Press Releases
Whitehouse Hears from Local Businesses About Health Insurance Costs
Providence, RI - As the debate over health care reform continues in Washington, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today heard from Rhode Island small business owners about the effect of sky-high health insurance rates. Whitehouse hosted a roundtable discussion with the local businesses at Donna's Grill on the Hill in Providence. "For these Rhode Island small businesses and thousands more around the country, the rising cost of health insurance is simply unsustainable," said Whitehouse. "I… Continue Reading
10.15.09
Senate Passes Bill To Secure Timely Funding Of Critical Services
Washington, D.C. - This week, the U.S. Senate passed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which calls for the advanced funding of critical health care services to veterans. U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are both co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill. "This is a major victory for veterans and taxpayers that will reform the way our nation provides funding for veterans health care," said Reed, who as a senior member of the Appropriations… Continue Reading
10.14.09
Whitehouse Welcomes President’s Support of $250 Payment to Seniors
Washington, D.C. - President Obama today announced his support for a plan to provide seniors in Rhode Island and across the country with a one-time payment of $250 in 2010 in addition to regular Social Security payments. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) is a cosponsor of the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act (S. 1685), which would provide such a payment. "Fixed incomes and a reliance on costly prescription drugs make it tough for seniors and disabled Rhode Islanders to make ends meet,"… Continue Reading
10.08.09
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Approves Nomination of Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell to be RI’s Next U.S. Marshal
Washington, D.C. - United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today commended the Senate Judiciary Committee's approval of Lieutenant Colonel Steven G. O'Donnell to be the next U.S. Marshal for Rhode Island. Earlier this year, the Senators recommended Lieutenant Colonel O'Donnell to President Obama, who then nominated O'Donnell on August 7. The Judiciary Committee, of which Whitehouse is a member, today unanimously approved O'Donnell's nomination. "We applaud the Judiciary Committe… Continue Reading
10.06.09
Reed and Whitehouse Announce President's Nomination of Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Providence, RI - United States Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse today applauded President Obama for nominating Rhode Island Superior Court Justice O. Rogeriee Thompson to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Earlier this year, following an open and in-depth selection process which included extensive interviews and careful deliberation, the Senators recommended Justice Thompson's nomination to the President. "This is a great day for the United States justice system … Continue Reading
09.30.09
Rhode Island to Receive Over $22 Million in Federal Funding for Medical Research Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Washington, D.C. - Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation today announced over $22 million in federal funding for Rhode Island to support cutting-edge medical research. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will distribute 91 federal grants to eligible grantees throughout the state. These grants were funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which the delegation supported. "Rhode Island's biomedical research community is renowned for being on the forefront of medical breakthrough… Continue Reading
09.28.09
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
