Press Releases
Save Our Seas 2.0 Lead Sponsors Welcome New Academy of Sciences Report on Marine Debris Crisis
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.) and Don Young (R-Alaska)-champions of the 2020 Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, the most comprehensive marine debris legislation ever-today welcomed a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled "Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste." The report, mandated by the SOS 2.0 Act and sponsored by … Continue Reading
12.01.21
Whitehouse Issues Statement on Oral Arguments in Major Challenge to Abortion Rights
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, released the following statement on oral arguments before the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a direct challenge to women's right to decide whether to continue their pregnancy prior to viability: "Right-wing donors know there's no chance of stripping women's constitutional right to abortion through Congress or the executive branch. That's why… Continue Reading
11.22.21
RIPTA Gets $900,000 Federal Grant to Develop & Advance Transit Solutions for ‘Band of Demand’ Corridor from Central Falls to Warwick
PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to improve mass transit in Rhode Island, plan for the future, and support the development of the Metro Providence High-Capacity Transit Corridor, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline secured a new $900,000 federal grant to help the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) develop plans for a transit corridor to connect Central Falls to Warwick via Providence. This High-Capacity Transit Corridor initiat… Continue Reading
11.22.21
Whitehouse Statement on Federal Reserve Selections
Providence, RI - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement on President Biden's selection today of Jerome Powell and Lael Brainard to be the Federal Reserve's Chair and Vice Chair respectively. "The Federal Reserve faces the colossal task of guarding our financial system and economy from the systemic financial and economic risks posed by climate change. Myriad financial experts warn that the economic losses stemming from climate change could dwarf the losses of the hous… Continue Reading
11.22.21
Whitehouse and Murkowski Introduce Bill Focused on Blue Carbon Ecosystems
Washington, D.C. - Senate Oceans Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have reintroduced the Blue Carbon for Our Planet Act, legislation focused on conserving, restoring, and understanding coastal blue carbon ecosystems. Blue carbon ecosystems-which include mangroves, tidal marshes, seagrasses, and kelp forests-provide a buffer from storm- or wave-driven coastal erosion, improve water quality, and serve as habitat for juvenile fish while also removin… Continue Reading
11.19.21
Whitehouse Cheers House Passage of Build Back Better Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of the Build Back Better Act. Democrats' signature legislation will make a historic investment in working American families and tackle the climate crisis. "Today's action by the House is an important milestone for Democrats' historic Build Back Better legislation. From here, the Senate will continue to fine tune the bill in consultation with the House so that we can swiftly arriv… Continue Reading
11.19.21
Whitehouse-Merkley Joint Statement Regarding Fed Nominee
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) released the following statement today regarding the next nominee to chair the Federal Reserve: "Jerome Powell refuses to recognize climate change as an urgent and systemic economic threat. During his tenure, Chair Powell first ignored climate change and then resisted calls for the Fed to use its tools to fight it, arguing that climate change 'is really an issue that is assigned to lots of other government agencies, not… Continue Reading
11.18.21
ICYMI: Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control Holds Hearing on the Nexus between the Illicit Drug Trade and Corruption
Washington, DC - In case you missed it, the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control held a hearing on Wednesday entitled, "The Nexus between the Illicit Drug Trade and Corruption." The hearing, led by Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Co-Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), examined the role and effectiveness of U.S. drug control agencies in addressing corruption associated with the illicit drug trade. For video of the proceedings and prepared witness testimony, click here. Senator Whi… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse Applauds International Tax Agreement Following Treasury Secretary Briefing
Washington, DC - After Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's briefing for Senate Finance Committee members this afternoon, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), released the following statement applauding the international agreement establishing a global corporate minimum tax rate that the Biden administration negotiated last month, and called for passage of the Build Back Better Act to reform the U.S. international tax regime to de… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse & Warren Call for Investigation Into U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Lobbying Disclosure Failures Amid Build Back Better Lobbying Blitz
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) are calling on Secretary of the Senate Sonceria Ann Berry and Clerk of the House Cheryl Johnson to investigate whether the U.S. Chamber of Commerce-the nation's largest lobbying force on behalf of big corporations-is avoiding its responsibility to disclose which member companies direct and pay for its influence machine. Whitehouse and Warren are calling attention to the Chamber's apparent failure to comply wit… Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Hirono, Johnson Call on Biden Court Commission to Grapple with Special Interest Influence over SCOTUS
Washington, DC - Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) are calling on the Biden Supreme Court Commission to reckon with the massive campaign by right-wing donor interests to remake and control the Supreme Court. In its preliminary report from mid-October, the Commission ignored the dark-money influence campaign surrounding the Court, as well as that campaign's record of delivering policy wins for big Republican … Continue Reading
11.17.21
Whitehouse Announces $491K to Launch Mentorship Program for RI Youth Involved in Juvenile Justice System
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that MENTOR Rhode Island has been awarded a $491,332 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention to support the launch of a new mentorship program aimed at improving outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Whitehouse advocated for the grant with the Department of Justice. "Kids who end up in the juvenile … Continue Reading
11.17.21
ICYMI: Whitehouse Op-Ed on How Russian Hackers Helped Expose the Right-Wing Dark Money Corrupting Our Courts
Washington, DC - In case you missed it, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) published an op-ed in The Daily Beast on how anonymously funded amicus - or "friend of the court" - briefs help big-money donors influence decisions by the Supreme Court, including how Russian hackers unearthed a ploy by the NRA to boost its influence in a major 2nd Amendment case. Read the full piece in The Daily Beast. ___________________________________________________________________________ How Russian Hackers Help… Continue Reading
11.16.21
Whitehouse, Hassan Introduce NARCO Act to Fight Drug Financing Schemes
Washington, DC - Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) have introduced as an amendment to the national defense bill the Not Allowing Revenue for Criminal Organizations (NARCO) Act. The legislation would take a number of steps to strengthen and coordinate the federal government's response to drug financing schemes, and authorize assistance to states to tackle money laundering related to the illicit nar… Continue Reading
11.15.21
Whitehouse Joins Biden for Signing of Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined President Joe Biden at the White House for the signing of the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The legislation will invest more than $2.5 billion in Rhode Island's aging infrastructure, creating jobs and retooling the American economy for the twenty-first century as the nation continues to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic. "It is an honor to join President Biden on this historic occasion," said Whitehouse… Continue Reading
11.15.21
Reed, Whitehouse, and Langevin Highlight Life-Changing Benefits of Advanced Child Tax Credit Payments for 173K RI Kids
Cranston, RI - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Jim Langevin today joined local advocates and parents of young children at the Pastore Youth Center in Cranston to highlight the more than $200 million provided to local families through the expanded Child Tax Credit included in the American Rescue Plan. The Rhode Island delegation is strongly advocating for a continuation of the expanded Child Tax Credit program to be included in Democrats' pending Build Back Better l… Continue Reading
11.12.21
Whitehouse Calls on FinCEN to Expand, Make Permanent a Vital Weapon in the Fight against Kleptocrats, Corruption, & Crime
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE Washington, DC - Today, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, a member of the Helsinki Commission, and a national leader in the fight against international corruption and kleptocracy-called on the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) to expand and make permanent the use of Geographic Targeting Orders (GTOs). The orders help law enforcement crack down on money laundering and oth… Continue Reading
11.10.21
Whitehouse & Johnson Hit Back at U.S. Chamber over Judicial Lobbying Transparency Requirements
READ THE FULL FILING HERE Washington, DC - Today, the Chairmen of the Senate and House Judiciary Courts Subcommittees, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Hank Johnson (D-GA), sent a letter to the federal courts' Judicial Conference Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure hitting back at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's efforts to keep secret the identities of special interests behind amicus curiae briefs. The Chairmen also called on the Committee to adopt a proposal by its subcommittee for amicus… Continue Reading
11.08.21
Whitehouse Slams U.S. Corporate Trade Associations at COP26 for Failure to Act on Climate
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse delivered a stern message to U.S. corporate trade associations at COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland: trade associations are undercutting the work of "climate-friendly" CEOs. "We'd have made much greater progress in Congress if corporate trade associations weren't absent or obstacles," said Whitehouse. "When the American Petroleum Institute has engaged more on carbon pricing than just about any trade association, that's a powerful signal … Continue Reading
11.06.21
Whitehouse Cheers House Passage of Historic Infrastructure Bill
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today cheered passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. "Working across the aisle, I was proud to deliver funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to upgrade Rhode Island's aging roads and bridges and to create good union jobs and grow our economy in the process. I am thrilled to see the bill pass the House, and I look forward to getting shovels in the ground and cranes in th… Continue Reading
