Press Releases
RI Community Health Centers Awarded Over $6 Million in Federal Funds
Providence, RI - In an effort to address pressing renovation needs in community health centers, and expand access to quality health care, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced over $6 million in federal funding from the Affordable Care Act for Rhode Island. The funds will be used to improve facilities and expand capacity at community health centers in Coventry, Wakefield, West Warwick, and the East Bay, and will … Continue Reading
04.30.12
Whitehouse Hears from Rhode Islanders about Importance of Violence Against Women Act
Warwick, RI - Last week, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), a landmark law passed in 1994 to prevent, reduce, and respond to incidences of domestic violence. Today, as the bill awaits approval in the House, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse held a roundtable meeting with Rhode Island advocates who support the VAWA reauthorization to hear their stories, give them an update on the bill's progress, and urge the House to follow the Senate's lead and… Continue Reading
04.27.12
Whitehouse Applauds FCC Decision on Political Ads
Washington, DC - Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved a new rule requiring broadcast stations to make files related to political advertisements available publicly online. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who is leading the Senate's Citizens United Task Force, applauded the decision as a good step toward greater transparency in our campaign finance system. "Today's ruling by the FCC is the first of what I hope will be a number of steps taken to correct the flood of… Continue Reading
04.26.12
Senate Passes Legislation to Protect Women from Abuse
Washington, DC - The U.S. Senate today passed legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark law originally passed in 1994 that protects women from domestic violence. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) was a cosponsor of the legislation, which also contains a provision he authored to prevent dating violence among teenagers. "In Rhode Island and across the country, the Violence Against Women Act continues to support essential tools for preventing and responding to dom… Continue Reading
04.25.12
HELP Committee Approves Whitehouse Legislation to Expedite Review of Rare Disease Treatments
Washington, DC - Today, a key Senate Committee approved legislation by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would promote access to rare disease treatments by providing opportunities for rare disease experts and stakeholders to share their expertise with FDA. The Whitehouse bill was considered as part of a legislative package to reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) ability to approve prescription drugs, medical devices, and other medical products. The bill was cleared by… Continue Reading
04.21.12
President Obama Calls to Thank Whitehouse for Buffett Rule Effort
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse yesterday joined Congressman David Cicilline for a tour of the Blackstone Viaduct Construction Site on I-295 and called for passage of a long-term transportation bill that will allow continued federal funding for local infrastructure repairs. During the tour, Whitehouse paused to receive a call from President Barack Obama to talk about their recent efforts to pass legislation to implement the Buffett Rule. The President thanked Whitehouse for hi… Continue Reading
04.19.12
Whitehouse Calls for Reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act
Washington, DC - This month the U.S. Senate is expected to take up legislation to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, a landmark law originally passed in 1994 that protects women from domestic violence. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is a cosponsor of the reauthorization measure, which also contains legislation he authored to prevent dating violence among teenagers. "We should move swiftly to pass this important legislation," Whitehouse said today. "As Rhode Island's Attorney … Continue Reading
04.18.12
Whitehouse Applauds President Obama’s Plan to Address High Gas Prices
Washington, DC - As Rhode Islanders and middle class families across the country struggle to keep up with rising gas prices, President Obama has announced a series of new initiatives to crack down on the oil speculation that many believe is behind the price spike. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who recently wrote to Attorney General Eric Holder to request an update on the Administration's efforts to address oil speculation, applauded the President for his announcement. "With middle clas… Continue Reading
04.16.12
Whitehouse Statement on Buffett Rule Vote
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the vote to advance his Paying a Fair Share Act of 2012, a bill to implement the "Buffett Rule." Sixty votes were required to advance the measure, and the bill failed by a vote of 51 to 45. "It is inexcusable that a multi-million-dollar earner can pay a lower tax rate than a Rhode Island truck driver," said Whitehouse after the vote. "Today's vote on the Paying a Fair Share Act took us on… Continue Reading
04.13.12
More Than 100 Organizations Call for Up or Down Vote on Buffett Rule
Washington, DC - With the U.S. Senate poised to vote this Monday on U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) legislation to improve tax fairness by implementing the Buffett Rule, a coalition of more than 100 national, state, and local organizations sent a letter to Senators today urging them to support the bill. "We believe that a basic premise of the promise of America - no matter what your political party - is that everyone should contribute their fair share," the letter states. "S. 2230 is… Continue Reading
04.10.12
State Leaders Call for Passage of Long-Term Transportation Funding Bill
Providence, RI - Speaking underneath the interchange connecting Route 6 and Route 10 in Providence, Rhode Island's congressional delegation today joined state and local leaders in calling for passage of legislation to provide federal funding for vital road and bridge projects. U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline were joined by Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis, and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The gro… Continue Reading
04.04.12
Whitehouse Statement on the Passing of Peter Lord
Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse released the statement below today regarding the death of Peter Lord, the long-time environmental reporter for the Providence Journal: "My thoughts and prayers are with Peter's family, and with his many friends and colleagues in the Journal newsroom and the Rhode Island media. Throughout his years at the paper, Peter covered fairly and expertly Rhode Island stories like the North Cape Oil spill, the harm lead paint was doing to kids, and the eff… Continue Reading
04.03.12
Whitehouse hears from Rhode Islanders about Buffett Rule
Cranston, RI - Following an announcement last week that the Senate will hold a vote on U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's Buffett Rule legislation, the Senator met today with a group of Rhode Islanders to hear their concerns about tax fairness and to discuss his legislation. Whitehouse's bill, the Paying a Fair Share Act, would ensure that ultra-high income earners cannot take advantage of loopholes to pay a lower rate than middle-income Rhode Islanders. Event participants shared their own stori… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Senate Schedules Vote on Whitehouse’s Buffett Rule Bill
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) released the following statement today regarding the announcement by Majority Leader Harry Reid that the Senate will hold a vote on Whitehouse's bill to implement the "Buffett Rule" on April 16: "Getting a vote on the Buffett Rule is a step in the right direction. It's time to restore fairness to our tax system and end the loopholes that allow ultra-high income earners to pay a lower overall rate than middle income Rhode Islanders. This … Continue Reading
03.29.12
Whitehouse Statement for Rules Committee Hearing on DISCLOSE Act
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration held a hearing on the DISCLOSE Act of 2012, legislation to address the worst of the problems caused by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who introduced the legislation last week, submitted the following testimony to the hearing's official record: ---------------------------------------- Chairman Schumer and Ranking Member Alexander - I thank you for holding this he… Continue Reading
03.29.12
Whitehouse Releases Report on Progress of Health Care Delivery System Reform
Washington, DC - As the public debate over health care reform continues to focus on the "individual mandate" and other hot-button issues, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today released a report about the progress of another part of the Affordable Care Act that has gotten less attention but is no less important: delivery system reform (DSR). The report, entitled "Health Care Delivery System Reform and The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act," shows that the Obama Administration h… Continue Reading
03.27.12
Whitehouse, Sanders Hold Hearing on Military Investments in Clean Energy
Washington, DC - Today, with gas prices near record highs across the country, U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) held a joint hearing to examine how our armed forces are working to diversify our nation's fuel supply and become more energy efficient, and how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assisting in these efforts. The hearing was entitled "Oversight Hearing on EPA's Work with Other Federal Entities to Reduce Pollution and Improve Environmental Perfo… Continue Reading
03.26.12
Whitehouse Holds Hearing on Health Care Fraud
East Providence, RI - U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today convened an official field hearing of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism in East Providence, RI, to examine ways to reduce costs and strengthen health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid by cracking down on fraud in the system. The hearing featured testimony from top Rhode Island law enforcement officials, local health care professionals, and a representative of the Centers for Medicare and Medica… Continue Reading
03.23.12
Whitehouse Shares Story of Health Law Helping Newport Area
Washington, DC - This week marks the two-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation to reform our health care system in ways that lower costs and expand access to insurance coverage. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) spoke on the floor of the Senate yesterday to commemorate the anniversary, and shared the story of a Newport health care organization that has been helped by the law. Whitehouse spoke about East Bay Community Action Program, which has rec… Continue Reading
03.22.12
Whitehouse: Glad to Have Fishermen in Washington, DC
Washington, D.C. - This week, a number of Rhode Island fishermen joined their counterparts from around the country to visit Washington, DC to discuss fisheries management with their elected officials. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who met with several of the Rhode Island fishermen, released the following statement regarding the visit: "It is encouraging to see so many men and women from our fishing community making their voices heard in our nation's capital. I was pleased to meet wi… Continue Reading
