). "Individuals who commit Medicare fraud aren't simply stealing from the government; they are steal… Continue Reading
