Press Releases
Whitehouse Statement on President’s State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - Tonight, in his annual State of the Union address, President Obama articulated a commitment to American manufacturing jobs and talked about the need to make sure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share to restore economic stability. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who is fighting to end a tax policy that rewards manufacturers for sending jobs overseas, released the following statement regarding the speech. "President Obama put forward a strong vision for our natio… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Whitehouse Visits Burma, Southeast Asia with Bipartisan Group
Washington, DC - Following President Obama's recent announcement of a new national defense strategy that puts strategic emphasis on interests in the Asia-Pacific region, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has just concluded a trip to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Burma led by U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ). The delegation also included Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT). The trip, which was intended to reaffirm America's commitment to economic and strategic relationships in the regio… Continue Reading
01.23.12
Whitehouse Nominates Four Rhode Islanders for U.S. Service Academies
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the nomination of four Rhode Islanders for consideration to the United States Service Academies. Whitehouse has nominated Andrea Coutoulakis of East Greenwich and Rachel McAteer of Cranston to the U.S. Naval Academy, John Tougas, Jr., of Pawtucket to the U.S. Air Force Academy, and Ethan Lundgren of Barrington to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. "As a member of Congress, I have the privilege of nominating some of Rhode I… Continue Reading
01.23.12
$876,000 Fire Safety Grants Awarded to North Kingstown and Woonsocket
Washington, DC - In an effort to enhance public safety and help fire departments purchase new equipment and provide necessary training to firefighters and paramedics, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced more than $876,000 in federal grants for the North Kingstown and Woonsocket Fire Departments. The North Kingstown Fire Department will receive $577,631 to upgrade their mobile and base station communications equi… Continue Reading
01.20.12
RIC Student to Join Whitehouse for State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - In the past year, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has been fighting hard to protect the Pell Grant program from harmful budget cuts. As he prepares to continue that fight in the New Year, Whitehouse today announced that Travis Escobar, a Rhode Island College student who relies on Pell Grants to afford college, will be his guest at President Obama's State of the Union address this Tuesday. "As the cost of higher education continues to skryrocket in our country, Pell Gran… Continue Reading
01.20.12
Whitehouse Joins Senators in Calling on SEC to Demand Disclosure of Corporate Political Spending
Washington, DC - With the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United decision approaching this weekend, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse joined 14 of his colleagues in calling for more transparency in campaign spending. In a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Senators called for new rules requiring full public disclosure of corporate political spending. "We believe that the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision has had profoundly … Continue Reading
01.19.12
Whitehouse Applauds Administration Decision on Keystone Pipeline
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the Obama Administration's decision to deny a permit for the construction of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline: "By forcing an arbitrary deadline into this year's budget bill, House Republicans tried to short-circuit the environmental review process for the Keystone XL permit. Serious questions remain regarding the safety of the pipeline, and the Obama Administration did the responsible thi… Continue Reading
01.18.12
Reed and Whitehouse Announce $6.45 Million in Disaster Relief Funds
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help repair and restore infrastructure damaged by the historic floods of 2010 and Hurricane Irene, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced the federal government is releasing $6.45 million in federal funds for the Rhode Island Natural Resources Conservation Service's (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EPW). NRCS will receive $6 million for 3 sites that were severely damaged by the 2010 floods and $450,000 for two sites damaged… Continue Reading
01.12.12
Whitehouse Meets with RI National Guard Members
Cranston, RI - In the final weeks before Congress adjourned for 2011, a number of important provisions were passed to better protect and honor our troops. Today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse met with a group of Rhode Island National Guard members to provide an update on those legislative victories, and to discuss progress on issues raised during a town hall meeting Whitehouse held with Guard members in 2010. Whitehouse also heard from attendees about their concerns and priorities for the ye… Continue Reading
01.09.12
Whitehouse Commends RI Winners of Medicare Innovation Advisors Program
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is applauding an announcement this week by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that four Rhode Islanders have been selected for its Innovation Advisors program. The program will support the efforts of the selected individuals to improve care and reduce costs for patients. The selected Rhode Islanders are Jean Sanders of Aquidneck Medical Associates in Newport, Nancy Roberts of the Kent County Visiting Nurse Association in Warwick… Continue Reading
01.06.12
RI to Receive Over $3.7 Million in Federal Funds to Fix Storm-Damaged Roads
WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is awarding Rhode Island $3.7 million to help fix bridges and roads damaged last year by Hurricane Irene. The funds will be used to offset costs incurred by the state in the wake of the storm. The grant, which is being distributed to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, was made available by the formal emergency declaration issued by President Obama after the storm. The d… Continue Reading
01.04.12
Whitehouse Statement on President’s Appointment of Consumer Bureau Chief
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today applauded the decision by President Obama to appoint Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Cordray, who was nominated for the position last July, had been prevented from taking office by Senate Republican filibusters. "Consumers in Rhode Island and across the country deserve to be protected from the unfair tricks and traps that so often lurk in the fine print of financial documents," said Whitehouse, who s… Continue Reading
12.21.11
Whitehouse Applauds New EPA Standards for Power Plant Mercury Pollution
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today praised the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement of new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the first-ever national standards to curb emissions of mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants, which cause particular harm to children and infants. These standards are projected to prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths each year and reduce cases of asthma and acute bronchitis among children. "Today, t… Continue Reading
12.19.11
Reed and Whitehouse Help Deliver Thermal-Imaging Cameras for West Warwick Fire Department
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today announced $16,200 in federal funding for the West Warwick Fire Department to purchase two new thermal imaging cameras. The devices can detect body heat and hot spots in burning buildings, allowing firefighters to quickly reach victims and put out potentially deadly fires. "Our firefighters do a great job and it is critical that they have the resources and technology they need to protect the public. These new thermal imaging c… Continue Reading
12.17.11
Whitehouse Statement on Deal to Maintain Unemployment Benefits and Payroll Tax Cut
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the statement below today following the Senate's passage of legislation to maintain unemployment insurance and preserve a payroll tax cut for middle class families: "The Rhode Islanders I've heard from struggling to find work or to make ends meet in this tough economy will be pleased to get a little good news before the holidays. We were able to protect the payroll tax holiday for middle class families, and prevent as many as 9,80… Continue Reading
12.17.11
Senate Passes Whitehouse Resolution Honoring Service in Iraq
Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed a resolution (S.Res.349) authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to pay tribute to the members of United States Armed Forces who served in Iraq and their families. After almost nine years of war, nearly 4,500 Americans gave their lives in support of operations in Iraq - and more than 30,000 were wounded. The Pentagon declared an official end to the United States' military mission in Iraq on Thursday. "With the war in Iraq be… Continue Reading
12.16.11
Senators Urge Administration to Stand Firm on Clean Air Rules
Washington, DC - With an important deadline looming, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today led 15 of his colleagues on a letter urging President Obama to move forward on implementing a new clean air rule. The Utility Air Toxics Rule, which is scheduled to be finalized today, would help cut toxic pollution like mercury, which causes particular harm to children and infants. The rule is projected to save up to 17,000 lives per year through reduced instances of asthma attacks, heart disease,… Continue Reading
12.16.11
RI Wins Race for Early Learning Funds
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, after the White House announced Rhode Island will receive up to $50 million in federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge funds to help boost Rhode Island's early childhood care and pre-school programs, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) -- who strongly supported the state's efforts -- congratulated the state and commended the Obama Administration for awarding the funds to Rhode Island. Reed and Whitehouse supported the creation of Race to… Continue Reading
12.16.11
Final Defense Bill Contains Whitehouse Measure to Combat Counterfeit Military Products
Washington, DC - Following negotiations with the House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate has voted 86-13 to approve the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, which includes a bipartisan measure from U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to curb trafficking in counterfeit military products. Introduced as the Combating Military Counterfeits Act, the provision would bolster efforts to protect troops and the United States military supply chain from dangerous counterfeit product… Continue Reading
12.15.11
Whitehouse Statement on Official End of U.S. Combat Mission in Iraq
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today after the United States military officially declared an end to its mission in Iraq. "Today we thank the men and women of our armed forces for their brave service in Iraq, and we honor the memory of those from Rhode Island and across the nation who gave their lives in this conflict. As we welcome home our veterans and continue to support American servicemembers deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere, I … Continue Reading
