Press Releases
Whitehouse Hears from Rhode Islanders Struggling with High Medical Bills
Pawtucket, RI - A group of Rhode Islanders burdened with debt from expensive medical costs today gathered at the Blackstone Valley Community Action Program in Pawtucket to share their stories. The group met with U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) to discuss the problems caused by crippling medical debt and the burdens it places on families. "We need to lend a helping hand to families that are enduring backbreaking debt caused by big medical bills," said Whitehouse. A recent Harvard study f… Continue Reading
09.23.09
Senate Approves $6.5 Million for Rhode Island in Transportation and Housing Spending Plan
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced that the U.S. Senate has approved legislation including $4.45 million in funding for Rhode Island transportation, housing, and infrastructure improvement initiatives they requested as part of the 2010 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) spending bill. The bill also includes $1.1 million that Reed, a member of the Appropriations Committee, secured for key programs throughout the state as well … Continue Reading
09.23.09
Blackstone Valley Community Health Center Receives Economic Recovery Funds
Washington, D.C. - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today applauded the announcement by the Obama Administration that the Blackstone Valley Community Health Center will receive $478,000 for health information technology (IT) implementation. The funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which the delegation supported. "This Recovery Act funding will enable Blackstone Valley Community Health Center to provide its patients with comprehensive, qual… Continue Reading
09.17.09
Responding to a Constituent Request, Whitehouse Introduces Legislation to Make it Easier for Families to Handle Medicare Billing Issues
Washington, D.C. - After hearing from a Newport, Rhode Island resident about his difficulties dealing with Medicare billing issues following the passing of a loved one, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to eliminate this frustrating hurdle. The Expanding Access to Medicare Records Act fills gaps in the law that restrict access of the families of Medicare beneficiaries to medical records. Currently, the law permits family members to access a deceased relative's… Continue Reading
09.15.09
Rhode Island to Receive Over $10 Million in Federal Recovery Act Funds to Improve Energy Efficiency
Washington, D.C. - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced over $10 million in federal funding for Rhode Island to improve energy efficiency, reduce fossil fuel emissions, and create local clean energy jobs. The funding is part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program established earlier this year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which the delegation supported. To date, the State of Rhode Island has received over $31.6 million in energy fundin… Continue Reading
09.15.09
Reed and Whitehouse Applaud Senate’s Confirmation of Neronha as Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today commended the confirmation of Peter F. Neronha by the United States Senate to be Rhode Island's next U.S. Attorney. Reed and Whitehouse recommended Neronha for the position in May, and President Obama formally nominated him in July. "We applaud the Senate's confirmation of Peter Neronha as Rhode Island's next U.S. Attorney. Mr. Neronha's years of exemplary service in the Attorney General's office and the U.S. Attorney's off… Continue Reading
09.14.09
U.S. Senate Passes Whitehouse Resolution Designating September 26th as National Estuaries Day
Washington, D.C.- The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution, authored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), designating September 26th, 2009 as National Estuaries Day to increase awareness about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect them. "We have seen what unchecked development combined with increasingly severe storms can do to vital coastal regions," said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee. "Restoring and prote… Continue Reading
09.11.09
Whitehouse Statement on the 8th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement marking the 8th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: "On the eighth anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, all our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those innocent Americans who lost their lives; with our police, fire, EMT, and rescue workers, who risk so much this and every day; and with the men and women of the United States military, who serve with dedicat… Continue Reading
09.10.09
Reed and Whitehouse Applaud Senate Committee’s Vote to Confirm Neronha as Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today commended the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote to confirm Peter F. Neronha as Rhode Island's next U.S. Attorney. Reed and Whitehouse recommended Neronha for the position in May, and President Obama formally nominated him in July. "We applaud the Judiciary Committee's vote to confirm Peter Neronha as Rhode Island's next U.S. Attorney. Mr. Neronha's years of exemplary service in the Attorney General's office and the U.S. A… Continue Reading
09.09.09
Whitehouse Statement on President’s Address to Congress on Health Insurance Reform
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released the following statement following President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress about the effort to reform our health insurance system: "For the millions of people in Rhode Island and across the country who cannot afford health insurance, or who struggle under the weight of expensive premiums and co-pays, reform simply can't wait. We've waited too long already. Tonight the President reinforced that urgency, an… Continue Reading
09.08.09
Rhode Island Resident Who Has Struggled with our Broken Health Insurance System Will Join Whitehouse at Obama’s Address to Congress
Washington, D.C. - A Rhode Island resident who lives with multiple sclerosis and has seen firsthand the problems plaguing our current health insurance system will attend President Barack Obama's address to Congress tomorrow evening as the guest of U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). Christine Ongano, a Coventry resident, will watch President Obama's speech Wednesday from the Visitor's Gallery of the House of Representatives. The President has pledged to make affordable, accessible health in… Continue Reading
08.26.09
Senator Whitehouse’s Statement on the Passing of Senator Edward Kennedy
Providence, RI - "Senator Kennedy for me, as for so many other Americans, was the very epitome of a modern Senator. A proud New Englander, he was passionate in pursuit of justice and compassionate for his fellow man." "Senator Kennedy was a gracious mentor to me as a new Senator, and a treasured and respected friend. For his family, his constituents, and the rest of our nation, and for the United States Senate, which he made his home, my heart is heavy today at the loss of his booming voice, h… Continue Reading
08.24.09
Senator Whitehouse Applauds Appointment of John Durham in CIA Interrogation Probe
Providence, RI - On the heels of the release of the Inspector General report on the CIA's interrogation program, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) applauded the appointment of John Durham to conduct a preliminary review into whether federal laws were violated in connection with the interrogation of certain detainees. "This is clearly a significant issue, and I applaud Attorney General Holder's move to conduct a preliminary review into the interrogations conducted by the CIA," Whitehouse said. "… Continue Reading
08.20.09
Whitehouse Brings Together Rhode Island Experts and Local Homeowners to Discuss Foreclosure Crisis
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today brought together a panel of local experts and homeowners to discuss the impact of the foreclosure crisis on Rhode Island families. The participants joined Whitehouse at Rhode Island Housing in Providence for an official field hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts, of which Whitehouse is Chairman. "As I travel around our state, I often hear concerns from Rhode Islanders … Continue Reading
08.17.09
Whitehouse Announces New Legislation to Help Fund Women’s Hospitals During Visit to Women & Infants Hospital
Providence, RI - During a visit to Women & Infants Hospital in Providence today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) announced new legislation to address inequities in federal funding for teaching hospitals that focus on women's health. The Women's Hospitals Education Equity Act would create a new $12 million funding pool for women's hospitals focused on obstetrical care. "Hospitals focusing on women's health play an important role in our health care system," said Whitehouse. "It is es… Continue Reading
08.14.09
Whitehouse Calls for Natural Resource Adaptation Funding to Protect Environment, Rhode Island Economy
Washington, D.C. - As the Senate prepares to begin work on sweeping legislation to combat global warming in the coming months, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, wrote to EPW Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) to request that natural resource adaptation be a priority in any larger global warming legislation. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) joined Whitehouse in signing the letter. Natural resource adaptation is essential to… Continue Reading
08.07.09
President Obama Taps Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell to be RI’s Next U.S. Marshal
Today, after the White House announced President Obama's intent to nominate state police Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island, United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, who recommended Lieutenant Colonel O'Donnell for the job back in April, issued the following statement: "Lieutenant Colonel O'Donnell has served our state with great distinction as a member of the Rhode Island State Police. His outstanding leadership and experience w… Continue Reading
08.07.09
Senate Bill Holds Foreign Manufacturers Accountable for Defective Products
Washington, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate would reduce the legal hurdles facing Americans injured by products manufactured outside the United States. The Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act of 2009, sponsored by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and cosponsored by U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), would protect American businesses and consumers by bringing foreign manufacturers within the scope of the American… Continue Reading
08.06.09
New Legislation Would Help Families Struggling with Medical Debt
Washington, D.C. - As our economy continues working toward sustained recovery, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today introduced legislation to help the many American families burdened by the costs of illness and injury. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act (MBFA) of 2009 would assist individuals and families who are driven to bankruptcy by high medical costs by eliminating some of the procedural hurdles of the bankruptcy process. "Families in Rhode Island and throughout the country are f… Continue Reading
08.06.09
Whitehouse Praises Senate’s Confirmation of Sotomayor
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) issued the following statement today after the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court: "Judge Sotomayor is an extremely accomplished jurist, and I was proud to vote for her confirmation. "Her sterling 17-year record as a District and Circuit Court judge makes clear that Judge Sotomayor will respect the role of Congress as representatives of the American people; that … Continue Reading
